red string | jay

twenty three

"did you already forget? the shopping spree or food you owe me?" she raised a brow. "you promised."

"ah," he said, realization dawning. "that."

"don't 'that' me. i demand reparations."

"of course, my lady," he said with a half-bow, "anything to keep you from telling the entire company that i, park jay, cried like a drama lead in a hospital corridor."

"you're so dramatic," she muttered, laughing. "you make it sound like you sobbed on the floor."

"i almost did. but that's beside the point. point is—i cried. you witnessed it. now you have blackmail material. naturally, i must bribe you into silence."

"why are you so afraid of people knowing you cried?" she asked genuinely. "it's not like people will think less of you."

he shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "i don't know. maybe i just don't want people to see me that... raw, i guess."

she studied him for a second, then smirked. "should i feel special that i saw it?"

he looked at her for a long beat, then tilted his head. "do you want to feel special, angry bird?"

she rolled her eyes. "stop calling me that. i swear, i'll hack into your email and send everyone in the office pictures of your desk drawer snack stash."

he gasped, mock offended. "you wouldn't."

"oh, i would. and i'd include footnotes."

"you're a menace."

"you're a mess."

"you're loud."

"you're needy."

he paused, then grinned. "you're deflecting."

she faltered for half a second. "shut up. bye."

she turned to walk away and he let out a soft laugh behind her.

"i'll take you out this weekend!" he called.

she raised a hand and gave him a thumbs-up without turning around.

he watched her unlock her car and get inside, waiting until her headlights disappeared before walking to his own car.

it was finally saturday.

which meant ina was preparing to drain jay's wallet dry.

she had just stepped out of a long shower and was now getting ready while blasting music in her room. she sang along under her breath as she brushed her hair, then stood in front of the mirror applying minimal makeup.

her outfit was casual but cute—an easy denim dress that reached her knees, paired with brown boots and big sunglasses. she twirled once in front of the mirror before grabbing her white sling bag and heading downstairs.

her phone buzzed as she reached the living room.

jay: don't get your car. i'll pick you up in 10.

ina smiled at her screen, giddy at the thought of not having to drive.

as she entered the living room, her mom looked up from the couch.

"that's a pretty dress, ina. heading out with the girls?"

"thank you," ina said, plopping beside her. "and nope. i'm going out with jay."

her mom's eyebrow lifted. a beat later, she let out a small, amused laugh.

"what?" ina asked suspiciously.

"you're going on a date with jay," her mom said, far too casually.

"ew, mom! no. i'd rather set myself on fire," ina gagged, louder than she meant to.

her mom just gave her a smile, unbothered. "if you say so."

"i'm going because he owes me. this is payback. financial destruction. emotional compensation," ina declared.

"sure, dear. whatever helps you sleep at night," her mom said, patting her hand.

"mom. please. you know i hate him. with all my guts. every single one."

"do you though?" her mom mused, flipping a page in her magazine. "because lately, you two seem... different."

ina paused.

then scoffed. "nothing's changed. he's still annoying. he still chews too loud. and leaves the printer jammed. and says 'let's circle back' in meetings like he's on a tv show."

"and yet... you're smiling while you say all that."

"i'm not smiling."

"you kind of are."

ina huffed and stood up. "okay i'm leaving now. before you say something else ridiculous."

"have fun on your non-date, honey," her mom called out as ina headed for the door.

"it's not a date!" ina yelled back, though the twist in her stomach said something else entirely.