Audacity

When she got to the restaurant, she saw Marcos waiting at the door, smiling and waving at her. He was friendly, and his eyes held a kindness that made her relax a little. 

They greeted each other, and Yunna realized that, even in the midst of her pain, a part of her was relieved to have done something different, to have taken the first step towards something new.

Dinner was lighthearted, and although Yunna couldn't help but think about Mingi occasionally, Marcos managed to make her laugh. He talked about his work, his travels, and some funny stories from his childhood, and Yunna found herself smiling genuinely for the first time that night.

But deep down, she knew that this wasn't a solution to the pain that still consumed her. It was just an escape, an attempt to forget for a few hours. The emptiness she felt inside was still there, waiting for her when the night came to an end.

 Still, for now, Marcos’ company was enough to fill the empty space, even if it was only for a brief moment.

When the date ended, Yunna felt a mix of emotions. It had been pleasant, yes, but the feeling that something was still missing remained.

 She knew that going out with Marcos would not erase the pain of losing Mingi, but somehow, it had been a step for her, an attempt to move on, to start living her life again.

She walked to the car, feeling the cold of the night and thinking about what was to come. Maybe it was too early to understand what she really wanted, but at least for that night, she didn’t feel so alone. She didn’t have all the answers, but maybe she was learning to find new ways to move forward, one step at a time.

It was early evening, and Yunna was already at the luxurious restaurant, waiting for Marcos to arrive. The ambiance was sophisticated, with soft lights and music playing in the background, creating an intimate atmosphere. 

The tension in her chest hadn’t completely disappeared, but for a moment, the distraction of the night helped her to distance herself from the pain that was consuming her. She looked at the menu once more, even though she already knew what to order. 

Marcos hadn’t arrived yet, but Yunna didn’t care. She felt like she needed this time to herself, to breathe and try to process everything that had happened with Mingi. She didn’t know exactly what she expected from the night, but she was willing to live at the moment. 

Suddenly, the restaurant door opened with a soft creak, and Yunna looked up. She saw a tall man entering, wearing an impeccable suit, who exuded an imposing presence. 

Their eyes met for a second, and the world seemed to slow down. It was Mingi. He was standing in the doorway, apparently surprised to see Yunna there. His expression was impassive, but his gaze was filled with something Yunna couldn't understand.

 He seemed so out of place in that environment, and she realized he was dressed in business attire—probably the owner of the restaurant.

She swallowed hard, trying to hide her surprise, but her heart raced. Mingi, the man she loved and who had just told her he didn't care about her anymore, was there, in the same restaurant, on the same night, right in front of her.

Yunna felt her chest tighten. She didn't know what to do. She felt strange, exposed, as if time had reversed, and she was back in the place she wanted to leave. Mingi saw her, and they stared at each other for a moment that seemed to last an eternity.

Marcos arrived at that moment, breaking the uncomfortable silence between them. He smiled at Yunna, unaware of the tension that had set in.

"Hi, Yunna! Sorry for the delay, the traffic was horrible," Marcos said, approaching with a friendly smile. He then extended his hand to Mingi, who was still standing at the door.

 “Good evening, my name is Marcos. Nice to meet you!” Mingi looked at Marcos, but his gaze quickly shifted to Yunna, as if he was waiting for a silent explanation. He responded politely, but his tone was cold and distant.

 “Good evening,” he said, maintaining his posture. “I hope you enjoy your evening.” And, without saying anything else, Mingi walked away and went towards a table at the back of the restaurant, apparently to supervise the progress of the service. 

Yunna felt a wave of nervousness run up her spine, and looked at Marcos, trying to hide the confusion she felt. Marcos, in turn, did not seem to realize the complexity of the situation. 

“Wow, this restaurant really is top-notch, huh? What a coincidence that we found the owner here,” Marcos commented, sitting down at the table.

 Yunna forced a smile, trying to focus on the conversation with Marcos, but her mind was elsewhere. Mingi, there, in the same space as her, as if everything that had happened between them had no meaning. He seemed so distant, as if last night had never happened.

As the night wore on, Yunna couldn't help but look at Mingi, who seemed oblivious to everything around him, focused only on his work. She tried to convince herself that it was better this way, that he had made his decision, and she needed to move on. But the pain of seeing him there, so close and yet so distant, was unbearable.

Marcos, noticing Yunna's distraction, tried to start a more lively conversation, but she barely heard his words.

She was trapped in those images — Mingi in a suit, looking at her without emotion. It was as if he had become a different version of himself, someone she no longer recognized.

Deep down, Yunna knew that her escape to meet Marcos was not enough. She was still adrift, not knowing how to deal with the end of that relationship, and now, seeing Mingi there, the pain of realizing that he had moved away was even more real.

The night seemed too long, and the weight of everything that was unsaid still hung in the air, between the two of them, with no possibility of resolution.

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