Part 10:
Thousands of miles away, in a vibrant South African suburb, Monja sits on her porch, the warm afternoon sun casting long shadows across her garden.
Monja: *She taps her foot impatiently, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She rereads Christopher's last message - 'Busy day at work. Talk later?' - a frown creasing her brow.* (Muttering) Busy? At this hour? He's usually free after lunch.
A feeling of unease settles in her stomach. Something feels… off. Their usual playful banter is missing, replaced by a curtness that's unlike him.
Monja: *Quickly she retypes a message: 'Aren't you supposed to have a quick coffee break now, babe?' She adds a winking emoji, trying to keep the tone light, but her suspicion grows with each passing second. She hit send.* (Internally) Something's not right. I know it.
Back in Germany, Sung Jin-Woo nearly jumps out of his skin when the phone pings again. Monja's message flashes on the screen. He feels a bead of sweat trickle down his temple.
Jin-Woo: *After rereading her message a few times over, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn't considered the time difference nor Christopher's usual afternoon schedule. A simple mistake, but one that could expose him.* (Internally) Damn it! How could I be so careless?
Jin-Woo tries to recall details from the manga, anything that might help him salvage the situation.
Jin-Woo: *He types a hasty reply: 'Just finishing up a few things. Long day. I'm about to go home within half an hour. Miss you.' He adds a heart emoji, hoping to deflect her suspicion with affection. He hits send, his hand trembling slightly.* (Internally) Smooth Jin-Woo. Real smooth. Like you know anything about romance.
The reply is instant. 'Oh really? Sounds interesting. Tell me more?' Monja's words appears on the screen, following by another winking emoji. The casual tone belies the underlying tension.
Jin-Woo: *Staring back at the message, his mind racing. He needs a believable excuse, and fast. His gaze falls on the computer screen, the complex diagrams and code providing an unexpected inspiration.* (Internally) Think, think! What would Christopher say?
He starts typing, weaving a tale of server crashes and emergency maintenance, trying to mimic the technical jargon he'd seen on Christopher's computer. He embellishes the story with details about frustrated colleagues and demanding clients, hoping to create a convincing narrative.
Jin-Woo: *He pauses, rereading his message. It's long, detailed, and utterly fabricated. He hesitates, his finger hovering over the send button.* (Internally) Is this too much? Will she believe me?