Chapter 5: Justice and Confession

But my mind was already in chaos because of his words. He’s been alone all these years? The thought made my heart ache. Why?

As we neared my place, I mustered my courage and asked, "You said you’ve been alone all these years?"

He replied, "Yeah."

"Is it because you haven’t met the right person?"

He didn’t answer, just kept driving. I didn’t press further. The silence felt heavy, but not in a bad way.

When we arrived at my apartment building, he got out and opened the car door for me.

"Thank you for driving me home."

He looked at me, clearly not planning to leave.

I looked at him, confused.

He smiled. "Aren’t you supposed to rate me after a blind date?"

"Rate what?"

"Like, 1–3 points means no chance, 4–6 means just friends, 7–9 means friends with dating potential. How many points do I get?"

I laughed, feeling more relaxed. "Are all lawyers this sharp?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Sharp?"

"Sharp."

He smiled. "Is that so? Then I won’t ask. Your turn to ask me."

I didn’t get it for a moment. "Huh?"

"Your question was too sharp, I need to think."

"…"

He looked at me for a long time. "Just give me a 10, then."

That night, I tossed and turned in bed, replaying what happened—

"What does 10 points mean?"

"It means, for example, I don’t want to be just friends with you."

I buried my head in the covers, unable to stop smiling. I fell asleep with a smile on my face, the warmth lingering long after the lights went out.

In the days that followed, work got busy again. Ethan asked me out twice, but I couldn’t make time. Each time I declined, I felt a pang of regret.

Finally, the afternoon before the weekend, I finished my project on schedule. As I stretched, my phone chimed with a message.

*Are you free tomorrow?*