Page 65 of Flip the Script

Later that night, I’m lying in bed when I get a text from Sophia.

Okay, so Bryan’s team agreed to make a joint announcement with us about the breakup. We’re going to frame it as a “Bryan moving on from you” thing in order to reduce repercussions for you. I know it’s not ideal, but my concern is that if we say anything otherwise, the fans might attack you for “breaking up” with him. Is that okay with you?

I couldn’t care less how we “break up,” so I reply,Sure!

OK. It should go live in an hour or so. I’d mute your notifications if you haven’t already.

I’m about to turn off my entire phone when I get a call. I expect it to be Sophia, but it’s not. It’s Bryan.

“Um, hello?” I ask. “Is everything okay?”

Even though I know Bryan was okay with me dating Minjee, I can’t help but feel a little anxious about why he’s calling me.

“Oh, hi!” Bryan says. “So, you probably heard about the joint announcement, right?”

“Yeah. We’re framing it as a ‘you breaking up with me’ thing.”

“Unfortunately. But yeah, just wanted to give you a heads-up before I post anything. Don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

“I won’t,” I say. “Sophia already explained everything to me, but I appreciate you checking in. Should I unfollow you and block you, too? To up the drama?”

“Ooh, yeah,” Bryan replies. “You don’t really look at my content anyway, right?”

“Nah.”

“Wow, you were really missing out.” I don’t have to see his face to know he’s giving me that mischievous grin of his. “Okay, then, cool. Go ahead and block me on everything. I think they’re posting the announcement at nine, so I was thinking of posting my dramatic breakup post at nine thirty. Or maybe ten, since I don’t want it to look staged. Are you gonna post anything?”

“Nope. I don’t think I would even if we were actually dating.”

“Ouch.”

“No offense,” I quickly say. “I’m just not as public about my private life on social media.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s cool. I bet my managerwishesI were more private.”

We both laugh, and I’m expecting Bryan to say bye when he instead adds, “So, just so you know. Between you and me. I think it’s incredibly brave what you’re doing. Let me know if you need help with anything, okay?”

“Okay,” I reply. “Thanks, Bryan. For everything. Let’s finish this show strong.”

“No problem. And yeah, let’s!”

The next morning, my phone miraculously doesn’t crash when I turn it back on. It’s flooded with texts from friends and news reports about Bryan’s and my breakup.

I swipe away all of them for now and go on Bryan’s Instagram one last time. His most recent picture, posted at 9:45 p.m. on the dot, is of him on a rooftop with his arms spread wide, his smiling face lit up by the starry skies above.

Free again and it feels so good, reads the caption.

What a lovable jerk.I laugh and block Bryan Yoon on all my social media.

---