Mari reclined in the pedicure chair, her toes submerged in warm water as the masseur worked gently on her feet.
Her phone vibrated on the small table beside her, and she quickly snatched it up, her heart racing. Haruto had finally replied.
'Having too much fun soaking in the hot spring. Made a lot of new friends! It makes me forget about my phone, I'm really sorry Mari!'
She stared at the message, her lips pressing into a thin line. It had been an hour since his last reply, and while she wanted to believe his words, her mind buzzed with doubts.
Anxiously, she bit her thumbnail, oblivious to the masseur's movements on her feet.
Her friends had already advised her to calm down, reminding her she was overreacting, but their words barely registered. Her stomach churned with unease.
'Is it because I've watched too many dramas about cheating?' she thought, recalling countless over-the-top betrayals and love triangles.