A Picture with Endless Questions

The hum of quiet chatter and the clinking of ceramic cups filled the air at The Antipodean Specialty Coffee, one of Taipei’s most popular brunch spots in the Neihu District.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the sweet scent of buttery croissants and avocado toast filled this intimate space. The cafe’s relaxed yet stylish ambiance provided the perfect backdrop for a Saturday morning recovery session after an unexpected encounter with Alex the night before.

Charlie absentmindedly sipped his Americano, half-listening to the chatter unfolding at the table. Wen and Xing animatedly dissected the evening’s drama, with Xing—true to form—taking on the role of a storyteller, complete with exaggerated gestures.

“Let’s be honest,” Xing said, piercing his fork into a beautifully arranged fruit salad. “Ming shut Alex down so smoothly that he didn’t even see it coming. It was like watching a drag queen shut up a guy mansplaining RuPaul’s Drag Race to her.”

Wen smiled coyly as she enjoyed her mimosa.

Charlie chuckled, but his mind wandered elsewhere. While he enjoyed the lighthearted recap of the previous night, something about it kept bothering him.

It wasn’t just Alex’s presence that affected him; it was the way Alex had looked at Ming as if he were trying to solve a puzzle. That familiar look brought back a flood of memories—memories that Charlie had worked hard to bury.

Flashback: New York City, Years Ago

The sleek office of one of Manhattan’s top marketing firms had been Charlie’s second home. He started there full of ambition, eager to prove himself. Additionally, one of his colleagues, Alex, caught Charlie’s interest.

Alex was a rising star known for his irresistible charm and commanding confidence. He could captivate an entire room just by being in it. Charlie had a crush on him; not only did he want to learn about the business from Alex, but he also longed to be near him and to be noticed by him.

They had started as colleagues, then friends, and eventually became a couple—but privately, at least in the beginning. Neither of them wanted to share it at work, knowing how office gossip could spread like wildfire. For a while, it had felt like their own little secret, something separate from the pressures of their professional lives. But as time passed, Charlie couldn’t shake the feeling that he was far more invested than Alex.

One night at a work event, Charlie watched Alex effortlessly move through the crowd, impressing executives with his charm and expertise. Charlie stayed close to the bar, hoping Alex would notice and invite him into the conversation. Instead, when someone inquired about his “plus one,” Alex laughed dismissively.

“”Plus one? I’m here by myself,” Alex said, standing alone at the party, clearly indicating his solitude. He swirled his drink lazily and then glanced at Charlie, winking—a gesture so smug and dismissively cruel that it made Charlie’s stomach twist.

The words had stung. It was the first time Charlie truly saw the imbalance between them. Alex enjoyed being admired but never reciprocated. Charlie was always chasing something Alex would never fully provide.

Shortly after, Alex left the firm to join a rival company specializing in global event planning. This move marked a significant step in his career, solidifying his reputation as a major player in the industry. Years later, this very job brought him to Taipei, where he was assigned to oversee the launch of a high-profile skincare brand.

Back to Present: Brunch in Taipei

*Ming and Charlie at brunch

Charlie blinked as Ming’s voice pulled him back to reality. “Are you okay?” Charlie gave a small, reassuring smile. “Yeah, I was just thinking.”

Ming’s eyes held a quiet knowing, but he didn’t push. Instead, he reached for Charlie’s hand under the table, grounding him.

Xing, oblivious to the moment, continued. “Honestly, Charlie, you should be glad. If I had an ex that slimy, I’d have moved to another continent.”

Charlie exhaled. “I kind of did.”

Laughter rippled through the group, and Charlie felt himself relax for the first time that morning. Last night’s encounter wasn’t worth obsessing over. Maybe Alex’s presence wasn’t as disruptive as it felt.

Or maybe Charlie was just lying to himself.

*Alex at the bar

As evening fell over the 45th floor of the Breeze Tower, Alex settled into the cozy atmosphere of the Morton Sky Bar. The soft sound of his whiskey glass chimed as he stirred the rich, amber liquid, the light making it shimmer like liquid gold.

Outside, the stunning 101 Tower rose majestically against the night sky, its lights twinkling like stars amidst the sprawling cityscape of Taipei. Despite the breathtaking view, Alex’s mind drifted, lost in distant and elusive thoughts, far removed from the vibrant energy pulsing throughout the city below.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake off how Ming had handled him the night before. Ming wasn’t just calm—he was composed. Ming was difficult to read. And that unsettled Alex more than he wanted to admit.

Alex reached into his wallet and carefully unfolded an old, creased photograph of his late mother beside an unknown man. He had kept this picture since childhood, always wondering why his mother had been so secretive about the man beside her.

For years, it had been a mystery without context, a fragment of a story he could never quite piece together. But now, after seeing Ming and digging into his research about his biological father, something shifted. This wasn’t just about Charlie’s new boyfriend.

This was something much, much bigger.

He traced his finger over the photograph’s edges and muttered, “Who the hell are you, Ming?”

The man standing beside Alex’s mother bore an uncanny resemblance to Ming—the same sharp cheekbones, the same piercing gaze—a resemblance too striking to be mere coincidence. A picture with endless questions.