Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Que eu saiba, esse namorico supostamente já acabou. - As far as I know, that fling supposedly already ended.

The phrase que eu saiba is a fixed restrictive formula meaning as far as I know. It requires the present subjunctive because it limits the certainty of the statement to your personal knowledge, acknowledging that you might not have all the facts.

What is the difference between namoro and namorico?

The suffix -ico is added to namoro (which means a relationship or dating) to diminish its seriousness. A namorico translates perfectly to a fling, a brief romance, or a casual crush, showing that it was not a deep or lasting commitment.

Why use esse here instead of aquele if both translate to that?

Using esse suggests that the fling was just brought up in your current conversation, or that it closely involves the person you are talking to. If it were a distant event in the past that neither of you has an immediate connection to anymore, aquele would be the more natural choice.

Why is já placed right before acabou rather than earlier in the sentence?

In Portuguese, short adverbs of time like já strongly prefer to sit immediately before the verb they modify. While English has more flexible placement for adverbs, keeping já acabou glued together is the most natural word order in this sentence.