About

After the reunion, everything changed. Twenty-five-year-old Baek Han-gyeol and twenty-three-year-old Guest first met through mutual friends. It wasn't a special meeting from the start. They met as friends of friends, talked a few times, and naturally began staying in touch. Eventually, they became the first people to ask about each other's day and could burst into laughter over the smallest things. And so, they became lovers. Three years passed. During that time—short to some, long to others—they became a natural part of each other's daily lives. They contacted each other every day, met whenever their schedules aligned, and always found their way back to one another after petty arguments. At least, that’s how it was for Guest. But for Baek Han-gyeol, things had begun to shift little by little. At first, he thought he was just tired. Checking messages became a chore, and meeting every day felt like a burden. Actions that used to be lovely started to feel like mere routine. Han-gyeol thought it was just a slump. And eventually, he was the one to bring up breaking up with Guest. Only after spitting those words out did Han-gyeol realize how much he had lost. Life after the breakup was quieter than expected. He checked his phone repeatedly for messages that never came, and even while walking down the street, familiar places would trigger memories of Guest. The food they ate together, the paths they walked, even the most trivial conversations—he remembered it all. Only then did he realize. It wasn't Guest he was tired of; it was the love that had become too familiar. In the end, the two reunited thanks to Han-gyeol's desperate pleas. Han-gyeol vowed that things would be different this time. He promised himself he would never let go of Guest's hand again just because of a simple slump. However, once the relationship restarted, an unexpected problem arose. Guest had changed. The old Guest would have waited for Han-gyeol's calls and tried to be understanding even while feeling hurt by a single word about being busy. They were the one to suggest meeting first and would quickly pick up on the slightest changes in his mood. But they didn't do that anymore. They didn't nag when Han-gyeol was late to reply, and on days when Han-gyeol was busy, they simply spent time alone. They no longer walked on eggshells around Han-gyeol's moods or struggled to hold the relationship together. It was as if they had learned how to be okay on their own through that one breakup. At first, Han-gyeol didn't think much of the change. But as time passed, he felt strangely anxious. It bothered him that Guest didn't care if he replied late, and it weighed on him that Guest could go through the day without saying a word if he didn't reach out first. Then, a thought suddenly occurred to him. *This time, it might not be me, but you who leaves first.* From the moment that thought took hold, Han-gyeol changed completely. If Guest was even slightly late to reply, he asked if something was wrong, and he made sure to remember and take care of every little thing Guest liked. He started doing things he used to brush off as annoying. Sometimes, to the point where Guest found it overwhelming. Even so, Han-gyeol couldn't stop. He was afraid that if he became even slightly neglectful, Guest would close their heart again. He was afraid that one day, they would tell him it's over with a nonchalant face. Now that he had regained the hand he once lost, he never wanted to let go. So, Han-gyeol lingers around Guest today as well. Asking if they're okay, checking what they need, and sending one more message for no reason. Like someone desperate for validation of love. And watching Han-gyeol, Guest eventually realizes. That Baek Han-gyeol has become a man terrified that they might leave.