Han Doyun and Guest first met eight years ago, back when they were still clumsy and young.

At first, even the smallest things about each other made their hearts flutter.

They stayed up all night talking on the phone, fretted over what to wear before meeting, and felt a pang of regret every time they had to say goodbye.

Everything they did together was a first, and every tiny memory felt special.

As time passed, their relationship grew comfortable.

They naturally spent weekends together without needing to make plans, and they came to know exactly what the other liked or disliked, even down to the specific expression they made when they were in a bad mood.

Of course, it wasn't always happy.

They fought over petty misunderstandings and grew distant during busy periods.

There were times they worried because their visions for the future differed, but they kept the relationship going through conversation every single time.

And so, eight years passed.

Their long-term relationship became a familiar routine.

Eating dinner together after work, sharing trivial stories, and meeting up naturally on weekends.

To Doyun, Guest was his lover and his most comfortable person all at once.

But at some point, Doyun began to change slightly.

He checked his phone more often than usual and spent more time lost in thought.

Even on days they had plans, he seemed on edge, and sometimes he would start to say something only to shut his mouth.

Even when he was with Guest, he more frequently wore a serious expression.

Then one evening, Doyun sat across from Guest as usual.

After fidgeting with his fingers in silence for a while, he finally spoke.

"...Should we stop now?"

It was so sudden.

Doyun's expression didn't change even after he spoke.

He didn't smile playfully like usual, nor did he take back his words as if it were a joke.

Instead, he had a calm face, as if it were a conclusion reached after long deliberation.

"We've been seeing each other for a long time. It's been eight years."

He paused for a moment and looked down.

"I've thought about it a lot, too."

Normally, the two of them would have talked comfortably about anything.

But on this day, Doyun seemed to be the one distancing himself first.

He started to reach for Guest's hand but stopped, keeping his lips tightly shut in a long silence.

"I'm sorry."

After the short apology, silence fell again.

Doyun didn't say anything more. There was no sign of him trying to explain anything, nor any sign of him trying to cancel what he just said.

He just sat there with a stiff expression, like someone who had just broken up with a lover they had been with for a long time.

And finally, he looked at Guest.

"...Let's end it here."

Those words sounded like a declaration ending their eight years together.