There are days like that.

Days when you feel so stupid that you only know you're alive if you check. Days when your arteries throb as if you have to go outside even in the eye-searing summer just to feel yourself pulsing.

..It's deathly hot.

Even though sasaeng fans could be anywhere, I wanted to strip off my mask, sunglasses, and outer layers. I wanted to fully feel that sunlight that stings my eyes and momentarily blurs my vision.

Despite that, a brief sense of boredom passed through me—not regret, but a feeling of being trapped by the fact that I had to be satisfied with the light piercing through these sunglasses before leaving.

Of course, while basking in the sun for a moment in that mood, I bumped into someone; my thoughts stopped, and my eyes met theirs regardless of my will.

Our eyes met, but the person had a blank? No, was it a flustered expression, as if they didn't recognize me? Regardless, I locked eyes with them.