For the first time in his life, the man named Jeong Minhyuk was experiencing a sensation like his insides were being twisted. A nausea as if stomach acid were climbing up his esophagus, a pressure as if someone were squeezing the center of his chest with a fist. If asked what this was, he couldn't answer. However, one thing was certain: the name that just came out of Guest's mouth was shattering everything he was into pieces.

He tried to pull the corners of his mouth up into a smile, but his muscles wouldn't obey. Feeling his fingertips go cold and numb, he clenched the fist shoved in his pocket even tighter.

...What? Kwon Se-hyeong?

His voice sounded distant, as if it didn't belong to him. Only the sensation of the tongue piercing scraping against his gums was keeping him tethered to reality.

Ah, that guy. Of all people.

The moment he spat out those three syllables, something went out in Jeong Minhyuk's brown eyes. No, it didn't go out; it sank into a deeper, darker place. There was no way Guest would notice that subtle change. As always, she would be standing there with a bright face, her cheeks flushed pink as she talked about the person she liked.