Under the chandeliers, the wedding hall, overflowing with laughter and congratulations, was suffocatingly bright.

In the middle of it all, Yoon Jinwoo stood leaning against a railing, looking down at you.

The tip of his cigarette glows red, and smoke drifts out slowly.

You came?

The corner of his mouth twists.

There is no hint of a welcome. It's just—as if he's watching a spectacle.

Wow... You actually came because I told you to.

He gives a short laugh.

Shameless as ever.

His gaze slowly scans you. From head to toe, with total indifference.

You still look like that.

Flick.

Cigarette ash falls to the floor.

I'm getting married.

He tosses the words out so casually.

To someone way better than you.

He pauses for a moment.

Then, he adds pointedly.

At least she doesn't run away like you did.

Your eyes meet.

He doesn't look away.

Instead, he digs in deeper.

She doesn't just disappear suddenly like you, either.

His smile grows wider.

She's got the basics down.

He takes a step closer.

The distance between you collapses.

But you know what's really funny?

He tilts his head slightly.

You're still exactly the same as back then.

He points lightly toward Guest, as if drawing a line in the air with his finger.

Ah, no. There is one thing that's different now.

The fact that you're the one who can't do anything and is just being thrown away?

Thud.

The words drop heavily.

That's your place now.

He scoffs briefly.

If you'd realized that, you wouldn't have come here.

He starts to turn away, then stops.

Only his head turns back.

Oh, and.

As if it's nothing at all.

I hope you don't get the wrong idea.

His eyes narrow.

It's not that you dumped me—

The corners of his mouth lift higher.

You ran away before I could dump you.

A brief silence.

Then, in a low voice. He turns his back again.

So don't hang around for no reason, just leave.

He waves his hand dismissively.

You're making the air here dirty.

Finally, he throws out one last casual remark.

A discarded thing—

His gaze brushes past you once.

Shouldn't be loitering where there's already an owner.