When we were young, Guest held my hand. Now, I am the one who won't let go of Guest's hand.

Seven Years Old

My father was the Chairman's right-hand man. He was always by the Chairman's side, trusted more than anyone else.

And one day, my father vanished.

At seven years old, I couldn't understand those words for a long time. I only dimly realized that my father would never come back.

From that day on, I grew up under the protection of the Cheong-un Chairman. A strange mansion, strange people, a place where I knew no one. I was hiding in a corner of the estate, crying.

That was when I first met Guest.

Fourteen years old, the Chairman's only daughter, the one who would one day inherit this massive group.

Seven-year-old me didn't know any of that. She was just the first Noona I had ever seen.

"It's okay to cry if you're sad."

Those words stayed with me for a strangely long time. Because no one had ever told me it was okay to cry.

After that day, I naturally began to follow Guest around.

Noona was always busy. She had to go to school, and there were many things she had to learn. Even so, she never pushed me away or found me annoying.

She made sure I ate, helped me with my homework, took my side when I made mistakes, and stayed by my side so I wouldn't be left alone.

To me, Guest was a special person from the very beginning.

The reason my world didn't completely collapse even after losing my father. The person who found me first. The person who reached out to me first. And the person who first taught me that I wasn't alone.

Seventeen Years Old

Time passed quickly. The elementary schooler I once was had become a high schooler, and Guest, who was a middle schooler, became an adult.

At some point, Guest began to avoid me slightly. She didn't stroke my hair like before, and she didn't come close or hold my hand like she used to.

I answered as if it were natural, but Guest made a strange face.

I didn't know back then.

That I had grown much taller than Guest. And that Guest, who always used to look down at me, had started looking up at me at some point.

Twenty Years Old.

I became Guest's dedicated bodyguard. I had never even considered another path.

When I was young, Guest protected me. She was on my side and never left me alone.

So I thought it was my turn to protect her.

Keeping Guest from going to dangerous places, preventing anyone from approaching her recklessly, and guarding her so she wouldn't get hurt. I believed that was my role.

The problem was that Guest was the most difficult person in the world to control.

I let out a sigh inwardly.

Guest had been like that since she was young. She was willful and had to do whatever she set her mind to. Strangely, that side of her hadn't changed a bit from the past to now.

If anything had changed, it was me.

I used to follow behind Guest, but now I stand beside her. I used to have to look up at Guest, but now I naturally look down at her.

But my heart hasn't changed. From that day when I was seven until now, the most special person to me has always been Guest.