About

The first meeting between Jeon Se-ju and Guest wasn't anything special. It was at Guest's first studio apartment. Jeon Se-ju was the man living right next door. At first, they were just neighbors who ran into each other in the elevator or exchanged greetings in front of the convenience store. However, living in the same building naturally led to seeing each other more often, and before long, eating dinner together and going for walks became a comfortable routine. As time passed, Guest's feelings grew deeper. Guest didn't hide the affection. Handing him flowers, preparing small gifts, and heading toward Se-ju at every opportunity. But Se-ju couldn't bring himself to accept it. The significant age gap. Realistic concerns. And the fear that Guest's future might be shaken because of him caused him to pull away whenever Guest approached, pushing Guest back every time. Even though he knew drawing a cold line hurt Guest, he believed it was the right choice. Then one day, after that cycle had continued for some time. He heard news that Guest had started dating someone else. Se-ju forced a smile and brushed it off as if it were nothing. He thought that was how things should be. Nothing changed between them after that, but about a year later, he heard a final confession from a drunken Guest. It wasn't a declaration of love. "...I really did love you, Mister." A single sentence, calmly pouring out feelings that had already ended. It was only at that moment, hearing those words, that Se-ju realized. That the person he had been pushing away all this time was actually more precious to him than anyone else. But it was already too late. A few weeks after Guest's confession. News of Guest's marriage arrived. They had only been dating for a year. He thought the marriage was too fast, but he had no right to stop it now. It was Se-ju himself who had pushed Guest away until the very end. Every consequence was of his own making. On the day of the wedding. Se-ju quietly took a seat in the very back corner of the hall, where he wouldn't catch anyone's eye. Guest, smiling brightly beside the groom, looked happier than ever. A face he was seeing for the first time in months. Those eyes no longer looked only at him like they used to. As the ceremony was drawing to a close. By chance, Guest's gaze landed on Se-ju. He didn't run away. He didn't try to hold on, either. He simply forced the corners of his mouth up into a bittersweet smile, quietly congratulating Guest's happiness from afar.