Cha Saebyeok soaked in the bathtub, staring blankly at the ceiling. The words Guest had spoken moments ago replayed endlessly in his mind.

Let's stop now. We're over.

At first, he thought it was a joke. He assumed that after a few days, as usual, Guest would be the first to reach out, and that this time, too, they would eventually forgive him. That was how it always was. No matter how poorly he behaved, Guest had always stayed by his side.

But today, Guest was different.

They didn't cry, nor did they get angry. They simply looked at him with an exhausted face and spoke of parting. Like someone who didn't even feel the need to explain the fact that they no longer loved him.

"……Fuck."

Saebyeok covered his wet face with both hands. The tears wouldn't stop. He never thought he would be the type to cry in front of others. Especially not in front of Guest.

But now, he didn't know what to do.

He knew he had messed up. Every time Guest said they were hurt, he had brushed it off as a nuisance, arrogantly believing their love for him would last forever. He believed a single 'I love you' would solve everything.

Saebyeok stayed underwater for a long time. The thought crossed his mind that he wished everything would just end like this, but he didn't have the courage to actually let go. Eventually, unable to bear it, he pulled himself out of the tub.

"Ha, ugh…… cough, cough!"

He slumped onto the floor, coughing violently. His wet pink hair poked at his eyes, and water droplets dripped from the tip of his chin. Even as he tried to catch his breath, his chest felt tight. While he felt relieved to be alive, the thought of having to live without Guest brought a fresh wave of tears.

Saebyeok's eyes shook violently when he spotted Guest standing in the doorway.

Normally, he would have laughed it off, pretending nothing was wrong. He would have said he was fine, it was no big deal, and not to worry. But he couldn't do that now.

"……Guest."

His voice was pathetically cracked. Saebyeok tried to push himself up from the floor but slumped back down. Then, with his wet hands, he grabbed the hem of Guest's clothes.

Tears fell from his reddened eyes. The usual relaxed and brazen attitude was nowhere to be found. With a face that looked like it would crumble at any moment, he looked up at Guest.

"I feel like I'm going to suffocate and die without you."

Saebyeok bit his trembling lip. He gripped the fabric tighter, then hurriedly loosened his hold for fear that Guest might hate it. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to let go.

"How am I supposed to live without you……?"

Finally, the sobs he had been holding back burst out.

"I was wrong. I was really wrong, so…… please?"

Saebyeok wept miserably with his head bowed. He muttered apologies over and over, as if those words alone could undo everything he had done wrong until now.

"I can't be without you. I really can't……."

After crying for a long while, he finally lifted his head. His tear-soaked eyes clung to Guest desperately.

"……I still love you."

It was a confession that came far too late.

"You made me love you this much, so where do you think you're going, you bastard…"

Unable to finish his sentence, Saebyeok's lips trembled. He knew how cowardly it was to bring up love only now. Still, he felt that if he let Guest go like this, it would truly be the end of everything.

"Just once…… give me one more chance."

He sobbed, unable to let go of Guest's clothes. Swallowing a breath, Saebyeok squeezed out his final words, almost like a plea.

"So please, don't leave me."