17171771
A phenomenon where people remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed ones.
“Hey, my tie came loose. Could you fix it for me?”
My head spun at the nonchalant request coming from Ryu Minseok's lips. I stood there, mouth agape like a goldfish thrown out of water. Was it because I had run into the face I wanted to avoid most? That was part of it, but not all. Is he actually insane? I knew he was crazy since a long time ago, but this was on a whole different level. What kind of lunatic tracks down their ex on their wedding day and asks them to tie their necktie?
I had no intention of doing it. Yet, my body was already moving. I let out a deep sigh and gestured with my hands. Ryu Minseok, who had been shifting his eyes like a puppy that knew it did something wrong, beamed brightly. He trotted over and handed me the tie. Seeing that clear smile, as if he knew nothing of the pain he caused, made my blood boil.
"... Hey, if you're getting married, you should at least know how to tie your own tie."
"Do it yourself. I can't do this for you anymore."
My hands trembled slightly as I worked on the knot. I needed to calm down, but I couldn't. He was close enough for me to feel his breath. My heart pounded so hard I was afraid he might hear it. I bit my lip and kept my head down. The familiar scent of his perfume brushing against the tip of my nose with every movement, his habit of not being able to keep his hands still—everything was exactly the same as before. 'Congratulations.' Those five syllables were stuck in my throat. We're already broken up. We're nothing to each other. I just need to say it. Why can't I?
.
"…. Take care."
In the end, I couldn't say 'Congratulations.' I felt nauseous. The food I had just eaten swirled in a knot in my stomach. I covered my mouth with a trembling hand. Music flowed from the speakers, and the officiant's remarks congratulating the marriage hammered into my ears. I wanted to run away. I shouldn't have come. Why did I come to a place like this?
Before I knew it, the march of the bride and groom began. From a distance, it was a picture of pure happiness. A beautiful wedding, celebratory songs, and guests. It was nothing short of perfect. But I couldn't blend in. I was like oil on water, just drifting on the surface.
I tried to endure it, but the moment I saw them kiss on the altar, I kicked back my chair and bolted. I couldn't stand it anymore. What was I even hoping to gain by being here? I rushed into the hallway and ran to the restroom. I grabbed the toilet and retched.
"Wait, wait! Where are you going!"
Behind me, Ryu Minseok's voice echoed. Why did he follow me out? That bastard. I didn't look back. I couldn't bear to see his face. I felt like if I saw him, I'd start crying pathetically. I thought I had given up on love. So why does my heart feel like it's being ripped apart at the news of your marriage? Eventually, I stopped and let a few tears fall. I ran out of the venue as if escaping. I was out of breath. My breathing hitched, and a sobbing sound escaped me.
I liked him first. I confessed first. He wouldn't even accept my confession to try again, and now he's gone and gotten married. I hated Ryu Minseok so much it hurt. If he was going to do this, he shouldn't have come to see me. Why did he have to show up even on his wedding day and mess with my head?
You're a bad person until the very end.
The air in Tokyo was humid. Perhaps because it had just rained, it was stiflingly hot. The weather was as unpredictable as ever. I adjusted my bag strap and pulled my suitcase. I had only taken one step, but it felt as hot as falling into lava. Heat shimmered off the asphalt as I waited for a taxi. I couldn't get used to the Tokyo summer, which was quite different from Korea's. Now, I can't even remember what a Korean summer was like.
It had been five years since I left Korea. I struggled hard to forget Ryu Minseok. I met various people, went to clubs I never used to visit, and even started smoking, something I never touched before.
The first three years were difficult. No matter how many people I met, Ryu Minseok's face would pop into my head the moment I lay in bed, and the bright smile he gave me while asking me to tie his tie on his wedding day would haunt me. But, as they say time is the best medicine, I gradually began to grow numb. I wasn't sad anymore. I stopped the nightly drinking and stopped dreaming of him. New skin had grown over the wound that wouldn't heal.
And now, it was time to return to where I belonged.
After arriving in Korea, I lived in a daze for about a month. I unpacked, met up with friends, and successfully landed a job at a firm.
I thought all that was left was to make a fresh start.
But seeing Ryu Minseok standing in front of my house looking like a wreck, I froze like a stone. Is this a prank? My brain seemed to stop functioning. I felt like I understood how Burbank felt in The Truman Show. Was the world filming a hidden camera show targeting me? I couldn't believe this nonsensical situation, so I tried to dismiss the Ryu Minseok before my eyes as a hologram. It's just a hallucination. I have been tired lately. The moment I tried to close the door, Ryu Minseok jammed his foot into the gap. His round eyes widened in pain, and then they began to redden with tears.
Ah…. Guest, wait a second, um… it's been a long time. You've been well, right?
My mind was blank. To show up out of the blue and say only that. Was I well? How should I answer that question? I was doing terrible. I thought I was going crazy for three years. I drank every night and sobbed my eyes out. I felt the strength drain out of my body. I couldn't even manage a laugh. It had been five years. I certainly thought I would be okay. I wasn't sad, and he didn't appear in my dreams anymore.
I got a divorce... could you help me out a bit?
The faint outside noise began to fade away. They say your chest hurts when you receive a great shock. My vision turned yellow, and forgotten memories were surfacing. The place where new skin had grown throbbed. As if it were being slashed with a knife.
Emotions I had kept bottled up came pouring out of the torn gaps. I couldn't turn back. I tried to gather them up, but unfortunately, they only slipped through my fingers. Fuck. Why, why do you keep tormenting me? My hand on the doorknob trembled. The emotions I faced properly for the first time in five years were too immense. Like a tsunami, they swallowed and tore through everything inside me.
You were finally forcing your way into my lungs, drowning me.
Release Date 2026.10.28 / Last Updated 2026.10.28