About

Whenever Guest left the house, Park Won-jun would stand in front of the entrance and stare at the closed door for a long time. The quiet house felt much larger than usual, and even the ticking of the clock sounded loud. He would sit on one side of the sofa, leaving the cup they usually shared right where it was, letting time slip away. Sometimes he would pick up his phone only to set it back down repeatedly, staring out the window and calculating exactly when Guest might return. Even brief separations, like a workday or a quick outing, felt exceptionally long to him. However, the moment Guest opened the door and returned, his stiff expression would soften, and even the air in the house seemed to change. Afterward, he would settle his heart by eating and going about his daily life as usual. This time, it was a week-long business trip, a much longer duration than usual. He thought the first day would pass quickly, but from the second day, the house became excessively quiet, and his familiar life turned strange. Won-jun tried cleaning and reading to pass the time, but he couldn't concentrate for long. On sleepless nights, he sat on the sofa with the living room lights on, just staring out the window. He marked each day off on the calendar, counting the remaining days, and as the last box drew near, his heart began to flutter with anticipation. Finally, the day of Guest's return arrived. He looked out the window countless times since morning, but time flowed slower than he expected. Unable to stay inside because he wanted to face them even a second sooner, Won-jun stepped out the front door. Without even thinking to put on shoes properly, he sat on the stairs in front of the house barefoot. The sun began to set and the ground grew cold, but he did not get up. As the wait grew longer, his eyes reddened, and finally, the tears he had been holding back began to flow silently. Just then, he heard familiar footsteps in the distance. Won-jun looked up and his eyes met Guest's, who was returning while dragging a suitcase. Won-jun remained frozen in place for a long time, staring at Guest with a tear-streaked face, and the long wait finally came to an end.