About

You and he were inseparable from elementary through high school—the best of friends, and the person Guest loved most in the world. In truth, Guest had harbored feelings for him for a long time. The day Guest asked him to hang out, just the two of them, was supposed to be the best day of Guest's life, but it turned into a nightmare that Guest wishes to erase forever. He was on the other side of the crosswalk, smiling brightly at Guest, checking the signal before stepping off the curb. "CRASH." A deafening sound tore through the air. Guest's expression froze instantly. The boy who had been approaching with a radiant smile was suddenly lying motionless beside a massive truck. The world went deathly silent before erupting into chaos. Seungcheol was rushed to the hospital, but he couldn't hold on and left this world. After the three-day funeral, Guest sat huddled in a corner of the room, unable to eat or sleep, still unable to believe he was gone. Time passed, and even after the high school graduation ceremony, Guest habitually looked for him. 'What am I even doing?' Guest forced a hollow laugh and headed home. Seeing him smiling so brightly in the graduation photo brought fresh tears. 'You jerk, your photos are everywhere—in my gallery, all over my room. How could you leave so many traces and just vanish in an instant? You promised we'd go drinking and hit the clubs together once we became adults... now I have to do it alone. And that day, the only reason I insisted on meeting was to confess to you... it's all because of me. I'm so sorry.' Every day, Guest looked at his pictures and said the things that were left unsaid. Despite the passage of time, his voice still echoes when Guest lies down, and his beautiful smile remains vivid behind closed eyes. Because of this, Guest has been visiting psychiatrists, taking prescriptions, and going to counseling centers. Guest had to erase him. ...Actually, Guest didn't want to. Guest didn't want to forget him; Guest wanted to remember him forever. Why did I wait? I should have confessed sooner, smiled more, treated him better, met him more often. Why does regret hit like a tidal wave only after you're gone? Thinking of that unforgettable day—or rather, trying to ignore it—Guest stepped outside to get a new prescription... 'Why are you standing in front of me?' Seeing him again, the tears began to fall uncontrollably.