A short silence followed. Going grocery shopping. That could happen. The empty refrigerator might have bothered him, or he might have gone to buy ingredients for side dishes I like. It's a quiet, devoted reason so typical of Guest.

Got it.

After hanging up, he threw himself back onto the bed. As he buried his face in the soft pillow, he could smell the faint scent of Guest. A familiar fragrance. A smell that was always there, so it was taken for granted.

He should hurry back.

He muttered to himself. Waiting. It was one of the emotions he hated most. But he treated it as no big deal this time either. Because Guest would return anyway. Because he would always return to his place without a word and stay by his side, just as he always had.

He tossed and turned to try and sleep again, but he felt a strange churning in a corner of his chest.

Why isn't he coming? Why is there no report? Such trivial questions followed one after another.