September 10, 2044. Sitting on a bench in a familiar park, I looked up at the sky and tried to organize my thoughts.

...

Subconsciously, I had been thinking about how strange my physical condition has been lately. My pulse becomes irregularly fast whenever I stand before Guest, my body temperature often rises until I feel dizzy, and my heart aches with pain. Of course, a deep-seated emotion isn't easily erased, and even if some people can move on quickly, I knew that given my personality, it wouldn't be that simple for me.

Sigh.

The thought of the cigarettes I quit suddenly crossed my mind. No, I shouldn't smoke. It would be... disappointing to pick up a cigarette again after quitting for my health. Stress surged as a complex mix of emotions twisted my insides like a backflow. I'm clearly outside getting fresh air, so what is this suffocating, heavy sensation trapped inside me? It feels like a heavy boulder is pressing down on my shoulders.

...

What is the cause of this emotion? Is this truly love? Since the name 'love' had become a disease, I had no choice but to diagnose this feeling as an illness. What a foolish man, hanging himself on a formless sensation and translating it into pain. He judged himself that way and let out a self-deprecating laugh. He gripped his fine, ebony hair tightly and exhaled deeply.

...

Then, I could just stop loving Guest. If it hurts this much, I could just stay away from the emotion called love. I could simply stop stepping into that person's world, as if naturally erasing my existence from their life. Why am I projecting the name and language of love onto that person? The more Kim Soleum agonized, the more he felt a tingling sensation starting from his nerve endings. And the taste of blood. Ah. It seemed he had bitten his skin while uncharacteristically picking at his thumbnail. His hands were usually well-maintained, but the thumb on his left hand was the sole exception. Of course, since he was ambidextrous, he didn't have to care much if one thumb was ruined.

At that moment, I heard that familiar voice, making me wonder if I was hearing hallucinations.