If that’s the case, he brought it here with his selfish intentions, so now he thought he should do what Yeonwoo wanted, not him.

So he didn’t hold onto her when she said she wanted to break up.

He just thought she had returned to her place. A vacant, withered Kwon Junhwi without Yeonwoo.

However, today, Yeonwoo suddenly appeared. He thought her entering the office was a dream.

‘Hello, Attorney Kwon.’

At first, he thought it was a fantasy created by his brain, which was not functioning properly due to severe insomnia.

However, the lingering sweet scent in the surrounding air proved otherwise. It wasn’t a dream or fantasy.

When he finally snapped out of it, Yeonwoo was already gone.

······Even if something was wrong, it was wrong for a long time. We’ve broken up.
All day long, Junhwi, captivated by thoughts filled with Yeonwoo’s lingering scent, drank all the alcohol the CEO offered.

He intended to get drunk today. Others forget their sorrows by relying on alcohol, or so they say. He wanted to test that statement.

“Why are you so over the top at a company dinner like this?”

The attorney sitting next to him sent a meaningful look, suggesting he drink moderately.

“Because the alcohol is sweet.”

Junhwi dismissed the attorney’s concern and emptied his glass again.

“Why are you worrying so much? Drink the whiskey as if you’ve decided to drink until you collapse.”

“······.”

Even without Yeonwoo, there’s at least one person who cares. It’s not a completely failed life.

Junhwi, who chuckled, once again held a refilled glass in his hand.

“Attorney Yang. Attorney Yang Juyeon.”

“Huh? Why do you call me so disgustingly?”

“Thank you.”

“He’s drunk, Kwon Junhwi is drunk.”

Junhwi, staring at Attorney Yang who was making a face as if his tongue was burning, downed his glass.

“Drink in moderation! Kwon is hard to support because of his big build.”

“Sorry.”

“Today, your condition is really strange, isn’t it? You’re not smiling or apologizing, is something good happening?”

Something good. Without realizing it, Junhwi burst into laughter close to a roar.

“Does it look like that?”

However, his gaze sank incredibly cold.

When Attorney Yang was about to add another word, CEO Ro An-yul declared the end of the company dinner. The atmosphere dispersed into threes and fives.

“Attorney Kim Seungho.”

“Yes, Attorney Kwon.”

“Wanna go for a second round with me?”

It was an unbelievable phrase that came out of Junhwi’s mouth.

“What? Really? Are you serious, Attorney Kwon! It’s an honor for me!”

“Why, hey. Kwon Byun. Just quietly go home.”

But Attorney Yang persistently objected.

“I want to have one more drink with my favorite junior. Why can’t I?”

“Oh, Kwon Byun. Look at this. He’s drunk from head to toe.”

“Thank you.”

“Today of all days, why are you suddenly like this? Are you not smiling, not saying sorry? Is something good happening?”

Something good. Junhwi, who was completely drunk, burst into laughter again.

“Why are you doing something you’ve never done before, scaryly······.”

“I’ll buy a lottery ticket since I saw Attorney Kwon’s smile!”

Attorney Yang’s startled reaction, shaking his pupils as if he was about to pop out, and the unfair appearance of Kim Seungho pulling his hair were amusing.

Well, if he smiled like this, most people would be surprised, thinking something was wrong.

The only person who used to laugh back at him when he laughed was Kim Yeonwoo.

I miss her. To the point of dying.

“I really want to go for a second round. Since you keep saying things you usually don’t, it seems a shame, but it seems you shouldn’t drink any more here.”

“As expected. You don’t like it.”

“No, Attorney Kwon? Earlier, you called me ‘a favorite junior.’ What about that?”

Kim Seungho seemed unjust, gripping his head. What is that? Junhwi burst into laughter again.

Ah. This is what happens when you’re drunk.
Without thinking, without hesitation, he just needs to spit out the impressions that come to mind from moment to moment.

But then, in an instant, his face turned cold.

There was no reason. It just suddenly became uncomfortable, all of this situation.

“The designated driver has arrived. Kwon, you should go first.”

Attorney Yang, watching Junhwi fluctuate between highs and lows, added with an anxious expression.

“Be careful today, Kwon. It seems like you might get into a serious accident.”

“······.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s talk later. For now, go inside and rest.”

Being pushed into the back seat of the car like that felt unfamiliar. Another sardonic laughter escaped.

If only you could laugh like this for Kim Yeonwoo, a bit more.

A bit more expression, a bit more care, a bit more love.

The car, filled with regrets, arrived at its destination unnoticed.

Junhwi’s empty house.

The empty silence reminded him of a lifeless grave.

“······.”

Junhwi sat down heavily on the dark living room sofa and counted the darkness with his eyes.

[The living room is too dark at night. It would be pretty to have a floor stand. What do you think?] [Among these, which stand do you think would fit well? I appreciate your opinion!]

He remembered the text Yeonwoo sent a while ago.

Right. As she said, this place now was like total darkness without a single light.

What did I reply to that? I think I brushed it off with an excuse, saying I’m busy, do it yourself.

“······KIm Yeonwoo.”

Why did I act like such a fool?

“Yeonwoo.”

Like a sturdy wall that didn’t match, it felt like the firm appearance suddenly broke apart.

As he gazed at his collapsing self with a sense of powerlessness, he burst into a cynical laugh, then wrapped his head.

“Why aren’t you here?”

Only now did he realize. You’re not here in this empty place.

The time when I was so desperate to keep you every minute and every second seemed pale now. Out of concern for returning late, I let you out of this space, pretending it was considerate.

I didn’t think about what she wanted, what she was thinking.

Everything was like that. This selfish and stupid Kwon Junhwi did that.

If I was going to be selfish, I should have done it all the way. I shouldn’t have sent her off so emptily. I shouldn’t have let her go.

This is the cost of judging with the pride and logic I bragged about. I might as well throw away that kind of reasoning.

What have I done······!

A flame flickered in the hazy mind that had been blurry all along. Simultaneously, a sharp tinnitus struck his head.

“Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo… Yeonwoo.”

The clenched fist instinctively lifted the phone without hesitation. With that, Junhwi pressed the familiar number, closing his eyes tightly.