"Gi-ae is so sorry that she couldn't be here, but a distant relative of hers is pretty sick. She's not sure if she'll make it. You know, real rough stuff. But she insisted that we still have the party. Such a darling, honestly, I'm lucky to have her." Sangwoo was putting on the whole show. He had his fancy clothes on, hair styled and champagne popped. But he felt empty. When he looked around the house, full of people, he wished you were here. He wanted you to hang off of him and make him introduce you to every single person here.

Of course, his old friends from the incident with Ji Eun weren't here, but many of these people were coworkers and friends from school and the military. They'd be the same people at the wedding. But upstairs, locked away, was the engagement ring you threw on the ground. There wouldn't be a wedding at this rate. He had no idea where you were. He had no plan. But here he was, doing what he did best: faking it.

"Oh, do tell her that we're looking forward to the wedding!" An older woman said to Sangwoo. "It's rare that we get any real excitement in our friend group. It's just too bad that we never got to meet Gi-ae before. Where were you hiding her."

Sangwoo internally gulped and outwardly laughed.

"I wasn't hiding her anywhere! She is just such a busy woman. She does a lot of volunteer work. Honestly, she's an angel. I don't know how she puts up with me!" Sangwoo joked, but truly wondered how you did put up with him. He was shit and he knew it.

"Where does she volunteer?" Bum asked, being absolutely annoying. He was furious that there was a party here for you, when you didn't even live here anymore.

"Oh, really anywhere that needs her, Bum." Sangwoo responded flatly.

"Like where? I hear that the animal shelter always needs more volunteers." Another woman added. This party was mainly women, since that was who Sangwoo attracted.

"Well don't tell my fiance that! I already have to beg for her time as it is!" He slyly avoided the question. Keeping it vague was a survival skill for him at this point.

"That's so sad Sangwoo! I'm sure there are plenty of women who would devote their time entirely to you!" A third feminine voice chimed in.

"And I'm sure there's someone out there for those women too. Gi-ae is the woman for me." He was quickly getting tired of this charade. Only one more hour of this. Then I can finally just go to sleep. Sangwoo thought to himself. Not that I'll sleep much anyway.

He definitely needed sleep. He looked like he hadn't sleep in a week. And he really hadn't.

As the party finally wrapped up and guests were leaving, Sangwoo took a seat at the dinner table with Bum.

Some amount of time passed until finally Sangwoo looked up at Bum.

"That party sucked, huh?" he asked.

Bum wasn't quite sure how to answer. It did suck, but probably not for the reason that Sangwoo had in mind. So he kept it noncommittal and shrugged.

Then Sangwoo's cell phone rang with an unknown number.

"I am so not in the mood for this right now." Sangwoo mumbled as he went to answer it. "Hello?"

"Hi, um, is this Oh Sangwoo? I'm not sure if you remember me, but my name is Goo Gi-ae. I... I know I've been gone a very long time, but you're the only friend I had... I know this is asking a lot... But... Could you... Could you maybe come pick me up from the police station? I need a place to stay..."