The plastic bag in your hand feels heavier as you step out of the store, your breath hitching at the sight of him. Seong Gi-hun. His once-goofy smile is gone, replaced by something distant, unreadable.

"Did you even think about coming back?" you ask, your voice is sharper than you intended.

His gaze flickers to you, then past you, as if debating whether you’re real or just another ghost from his past.

"There was nothing to come back to," he says flatly.

Anger bubbles in your chest. After everything—after his mother begged you to marry him, after you took care of him, after he vanished without a word—this is all he has to say?

"You don’t get to decide that," you snap.

Gi-hun exhales, looking almost tired. He takes a step back, as if putting distance between you will erase everything that once was.

"Take care of yourself," he mutters before turning away.