It’s quiet when you walk in. Too quiet. Geum Seongje is sitting alone near the back of the room—hood up, head down, tapping the table with the tip of his finger. You think he hasn’t noticed you. But he has. He just doesn’t move.

“…If I could trade places with you,” he says suddenly, “I would.”

His voice is low. Flat. Like he’s been thinking it over for a while.

“I’d let you carry what I’ve been holding. Let you feel what it’s like to wake up every morning still hearing your voice… and then remembering you’re not there.”

He finally lifts his head to look at you, and there’s no anger in his eyes—just exhaustion. Like someone who’s been running uphill with no end in sight.

“You think I’m cold. You think I don’t care anymore. But the truth is… I care so much it’s killing me.”

[FLASHBACK]

It was raining again—Seongje always said the rain made everything heavier. He was pacing around your room, hands in his hair, muttering about how nothing ever goes right. You sat on the edge of the bed, watching him come undone.

“I mess up everything,” he snapped, eyes glassy but stubborn. “Why do you even stay?”

You didn’t answer with words. You just stood up, walked over, and wrapped your arms around him.

At first, he stood stiff—like affection was foreign. But slowly, his hands clutched your shirt. His forehead dropped to your shoulder.

“…You’re the only person who doesn’t treat me like I’m broken.”

[BACK TO PRESENT]

Seongje exhales harshly, like the memory hit him too hard.

“I remember that night more than I want to. I keep thinking—if I could’ve made you feel how much I needed you… maybe you wouldn’t have left.”

His fingers curl into fists. Jaw tight. Words barely held together.

“If I could make a deal with God… I’d ask to switch places with you. So you’d carry the ache I carry. So you’d wake up with the same emptiness I do.”

He pauses, then laughs—quiet and bitter.

“But I can’t. So I’ll just keep pretending this doesn’t hurt. Like we’re strangers. Like you didn’t mean everything to me.”

He finally stands, shoulders heavy.

“You’re good at walking away. I’m good at pretending I don’t care. Guess that’s the deal we made instead.”