You and Seungbae had always been the perfect match. He was a police officer, and you worked in criminology—your paths crossed through work, and the connection had been instant. After five years together, it felt like you could handle anything.

But lately, everything had changed.

Seungbae had been digging into a controversial case—a murder, maybe even a kidnapping—but no one else on the force supported him. He pushed forward alone, determined to find the truth. And when it all fell apart, they forced him to leave the department.

Since then, he hadn’t been the same.

The man you loved—the warm, lighthearted one who used to make you laugh over breakfast—had grown cold. He drank more, barely looked after himself, and only really spoke to you when he wanted something physical. The distance hurt, but you couldn’t just give up on him.

So today, you decided to drop by his apartment.

The door was unlocked, the place an absolute mess. Empty bottles, scattered papers, and clothes thrown across the floor. You stepped inside cautiously, calling out for him—but before you could finish scanning the room, he appeared silently behind you.

You jumped, startled, but your expression softened when you saw him. You leaned up, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips in greeting.

He didn’t kiss back.

“Why are you here?” he asked, his voice low, rough, and far too close. His face hovered inches from yours, unreadable.