[This series is absolute garbage. Is the author really an educated adult? The hype for this trash is a crime. Anyone enjoying it must have a single-digit IQ or a severe lack of brain cells. The best thing about it is the announcement that Jisoo will be the lead actress. Even a 4 out of 100 would be too generous for this mess.]

And… sent.

Park Minjae grabbed his cup noodles and slurped. Hot. His lips burned, but the pain was short-lived as his phone vibrated.

3 Notifications from CoreBook.

Mr. Goldenfinger, Seo Hyeun-Woo (Real One), Deculein (Not a Barça Fan), and 30 others commented on your post.

[GigaChadCritic]

I get your point, but I think you're being too harsh, dude. This series might not live up to the hype, but it's not that bad.

[RatioKing420]

At least explain clearly which parts you didn't like.

[Your Dad Wrote This]

Fatherless behavior.

[KeyboardWarrior_69]

Let's normalize ignoring opinions from people with anime profile pictures.

[Sauce Hunter]

Anyone know the title of the series?

Reasons? If people only needed the series to go viral to love it, did Minjae really need reasons to hate it?

Replying to RatioKing420:

[Reasons? I think anyone with a brain can see it. First, the plot is aimless. The main character has no relevant motivation and often acts childish despite being 30 years old. Thirty, and he still gets flustered when teased by teenage girls? F*ck me. I think this novel is made for people who leave their brains behind to enjoy it.]

Minjae smiled, satisfied with his reply.

That satisfaction quickly faded when he looked around his room.

Empty takeout boxes, used bottles, dirty plates, and crumpled tissues were strewn around his bed.

Even though it was already noon, he hadn't opened the curtains, leaving the room in darkness.

He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.

A man with an unkempt beard and messy hair that was long enough to cover his ears stared back.

That wasn't the appearance of a 25-year-old man.

I look like I'm in my 40s.

His shirtless torso revealed a flabby stomach—a classic sign of a middle-aged married man who had married.

Minjae wasn't married and never would be. He once had hopes, but not anymore.

His phone buzzed, but it wasn't another CoreBook notification.

The sender's name had long been deleted from his contacts, but the tone of the message was familiar.

[Minjae-oppa, how are you?]

Minjae stared at it without any intention of replying. There were 10 similar messages from the same sender, each sent weekly for over two months.

And before those messages…

Minjae stopped himself from scrolling further up.

Seong Yuna.

The sender's name brought back memories of a woman with shoulder-length hair and an effortlessly cool beauty. Believe it or not, she once dated a loser like him.

They met during an internship program. Minjae had admired Yuna, not just for her outer beauty but for her inner kindness.

Both were offered full-time positions, though placed in different departments.

Yuna thrived, rising to become a division head, while Minjae stumbled repeatedly, earning the ridicule of his colleagues.

Eventually, unable to bear the humiliation, he resigned. Though Yuna accepted his decision, a strange feeling began to fester in Minjae as he remained unemployed.

A successful and beautiful woman like Yuna deserved someone better.

No one had said it outright, but Minjae knew it deep down.

He started pulling away, escalating their relationship into petty arguments. One day, he lashed out, venting all his frustration and saying things he didn't mean.

He accused Yuna of staying in the relationship only because career women like her needed man they could control.

He even brought up her mother, who stayed in an abusive marriage with her father for financial reasons, claiming they'd end up in the same situation out of spite.

That was 10 months ago. Though it was never explicitly stated, they had broken up.

And I never apologized.

Another message popped up.

[I know you're there, oppa.]

[That means you're okay, right? Please, reply to my message. Just tell me you're okay!]

Just as Minjae was about to type a reply, another message arrived.

[You know what, you don't have to. I just wanted to say… sorry.]

[All this time, I've been venting my frustrations but never asked about how you felt. How you were really doing.]

[You've been through so much, and I wasn't there for you.]

[As your partner, I failed you, and you have every right to hate me for that.]

Minjae bit his lip.

No, I didn't open up because of my pride. Because I didn't want to be seen as weak and pathetic by you.

[No matter how much I wish things hadn't ended, I know it's not possible.]

[Honestly, just as some things about me frustrated you, there were parts of you that frustrated me too.]

[You said I always looked down on you because of my higher position. Then why didn't you try harder so we could stand on equal footing?]

[You got upset when I commented on the mess in your room. Then why didn't you clean it up?]

[You hated how my friends looked down on you when you picked me up. Then why didn't you dress better?]

What? Is she trying to mock me? Apologizing just to insult me? If that's the case, say it to my face, you—

His thumb froze as another message appeared.

[... why did you stop trying?]

[You know, even if you stopped believing in yourself, I still believed in that part of you.]

[The part of Park Minjae that was kind, hardworking, and dependable.]

[But it's useless if I'm the only one who believes.]

[It's useless if I'm the only one trying.]

[So, oppa, I'm sorry.]

[I've…]

[… given up.]

*#*

The bustling cityscape of Seoul was visible even from this rundown apartment.

After being evicted by his landlord a month ago, this was the only place that would take him in for a minimal fee.

Minjae still had enough savings to pay for three more months.

That money was supposed to go toward his wedding with Yuna.

They had even measured their ring sizes and talked about wedding outfits.

But now, all of that was gone.

Minjae had lost many people. His father remarried, his mother passed away, and his friends left over financial disputes.

But this… this felt different.

Like a searing hot iron plunged into his chest, burning and suffocating.

[... I still believed in that part of you. The Park Minja that kind, hardworking, and dependable one.]

Those words echoed in his mind.

Park Minjae ran his hands through his hair in frustration. 

Just call me a disgusting pig who isn't worth your time anymore. There's no need to sugarcoat it.

Minjae made a decision.

He would change himself.

He'd find a job, work out, and reappear in front of Yuna as a better man, making her regret ever leaving him.

See? I've already taken the first step.

He walked toward the balcony, ready to face the sunlight for the first time in ages.

But Minjae stepped on a plastic bottle, slipped, and toppled over the low balcony railing, plummeting three stories down.

In that moment, Minjae locked eyes with the rapidly approaching ground.

Pain engulfed him as darkness consumed everything.