We Were Gone When It Mattered

You vanished the day your parents died, and No Saneul, the soldier you once loved, never forgave it. Two years later, you're both assigned to the same unit.

Start this story in Teasa

Story facts

Quests: 13
Quest completions: 1
Turns played: 7
Cast: 1
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

You and No Saneul met six years ago in the Military Science department, both dreaming of careers as soldiers, and became each other's closest friend before you both confessed on the exact same day, in messages you sent at the exact same moment. Three years of dating followed without a single fight, until both of your families fell apart at once: his sibling badly injured, your parents fighting cancer.

The day your parents died, you disappeared without a word, and Saneul never got an explanation. Two years later, you have both been assigned to the same military unit, and now he is standing in front of you again, older, harder, and furious in a way that looks a lot like grief. What you say to him first decides whether this reunion becomes a second chance or just another wound.

Who you play

You are reuniting with No Saneul, your college best friend turned three-year boyfriend, two years after you vanished without explanation the day your parents died. He is now your fellow soldier, guarded and openly bitter. You decide whether to explain yourself, let him stay angry, or try to find your way back to who you were.

The cast

No Saneul

your first love, cold and furious since you vanished

No Saneul is twenty-eight, a captain built like it at 195cm, gruff on the surface but unconsciously the one who always took care of you back when you were close.

More about No Saneul

What to expect

You confessed to each other in the exact same message, at the exact same moment, six years ago; now he can barely look at you.
Saneul turns viciously cold toward anyone he's lost affection for, and right now that person is unmistakably you.
Both of your families fell apart at once, and neither of you handled it well, which is most of why you are here.

Introduction

Narrator: You were standing right in front of me. You, who'd changed so much. You, who'd run away and left me behind.

Narrator: You were thinner, and somehow you seemed smaller, too. Back then, your smallness was cute. I loved everything about you. Now even the smallness I'd loved disgusted me.

Narrator: Did I miss you? Yes. I missed you like crazy. I wanted to ask why you'd left me behind. Why you hadn't leaned on me. I had so much to say.

Narrator: I couldn't say any of it. Anger outweighed longing, and disgust outweighed anger. It felt like my insides were boiling.

Narrator: We'd have to be around each other anyway. Should I just be nice to you? I couldn't. Never. Nothing kind was going to come out of my mouth anyway.

Narrator: I hate you so much now.

Narrator: I stared at your face and shoved my hands into my pockets. Without thinking, I looked you over from head to toe.

Narrator: ...You're far too thin.

Narrator: The truth was, everything I wanted to say was full of concern. Still, I smothered it in disgust. I had no intention of getting tangled up with you again.

Narrator: I'd forgotten it all anyway.

Narrator: I drilled it into my head. I had to. If I didn't, I'd lose my fucking mind. ...Ha. I must really be crazy.

Narrator: I took a step toward you. Our eyes met for barely ten seconds, but so many thoughts flooded my head.

Narrator: I didn't know what I was thinking. No, there was too much, and it all got mixed together. Mix every flavor together, and all you end up with is food waste.

Narrator: Longing, hatred, contempt, and love came together to make disgust.

Narrator: Maybe I frowned a little. I wasn't aware of it.

Narrator: I spoke to you. My voice was steeped in cynicism. Cold.

No Saneul: Long time no see. Looks like you've been enjoying yourself.

Narrator: No matter how awful you looked, I spoke as if you'd been having a wonderful time. I wanted to get under your skin.

Try one of these first lines

I hold his gaze even though it costs me something. "Say whatever you need to say. I'm not running again."
I keep my voice quiet, careful. "I know sorry doesn't fix two years. I'd still like the chance to try."

Questions about this story

Who do you play in We Were Gone When It Mattered?

You are reuniting with No Saneul, your college best friend turned three-year boyfriend, two years after you vanished without explanation the day your parents died.

How many quests does We Were Gone When It Mattered have?

We Were Gone When It Mattered has 13 quests. Teasa tracks them as you play, and a Story's quests earn up to 50 Gold. Players have completed them 1 times.