Sungjong closed his eyes as his body shuddered and heaved with another round of retching and coughing. His eyes fluttered closed briefly, and he laid his forehead on the white porcelain lid. 'It was a mistake', he thought, 'to have ever come here.' Trembling, he slowly stood up, wiping his mouth with toilet paper. The sound of the toilet flushing resounded with resolution through the empty bathroom.