SOOJIN'S POV
Words echoed in my mind, swirling like a chaotic storm. "What am I doing here? What's Arin doing here?" I tried to piece together the fragments of my memory. The last clear image I had was of Arin at the resort, her laughter ringing like music in the air. She had promised me a girls' day out, a time to unwind and forget our worries. But everything after that felt like a haze, a fog that obscured my thoughts and left me disoriented.
"Soojin?!" Arin's voice cut through the confusion, sharp and clear. I looked around, searching for her, but the world spun around me. A sudden ringing in my ears began, drowning out her voice and making it hard to focus. My heart raced as I felt a tightening in my chest, like a weight pressing down on me, stealing my breath away.
"Soojin..." she called again, her tone laced with worry. "Come with me..." she added as she pulled me outside. "Are you okay?" she questioned. "I am... I am..." I replied, trying to reassure her. "I am fine... I am fine..." I insisted as she got me to sit somewhere safe. "No, you're not. You're literally sweating. Are you sick? Should we go to the hospital?" she asked, her concern evident. Just then, a police officer approached us. "Excuse me, ma'am..." he said. "Can you please come with us and give us a statement? It won't take long." Arin looked back at me, uncertainty in her eyes. "Go," I urged, and she hesitantly left.
I sat there with my head in my hands, trying to gather my thoughts, when I heard someone call my name. "Soojin..." The voice pulled me from my fog, and I looked up to see Minho and Suho running towards us, their faces filled with worry..and concern.
*
*
..."Minho!!" I said in a low voice, my heart racing as I spotted him. "Soojin..." he called out, and I rushed to him, wrapping my arms around him tightly as tears streamed down my cheeks. "What's wrong?" he asked, concern etched on his face as I held onto him, feeling the warmth of his presence.
"She must be pretty shaken up," Arin chimed in, her voice gentle. "What happened?" Suho asked, his brow furrowed with worry. "Well, some man was causing trouble... but we have him taken care of," Arin explained. I could barely process her words; all I felt was exhaustion. "Soojin must be tired... how about you take her home?" she suggested. I glanced back at Minho, seeking reassurance. "She's right... I don't feel so well..." I admitted softly, and he cupped my face, his touch comforting...."Okay... let's go. The two of you should head home as well," he instructed Suho and Arin, and we turned to leave. The car ride was quiet... I didn't have the energy to speak, so I leaned against the window, watching the world blur by...
Finally, we arrived at my house..." should I escort you to your house?" Minho asked, his voice laced with concern. I managed a soft smile.."It's okay... I'll manage..." I replied, unbuckling my seatbelt and stepping out of the car. "Don't worry about me... goodnight," I said, waving at him as I walked away, feeling a mix of gratitude and sadness.
Once inside, I took a quick shower, hoping the warm water would wash away my worries. As I turned in for the night, a thought struck me, and I instinctively reached for my phone. I dialed Dr. Park's number, my heart pounding. I needed to know what was happening to me; was my illness getting worse? The uncertainty gnawed at me, and I wanted answers, even if they were hard to hear.
*
*
The next morning..I headed to the hospital to meet Dr Park..He sat before me...his expression a mix of professionalism and empathy. "As I explained to you before, the memory gaps or blackouts are being caused by the swelling in your brain," he said, his voice steady yet gentle. He glanced at the scans displayed on the monitor, the images a stark contrast against the white walls of the room. "From your scans, it shows that the pre-surgery medication has been taking effect, and your swelling hasn't increased an inch more... but that doesn't take away all its effects on your brain."...I swallowed hard, trying to process his words. "So I'll keep getting these?" I asked, a knot forming in my stomach."Most likely," he replied, his tone remaining calm.
I hesitated, the lump in my throat growing larger. "I have another question," I managed to say. "I've read somewhere that surgeries on the brain can lead to memory loss once done... is that going to happen to me too?"....Dr. Park took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "Well, according to Dr. Ethan, it's a fifty-fifty chance. We either successfully get rid of the swelling and everything hopefully goes back to normal, or we get rid of the swelling, and the effect leads to memory loss. And let's not forget the 5% chance of survival that we're trying to fight by attaining this pre-surgery medication."
His words hit me like a wave, crashing over my hope and leaving me gasping for air. I felt my head throb, not just from the physical pain but from the weight of what he was saying. I had come to him for clarity, but instead, I was met with a heart-wrenching reality..."Look, Ms. Kang," he said, his voice softening, "we are going to fight. So you shouldn't lose hope nor stress yourself out." He offered a warm smile, but I couldn't summon the strength to return it. The fear of the unknown loomed large, and all I could do was stare at the floor, feeling the tears prick at my eyes.
*
*
As I stepped out of the hospital, my phone rang, and I saw Minho's name flashing on the screen. "Hey..." I said softly, feeling a mix of emotions..."Hey, are you feeling better?" he asked, his voice laced with concern...."Yes... I am," I replied, trying to reassure him."Are you at home?" he questioned..."No, I'm on my way to the company... I have a contract to sign," I told him, feeling the weight of the day ahead..."Well, text me after you arrive," he said before we hung up. I got into my car and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the heaviness in my heart.
After arriving at the company, I followed his advice and sent him a text. Then, I headed to the boardroom where we were meeting some clients. As I walked in, Mr. Song was already presenting the idea for the bride and groom expo..."This is a bride and groom expo... we are getting celebrities like you to grace the runway in our custom-designed bridal dresses and suits. This is to give our brand more exposure. We had a long list of female celebrities, but I personally believe that you suit our brand more... Ms. Kang, what do you think?" he asked, looking directly at me.
I glanced back at Mr. Song and let out a deep sigh. "I like the idea..." I replied, trying to focus on the opportunity in front of me. We had already discussed the terms of the contract, and I felt ready to sign.Mr. Song nodded, adding, "We are ready to sign." As we signed the contracts, he said, "I can't wait to work together with you, Ms. Kang." We shook hands, and he left the room.
I sank back into my seat and closed my eyes for a moment, allowing the silence to wash over me. My heart felt heavy from what Dr. Park had said earlier, and I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. Just then, the door swung open, and I heard Nana's cheerful voice...."Soojin!!" she called out, and I opened my eyes to see her standing there with a bright smile. "You have a delivery," she said, raising an eyebrow. I was puzzled; I didn't remember ordering anything.
*
*
As I opened the lunch box delivery... the aroma of the beef pancakes wafted up, enveloping me in a wave of comfort. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of them...they looked delicious ... "What's that... it smells really good," Nana remarked, her curiosity piqued. I felt a warmth spread through me as I picked up my phone, fingers dancing over the screen. « THANK YOU » I typed to Minho, my heart swelling with gratitude. His response came almost instantly: « I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER AFTER HAVING THEM. » A smile tugged at my lips as I set my phone aside, the simple exchange brightening my mood.
I turned to Nana, hoping she might join me....but she told me that she was on a fruit salad diet..." are you sure?" I asked...."Yes, and I can't be tempted, so I'll head out," she replied as I smiled and watched her leave, the door clicking shut behind her, and I felt a pang of loneliness settle in the room.
As I took my first bite of the pancakes, a wave of flavors burst in my mouth, but with it came an unexpected rush of emotions. Tears began to roll down my cheeks, surprising me. It was as if the warmth of the food was unlocking something deep inside me, a mix of gratitude and sadness that I couldn't quite place...As I savored the pancakes,I felt both comforted and vulnerable at the same time.
*
*
The next couple of days were busy for me. I guess I was trying to keep myself occupied to numb the pain of my illness. You could say I was overworking myself, pushing through the discomfort. "That will be all for today," the director said, and I bowed to thank everyone for their time.
"I would like to treat everyone to some steak today to thank you all for the time and energy invested in this shoot," he announced, and the room erupted in cheers. I looked around at my colleagues, their faces lit up with excitement, and I felt a flicker of warmth. "Will you be joining us, Ms. Kang?" he asked, and I hesitated for a moment, the weight of my illness pressing down on me. But seeing their eager faces, I finally replied, "Okay," and the cheers grew even louder.
We headed to the steakhouse, the atmosphere buzzing with laughter and chatter. "Thank you all for the dedication you've invested in this project. I promise the meal will be even grander after we wrap up," the director said, raising his glass in a toast. The clinking of glasses filled the air, and I felt a sense of camaraderie that momentarily lifted my spirits.
"It's a fun occasion, Ms. Kang. Are you sure you just want to have some soft drinks?" he asked, eyeing my can of cola.
"I'm on medication, so I can't have any beer," I replied, taking a sip. ..."That's a bummer. I finally have the honor of drinking and eating beside the great Kang Soojin, and she can't drink with me in return," he joked, and the group started to chant, "One glass, one glass, one glass!" The chants grew louder, and to quell them, I took a deep breath and chugged the entire glass of beer, feeling the cool liquid rush down my throat.
For a moment, I forgot about everything else—the pain, the worry—and just let myself be part of the moment.
*
*
MINHO'S POV
I tried to call Soojin multiple times, but she wasn't picking up. Lately, something felt off with her, especially after her day off with Arin. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but the worry gnawed at me. Just as I was about to leave, Jinyoung said, "I'll be on my way," and walked out. I stayed back, my phone pressed to my ear, hoping for a response.
Finally, just as I was packing up to leave, my phone rang. It was Soojin, but her voice was slurred and unstable. "Soojin!" I called out, but she didn't respond. Just before I hung up, someone else picked up. "Hey, Mr. Choi. It's Nana, Soojin's assistant," she introduced herself. My heart raced. "What's happening? Where are you?" I asked, anxiety creeping in.
"Soojin has had a lot to drink. We are at Momo's Steak House," she directed me. Without wasting another moment, I hung up and rushed to meet them. When I arrived, I hurried into the steak house and spotted Soojin with her head on the table. "Soojin!!" I called out, and her eyes fluttered open.
"Minho... Choi Minho," she said, a smile breaking through her haze as she cupped my face. "It's really you..." Then, just like that, she drifted back to sleep. "I'll take her home," I said to Nana, but she assured me, "I have already called a cab. It will be here in a few minutes." I sat down, my heart still racing, and waited, hoping that once we got home, I could help her feel better. The cab arrived soon, and as we headed home, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to figure out what was really going on with her.
I couldn't take her to her house, so I brought her to mine. When we arrived, I helped tuck her into bed, watching her fragile state. "How did you get yourself so drunk?" I questioned, staring at her, hoping for some clarity. She mumbled, "Water... I want water," and I stood up to get it. But just as I turned to leave, she reached out and grabbed my hand.
"Don't go... I'm really scared... I don't think I can do this on my own... I'm really scared," she murmured, and I noticed a tear escape her eye. My heart sank. "What is wrong with you, Soojin?" I asked softly, wiping away the tear as I looked into her teary eyes. Something was definitely up with her, and I had a sinking feeling I knew what it might be.
After she finally fell asleep, I couldn't shake off the worry gnawing at me. I called Dr. Park, hoping he could shed some light on what was stressing her out. If it had anything to do with her illness, he was the one who knew her best. "Can we meet?" I requested, and he agreed to see me first thing tomorrow morning. "Okay, see you there," I said, hanging up. I knew I had to get to the bottom of this for her sake, and I was determined to help her through whatever she was facing.
*
*
*