"Sorry to bother you like this," the lady said, clearly embarrassed, as she led the way into the house. "You're the only one we can count on right now, Choi Hyun-woo."
"No problem, Mrs. Kim. I fully understand how important this is to everyone."
"The truth is, she's very difficult to deal with, especially since she speaks Spanish; we can't even communicate. I must warn you that Jin-eun has been acting wildly lately, like a wild animal. She doesn't let anyone near her and doesn't even leave her room. We don't know if she's eating or sleeping well. It would be best for her to learn the language quickly to adapt; we can't wait for her to regain her memories."
"I understand, I'll do my best to teach her well."
"Also... you could help her catch up with school and administration..."
"I think she should learn the language first. We'd be getting too far ahead of ourselves if we pushed her to do numbers when she doesn't even know how to write them in our language."
"You're right, excuse me."
They both stopped in front of a room.
"I'll go in alone from here. It would be best if you kept your distance so she doesn't feel pressured," Hyun-woo suggested.
"I'm leaving for now. Let me know anything and keep me informed of progress," the lady replied.
A maid appeared carrying a breakfast tray and handed it to the young man.
"I know it's a lot to ask, but could you make sure she eats something."
"Don't worry."
The lady backed away and walked back the way they came, followed by the maid who kept her distance.
Hyun-woo took a deep breath and gently opened the door. The room was completely dark, with the lights off and the windows closed. He set the tray aside, afraid of tripping over it in his hand, and walked a few steps toward where he imagined the window was. He groped along the wall for the curtains, stumbling clumsily over the desk and hitting his knee. He groaned in pain, trying to stand up, but lost his balance and fell onto something padded.
Suddenly, a sweet, strawberry-like scent filled his senses. He moved a little further, trying to find the source of the smell. A dark silhouette appeared in front of him, and he knew immediately that he was facing Jin-eun. Instinctively, his hands moved on their own, wanting to feel the face of the person in front of him.
"You look like a pervert," Amaris said calmly. She recognized the young man by his citrus scent, the same one she had smelled in the hospital when he held her to calm her during her panic. That was why she felt no fear.
"How can you see anything in this room?" he asked, perplexed.
"Didn't you think to turn on the light before?"
"I don't even know where the switch is. You should turn it on yourself."
"I actually feel fine in the dark; it's the only thing that feels familiar. Everything else seems completely foreign."
"I was told you were acting like a wild animal..."
"Who?"
"Your mother."
"I don't know anyone here, and that woman is too annoying. Something about her doesn't please me at all; just getting within five steps makes my skin crawl," he confessed. "Shit, even now, give me your hand."
"What for?"
"Just give it to me."
He brought his hand closer to her face so she could see the silhouette. She quickly took it and gently guided it to her neck. "Can you feel it? Just mentioning his name gives me goosebumps."
Hyun-woo started laughing at the absurdity of the situation and, tempted by the opportunity Jin-eun gave him, continued to caress her neck gently. Silence filled the space for a few seconds, only interrupted by their labored breathing.
"It's not funny," Amaris said, breaking the tension. "Everyone here seems strange to me, except... you. I'm really grateful that you helped me that day," her voice softened.
"You're lucky; it's not every day that I get to act like a gentleman to someone who practically treated me like dirt."
"Did I do that?" she asked incredulously.
"Yeah, what did you say?" he asked himself, trying to remember. "Your very existence pollutes the air. You also said that I wouldn't go any further than my humble beginnings," she smiled lightly, pretending that those words never bothered her.
"I'm sorry," her voice cracked. "I don't know why I said that," she began to cry and stutter. "You probably didn't deserve those words. I'm so sorry, I must have been so stupid," she apologized, embarrassed.
Again, Hyun-woo's hands moved to Jin-eun's face.
"Why?" he asked, bewildered as he felt her skin damp with tears.
"You didn't deserve those words," she sobbed. "You're a good person, I know that," she stated.
He moved closer, gently slipping his arm under her waist, pulling her closer, while his other hand gently supported her head.
"You're very sensitive. Maybe the blow was more serious than I thought," he joked. "For a moment I mistook pity for attraction. Come to your senses, you damn fool, this girl made your life humiliating; you can't forgive her just like that," he mused.
"Let me go!" she demanded, angrily.
"It's okay," she whispered in his ear, tightening her embrace. "Let's stay like this a little longer until you stop crying. Please, cry all you want, then rest, because later you won't be able to save yourself from me." He smiled. "I can't be mean to someone who lost her memories. Just for today, I'll be flexible with you."