What Happened to us?

Holding the doorknob outside their grandma's room, Minji stared at her hand. Gripping the steel and not sparing a glance at the woman beside her, she asked in a stern voice, "Hanni, what was that?"  

"I-I’m sorry. It’s just—I panicked, okay? I had to say something to make her stop!"  

The Korean closed her eyes to compose herself, inhaling sharply before looking at Hanni briefly in disbelief. She let go of the knob defeated and walked ahead, her steps heavy. Hanni followed with a sigh.  

Hearing the swift movement of Hanni behind her, Minji, without looking back, spoke calmly but sternly, "And out of all the things, you just had to use the marriage?"  

"Well, I didn’t know what else to say!" Hanni exclaimed, desperation spilling through her words. "What was I supposed to do—tell her that I forgot eight years of my life!? She doesn’t know! Okay!? She doesn’t know I had amnesia!"  

Minji froze, the weight of the words sinking in. Slowly, she turned to face Hanni, offended. "What? And why did no one tell me about this beforehand?"  

Hanni scoffed, looking away with a sarcastic smirk. "I don’t know, Minji. I don’t know who’s the one barely showing up."  

A tight-lipped smile spread across Minji's face, her patience thinning. "I told you I was busy. The office needs me."  

"For three whole days?!" Hanni snapped, the suppressed irritation finally breaking free. "Even Haerin and Danielle, with their own busy lives, managed to visit me! Consecutively, Minji!"  

Minji’s gaze hardened, her jaw clenching. She stepped forward, towering over Hanni with a snarl. "Don’t compare my work to theirs. It is entirely different."  

Not backing down, Hanni fiercely glared up at her and hissed, "Yeah? Different enough that not even five minutes of your time is available!?"  

"I texted Hyein that I could visit you when my schedule cleared!" Minji fired back, her voice raised, irritation winning over.  

"Oh sure! And that sounded so sincere!" Hanni roared. Their voices echoed through the deserted hallway, filling the atmosphere with a heavy mass.  

The older woman groaned, frustration pounding in her chest. "What else would you want me to do?! I can’t handle everything at once!"  

"Wow! So you choose to neglect your seven-year girlfriend who just woke up from a three-month coma!? Nice choice, Minji!"  

Her words hit Minji like a wave, reaching her ears and her mind. It felt as if she were the one who had lost everything and it had suddenly come back. She stopped, glaring at the girl for a tense moment before exhaling sharply. Lowering her head, a bitter laugh escaped her lips.  

Hanni's brow furrowed in disbelief, annoyed that the girl still managed to laugh. "You think this is funny?"  

Shaking her head, Minji raised her chin, looking at her now calmly and... painfully?  

She murmured, "No. I think this is just us."  

Hanni's anger subdued, replaced by confusion at the sudden shift in Minji's demeanor. Her head tilted slightly in question.  

"Is there no flashback or memories coming up?" The atmosphere shifted as Minji asked softly, a hint of hope and curiosity in her voice.  

Hanni blinked, caught off guard. Slightly confused but understanding what she meant. She replied, "What? No."  

The Korean could only exhale, putting her hands in her pockets. She met Hanni's gaze, sadness evident in her eyes. "Well... we fought a lot back then. Maybe you'd remember something now that we're arguing."  

Frustration flickered on Hanni's face as she looked away, trying to grasp any possible memory surfacing. "Nothing. I’m sorry."  

Minji's shoulders slumped, guilt seeping in. "Look... I’m sorry. It really was work... But internally, I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t handle it... any of it."  

Hanni huffed, her head bow down. "You weren’t the only one, you know..." Her voice was soft but firm.  

"I know..." A sigh from the older before she continued, "I was selfish... I’m sorry. I should’ve been there."  

Hanni didn’t respond, her lips forming a thin line. Still staring at the floor.

Yeah, you should have.

A brief silence fell between them before the shorter one broke it, her chin raised. "Whatever. It’s done now. What matters is you’re here."  

"Right. It is done," Minji repeated, her gaze steady. "But that doesn’t mean I won’t make up for it."  

Hanni’s right brow raised, a teasing smile displayed on her lips. "By 'making up,' how does marriage sound to you?"  

With a shake of head, Minji chuckled. "Gahhh, you’re really up for it?"  

"I mean... I can’t let Grandma know. She might not take it well."  

The taller one nodded, beginning to consider her decision. She sighed for the like the nth time. "So we’re going to get married just like that?"  

Hanni’s eyes squinted. "Aren't you so against it?"  

Minji inhaled, her voice quieter now. "Hanni-ah, you literally don’t remember being with me, and now you want to marry me?"  

"I don’t. It’s for Grandma’s sake," Hanni replied insensitively, clarifying it but with a gulp and avoidance of gaze.

Minji paused, a flicker of hurt passing through her iris. She whispered, "So we’re going to pretend we’re in love in front of her and get married?" But her broken voice cut through the space between them.  

Pretend?

But she didn't ask; instead, she declared, "Than watching her get a heart attack and die earlier than she already will? Yes." Hanni flicked her gaze to the floor, blinking the sting in her eyes before looking up again. "Besides... you're my girlfriend... for seven years. You said you planned to propose to me. And now that I'm fully awake, why not?"

Minji's brows knitted in uncertainty as she hesitated. She studied the girl, obviously noticing the growing pain she felt for her grandma's fate. 

"It's also an opportunity," Hanni added.

"Opportunity?"  

"Yes. To get to know you again and to help me remember."  

And to learn to love you again...  

But instead, she asked, "You said you already asked for permission back then." Her honeyed voice quivered with hesitation. "And..." She took a deep breath. "D-do you still... love me enough to marry me?"  

. . .  

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"I love you."

-----

Silence engulfed them as they ate. No one dared to speak about what happened or say anything at all. The heavy air pulled both their shoulders down, as if they had lost something greater than the memories. Nothing much happened after Minji's confession—Hanni just nodded and walked silently to her room, successfully hiding her reddening cheeks.  

"Minji-ah."  

She didn’t reply; instead, she looked up, implying for her to continue.  

Hanni exhaled. "I'm sorry... I know this is sudden for you and—"  

"Hanni-ah," Minji softly interrupted. "This is sudden for you. I'm just worried about you."  

Hanni paused, looking down as the words hit her harder than she expected. She knew Minji was right. However, she chose to look on the bright side. She smiled—a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.  

"Well, I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if I married you."  

Minji put down her spork, giving Hanni her full attention. "You don’t even remember me, and you’d commit yourself to me? Marriage isn’t that simple, you know that."  

With a bite of her lip, Hanni blinked rapidly. "I know... But the idea of marrying you doesn’t sound so bad to me..."  

The older lowered her head as she sighed. "Hanni-ah... What if I was a bad girlfriend?"  

But Hanni didn’t waver. She simply picked up her spoon and continued eating. "If you’re asking me not to trust easily, I get it. But everyone said you aren’t. That you’re a good person, kind, and—"  

"They don’t know everything that happened, Hanni."  

And that made Hanni stopped, her eyes darting to her food before she gulped down and put down the utensils. She looked straight at Minji, her eyes studying her as if trying to read her soul.  

"Then tell me, what happened?" A pause.  

"What happened to us?"  

Silence.  

All Minji could do was stare at her, different emotions swimming in her eyes. Neither of them broke the gaze, and neither forced the other to speak. The hum of the air conditioner surrounded them—one felt their heart racing, the other’s breaking. Hanni intensely tried to read Minji’s eyes, which spoke so much yet could also appear empty, as if dead inside. She wasn’t sure what they were trying to convey, but one thing was obvious—Minji had the look of someone wanting to spill hidden truths.  

Minji finally moved, blinking quickly as she looked down. "It’s just..." She sighed before her gaze returned to Hanni. "What if I can’t live up to your expectations? What if I’m not the kind of person you want me to be?"  

"What, are you an axe murderer or something?"  

Minji scoffed in disbelief, a small smile forming. "Really now?"  

"I mean, Minji, look at the bright side. This would help us get close again! And... It’ll help me remember."  

Am I just someone to help you remember, Hanni?

She ignored the small voice in her head and the nail growing in her chest, instead she asked, "And that doesn’t sound so bad to you?"  

"I guess not at all..." Hanni murmured and picked up the fork—not to eat, but to stab her food.  

The woman stared at her for a moment before slowly nodding. "Alright... Let’s do it this way." That took Hanni's attention. "If, after a year or so, we didn't  work or you want to focus on yourself... I’d understand whatever your decision is."  

Hanni’s brow furrowed, seeking clarification. "You mean... divorce?"  

"I’m open to anything—"  

"Unnie!"  

Hanni flinched, looking up at Danielle, who was staring at her with a mix of wonder and concern. "Are you gonna eat that or not?"  

She pointed at Hanni’s food, which remained untouched. "You know we brought that for you because it’s your favorite."  

Hanni finally came to her senses, feeling slightly guilty. "I’m sorry, it’s just—there’s so much going on in my head, that’s why." She scooped up her food and raised it to her mouth.  

"Seriously, what’s going on? You’ve been staring blankly at everything. Did Minji unnie do something you didn’t like?"  

Something I didn’t like?

She froze just as she finished chewing, putting her spoon down to drink some water. She stared at Danielle with hesitant eyes, and she knows that look. So the younger girl sat properly, waiting patiently for her to speak.  

It’s more like, I did something she didn’t like.

After a few seconds—or maybe a minute—of silence, Danielle started to get agitated, so she held out a glass and drink it away. Hanni declared, "What do you think about me getting married to Minji?"  

Danielle spit out her water directly at Hanni’s face, making her yelp.  

"DANIELLE!"  

Danielle coughed, slapping her chest. Haerin, who had been sitting beside them, immediately grabbed a napkin to wipe the dripping water from Danielle’s face. Hanni could only stare at her in disbelief before Danielle herself, handed her another napkin.  

"W-what? Marriage? U-unnie, isn’t that too soon?"  

"I know..." Hanni muttered, avoiding their eyes as she wiped her face. "But if I hadn’t lost my memories, it wouldn’t be, right?"  

"Of course! Even four or five years would be enough to get married!"  

Hanni sighed, finishing drying herself off. Danielle frowned in concern. "But do you really want to?"  

Looking away, Hanni staring out the window. "It’s grandma’s will. She wants to see me get married to her before she..." She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. Just by the thought of her grandma, she always can't help but to feel like crying. She then went back to eating, distracting her eyes from tearing.

Danielle observed her for a moment, contemplating her response. "I see... And you couldn’t just say no, right?"  

Blankly munching on her meal, Hanni nodded.

Danielle lowered her head, clearly wanting to ask more but hesitation surpassed. Haerin noticed and decided to speak. "You should at least take a day or two to decide about marrying her."  

Danielle glanced at Haerin before nodding in agreement. She turned back to her food, but Hanni interrupted.  

"I’m marrying her."  

Danielle choked and coughed, Haerin quickly handed her a glass of water.  

She gulped it down, "What?!"  

"I already decided. Like... five minutes when grand—"  

Danielle’s eyes widened, her tone rising. "Are you high?! Is the medication rusting your brain or—"  

"Well, Minji was about to say I remembered nothing! And I can’t even blame her because she doesn’t know that we didn’t tell Grandma!" Hanni fired back.  

Haerin closed her eyes briefly to suck in air, her head starting to ache from their loud voices. She intervened. "When did you decide that?"  

Hanni’s eyes shifted to her. "Yesterday?"  

Danielle groaned. 

Haerin continued, "And when did Grandma bring that up?"  

"Uhm... Also yesterday."  

"Oh my god," Danielle exhaled, massaging her temples.  

"And what did Minji say?" Haerin still inquired.  

"She’s, uh, against it—"  

"Of course," Haerin muttered, though Hanni heard her. "Of cour—"  

"And what? What else did Minji say?" Danielle quickly cut her off, diverting Hanni’s attention. Which works for someone who easily gets distracted.

Hanni huffed. "Well, she said she’d go with it. And if it didn’t work out, or if I wanted to focus on myself, I could just divorce her." Somehow for unknown reason, the word sounded bitter on her tongue.

I guess I’m just that easy to let go.

Danielle’s expression twisted in disbelief. "Hanni-ah, are you really sure? Marriage without feelings—no, you don’t feel anything toward her yet! But what if it never comes back? The feelings? The memories? It’ll hurt Minji—"  

"Or Minji will hurt her," Haerin interjected calmly, earning a sharp glare from Danielle.  

Hanni didn’t notice the exchange, too focused on Haerin. "She’ll hurt me?"  

Haerin just resuming her meal with an air of calmness, her eyes suddenly focused on her. "What if she isn’t who you think she is?"  

Inhaling sharply, Danielle shuts her eyes before narrowing at Haerin.  

Hanni raised a brow. "And that’s what she said too. What’s really going on with who the hell she is?" Her voice turned stern, Minji’s words echoed in her mind.  

Danielle quickly intervened. "Uh, Hanni, what Haerin probably mean is just the same thing Minji meant."  

"And what did Minji mean?" Hanni challenged, looking straight at Danielle.  

"What I meant, Hanni-unnie, is that she might not be who you expect her to be. She’s a busy woman, a workaholic one. She barely hangs out with us because of work. You know we were her best friends before you, right? Well, now she’s neglecting us." Haerin’s calm tone was laced with a hint of accusation.  

Hanni glanced at her hands, worry flickering across her face. She whispered to herself, "She said she loves me."  

"What was that?" Danielle asked, but Hanni immediately shook her head. "Ah, no, I was just talking to myself."  

Haerin flickered her eyes at her. 

"Anyway, we’ll talk to Minji about it. But you should speak to your parents first. And to Hyein."  

"Ugh, right. I wonder how she’ll react."  

------

10:04 P.M.

Two hours had passed since Hanni finally talked it out with her parents, pleading with them to listen first before reacting. And they did. What just dreadfully puzzled Hanni was that they didn’t react at all, even after she gave them the time to. They just stared at her in bewilderment before silently whispering to each other and then telling her they had to speak to Minji first.  

And Hyein? Oh, she was just sitting on the side of her bed, listening with a face painted in shock, perplexed, taken aback, and lost. Even after their parents left, Hyein didn’t say a word, which was unusual to Hanni because the girl would normally yap back. Instead, Hyein just got up and left, saying she needed a drink.  

Why is everyone so against it if I marry Minji?

If it’s my memory loss they’re worried about, isn’t this more of an opportunity to remember her eagerly?

Her heart started to ache, the pressure and hesitation beginning to eat her alive. Was she doing the right thing? Was she forcing Minji? Should they just tell Grandma the truth? Had her current situation made Minji scared of marrying her?  

"Unnie... Are you really sure?"  

Hanni flinched and glanced at the girl. She had been staring out the huge transparent window, looking at the dark sky that reminded her of the eyes of a particular someone. She had been caught up admiring the raindrops on the window, clearly lost in her thoughts again.  

Hyein had finally come back.  

Returning her attention to the glass, Hanni sighed heavily. "I don't have much choice, Hyein. Besides, weren’t we supposed to get married if it weren’t for my accident?"  

Hyein walked over and sat on her bed, looking up at her sister. She murmured, "I'm not so sure about that..."  

Hanni turned her head slightly, brows furrowing. "What do you mean? Grandma said she already asked for permission."  

"Yeah... She did, even from me."  

"So?"  

Hyein stared at her intertwined hands. "Hmm. But that was like, the beginning of 2023? And still, she hasn’t proposed to you."  

It's August 2024 now.  

"That long?"  

"Uh-huh. Or maybe she already did, but you said no? Did you say no?"  

Hanni turned her attention back to the window, crossing her arms and hugging herself. "You know I don’t remember."  

"Right... Oh, wait, no. If you said no, I would’ve known. She would’ve told us."  

Hanni stayed quiet, the weight of her memory loss clinging to her shoulders.  

"Or maybe that was the time when she was super busy. Going abroad for weeks and months. So, yeah."  

Hanni blinked, her voice low. "She went abroad?"  

Hyein glanced up at her. "Yeah, quite a few times to different states. You know, daughter of a company owner and all that."  

"Hmm."  

Hanni gave a slight nod, closing her eyes. She tried to dig into her mind for anything, but nothing else came to her senses. Only those memories from eight years ago—when she was studying her ass off to get into a prestigious school for her 12th year. Back then, she was just a 17-year-old girl, along with her 13-year-old sibling, Hyein.  

Now she's 24, turning 25 this coming October, and Hyein is 20. You just couldn’t imagine the confusion she felt when a 13-year-old kid suddenly looked like an adult in front of her. Hanni internally rewarded herself with a pat, knowing how she managed to adapt instantly without causing much chaos.  

And now, she had just thrown herself into another chapter—probably a new book at this point—of her life, where she would face a new reality. But she was beginning to doubt if this was chaos she had started, or if it was something she’d reward herself with another pat for.  

Marriage.  

She then felt a careful arm, hugging her from behind.  

"Unnie, I understand you. Why you’re doing this and where you’re coming from. I just want to tell you, whatever happens, I’ll stay with you. Whether you remember or not, I’ll always be your ally in everything. Even if the world betrays you, I’ll still stick with you."  

Hanni felt her heart warm and melt. It was exactly what she needed right now. Her body softened, allowing herself to be indulged by her sister’s arms.  

She chuckled. "When did you get so cheesy?"  

"Argh. I’ve always been cheesy. It’s just that you don’t remember!"  

"You were hardheaded!" 

"I was just 13 years old back then!"  

Hanni laughed softly, caressing her sister’s forearms. "And when did you get so tall?"  

Hyein snickered. "When you stopped growing."  

"Oh, shut it, kiddo."  

The taller one laughed, filling the atmosphere with a comforting air. As serenity surrounded them, accompanied by the pitter-patter of the rain, Hanni felt her heart sting when she concluded:  

Minji didn’t show up.

------

End of chapter 4.