What Happened to us?

Hanni groggily walks downstairs, following the scent of a cooking meal. Rubbing her eyes, her steps are heavy as she reaches the kitchen. She halts when she is greeted with different faces instead of one.  

"Hi, Unnie. Good morning." It was Danielle, standing in front of the kitchen, chopping.  

Haerin was standing by her side, minding her own business while helping Danielle with the ingredients. She smiled at Hanni.  

Minji was busy cooking, probably stirring a soup, and glanced at her with a smile, murmuring a small "good morning." Meanwhile, Hyein was at the dining table, preparing the plates and utensils. She looked up and waved at her older sister.  

Everything hits close to home—the sunlight entering through the huge window, the sound of little giggles, small talk, clinking plates and utensils, and the soft music of NIKI playing in the background. She wouldn't mind waking up like this over and over again.  

"Why did no one wake me up? So I could help and all?" she asked, fully awake now as she approached Hyein. The younger smiled. "You were sleeping so soundly, Unnie, and we can take care of it just fine."  

Hanni simply nodded, settling herself on one of the chairs, peacefully watching Hyein move her hands. Her gaze flickered everywhere, sentimentally admiring the present, mentally storing the memory in her mind.  

Her gaze went from Hyein's busy hands to Dani and Haerin chopping vegetables—plus their not-so-subtle touches and flirting—and, of course, the back of her fiancée, Minji, who softly hummed along to the music while bouncing her head.  

I could live like this forever.

She softly smiled at the sight, breathing deeply in the fresh mix of smells from the kitchen before standing up. "I'm going to take a bath," Hanni informed Hyein and walked upstairs, still wearing the warmth of a smile.  

 - - - -

The dining room was lively—full of laughter, warmth, comfort, stories, banter, and recollections of the past. The women were happily conversing, throwing playful teases or bringing up past embarrassments that made Hanni laugh most of the time. The atmosphere was filled with the clanking of plates and the mixed voices of playful arguments.  

The table was perfect for six people—two on each width and one on each length. Hyein was in the middle of both fiancées, as if she were their daughter or simply the only one still single.  

Everything was in place—Minji and Haerin occasionally insulting each other jokingly, Dani siding with her fiancée, and Hyein making the situation worse by bluntly mentioning all of their faults. It never failed to make Hanni giddy, making her feel complete, content, and found... as if she were home.  

From time to time, they would tell stories involving Hanni, giving her glimpses of her life beyond just Minji. While listening, her reactions were always joyful—laughing, surprised, playfully annoyed, or asking for more details. But if you were to ask her on a deeper level, she would say she felt warmth all over her body—a feeling of comfort, knowing she could be whoever she wanted to be, and no one would bat an eye. And no one really did. They entertained her curiosity, even the silliest and, in Hanni’s perspective, the stupidest questions—they always answered her genuinely.  

When they finished their meal, the conversation continued to flow smoothly at the table, shifting into more intimate and personal topics. It didn’t bother Hanni, though; she liked listening to their stories, seeing glimpses of the lives she had forgotten.  

As Hanni lifted her glass to drink her juice, Haerin glanced at her finger. Finally deciding to let her curiosity surface about something she had noticed ever since Hanni woke up, she asked calmly, "You have a ring?" Her eyes were fixed on Hanni's hand.  

That caught everyone’s attention, their gazes following Haerin's. Danielle, slightly surprised, clarified, "Is that an... engagement ring?"  

Hanni blinked at their reactions before nodding. "Yes." Meanwhile, Hyein’s face dropped.  

Haerin shifted her attention to Minji. "You proposed to her?" Her voice was neutral with a hint of disbelief.  

Without hesitation, Minji met her gaze, her tone calm. "I did."  

Haerin might have been the quiet type—but her eyes always gave away what her mouth did not. Her gaze turned sharp, lips forming a thin line. But before she could say more, Danielle gently intervened, "So, the marriage is really happening?"  

Minji took a sip of her wine. "It is."  

With that, everyone fell silent, their expressions unreadable—except for the glances exchanged between Haerin, Danielle, and Hyein. Hanni couldn't read their faces, but one thing she was sure of—it was anything but happiness or support. As the realization sank in, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat: they were opposed to her marriage.  

The change in their demeanor said it all.  

Hanni gulped, deciding to break the ice with a nervous laugh. "What’s this awkward silence, guys? Are you all really that against us getting married?"  

Danielle glanced at Haerin before looking at Hanni with obvious concern. "It’s just... we’re worried about both of you."  

Hanni offered a tight-lipped smile—one that seemed like an attempt to compose herself. Probably from her growing annoyance at how almost everyone was opposing her decision, or the creeping thought that they all underestimated her, making her feel like she didn’t know what she was doing. "Worried about what exactly?" Because she knew damn well what she was getting herself into! Despite her calm tone, a hint of firmness couldn’t be denied.  

With a soft sigh, Danielle spoke cautiously. "Unnie... the situation you’re both in. I don’t think marriage is the best solution for this."  

"We have no choice." This time, it was Minji who spoke, drinking more wine than she should after pouring herself a glass.  

"So this is happening because of Grandma’s will?" Haerin asked, her gaze fixed on Minji’s nonchalant one's, while the conversation they had before played out again in her mind.  

"Why? Does it matter?"  

"Of course, it does. Why’d you do that, Unnie?"  

"There’s nothing much I can do, Kang."  

"So you lied to her? That’s what you can do?"  

"Then tell me—how should I even answer that question?"  

"Unnie—"  

"Should I just... tell her the truth and make everything even more complicated? Must I... break her apart before she can even piece herself together? Kang Haerin, tell me. What must I do for Grandma’s sake? For her sake? For my sake? What is right, what is wrong?... . . . No, actually, it should be—who is right and who is wrong?"  

"Yes." Minji replied, as calm as ever, bringing Haerin back to the table. But she noticed the older's hand expressed otherwise; it was subtly gripping on the glass' stem. 

"And maybe because I want it too." Hanni’s voice filled the heavy room, drawing their attention to her. Eyes slightly widened—except for Minji. She already knew, anyway. She knew why Hanni wanted to marry her.  

It was anything but love.  

"It may not be the best solution, but it’s the most practical one. It’s a win-win situation—it’ll help me, Minji, my memories, and Grandma’s will. Don’t you see my point?" And it was exactly what Minji expected her to say.  

The rest of the girls took a few moments to process her words before quietly nodding. Hanni didn’t know if it was understanding... or grieving.  

Silence engulfed them for a few seconds until Hyein finally spoke, her eyes fixed on her empty plate. "It’s just sad how, in all those years, Minji unnie never proposed to you until now." Her voice carried a bitterness that stole all their attention.  

No one dared to speak, slightly taken aback by Hyein’s words after staying silent throughout the ring conversation. And she wasn’t finished. "Why did you propose to her, Unnie? Is it even necessary?" This time, her eyes met Minji’s—and they weren’t the least bit friendly.  

The tension in the air grew thick, unwelcoming. Danielle carefully called her out. "Hyein..."  

"Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?" Minji replied, her voice composed, eyes locked onto Hyein’s.  

Subtly, Hyein’s eye twitched. "I don’t know. Isn’t this marriage just for convenience?" Her single brow raised, her tone still far from friendly.  

"Hyein." Danielle’s voice now carried a warning.  

Minji took a deep breath, blinking rapidly before she spoke softly—or at least tried to. "Hyein, your sister deserves to be proposed to."  

"Even if it’s just for convenience?" Hyein shot back instantly, her tone sharp.  

Minji was silent for a few seconds before sighing subtly. "Even if it’s for convenience." She paused. "And I’ve also been wanting to propose to her anyway."  

"Then why didn’t you do it before?" Her eyes burned into Minji’s, she fired back, "Why did it take you this long? Why did it have to come to this just for you to finally propose?!"  

"Hyein." Hanni warned, taken aback by her sister’s sudden shift in tone.  

Minji clenched her teeth. "It wasn’t the right time." Her voice now firm, no more preventing. 

"And this is the right time?!" Hyein lashed out.  

"Enough."  

It was Haerin. Her hand firmly gripped Hyein’s wrist.  

She met Haerin’s warning gaze, her breaths heavy from the anger in her chest. For a moment, they stared at each other, seemingly communicating through their eyes.  

She exhaled. "I’m sorry. Please excuse me." Hyein stood up and left the table, leaving the rest of the girls suffocating under the heavy air. Hanni immediately stood up to follow, but Minji reached for her forearm. "I’ll talk to her."  

She hesitated, but Minji pleaded with her eyes until Hanni slowly nodded, sitting back down. She watched the Korean's retreating figure with a heavy heart.  

She sighed wearily, glancing at the other fiancées. "What the hell is really going on? Why is she acting that way?"  

Haerin took a sip of her wine, already knowing that Danielle would be the one to answer. "I think it’s better if you talk to her about it, Unnie." She suggested carefully.  

Hanni simply closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

------

After minutes of silence between the three who were cleaning the table, Minji finally returned.  

"We're fine now. You can talk to her, Han," she announced as she reached them. She then replaced Hanni's spot and continued cleaning the table with the other couple.  

Hanni nodded and walked toward the door.  

---  

When Hanni opened the door, she stepped outside and saw Hyein sitting on the bench, staring blankly at her shoes.  

"Hyein."  

Hyein looked up, her lips immediately pouting. "Unnie..."  

Hanni sighed softly and sat down beside her. "Hyein-ah," she reached for her hand, "what's going on? Why are you acting like that?"  

Hyein lowered her head, glancing at their hands. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you. I don't think marriage is a good idea, unnie."  

"But Hyein..." Hanni softly gripped her sister's hands. "She's my girlfriend. What are you even worried about? Don't you trust me?"  

Hyein shook her head, her eyes still downcast. "No. Of course, I trust you. But Minji unnie..." She trailed off, her voice growing smaller.  

"What about her? I thought you all trusted her? Is she going to kill me or rape m—"  

Immediately, Hyein's head snapped up. "Unnie! Don't say that!" she exclaimed in disbelief.  

"Then what? What are you so worried about? Did she treat me badly? Did she cheat? Or what?"  

Hyein pouted again, looking apologetic. "Unnie..." She sighed, prompting Hanni to caress her thumb in reassurance. "You just woke up from a coma. You only remember your teenage years, and now you're getting married? It's... it's absurd."  

Knowing her sister cared deeply for her made Hanni smile warmly, her annoyance now evaporating. "Ah, yes, the 17 years of my life. But that doesn't mean I'm still 17, right? Hyein-ah, you know me better than anyone. I'm more mature than you think. I mean, look at me—I managed to adjust immediately and learned to accept everything as it is. Because, duh, denying things won’t get me anywhere considering my state. I understand your concern, and I appreciate it. But she's a good person. Everyone knows that. You all told me that, and I've seen it too. It’s not like she treated me badly, right?"  

Hyein blinked rapidly, hesitation showing in her expression. "Well, she didn’t..." She paused, carefully gripping Hanni’s hand in return. "But you... deserve better," she said in a small voice.  

"What... do you mean?"  

"Well, she barely had time for you. You two fought a lot back then. She was always abroad, busy, and nowhere to be found. You'll be alone most of the time!" Hyein expressed, and Hanni could tell her sister was telling the truth just by the way her eyes proved her point.  

Hanni sighed with a small smile. "Well, isn’t that married life with the company's president?"  

Hyein looked at her in disbelief. "Unnie."  

"Hyein, enough. She's a good person. And I want to get to know her again."  

"But unnie—"  

"Hyein..." Hanni warned, though softly. Her eyes spoke volumes to her sister.  

Hyein took a deep breath, bowing her head. "She might start neglecting you again..." she murmured ever so quietly.  

And Hanni breathed in, somehow understanding her sister's point. "I don't get you. Back then, you were so supportive and always teasing me about her, yet now?"  

"I'm just testing if you'd still like her." Hyein's eyes remained fixed downward.  

Hanni could only look at her with an expression that said, 'are you for real?' 

"And I'm guessing you still do."  

----

After they went inside the house, Hyein apologized to Minji, who accepted it immediately—even though the younger girl didn’t seem entirely genuine. She had no choice, especially when Hanni had obviously talked her through it.  

Minji then excused herself, needing to make a call. After a few minutes outside, she returned. The house was empty but not quiet, as her ears filled with the blended voices of the girls singing in the other room. As she walked toward the sound, she saw the four most important women in her life sitting on the gym floor, singing together. Hanni was playing the guitar, Haerin and Danielle were holding hands, while the latter also held Hyein’s. Hanni might have forgotten her adult life, but she certainly still remembered how to play the guitar and ukulele.  

Minji took a deep breath, crossing her arms as she leaned against the doorframe, watching them. She found herself smiling wistfully when nostalgia hit her. She remembered the days they used to play as a band in university, the nights they spent singing their hearts out, and those times when everything felt like it was in place.  

She missed those moments.  

She missed those moments she believed she would never have again.  

Because she believed she hadn’t just lost her woman—she had also lost her best friends.  

They might all act casual and close, but Minji knew there were now invisible lines and walls each of them had built between her and themselves.  

And she couldn’t even blame them.  

After minutes of observing, Hanni finally noticed her presence and looked up. Minji smiled warmly at the sight, and Hanni reciprocated. But before Hanni could ask her to join, Minji simply blinked with a small smile—before turning to leave.  

Hanni furrowed her brows, staring at the empty space Minji had left behind before choosing to continue singing with her friends, bringing her mind back to the present.  

----

When the girls left, both women’s eyes remained fixed on the closed door they had walked through. Silence suddenly engulfed them.  

Hanni glanced to her right, greeted by Minji’s side profile—her face unreadable as she stared into the emptiness.  

"Minji-ah... Are you okay?"  

Minji snapped her attention to her, her expression shifting into one of exhaustion, her eyes blinking slowly as drowsiness began to settle in.  

It had been a long day, after all.  

"Hm. I'm fine. Are you?"  

Hanni simply nodded, continuing to watch her in the dimly lit house. The lights had been turned off, leaving only the faint glow of a distant lamp.  

She blinked, breaking the eye contact when it stretched on too long. "I'm... I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight."  

Without waiting for a response—believing she wouldn’t get one—she turned away and headed for the stairs. But just as she reached them, she heard soft footsteps approaching.  

She wasn’t expecting anything at all.  

So she didn’t turn around.  

Not until a pair of soft arms wrapped around her waist from behind.  

She froze.  

"M-Minji?" she gasped in the dark, tilting her head slightly as if she could see the older girl’s face. But she couldn’t—not when Minji had buried her face in the crook of her neck, making every nerve in Hanni’s body go haywire. Her heart raced.  

For seconds, they remained like that—Hanni struggling to steady her breath while Minji quietly inhaled the scent of her hair.  

"I'm sorry," Minji breathed out.  

Hanni blinked rapidly, trying to process her words, forcing herself to reply. "For what...?"  

"Everything."  

Hanni listened closely now, her voice soft. "I don't remember everything."  

"I know..." Minji’s voice was barely above a whisper, yet in the surrounding silence, it echoed louder than anything.  

And I don’t know what to feel about it.

Minji thought, squeezing her eyes shut before continuing.  

"You still deserve it."  

Hanni had finally calmed, shifting her focus to the girl's feelings instead of hers, just because of their intimacy. "Is this about what Hyein said? About you neglecting me?"

Minji could only answer with a small nod.

"Then make up for it," Hanni whispered, her voice surrounding them both. "Be better now. Will you?"

Minji nodded again and remained still for a few more seconds, and just as Hanni had grown accustomed to her warmth, Minji finally let go.

When Hanni twisted her body to face her, Minji had already turned away, walking toward the other room.

"I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight, Han." She disappeared before Hanni could even see her face.

And Minji indeed didn't want her to.

Not when the tears fell the moment she turned around.

----

The car was silent. No one dared to speak, filling the atmosphere with nothing. One was too tired and sleepy, the other was focusing on the road. And me?  

I'm contemplating my life decisions.  

"Hyein-ah, what did you talk about with Minji unnie earlier?" It was Haerin unnie. I looked up and met her cat-like eyes through the rearview mirror before she returned her attention to the road.  

I didn't reply—too many thoughts were running through my mind, and maybe it was too hard to share them. I looked to my right, staring at the dark highway, passing cold and lifeless luxurious buildings.  

And before I could think it through, I had already voiced what I'd always wanted to say. "Unnie, are we really not going to do anything?"  

There was silence for a moment, and without glancing back, I heard Haerin unnie reply, "What can we even do, Hyein?"  

Somehow, that answer annoyed me. I gazed at her with furrowed brows. "I don't know, maybe save my sister from her?"  

She went quiet for a few seconds before glancing at me through the rearview mirror. "Saving your sister also means taking away her chances of remembering everything," she stated ever so softly—just her typical tone, as if it wasn’t a big deal.  

Yet, it was enough to make me fall silent. Because she was right.  

And I couldn’t deny that.  

"There’s not much we can do when both of them have already decided, is there? Not to mention your parents' pressure and the situation with grandma," she continued, eyes still fixed on the empty road.  

I looked outside again. "It's because Hanni unnie doesn't know the truth," I murmured just loud enough for her to hear, hoping it would persuade her.  

"What do you think will happen if we reveal the truth?"  

Her voice filled the space, giving me a moment to reply.  

A second passed.  

Then another.  

Yet I couldn’t.  

I failed to come up with something stronger than what she was about to say.  

I know Haerin unnie—she has always been wise.  

And I know I really can't argue with her.  

After the silence stretched, she took it as her cue to continue.  

"Chaos. Complexity. Complications. And worse..." She paused, swallowing. "They’ll break each other into pieces before they even have the chance to rebuild themselves. Hanni unnie is still picking up the jigsaw pieces of her past, Hyein. We can't trample the portrait and scatter the puzzle. She might never be able to put it back together."  

And with that, I completely understood. I bowed my head, biting my lip as the sting in my chest grew stronger.  

"Hyein, lies don’t always mean something bad. Sometimes, lies aren’t your enemies. And sometimes... we have to lie if it means saving someone."  

. . .  

And I went completely silent.  

I knew Dani unnie was now looking back at me—she had been listening the whole time. But I could only move closer to the door, leaning my head against the window, forcing myself to stare outside.  

My eyes started to sting as everything sank in. I couldn’t accept it. Any of it.  

Even now, I still couldn’t believe it.  

The things unnie would have to go through. The situation she was in. The circumstances she had to face.  

Why does the universe have to be so cruel to her? What did Hanni unnie do!?  

She doesn't deserve this.  

She deserves none of it.  

I hate her.  

I hate you,  

Kim Minji.  

---  

"Hyein, stop.

.

.

.

Why are you acting like this?"  

"Why!? You're marrying my sister, Minji!"  

"And?"  

"You don’t love her!"  

"I got your parents' permission."  

"So what!? Are you just going to do whatever they say!?"  

"Then should I leave your sister? Should I tell her the truth?"  

"You... You hated Taehyung-hyung, right? Guess what?. . . You're just like him. The only difference is he's marrying someone he loves."  

"Hyein—"  

"I hate you... . . . Do you know how much I trusted and loved you? You were like a sister—sometimes even a mother to me. To the point that I preferred spending time with you more than with Hanni unnie. Yet... how could you do this to her?"  

"I'm sorry."  

"Are you going to lie to her forever?"  

"No. Because she will remember."  

"Why does it matter if she remembers or not!? You're still lying!"  

"When she remembers... she’ll have more reason to leave me."  

"But what if she doesn’t remember?"  

"If after a year her memories don’t return, then we’ll get a divorce."  

"And what if she doesn’t want to?"  

"Why wouldn’t she?"  

"I don’t know, unnie! Probably because she loves you!?"  

"She doesn’t. She doesn’t remember me."  

"It’s not about the memories! I said, what if she LOVES you?"  

"Then I’ll make sure she doesn’t love me again."  

Hyein wiped the tears when the conversation Haerin had asked for was replayed to her mind.

How can she even share it when she, herself, can't even accept it?

-----

Will they love each other once again?

When one doesn't remember,

while the other is already done loving her.

END OF CHAPTER 9.