The Truth?
Silence was the only thing that filled the hallway after Minji heard the situation from her girlfriend's parents. The look on her face made the others realize this was the first time they had seen her this devastated—so much so that she sank weakly to the floor, turning completely silent, staring blankly at the ground, unable to process anything.
Danielle decided to break the silence, carefully approaching her. She sniffled, wiping her tears before bending down to hold Minji’s trembling hands.
"Minji... Don't worry, we'll help you. We'll help her remember everything—"
"I fell out of love."
She blurted the words out, drawing everyone's attention in the hospital hallway, filling the air with another stretch of silence—a silence of bafflement.
Danielle's face twisted in confusion. "What?"
Hanni's parents could only offer silence, their expressions mirroring their shock.
"I fell out of love with her." Minji repeated, her eyes cast downward, hands clasped tightly on her lap.
Then—silence. No one dared to speak. They could only stare at Minji, bewildered. The look on their faces was the same: disbelief.
"The hell do you mean?" Danielle stood up, her voice calm—or at least trying to be. She searched Minji’s face, waiting for her to take it back.
Minji inhaled deeply before raising her head. "I've been out of love for seven months now. And I never told her."
Danielle's expression fell. Speechless, she stared wide-eyed at the woman before her, suddenly feeling as if she didn’t know her at all. Her voice was weak when she asked, "Why are you telling us this?"
Minji averted her gaze, blinking away the stinging in her eyes as if it could erase the pain reflected in them. "Because I can't leave her... I couldn't leave her, so I stayed, hoping my feelings would come back. But they never did."
Danielle's heart dropped—lower than she thought possible. She wasn’t Hanni, but even she felt as if her world had suddenly collapsed. Never in her life did she expect to hear such words from her friend—much less from Minji.
"Minji..." Haerin mumbled in disbelief. It was just her name, but the sound of betrayal was unmistakable—almost as if speaking had drained the energy from her body.
Another silence followed before Minji stood up on unsteady legs. Her hands were trembling. "I have a proposal," she announced shakily, her eyes nervously meeting theirs. Her broken, red-rimmed eyes did not go unnoticed.
"What?"
"Now that she doesn’t remember—" her voice cracked, "why don't I take advantage of it by not telling her about our relationship? That way, she won't get hurt." She said it breathlessly, yet her tone was almost... suggesting.
"What?!" Danielle exclaimed. "What the hell are you saying?!"
The look on her face screamed anger, hurt, and confusion. She loved Hanni so much—her first platonic love, one she believed she couldn’t live without. And now, was her girl going to be mistreated like this?
"Think about it." Minji insisted. "I couldn't leave her before because I didn’t want to hurt her. And now that she doesn’t remember, she won’t be hurt if I—"
"You can’t just fucking take advantage of my daughter?!" Hanni’s father yelled, finally standing up. He walked toward Minji with fury in his eyes. "You can’t just leave her now! She needs you more than ever!" His voice lashed out, his face visibly red with anger.
Minji could only suck in a breath as tears finally spilled over. She avoided his gaze, her lips trembling.
"Minji, are you fucking drunk?" Haerin hissed. "You’re talking nonsense, right?"
But Minji only looked away, guilt seeping into her features. Her lips quivered, and the tears didn’t stop.
"Unnie... That’s not true, right?"
Minji’s heart dropped painfully at the sound of that voice.
Hyein stood up, stepping forward with a look of betrayal. Her eyes searched Minji’s, desperate to find the truth.
Minji couldn’t dare to answer. Instead, she averted her gaze. Aside from the redness and tears, remorse was painted all over her face. And that alone made Hyein feel worse. The answer she sought was already right in front of her.
"Didn't you promise to marry her? What happened to that...?" Hyein breathed out, small and vulnerable. Her hands clenched at her sides.
With tears streaming down, her gaze fixed on the floor, Minji managed to reply, stuttering, "I-I'm sorry... Hyein-ah..."
If there was one person Minji never wanted to hurt aside from Hanni, it was Hyein—Hyein, whom she treasured like the little sister she never had. The second girl she used to spoil before their pets.
Now, silence settled once more.
Hyein’s vision blurred as Minji’s voice echoed in her ears, sincerity dripping from every word. She wasn’t lying.
And just when they thought things couldn’t get worse, Minji raised her head again to speak.
"How about I tell her we’re together... but that we already broke up—"
"You are not lying to my daughter."
It was Hanni's father. His voice was firm, his teeth clenched in anger.
Minji swallowed hard, looking down as she bit her trembling lip.
It only fueled his rage further. "What the hell happened to you?! Tell me, is there someone else?!"
Immediately, Minji snapped, "What?! No! It’s just—I—"
"Then how did it happen?!" He stepped closer, his voice booming. "How did you fall out of love?!"
Minji shrank back against the wall, her eyes darting anywhere but at him. She couldn’t even look him in the eye. She felt smaller and smaller under his furious gaze.
With trembling lips and a voice barely above a whisper, she admitted, "I just did... It just... happened... One day, I realized... I don't love her anymore."
"You’re lying!" Hyein burst out.
Still staring at the ground, Minji murmured, "It’s the truth, Hyein..." Her body tensed as their words cornered her.
"You can't just unlove someone, unnie... That doesn't make sense—it doesn’t..." Hyein trailed off, broken.
"Hyein... Please..."
The quietness stretched between them, an unspoken understanding wrapped in pain.
Minji could only stare at the floor, watching her own tears drip onto it. She noticed Hanni’s father slowly backing away, and her heart shattered for the millionth time.
"Minji. You're not leaving my daughter like this."
Minji barely had the strength to argue. But she tried one last time.
"Then... I’ll tell her everything. At least that way, she won’t get hurt. She’ll be the one to break up with me."
"No," he shot back instantly.
"Dad..." Minji pleaded.
His anger flared again. "You can’t! You cannot leave yet! You have to stay by her side until she remembers! Everything. And after that—then you can break up with her."
Minji’s face fell. "But that will hurt her even more."
"Better than leaving her with nothing. Aside from us, you are the one who can help her remember—especially YOU." He stepped forward, jabbing a finger against her chest.
"So.
Stay.
By.
Her.
Side."
His hand clenched into a fist. Then, in a quieter voice, he muttered, "As her girlfriend. Because you two never broke up, right?"
Unable to keep her stance, Minji sank further against the wall, avoiding the anger in his gaze. Her voice trembled, vulnerable. "I... I don't want to h-hurt her."
"You are already hurting her! The least you could do was let her go, but you never did! Now fix this fucking problem you caused!"
She forced herself to meet his eyes, desperation shining through. "Dad, please..."
"No, Kim Minji. You're staying with my daughter. Whether you're still in love with her or not, you must stay. Make her remember. And then break up with her after."
Minji choked on her own tears. "It's going to hurt... so much." She gasped in pain. "Why would you want your daughter to get hurt like this?"
"This is your fault!" he yelled in her face. "This is all your fault! You could have fucking told the truth and left her when you had the chance! Now take responsibility for your actions—stay by her side until she remembers. Then break up with her, and don't ever fucking show your face to us again!"
With a final blow, his chest rose and fell heavily as he tried to calm himself.
"Kim Minji," he began in a now-composed manner, though his hand reached for the collar of her suit. "You were perfect for my daughter..." He gripped it tightly. "How did it end up like this...?"
Minji took a shallow breath and looked down in shame. "I... I'm sorry, Dad..."
"Just stay, Minji." He let go, then sighed. "I know... I just know you'll love her again." He smoothed the crumpled fabric. "Like how you fell in love with my 17-year-old Hanni."
He patted her arm.
And Minji's heart died for the nth time because she knew—she couldn't fight against him anymore.
"Make her remember, Minji. And maybe... learn to love her again."
Because she knew she had to hurt her girl again...
And again.
-------
Early in the morning, Hanni woke up to the strong smell of cooking. Groggily, she walked downstairs while rubbing her eyes. When she saw Minji’s back in front of the kitchen, busy cooking, she sleepily smiled and walked away to take a bath.
By the time she returned, everything was in place. Minji looked up at her with a warm morning smile and gestured for her to sit.
"Morning. Let’s eat."
Hanni, now fully awake, sat down with a towel wrapped around her hair. "Thank you for cooking," she said, inhaling the aroma of the food.
"I always do." Minji reached for Hanni’s plate and served her some rice.
"Even before?"
Minji nodded. "Yes, but only on weekends and when I could. On weekdays, we both had work, and you always cooked for us."
"I see…" Hanni murmured, taking her plate back. "What time do you go to work again?"
"6-ish. Call time is at 7," Minji replied, now starting to eat.
"So you wake up at… 5?"
"Mhm."
"I see…" Hanni thoughtfully nodded, already making plans for what she could cook for Minji tomorrow—until Minji interrupted her thoughts.
"You don’t have to wake up early or cook for me."
That made Hanni pause. She looked up. "And why not?"
"It’s a hassle for you," Minji said casually, not even sparing her a glance as she continued eating.
Hanni frowned. "No. It’s what I should do."
Minji stopped mid-chew and stared at her. "Should?" Her tone was bitter.
"I mean—"
"Look, Hanni." Minji reached for her glass and took a sip. "You don’t have to overwork yourself. You should focus on relearning your job or managing your bookstore."
Somehow, that left a pang in Hanni’s chest, annoyance creeping in. "And what about you?"
Minji looked at her indifferently. "What about me?"
Hanni’s irritation flared. "You’re my fiancée, Minji. What else!?"
"I’m fine." Still monotone.
Hanni sighed, briefly closing her eyes in frustration. "Minji." Her voice was firm, a clear warning.
Like a good UNDERstanding she is, Minji suddenly tensed up from her tone, "W-what?"
Hanni inhaled sharply. "Please. Just… let me." She exhaled. "I will be your wife, you know…"
Minji gulped and looked down at her plate. "Right."
Right?
Before Hanni could argue further, Minji cut in.
"Let’s go somewhere."
Hanni frowned in irritation and confusion. "Huh?"
"To the park. We have a lot of memories there." Minji looked at her with hopeful eyes.
Suddenly, Hanni’s growing annoyance started to fade.
"Oh… okay…"
Damn it.
What’s with me?
"That’s where we used to walk our dogs and cats. Even had picnic dates."
Yeah, she definitely knows how to get me.
"I see… Sounds nice."
She returned to eating, a subtle smile and excitement replacing her frustration.
----
They went to the park, strolling slowly side by side in the green atmosphere. They talked as they walked, bringing up anything they could connect to the park. Once again, Minji talked more, sharing experiences, past moments, and memories they had together. Even if Hanni couldn’t remember, somehow, she could still see them. She could imagine the scenes Minji described as she looked at the places the older girl pointed to—the spots where they had gone on dates and spent time together. Oddly enough, Hanni could picture it all.
It never failed to make her smile sadly, leaving her with a wistful feeling.
As they continued walking, their small giggles filling the air, Hanni noticed how most of the couples around them held hands, linked arms, or even engaged in PDA. For some reason, she glanced down at Minji’s hands—both stuffed into her pockets, as if closing off any opportunity to touch. A sudden, inexplicable wave of gloom coursed through Hanni’s veins as she looked down at her own functioning feet.
---
After a while of chattering and walking, they decided to sit on one of the benches. Now sitting silently in their own world, they were grounded by the sound of nature, the soft sunlight on their faces, and the gentle breeze of the scenery.
As the comforting silence surrounded them, Hanni’s eyes landed on a couple on the other side of the bench, their hands intertwined as the woman rested her head on her boyfriend’s shoulder. They spoke animatedly, their happiness evident.
She could ignore the nagging voice in her head or the gnawing feeling in her chest, but she couldn’t deny the slight envy creeping in.
It definitely didn’t go unnoticed by Minji. She had been with Hanni long enough to read the emotions in her eyes and body language, easily recognizing what she was yearning for.
Minji glanced down at her own hand, which rested between them, while Hanni’s remained on her lap. Instead of reaching out, Minji withdrew her hand and slipped it into her jacket pocket.
She averted her gaze and stared at the lively green scenery before them, ignoring the pang in her chest.
“I could sleep here. It’s so peaceful,” Hanni muttered, closing her eyes as the sound of birds echoed in the sky.
“You used to. Sometimes, you’d sleep while I read. Or vice versa.”
Hanni smirked. “Pfft. I can see that.”
“Yeah…”
After a few minutes of silence, Minji felt slight movement beside her—Hanni was slowly shifting closer. Pretending to be focused on something in the distance, she subtly inched toward Minji, closing the space between them little by little.
Minji smirked but let her do what she wanted. A second later, she finally felt a faint warmth against her arm.
Hanni cleared her throat, as if testing the waters. “C-can I lean on you?” she asked, trying to mask her nervousness.
As much as Minji found it cute, she composed herself. “Of course. Are you sleepy?”
“Yeah. Can I nap for ten minutes?”
“Go ahead.”
From the corner of her eye, Minji saw the soft smile that formed on Hanni’s lips as she sighed in contentment, closing her eyes.
Even though Hanni’s head rested on her shoulder, Minji could tell the position wasn’t comfortable—it left too much distance between them.
So, she took a deep breath and carefully moved closer until the space between them disappeared, fitting together like a perfect jigsaw puzzle.
She felt Hanni’s body relax, melting against her, as she subtly adjusted to find a more comfortable position—one where she could truly rest without straining her neck.
---
As the gentle midday breeze rustled through the trees, Minji remained still, careful not to disturb the warmth resting against her. Hanni's slow, steady breathing tickled her shoulder, her features relaxed in a rare moment of vulnerability. The park buzzed softly around them—distant laughter, rustling leaves, the occasional bark of a dog—but in their little world, everything felt still.
After a while, Minji felt movement.
"Han-han."
Hanni stirred, blinking groggily before sitting up, her hair slightly tousled from sleep.
"Oh, sorry. That was weirdly a long nap," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Minji chuckled. "You slept for 30 minutes."
"Eh!?" Hanni straightened in surprise. "I said only 10 minutes!"
Minji tilted her head, amused. "Hm, it felt like you needed it." She glanced at her watch. "Anyway, it's 12. Anything you wanna eat?"
Hanni stretched her arms, shaking off the drowsiness before shaking her head. "Nope. Let's just go anywhere."
Minji’s lips curled into a soft smile. "Alright."
And just like that, they stood up and walked side by side, as if the moment of closeness had never happened—yet its warmth lingered between them.
-----
After walking for a while, they finally settled into a small local restaurant. They ate in peaceful silence, having briefly chatted about the place before their meal.
Minji was the first to speak. "It was raining that night."
Hanni raised her head. "What?" She followed Minji’s gaze, which was fixed outside the window.
"There..." Minji murmured, nodding toward the open space beneath a streetlight across the road. "That’s where you said yes to me."
Hanni fell silent, unsure of what to say. She simply followed Minji’s gaze, waiting.
Minji continued, her voice carrying a fondness laced with nostalgia. "We danced our asses off, laughing like idiots. Then, out of nowhere, you hugged me and told me you’d be my girlfriend." A soft smile tugged at her lips as she reminisced.
"It was around 10 PM when you called me, saying you needed company. But instead of telling me to come over, you told me to wait downtown. I was curious, so I ignored you and walked to your house—only to catch you sneaking out through your window." She chuckled before going on.
"You were so shocked to see me standing there that you lost your balance and fell. Luckily, I was fast enough to catch you. But instead of being embarrassed, you just laughed in my face and immediately pulled me along to run away."
Hanni felt a smile creep onto her lips, warmth spreading in her chest as she imagined the scene.
Minji turned to face her now. "We spent the whole night walking and talking until you brought me here to grab something to eat. Then, out of nowhere, it started pouring—really hard. We were screwed because we had class the next day. I jokingly suggested we run in the rain… and you took it seriously."
Hanni’s heart skipped a beat when Minji’s gaze softened, something shifting in her eyes.
"So we ran outside, but then I pulled you across the road and asked you to dance with me under that streetlight. And you said yes."
There it was again—that look. The one that spoke in stories, filled with emotions Hanni couldn’t quite grasp. Before she could search deeper into Minji’s expression, the older girl looked away, her eyes drifting back outside.
"Eventually, we forgot all about our classes," Minji murmured. "We just kept dancing in the rain."
As her laughter filled my ears, I couldn't help but freeze in a daze, staring at her face. Her cheeks were red from the cold and rain, but her presence felt warmer than the breeze surrounding us.
She suddenly stopped moving when she noticed me staring. Her smile slowly faded as our eyes met. There was so much emotion in hers—wonder, hesitation, as if there was something she wanted to say but was too afraid to let out.
"Minji-ah?" she whispered against the cold.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you..."
Before I could process it, she tiptoed and wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me out of nowhere.
Of course, I wouldn't let this moment slip away—she rarely showed physical affection, so without hesitation, I reciprocated her warmth.
I closed my eyes, inhaling the wet scent of her hair, feeling the softness of her face buried in my neck. My heart was racing—too fast. I was sure she could hear it.
But then, I realized I wasn’t the only one. I could feel her chest rising and falling in the same unsteady rhythm as mine. A secret smile formed on my lips.
"Minji?"
"Hanniii?"
She giggled cutely. "Minji-ssi."
I chuckled. "Yes, yeobeo Hanni-ssi?"
Her giggles only grew louder before they slowly faded into silence. I waited for her to continue, but instead, she pulled away.
Not completely—her hands remained on my shoulders. She took a deep breath, as if preparing herself.
"Minji-ah... I want to be your girlfriend. And I like you too."
What...?
I froze, unable to process her words. She smirked shyly before tiptoeing again, pressing a soft peck on my cheek, snapping my whole system awake.
She pulled back with an even shyer smile, her cheeks now a deeper shade of red. "I said yes. No need to court me now."
What.
Wait—what?
"What..."
As her words finally sank in, my eyes widened.
"WAIT, WHAT?"
"REALLY?"
"SERIOUSLY?"
"100%!?"
The heat creeping up my face and the frantic dance of my heart told me exactly how red I must've looked.
Her giggles are not helping!
"Yes! Really! Seriously! 100%!"
I'm going to burst.
I'M GOING TO DIE!!!
Out of pure overwhelming joy, I engulfed her in my arms and spun her in the air, screaming excited squeals as she laughed with me. Then, without thinking, I peppered kisses all over her cheeks, making her gasp and squeal in surprise. She burned brighter in my embrace, face heating up like a furnace.
"YESSSSS!!!! HANNI PHAM IS FINALLY MINEEE!!!"
Her sweet laughter filled my chest with fire, igniting every fiber of my being with happiness. She playfully slapped my arms, trying to stop my "attack."
"HAHAHAHA STOPPP IT!!!"
Minji blinked rapidly, forcing back the tears that gathered in her eyes. She let out a dry chuckle, quickly wiping them away.
"Apologies, I got emotional."
. . .
Hanni fell silent. A pang of guilt settled in her chest, tightening around her ribs.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. It felt like she needed to say it.
"For what?"
"For forgetting you."
Minji offered a small, bittersweet smile. "It's not something you could’ve controlled."
"Still... I feel like I need to—"
"Don't." Minji shook her head. "It’s called an accident for a reason, right?"
"Right..."
A pause.
"How's the family of the guy?"
Minji frowned slightly. "What guy?"
"The one who crashed into me?"
"How would I know? It's none of our business."
"Minji."
"What? Their father caused your memory loss. There's no reason for us to know how they are."
"It's their father who caused my accident, not the family."
"And what reason do I have to care about them?"
Hanni sighed. "Well, wasn't their dad the one providing for them? And now that he's gone, who's going to—"
"I don’t care." Minji's voice hardened, her jaw tightening. "He should’ve known better than to get drunk and drive his fucking car if he was the one taking care of their family."
. . .
With a sigh, Minji spoke again, her voice softer this time.
"Hanni."
"Yeah...?" Hanni responded in a low tone, barely looking up from her meal, idly poking at her food.
"I'm sorry for ruining the mood," Minji said, guilt lingering in her words. Then, after a brief pause, she smiled. "Should we go to your favorite aquarium?"
Hanni's eyes widened in an instant.
"AQUARIUM!?" she practically shouted, bolting up from her seat.
The sudden outburst made several customers turn their heads, and realization hit her like a wave. She immediately slapped a hand over her mouth, cheeks burning in embarrassment, before awkwardly sinking back into her chair.
"...Sorry," she mumbled. Then, hesitantly, she looked up at Minji, her excitement barely contained. "You mean—where? Which aquarium?"
Minji chuckled at her reaction.
"Your dream aquarium," she answered, her gaze softening.
Hanni blinked, her lips parting slightly in disbelief.
"But... it's so expensive."
Minji tilted her head, raising an eyebrow.
"You're really worried about that?"
"Ah..." Hanni trailed off, biting her lip.
She wanted to protest, to insist that it was too much, that they shouldn't spend so much money on something so trivial—but the sheer sincerity in Minji’s eyes made her hesitate. Her heart fluttered at the thought.
Her dream aquarium. With Minji.
It almost felt unreal.
As usual, the shorter girl couldn't contain her excitement. She was walking, jumping, hopping, and even skipping around, her energy contagious. Minji could only trail behind, silently smiling as she watched Hanni turn into a literal child before her eyes. She pointed at every fish and shark, asked random questions, spilled odd animal facts, and squealed whenever she found something particularly fascinating.
The place was packed—it was Sunday, after all—but Hanni didn’t seem to care.
When Minji received a call, she had left for a moment not without giving Hanni a heads up who nodded in understanding. When she returned, she found Hanni sitting alone in front of the massive aquarium, her shoulders slightly hunched. Even from a distance, she could see the way Hanni discreetly wiped at her cheeks.
Slowly, Minji approached and sat beside her.
"You're crying."
"What? No, I'm not! Hahaha." Hanni forced a laugh, blinking rapidly. "I'm happy."
"Happy tears, then?"
"Mhm! 'Cause I finally got to visit this place," she said, but her voice wavered.
Minji hummed, tilting her head slightly. "But your eyes tell otherwise."
"What? Nooo. Hahaha. I'm okay, really, I am."
"I've known you long enough to know that 'I'm okay' usually means 'I'm scared of telling you.'" Minji nudged her gently. "What are you worried about, hm?"
Hanni opened her mouth, ready to dismiss it again, but the lump in her throat betrayed her. She choked back a breath, and before she could stop it, the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. She clenched her fists on her lap, her voice small and shaky.
"I don't think my memories are coming back..."
Minji inhaled softly before shifting to kneel in front of her. She gently took Hanni’s hands, feeling how anxiously she was playing with the fabric of her pants.
"Han, it's still too soon. Maybe they will, just gradually."
Hanni stared down at their intertwined hands, her grip uncertain.
"But what if they don’t?" she whispered.
Minji squeezed her hands reassuringly. "They will—"
"But what if..." Hanni finally met Minji’s gaze, and the sheer vulnerability in her eyes made Minji’s breath hitch. "What if they never do?"
Minji didn't answer right away. Instead, she reached up, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Hanni’s ear, her touch featherlight. "Hanni... how about we stop thinking negatively?"
"I'm not being negative, Minji," Hanni said, exhaling shakily. "I'm thinking of all the possibilities, all the circumstances. Because let's be real. The negatives are part of reality. This—" she gestured to herself, to the lost fragments of her past, "—this is my reality now, Minji-ah."
Minji’s lips pressed together in a firm line before she shook her head.
"Well, I won't give up. We'll retrieve your memories again." Her fingers tightened just slightly around Hanni's, as if willing her to hold onto hope.
Hanni let out a breathy chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "You're too optimistic."
"And you're too pessimistic."
"It's better to be disappointed first than be disappointed last. It'll hurt less."
Minji sighed, then, as if by instinct, reached up and cupped Hanni’s face. Her thumbs brushed away the lingering tears, and her hold was impossibly soft, grounding.
"If only I could take your pain away..." she murmured, searching Hanni’s eyes.
You already did.
Hanni swallowed.
You make everything bearable.
Her fingers curled slightly around Minji’s wrist, warmth blooming in her chest despite the uncertainty lingering in her mind.
Maybe loving you isn’t so bad after all...
End of Chapter 10.