Seoul, Korea
5th May 2020
4:56 p.m.

His intense gaze kept shifting back and forth between my posture and his canvas as he sketched my curves. I couldn't help but gaze at his handsome face, never growing tired of watching him draw. His shoulders slumped in a sigh as he glanced at the drawing.

This morning, he took me by surprise when he expressed his desire to draw me. And now, here I am, sitting on a chair for what feels like an eternity. My entire body feels numb, and I can sense every fiber of my being screaming at me to move.

"Jin, how much longer do you need?" I whined, massaging my legs. He momentarily diverted his gaze from the canvas and looked at me with a gentle expression.

He passed me a warm smile while adjusting the sheet and replied, "Just five more minutes."

"You've been saying that for the past 30 minutes!" I complained, rolling my eyes. He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, his eyes widening. It seemed he hadn't realized that an entire hour had passed since I first sat down.

"I'm so sorry, my love. I promise it'll be over in just five more minutes," he pleaded, his eyes filled with puppy-like innocence. How could I ever say no to those irresistible eyes? I simply shook my head and agreed, knowing all too well that his puppy eyes had always been my weakness.

As I sat there for what felt like an eternity, drowsiness began to wash over me. I usually kept myself busy with work and various activities to prevent feeling sleepy and sluggish. To avoid succumbing to sleep in that uncomfortable chair, I decided to strike up a conversation with him.

"So, how are things going between Hoseok and Yoongi? Have they resolved their fight?" I asked, trying my best to remain still.

His brows furrowed in confusion.

"Fight? What fight?" he questioned.

"Aish... How could you forget? You were the one who told me about the fight where Hoseok flirted with Yoongi's girlfriend and Yoongi got really angry," I reminded him. Lately, he had been forgetful, probably due to his heavy workload.

"Ah, that one! I remember now. I spoke with Yoongi and explained that Hoseok didn't know she was his girlfriend and acted unknowingly. He seemed like he was ready to forgive Hoseok," he replied, his gaze fixed on the canvas with a serious expression.

As he conversed with me, his attention remained divided as he continued to draw me on the canvas. His paintings were always breathtaking, and whenever he sketched, his gaze remained intense. I could see the passion reflected in his eyes. It was one of the things I admired about him, how he motivated me to pursue my own dreams.

"That's good... and you've been starting to forget things. Must be because you're getting older," I playfully teased.

His body tensed momentarily, and his breath caught before he shifted his focus from my face to the canvas, then back to me. He let out a laugh in response to my joke.

Fake laugh...

A fact that eluded my notice...

For he concealed it so well...

"It's complete," he exclaimed, exhaling with satisfaction.

My eyes sparkled with anticipation, eager to see the finished drawing. I immediately stood up, only to stumble due to the numbness in my legs.

"Be careful!" Jin shouted, rushing towards me. He grabbed my right hand with his left and planted a gentle kiss on it before guiding me towards the canvas.

As I beheld the artwork, it would be an understatement to say that I was shocked. The picture was mesmerizing.

Absolutely stunning...

The girl in the portrait was breathtakingly beautiful.

"I never realized I looked this beautiful until I saw this picture," I chuckled.

He shifted his stance towards me, and a cool breeze brushed against my body. His captivating chocolate brown eyes, which I adored the most, gazed into my face.

"In my eyes, you are always beautiful. You are my little angel," he whispered, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead.

"Hey, I'm not little!" I exclaimed, feigning offense.

"But to me, you are," he replied, enfolding me in a warm embrace and resting his chin on top of my head. I felt a surge of warmth. These small gestures from him never failed to make my heart race. We remained in this embrace for minutes until I broke the silence.

"Let's go to the café. I want to have some coffee."

⬩⬩⬩

"I'll have a black coffee. What about you?" Jin asked, glancing at the menu on the table.

"Always my favourite," I replied with a grin. He knows my preferences so well, like how he used to wait outside my college with my favourite coffee, just for me.

His gaze fell to the menu, seemingly contemplating his order. Suddenly, I noticed his fist clenched tightly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he closed his eyes, his brows furrowing in distress.

He appeared stressed.

He seemed to be struggling.

"Jin, are you okay?" I asked, growing concerned. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I attempted to comfort him.

What could be happening to him?

Little did I know then.

Little did I realize his inner turmoil.

I wished I knew about his suffering.

I wished we could face it together.

"What would you like, sir and madam?" a waiter interrupted, standing nearby with a small notebook in hand.

"One cappuccino and a black coffee, please," I ordered. The waiter swiftly jotted it down and left us alone.

"I remember," Jin mumbled.

"Jin, are you okay? What did you remember?" I asked, feeling a tinge of panic. His recent behaviour had been out of character, with forgetfulness becoming more frequent.

He opened his eyes and looked at me, his gaze softening. "I'm fine, love. I'm truly sorry for making you worry."

"I don't know, Jin. Lately, you've been acting differently, and it's causing me great concern. Are you sure everything's alright?" Tears welled up in my eyes, streaming down my cheeks. However, I quickly wiped them away, not wanting him to see me cry. I despised showing my vulnerability, but in that moment, my guard slipped, and he witnessed my tears.

He took my hand in his warm grasp, soothingly running his thumb over my fingers, providing some comfort. I felt as though he was keeping something significant from me.

"I promise I'm okay, love. Please don't worry about me, and please don't cry. I hate seeing you in tears," he said, his voice laced with concern.

"I'm not crying," I insisted, rubbing the corners of my eyes. "My eyes are just... sweating."

He rolled his eyes in response. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," he replied sarcastically.

Before I could retort, the waiter arrived with our drinks. I took a sip of my cappuccino and let out a contented sigh.

This is pure bliss.

♬ We don't need to worry

'Cause when we fall, we know how to land ♬

I answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello, I'm from MG2 Design, California. I'm calling to congratulate you on being selected as a trainee for two months. We're starting a new project, and you'll be participating in it. We'll assess your skills and experience during this period to determine whether you'll become a full-time employee. I've sent all the necessary details to your email. You can report to work starting next week. Congratulations," a deep voice on the other end of the line spoke.

I was at a loss for words. I've been accepted!

"Thank you so much, sir!" I exclaimed, ending the call.

At long last, my dream had come true! Becoming a designer had always been my aspiration. Jin helped me tremendously by suggesting some great companies where I had interviewed last week. I was immensely grateful for his support.

"Who was it?" Jin inquired, taking a sip of his black coffee.

"The call was from California. It's regarding the recent job I applied for... I got accepted!" I exclaimed with elation. The people in the café cast peculiar glances our way, but I couldn't care less. I was filled with pure joy.

His eyes widened, a smile forming on his lips. He stood up and approached me, enveloping me in a tight embrace.

"I'm so glad your dream has finally come true. Congratulations!" he said, his face pressed against my shoulder.

I hugged him back, feeling the breadth of his broad shoulders. His warmth surrounding me made my heart flutter. "I'm only accepted as a trainee, though. What if I don't perform well and don't get hired as a full-time employee?"

I'm not typically pessimistic, but sometimes these negative thoughts haunt me, despite my efforts to push them away. They sow seeds of self-doubt, eroding my confidence and making me hesitant when it comes to creative pursuits.

"You've worked incredibly hard for this opportunity. I'm confident they'll be impressed by your skills," Jin encouraged me.

"I hope so. They've asked me to report to work next week. I should be leaving for California this weekend, but I don't want to..." I trailed off, my voice barely above a whisper.

He released me from the embrace, firmly holding my shoulders with his hands. I pouted, missing the warmth of his touch.

"Why?" he asked.

"I-I don't want to leave you." Tears welled up in my eyes once more. Why did I always feel so vulnerable when I was with him?

He cupped my face gently. "It's just two months. I'll come and visit you once your trainee period is over. Though we won't be able to see each other during these two months, we can have video calls regularly."

"Still... I'll miss you," I said, embracing him tightly. He held me in return, as if afraid of losing me.

"I'll miss you too, my love. Take care of yourself. I won't be there with you," he expressed. I pulled away slightly, narrowing my eyes.

"I'm not a child. I can take care of myself. I hope you'll take care of yourself too," I said, folding my arms across my chest.

He chuckled.

"Sure."

⬩⬩⬩

5th July 2020
6:23 p.m.

Two months had passed since I arrived in California and got adjusted to the place. The people were friendly, but I couldn't shake the feeling of missing him, yearning for his warmth. I longed for his hugs, kisses, and even his cooking. I missed everything about him. Every day, we talked through video or voice calls, but slowly, the frequency of our communication began to diminish. I reassured myself that it was due to the different time zones, but deep down, I knew something else was going on. Still, I didn't want to believe in such silly thoughts.

Something had changed. I felt as if he was becoming a different person. Something was wrong, and I hoped he was alright. The insecurities crept in, making me wonder if he still loved me or if he had found someone else. I knew Jin wasn't that kind of man, but the nagging feeling of insecurity persisted.

What had happened to him? Why was he ignoring me?

A small part of me felt a profound sense of loneliness and sadness.

And then, I received news of my promotion to full-time worker. It should have been a moment of joy and excitement, but instead, I felt overwhelmed by sadness, anger, and that overwhelming sense of loneliness.

Three weeks had passed since he started ignoring my calls and messages. So, here I was, standing in front of his door, ready to demand an explanation for his behaviour. I took a deep breath, mustering the courage to face him, though uncertainty plagued my mind. What if I was the one who made a mistake?

I knocked on his door, my heart pounding in my chest. As I waited, I nervously looked down at my shoes, uncertain if I was truly ready to confront whatever awaited me. Would I be able to handle the truth?

Finally, I heard the door being swung open. I lifted my gaze, eagerly anticipating seeing his face, longing for his embrace. However, to my surprise, a beautiful woman with brown eyes, dressed in a pretty yellow sundress, stood before me.

Without giving her question much thought, I quickly asked, "Is Seokjin here?" My mind raced, trying to process the situation. Doubts and worries consumed me, and all I wanted was to see Jin and find out what was going on.

The woman seemed taken aback by my abruptness but replied, "Jin went to the nearby park. May I know who you are?" She scrutinized me, as if trying to recall if we had ever met before.

"I... I am his friend," I stammered, forcing a smile. I didn't know why I lied, as he was not just a friend-he was my boyfriend. But at that moment, it felt like the right thing to do.

"You're Seokjin's friend? I didn't know he had friends," she commented, her words laced with surprise. It was true that Jin didn't have many friends due to his self-centered nature. It had taken considerable effort to become close to him and earn his love.

She seemed to realize her slip of the tongue and stopped herself. Sensing my hesitance, she extended an invitation. "If you want to meet him, come inside. He'll probably be back in fifteen minutes."

I thanked her for the offer but declined, citing that I might come later. With each passing moment, the questions in my mind grew louder. Who was she? How was she connected to Jin? As far as I knew, Jin didn't have any sisters. What was she doing in his house?

Questions flooded my mind, overwhelming me. However, her next words shattered the fragile hope I had been clinging to. "Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Shinji, Seokjin's fiancée," she revealed.

It took a moment for her words to sink in, and when they did, something inside me broke. I could feel the tears welling up in the corners of my eyes as I instinctively took a step back, away from the house and away from her. I felt suffocated at that moment.

Was she telling the truth? Was Jin getting married? Was that the reason he had been ignoring my calls? Did he no longer love me?

It seemed impossible. My Jin would never do that. There must be some misunderstanding.

My mind oscillated between positive and negative thoughts, trying to convince myself that there was a simple misunderstanding, yet imagining the worst possible scenarios.

"Don't overthink, Y/n. Let's talk to Jin and resolve this misunderstanding. I'm sure he has an explanation. We can work through this," I whispered to myself, attempting to find some solace amidst the overwhelming emotions. I fought hard to hold back the tears, but they continued to flow. With every imagined worst-case scenario, my tears fell harder.

I made my way to the nearby park, where I spotted Jin sitting on a bench, seemingly lost in thought. He looked exactly the same as he did when I last saw him two months ago, but there was something different about him. He appeared lonely and detached.

I approached him and stood in front of him, my heart aching with a mix of emotions. I didn't know what to say or where to begin.

He locked eyes with me, and at that moment, a wave of emotions crashed over me. I wanted to cry, to tell him how much I had missed him, how much I longed for his presence and his warm embrace. But before I could utter a word, he spoke, his voice devoid of recognition.

"Who are you?"

That was the moment when my world shattered into a million pieces.

⬩⬩⬩

He has amnesia,
Still, I look deep into his eyes trying to find me.

Thank you for reading my one-shot. I hope you like it. If you do, then don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts on this chapter.

~ Jimochi