❝ 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐫𝐭.  ❞

S E O R A

Was this really happening?

Three years of incessant waiting for a man everyone claimed to be dead. We had a car crash but he promised me he'll return, I knew he's alive. He even asked me to marry him.

Mom and Suji must've thought it to be someone else because I knew Jaechan would return someday. All of our memories from the very childhood to the heart wrenching three years of my life, flashed in front of me. His smiling face, the way he held onto me, all of our pleasant times spent together and above all, the time when he proposed to me three years ago– everything came crashing down like a whirlpool of memories.

But why is it blur?

Why can't I remember his voice?

My brows knitted together in perplexity as I held my forehead, a sharp pain throbbed in it as I tried to remember more. Jaechan held me by the shoulders saying something but I couldn't make out what he was saying.

My head hurts.

I rubbed my temples to ease out the excruciating pain but nothing seemed to help.

'Save yourself, Seora!' A voice rang in my ears, crashing through the ear drums and creating a cacophony of sounds which seemed too familiar to be forgotten. Who's screaming? I have no idea about it but tremendously painful.

"Pardon me for my actions, Mrs. Kang," Jaechan spoke out and it's only now I could clearly hear his voice instead of all those voices surrounding inside my head.

"Uhhh!" I released a tiring groan as I winced in pain whilst nibbling my lips. Jaechan gazed at me blankly, his eyes devoid of any emotion but before I could comprehend any expression on his face, he pulled me up in his arms and I gasped in shock.

The Jaechan I know would've asked me a million questions about my well being by now and he would've been worried sick but the man in front of me was blank. His jaw clenched as if he was enraged due to something and his cologne rushed through my nostrils.

Woody aroma that screamed darkness, unlike the fruity and flowery aroma I was used to when I last met him three years.

What happened in all that time?

A lot seemed to change.

The pain decreased by the time he made it's way towards my room and placed me on the bed but my head was still spinning as if I'm caught up in a tornado.

"Did you eat something?" He asked pulling me out of my trail of thoughts as I gazed at him, trying to decipher and match the qualities I saw in him three years ago. The qualities that made me fall in love with him.

Unfortunately, I could find none of them.

This man exuded a dark aura– from his neatly gelled hair revealing a significant look of his forehead, the all black custom-made suit he carried, the high end watch he wore to the neatly polished shoes he wore– everything screamed old money.

The Jaechan I know would never wear something so sophisticated and talk so elegantly as if he's in a meeting. In his own words, he would rather be lounging out in his comfy-wear with his T-shirt and baggy jeans than to carry out 'tacky' suits all the time. He found them irritating and uncomfortable, honestly Jaechan gave off the boyish looks but this guy... He appears so manly, as if he has years to experience to make him what he is today.

I couldn't help but gently brush my palms against his cheeks to feel his skin to feel his presence and to confirm that he's real, I'm not in a delusion. He visibly stiffened under my touch and slowly held his hands, which were rough, numerous scars and cuts marred on them as if he went on a war.

What have you made of yourself, Jaechan?

Just what exactly happened in all these three years?

"Seora..." He softly called out my name but still his voice felt so different, as if this is the first time we're talking with each other, as if we're so close yet miles apart.

"Yes?" I replied, unable to make out his confused expressions.

"I asked something," He bobbed his head, scooting away from my touch and placing his hands in the pockets of his pants, as I stared at him without any answer missing the warmth of his hands.

I forgot what he asked.

Honestly, I think even if I spend an entire month with him, I won't be able to understand this Jaechan... He's so different, as if he isn't the same person I'm yearning for all this time. His actions are calculated, his words are so less yet so impactful, his voice seems as if it has gone a few decibels deeper.

He opened his mouth to let out a few words but our conversation was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of Suji.

"Seora, it's time to have your medicines." Suji interjected while placing a tray of food and my medicines beside it. Her shoulders stiffened as she glanced at Jaechan, as if she was anxious of him. They were fighting like siblings all the time, but now everything seems distant apart. I guess she read the room and went out giving us some privacy.

"May I?" His voice caught my attention as he bobbed his head in the direction of the bed, asking for permission to sit.

I nodded my head in apprehension as he followed and sat in front of me whilst holding my hand, gently rubbing soothing circles on my wrist where the bandage was wrapped. I lost my mind last night when mom and Suji weren't believing my words, resulting in this outcome. This is so wrong, why did I hurt myself?

I don't know.

Maybe I'm going through different stimulations and phases in my head that I'm doing things that normal me would never even think of.

"Shall we eat?" He asked whilst placing the spoon full of porridge in front of me. I made a face looking at the lightly salted and non spicy eatery, I wonder if it's even edible but then again, I'm surviving on this since a week.

I opened my mouth to take in a spoonful of porridge and slowly munched to savour it's taste. Gosh! It's awful. I couldn't help but scrunch my nose in disgust and Jaechan passed me a glass of water almost instantly, as if he was observing every inch of me to eradicate any discomfort I'm suffering from. I completed eating the bland food followed by my daily dose of medicines and the man in front gazed at me as if I were some alien from mars.

Does he also feel the same as me, after vanishing away for three years? Where did he go?

Did he fall out of love?

The most horrific thought crossed my mind making it delve into the shreds of our memories... Memories I couldn't possibly recall fully. It's like a maze in my mind, I remember one thing, then jump to the other and then flip to a different thought.

But the common thing is, my every thought involves Jaechan. This is why I'm holding onto him, he's my reparation.

"Where were you all this time?" I questioned, breaking the thick silence between us, it was so silent that I could hear the clock tickling and the rapid rushes of our heartbeats. He released a breath gulping the lump in his throat as he spoke out.

"I found my family."

"Your family?" My brows furrowed in disbelief, Jaechan was an orphan for as long as I've known him. Family? Which family?

"They were searching for me all this while until they happened to find me in the hospital, after our accident. They were in a... difficult position and I needed to take on the business."

Something just broke inside me.

"So, you left me for business?" I cocked a brow at him, urging for a confirmation for what he spoke just now. The man I was waiting for all this time left me so easily for a family that wasn't even a part of his life until three years ago, he put forth all our memories and promises to stay together, on a pedestal hanging on a loose thread.

This is not the man I loved.

"I didn't, I left you to protect you from the threats that come up with the business. I deeply apologise for my actions, please forgive– "

Slap.

My hands instantly caught on action as my eyes welled up with tears, his head turned to the other side due to the impact and he turned looking at me, his eyes devoid ot emotions as if he isn't even feeling an inch of remorse for what he has done to me, to us.

Another slap.

I choked on my sobs as my vision blurred but he remained still on his position not giving an ounce of emotion, silently succumbing the pain as if it'll make him wash away his sins.

"Ah!" I hissed when my wounded wrist strained and for the first time in a while, he showed an emotion– concern. He held my hands with a sense of concern.

"Are you disappointed with me Seora?" He questioned whilst wiping the tears from the corner of my eyes.

I couldn't bring myself to answer him after all the information I just heard, I need sometime to let the reality sink in. Disappointment was clearly visible on my face as I looked at him but to my surprise he chuckled, nonchalantly as he slowly cupped my face with shivering hands.

"Then I'll do anything to earn your pity than your disappointment." He mumbled, pecking my wrist where the white gauze was wrapped.

A/N

Sometimes, I'm rizzed up by my own characters. HELP-
😭