Chapter 5. Family Meeting (Joo A-young's POV)
Late into the evening, the family gathered around the table. The three women and Ravisse made four in total. Joo Ji-hoon was absent.
"Alright! Everyone knows the topic of this meeting, right? We're deciding how to treat Oppa from now on."
Joo A-young kicked things off energetically. She always handled the proceedings. Her high energy made her perfect for it, and she didn't mind one bit. If she didn't, nothing would get done.
"Let's hear what you all felt when you saw Oppa today. One word from each. First up..."
A-young scanned the room, pondering who to hand the mic to first.
Mom looks totally out of it.
Joo Seol-hwa stared blankly ahead with unfocused eyes. Her clothes were disheveled, leaving her left shoulder fully exposed. She looked like a doll with its strings cut—lifeless.
I've never seen Mom like this before.
To someone who knew her usual self, it was hard to believe even seeing it. A cold-blooded killer who wouldn't flinch at a head rolling by her feet. A warrior always on guard, ready for ambushes no matter the situation. That was the mom A-young knew.
If Mom's this bad, then Sis...
As expected, Joo So-min was pale as a ghost. Her eyes were bloodshot, lips bluish. Tears streamed down unchecked. Anyone would think she'd just come from a funeral.
Ravisse... same as always.
Ever the emotionless doll, no matter the time or place. A-young had figured she'd react if something happened to Ji-hoon, but no dice.
She might look fine on the outside, but inside could be different.
First batter up.
"Ravisse, you start. How did Oppa seem to you?"
"He seemed brighter than before."
"Brighter? What makes you say that?"
"Nothing special happened. But watching him gave me that impression."
"Hmm... okay?"
The evidence was thin, but it was Ravisse saying it—no ignoring that. She'd observed Ji-hoon for years, twenty-four-seven. That kind of time together meant she'd notice even subtle shifts.
"Noted. Next, Mom. How was he today?"
"…"
No response.
"Mom?"
"…Huh?"
Only on the second call did she turn her head.
"Mom, what did you think seeing Oppa today? Anything unusual?"
"…!"
Joo Seol-hwa flinched as if something clicked. A-young already knew the story—from Ji-hoon himself. Asking was for the family's sake, to share it all.
"Mom?"
"He..."
She started to speak, then clamped her mouth shut. Just recalling it seemed painful; she bit her lower lip.
"It's okay, Mom. We're family—no judging here."
We're family—no judging here.
Ji-hoon's favorite line. Proven countless times through actions. This house stood on those words alone.
"Tell us. What happened with Oppa?"
"…"
Joo Seol-hwa squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, resolve gleamed in her gaze.
"Actually..."
She haltingly spilled the details. She'd just hugged him lightly, and Ji-hoon got hard.
A-young, already in the know, took it calmly. But not So-min.
"Hic... Sniff... Hnngh..."
She burst into audible sobs the moment she heard.
"Th-that's not Ji-hoon... He's c-completely different... Hnngh..."
"He just lost his memories. He's still Oppa."
"J-Ji-hoon would n-never get h-hard against Mom..."
"…"
A-young had no comeback for that. Ji-hoon had never gotten erect around family. And she knew it best. She'd rubbed her bare skin against him in her underwear, and nada. He wasn't impotent—plenty hard for Ravisse. He was just a normal guy who didn't sexualize family.
"H-he's d-dead... J-Ji-hoon's gone... Euup... Waaah!"
So-min clutched her chest, bawling.
Just as the mood sank...
BAM!
A-young slammed both palms on the table. All eyes on her.
"Stop crying!"
She glared like a tiger.
"Oppa's alive and well—don't treat him like he's dead!"
"Uh... Y-yeah..."
So-min startled, tears halting.
"I saw him too, and to me, nothing's changed."
"H-he didn't remember me...?"
"Didn't remember my name either. But aside from memories, he was the same Oppa I know."
"R-really...?"
"Yeah. Like dementia—you lose memories, but personality stays. That's the vibe."
A-young recalled today. Ji-hoon tearing up with guilt. Forcing a smile through pain. That soft, charming eye-smile. All matched the Oppa she knew.
"He just needs time to adjust. Him and us."
"W-will he come back with time?"
"Obviously! It's not even been a full day. You gonna ditch Oppa after one day, Sis?"
"I-I didn't say ditch..."
So-min's eyes widened; she waved her hands frantically.
"Put yourself in his shoes. If you lost memories, would Oppa give up after a day?"
"No..."
"What would he do?"
"K-keep looking for a way...?"
"Exactly. That's Oppa always. You've seen it."
"Y-yeah... True."
"So we can't give up. We'll get him back somehow."
"...Yeah!"
So-min's eyes sparkled. Such an easy sis to handle.
A glance showed Seol-hwa's focus returning too.
"Alright, let's summarize!"
A-young shot up. She dragged the whiteboard from behind the table with a rattle.
Pop! Uncapped the marker and scrawled boldly.
Unusual Point 1: Memory Loss
Unusual Point 2: Sees Family as Romantic Interests
"Sure, negatives exist, but positives too."
Positive Point 1: Brighter Demeanor (Per Ravisse)
"Ravisse said that, and I felt something else."
Positive Point 2: Cuter Reactions
"His reactions are cuter now. Before, teasing got zilch. Now he startles every time."
Old Ji-hoon barely reacted to ear-nibbling. At best, a smirk and head-pat. Today's? Instant response to a mere jab.
"Time for conclusions. Ideas on how to treat Oppa going forward?"
"…"
Silence from the other three.
"Nyahaha~ No ideas, huh?"
Tough spot, but A-young laughed it off. She'd expected this. Family meetings were her solo carry, always had been.
Seol-hwa aced fights but flopped at this stuff—barely answered questions. So-min and Ravisse? No opinions to share. A-young proposed, it passed. Rinse, repeat.
"I'll decide then. Here's my take!"
Conclusion: Treat Him Normally
"Starting tomorrow, same as always."
"S-same as always?"
So-min tilted her head.
"Like, I'll pull my usual pranks on Oppa."
"W-won't he freak?"
"At first, yeah. But he'll adapt."
"H-how are you so sure?"
"Not totally. But we try everything. You wanna stay awkward with Oppa forever?"
"N-no, but..."
"Then get close. You too—tomorrow, invite him to movie night like usual."
"Y-yeah..."
"Mom, same for you. When you get back, bathe with him or whatever."
"...What if today happens again?"
"Play dumb. If you can't handle it, give up."
"…"
Seol-hwa closed her eyes, pondering.
Mom won't quit.
She doted on all three kids, but Ji-hoon most. Self-admitted. Already precious, now guilt over his memory loss? She'd hover more.
"Ravisse, you'll handle fine without me saying."
Too fine—worrisome. No blood ties, no hesitation. While the trio fumbled, she could swoop in.
"Who knows? Acting normal might jog his memories."
Low odds, but A-young wanted to plant hope.
"Don't stress. It'll normalize eventually."
Maybe even better than normal.
She kept that last bit to herself. Her dream future? One even family wouldn't back.