Memories (5)
Long, damp black hair cascading down. Transparent eyes. Snow-white skin and delicate features. Deep double eyelids. Where have I seen her before? Seonghwan racked his brain, the memory teasing at the edge of his mind.
She looks familiar. The woman's face wasn't just vaguely familiar—it felt deeply so. And her voice, too. Her voice?
The woman was sobbing. Her cries carried grief beyond sorrow, raw anguish that hoarsed her throat. "Please... Seonghwan, no. Don't die. Your aunt's sorry."
Aunt? That explained the familiarity. But why was she crying like this?
"I shouldn't have left you like that. Sob sob sob sob."
I'm fine, though? She was wailing so hard it was embarrassing.
"No, please. Seonghwan. If you die, how can I face your parents in heaven..."
Our parents are alive and well down here? Or does she mean they're angels? Wild thoughts bubbled up. Well, Mom does seem angelic. Dad... maybe even the King of Hell could pass for one?
The surreal haze invited all sorts of nonsense. He knew it made no sense, but with no way to speak or move, imagination was all he had. No one to ask, anyway. His voice wouldn't come.
"Seonghwan, Seonghwan. Sob sob. Your aunt messed up. Please open your eyes. Please."
No, no, I'm really okay. Whoa, Auntie's skin feels... Even now, her soft, pale flesh pressed against him as she clutched and wailed. Damn, this is embarrassing. Holding back an erection was heroic. But beyond her skin, her sweet scent grew stronger, stirring a man's basest urges.
Fuck, me with incest? No way in hell. This is bullshit. Seonghwan gritted his teeth, fighting it.
The king's words differ from China's... Prajñāpāramitā. Namu Amida Butsu. Our Father in heaven... Come on, something's gotta work. He invoked King Sejong, Buddha, God—but the fire wouldn't die easy.
"If you... if you die, your aunt will..."
She blurted something urgent, but only "death" registered, alien and stark. I'm not dying, damn it. Why say it so casually?
Smoothly, she eased him from her embrace. Aw, too bad... It clashed with his desperate prayers to suppress the heat, but her hold was addictive. Addictive? When was I ever in Auntie's arms before? Whatever, fuck it. Not the point right now.
Her vacant eyes stared blankly, oblivious to his gaze, tears streaming in endless grief. Pupils empty, brimming only with sorrow—like she'd lost everything. Yet even that was stunning; Seonghwan held his breath.
No way—crying snot everywhere and still this beautiful? That's cheating. Even Yeon unnie isn't on this level.
His judgment faltered with Yeon, sure, but this was beauty beyond specs. Auntie like this? Did I get zero grandma's blood? Wait... then Mom? Sorry for the unfilial thought, but Mom wasn't that pretty, right?
The age gap aside, even imagining Mom young, "pretty" felt like a stretch. But she's elegant. Kindest heart. Perfect wife and mother. Guilt hit late; he piled on praise. Still, facts were facts.
Second aunt... not really. Sorry, Second Auntie.
Flashing through women, Seonghwan focused on his youngest aunt. Details emerged past her empty gaze: eyes swollen red from tears, lips bitten raw and bleeding, hair a wild tangle from anguished clutching. Yet she remained astonishingly beautiful. Staring blankly, she whispered, "Sorry... and please, please don't leave me."
With that, she lifted her head, leaning toward his forehead. Smack. Warm, wet lips pressed vividly. Whoa? Fuck, is this a dream? Feels too real.
The sudden kiss—like a confession—widened his eyes, mouth agape. Heat surged inexplicably at her impulse, but he dismissed forbidden love. Priests kiss hands and foreheads like that. Auntie always doted extra. Made hyung jealous, even. Am I the black sheep? Nah, doesn't add up.
Handsome paternal side. Generous maternal with great ties. Auntie lucked out genetically; he wasn't ugly—just more grandma's blood, he figured.
"Please... open your eyes. Seonghwan. Auntie'll do anything, please..."
Her desperate sobs urged him to yell: I'm fine, don't worry, stop crying! Frustration boiled—mind sharp, body paralyzed like sleep paralysis. Then, another scream pierced from afar.
"Oppa!!! Please, open your eyes!!! Sob sob."
Raw grief rivaled Auntie's. Seonghwan panicked again. Why's everyone hellbent on killing me off? Damn. Wanted more rest. Spite fueled him; he had to move.
At first, when Seonghwan slumped on the bench gasping, Lee Hyun thought it was a joke. Maybe exaggeration. His face paled post-ride, worrying her, but he could stand, smiled faintly amid pants to reassure. A quick rest would fix it—she believed.
They'd pranked before, but never truly alarmed her. Only when he clutched his chest on the bench, face twisted in pain, did realization hit.
His heart!
Forgotten. Ancient history, from before her memories—only Yeon unnie's tales of his suffering, how heartbreaking it was watching daily.
Too routine now, it hadn't sunk in: Seonghwan's heart agony once.
"O... oppa?"
The title slipped trembling; she didn't notice. Just his faint smile before collapsing. Always, he'd ham it up, then beam at her worry, forcing lips to grin. She wailed.
"Oppa!!! "
"Breathing and pulse normal. Saw the chest scar, checked everything—no issues. Ambulance en route; just wait a bit."
"No! Check more. Please. It's been over ten minutes. Oppa had heart surgery young—could be strain. MRI maybe?"
"Miss, this isn't a hospital. No MRI. Everything's normal, I swear. Fainting post-ride happens; they wake after rest. Calm down."
"What?! Person collapsed—say that casually? Own it if something happens. We won't let it slide. Korea University education majors. Trouble? We fight."
Pretty college girl threatening stunned them. Hyoseok whispered to Jia, baffled. "Hyun mixing law and education depts? Law school's old news. What's with her today?"
"Ugh, Hyoseok, read the room. Please."
Jia sighed. Hyun's panic at collapse defied words—mindless desperation. Now, ten minutes on, Seonghwan looked serene. Pallor faded some, color returning, breaths steady. Occasional frowns suggested dreams—sign of awareness, comforting.
But Hyun hounded staff relentlessly. Girl in love... sigh. Hid it that deep? Why kneel for him? Or does he like someone else?
Hyun outshone all; Jia rooted, assuming awkwardness. Post-this? She'd oversimplified.
Hero with heart scar, heroine dripping honey then tears. Melos need bumps for fun. Frustrating from sidelines, too.
"Looks like Seonghwan hyung fainted then dozed. Worth that crying? Hyun's soft. Jia, you think?"
"........."
Not all friends profound.
"Path clear for ambulance; wait."
Staff soothed charging Hyun when—
"Guhhh!"
Seonghwan bolted up groaning.
"Ack! Whoa? Hyung?"
"Ah! Oppa okay?"
Everyone jumped, checking him. Hyun gaped, hand over mouth, scanning wildly—face saying it all.
Huff huff huff. Seonghwan clutched his head.
"Student okay? What's wrong? Hurt? Headache? Speak."
Staff rushed, probing scalp. Friends swarmed.
"Hyung, what? Head hurt?"
"Oppa! Snap out. Count? Know us?"
"......"
Tension rose. Hyun's tear tracks freshened.
"M-memory..."
"Memory issue? See friends. No trauma earlier..."
Seonghwan scanned slowly. Jia, Hyoseok flinched under his gaze. Hyun stared unblinking.
"Jia, Hyoseok, and Lee Hyun."
"Y-yeah? Remembers fine?"
Jia gawked.
"Of course I remember you. Not that dumb."
"Oppa looks dumb now. What don't you remember?"
"Auntie... can't recall Auntie's face. Again. Aghhh. Why only her?"
".....Huh? Auntie?"
Jia blinked at the random aunt mention. Everyone exchanged baffled looks.
"Those eyes, skin, hair... all gone. Why her face? Ugh, fuck."
"......"
"......"
Silence; stares only.
"Auntie means... mom's sister, right? Not some diner owner?"
"Huh? Yeah, my aunt. Youngest. Second aunt fine, but youngest? Blank. Know this symptom?"
Noting white coat, Seonghwan queried.
"Dunno specifics. Trauma with aunt? Stress, shock?"
"Not really... Nearly drowned at aunt's once—not her fault. She doted tons. Good memories, but face erased. Why?"
"...Psychiatrist? Or mom show photos?"
"Ah! Yes. Ask Mom. Thanks. Simple fix. Sorry for bothering. Hahaha!"
Seonghwan laughed heartily; staff deadpanned, asking friends, "Just heart surgery? No head ops?"
"........."
Group facepalmed in unison.