Chapter 5
Delusional Cove
“Hmm…”
The doctor who had just finished examining Sa-heon furrowed his brow deeply.
“You have amnesia.”
“What?”
Ji-an and Chief Secretary Choi Kang-hoon stared at him with their mouths hanging open. Ji-an asked again as though she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.
“A-amnesia? That really exists?”
Unlike the two of them, who had gone deathly pale, Sa-heon himself sat with his arms crossed, looking perfectly calm.
“It isn’t common, but it’s not unheard of.”
The doctor pushed up his round glasses and continued explaining in a composed tone.
“We can classify it as retrograde amnesia. Your memories from before a certain point are intact, but you’ve lost the memories after that point. You suffered an impact around the top of your head at the time of the accident, so it’s highly likely that the resulting concussion and psychological trauma worked together to cause this.”
Pointing to the screen with the mouse cursor, the doctor continued.
“Looking at the MRI results, there is no direct brain damage. However, even when there is no structural damage, an impact like this can temporarily impair the function of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory.”
“If it’s temporary, does that mean his memories will come back?”
At Ji-an’s desperate question, the doctor nodded.
“Yes. In most cases, the memories gradually return with time. But in Director Lee Sa-heon’s case, there’s one more unusual aspect.”
“W-what is it?”
“He is also experiencing confabulation. It’s sometimes referred to as false memories. What is your name?”
“M-me?”
“Yes.”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Ji-an answered with a bewildered expression.
“Han Ji-an.”
“Ah, yes. It seems he remembers Ms. Han Ji-an as his romantic partner.”
“What?”
Ji-an’s face instantly turned bright red. Sa-heon stared at her obvious embarrassment before muttering unhappily.
“But that’s true, isn’t it? She’s my wife.”
“What?! N-no! Absolutely not! I am definitely not Director’s wife!”
When Ji-an vehemently waved both hands in denial, Sa-heon let out a hollow laugh.
“Why are you waving your hands around like that? You’re breaking my heart.”
“Isn’t there any way to treat it?”
Chief Secretary Choi Kang-hoon, who had remained remarkably composed, hurriedly stepped forward and asked. The doctor stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“It will take time. Rather than forcibly denying the patient’s memories, it’s important to build new relationships and memories. That way, his actual memories may gradually return.”
The doctor calmly took some notes before turning back to Sa-heon.
“Mr. Lee Sa-heon, I’d like to ask you a few more questions. How old are you?”
“Twenty-one.”
Ji-an’s eyes widened silently at his answer, which was twelve years younger than his actual age. Even Choi Kang-hoon let out a small gasp.
“What about your family?”
“I have two half-brothers. My father is the chairman of Hyun-gang Group, and my mother has passed away.”
The doctor calmly nodded.
“What do you currently do for work or study?”
“I’m attending S University, majoring in business administration. I’m on vacation right now, so I’m interning at my father’s company.”
“Then how did you meet Ms. Han Ji-an?”
“We met during my internship. I saw her at the company and fell in love with her at first sight.”
The lie that suddenly popped out in the middle of his otherwise perfectly coherent answers made Ji-an’s mouth fall open. The doctor nodded seriously before asking,
“Then do you remember going on dates with Ms. Han Ji-an?”
“No.”
After thinking for a moment, Sa-heon looked directly at Ji-an.
“I only remember this woman’s face and name… that I fell for her the moment I saw her at the company, that we were lovers, and that I loved her.”
“If you don’t remember dating her or any memories related to her, how can you be so certain that you’re a couple?”
Sa-heon shrugged as though it were nothing worth discussing.
“It’s a feeling. You don’t wake up after sleeping and suddenly fail to recognize your wife or lover, do you? It’s the same thing. The moment I saw her, I knew she was my woman.”
The seriousness of his confession left the examination room in silence.
What on earth is he talking about? Why does he make things that aren’t even true sound so real?
Ji-an turned her face away, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. She had no idea why her heart was pounding so hard.
“Could you perhaps be confusing me with the woman you met during your internship?”
She barely managed to get the question out. Chief Secretary Choi Kang-hoon, who had been standing with a grave expression, shook his head and answered instead.
“No. As far as I know, his two older brothers had already joined the company by then. Director Lee was determined to surpass them, so he worked himself to the bone. As a result, he had no interest in things like dating.”
“I see…”
Then why on earth had his memories become distorted like this?
Ji-an rubbed her arm awkwardly, while Sa-heon also let out a small sigh, apparently displeased with the situation.
“In most cases, memories gradually return over time. Especially when the amnesia is caused by a mild physical trauma, the prognosis is often quite good.”
The doctor smiled reassuringly before adding,
“However, in cases like this, the patient’s personality can also change considerably. For a while, he may seem like a completely different person. But if he consistently undergoes memory rehabilitation exercises, his condition should improve quickly. In particular, try to have him talk with Ms. Han Ji-an as much as possible.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Once the examination was over, Chief Secretary Choi Kang-hoon supported Sa-heon while Ji-an followed behind them with drooping shoulders.
While Chief Secretary Choi stepped out briefly to take a business call, an awkward silence settled over the hospital room, leaving the two of them alone.
Sa-heon was lying on the bed in a crooked position, staring at Ji-an. Pretending not to notice his gaze boring into her cheek, Ji-an pointlessly rummaged through his medication.
“Honey, are you really going to keep pretending you don’t know me?”
After remaining silent for quite some time, Sa-heon rubbed the space between his brows and asked.
The goosebump-inducing words made Ji-an flinch. She hurriedly tore open a packet of medicine.
“Director, it’s time for your medication.”
Looking distinctly displeased, he swallowed the pills with some water. Then, after setting down the cup, he asked seriously,
“You’re not doing this because you want to use this opportunity to break up with me, are you?”
There was even an intense persistence in his searching gaze.
Even with his symptoms this serious, he was really taking this to another level.
Ji-an fidgeted restlessly with the medicine packet, and Sa-heon let out a deep sigh as he pressed a hand to his forehead.
“…You’re really saying you’re not my wife?”
“Yes.”
“Are you married?”
“What?! No.”
“Good. At least there isn’t anyone I need to kill.”
After muttering darkly, he asked again.
“What about a lover? Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Uh… no.”
“What about me?”
His words came at her again without warning. Ji-an’s wavering gaze immediately drifted toward the door Chief Secretary Choi had gone through.
Chief Secretary Choi, I think our secretary’s office is seriously in trouble…
At once, Sa-heon’s eyes sharpened.
“Who are you looking for? Chief Secretary Choi? What kind of relationship do you two have?”
Ji-an flinched and hurriedly waved both hands.
“What?! Absolutely nothing! He’s my superior, so I was just wondering what we’re supposed to do about this situation!”
“Haa…”
Sa-heon let out a long sigh and ran his fingers through his bangs.
The motion revealed his smooth forehead, creating a strange contrast with his firmly pressed lips. Even the profile of his face looked flawless all over again.
“I keep getting the feeling that you’re my girlfriend.”
He was clearly a sick man, and he was only saying these things because of that…
“Look. I’m getting jealous over nothing even now.”
Why was her heart pounding so wildly?
Ji-an hurriedly fanned her burning face with her hand.
Sa-heon stared at her with a serious expression before slowly rubbing between his brows.
“Didn’t you make something for me once? Kimchi…?”
“Ah! Yes! That’s right! Do you remember?”
Ji-an’s eyes widened.
Last winter, Hyun-gang had held a kimchi-making event as part of a community outreach program, with the intention of providing warm meals to underprivileged neighbors. Ji-an had personally made kimchi during the event and given some to Sa-heon.
“Yes. I can remember you smiling as you gave it to me. I think I was really happy about it.”
Ji-an’s face fell.
“Then?”
“I didn’t take it because I thought it was dirty… I said I couldn’t trust something made by a whole group of people enough to eat it…”
“I actually liked it, but I pretended I didn’t because I was embarrassed. I must have been a very shy man.”
Sa-heon shamelessly offered his excuse with a smile.
Shy? He was the most straightforward man I knew.
Ji-an gave him a not-quite-hostile glare before letting out a long sigh.
“It’s okay. Thinking about it now, I probably wouldn’t have wanted to eat it either.”
“I’m not very good at expressing my feelings. It’s because I never received much love.”
His smile disappeared as he lowered the corners of his eyes and put on a pitiful expression.
“Still, look at me. Even after forgetting everything, I can remember your face and little fragments of moments with you. Isn’t that impressive?”
With a quiet sigh, he whispered,
“So take me in, honey. Hmm?”
His smiling face was far too captivating.
“No.”
Ji-an turned her back on him completely and shook her head.
“You’re just confused because you’re sick right now, Director. You’re not in your right mind.”
“Honey, okay, I understand. So turn around and talk to me face-to-face.”
When had he gotten out of bed?
His alluring voice whispered right behind her. Suppressing the urge to turn around, Ji-an continued.
“You may remember me as your lover, but in reality, I’m only your subordinate. If you keep doing this, you’re going to put me in a very difficult position too.”
“You’re so cold. God, you’re incredibly attractive…”
He sounded so serious that Ji-an got goosebumps from how embarrassingly sweet his words were.
She wondered if he had even heard a word she’d said.
“At least help me recover my memories. You can do that, can’t you?”
His momentum finally subdued, Ji-an turned around with a quiet sigh and looked at him.
“I’ll help you with that.”
“Then hold my hand, honey.”
“If I hold her hand, maybe I’ll remember something.”
As though he’d been waiting for exactly that answer, Sa-heon reached out his hand with a broad grin. The handsome smile instantly made Ji-an’s face turn bright red.
“I’m not joking. I’m serious! Director.”
How many times had this man made her face burn today alone?
Ji-an bristled and hardened her expression. The mischievous smile on Sa-heon’s face faded.
“I’m serious too.”
“You really don’t look it.”
“Think about it. I opened my eyes and suddenly I’m more than ten years younger, and on top of that, my girlfriend is denying ever having dated me.”
Beneath his artistically sculpted brow bones, a reddish wound stood out against his handsome face. The bitter smile he wore was unbearably wistful and beautiful.
“What do you think I’m feeling?”
Ji-an’s words caught in her throat.
…Yeah. He must be incredibly confused after losing his memories.
Maybe I’m overreacting. I don’t need to be this cold to him.
Just as he said, it must feel as though he’d suddenly climbed into a time machine and traveled more than ten years into the past. And to make matters worse, he had no one to rely on.
That was probably why he was clinging to her so blindly.
Especially since he even mistook her for his lover.
In any case, he must be anxious about everything that was happening.
Come to think of it, twenty-one really was incredibly young.
Having reached that conclusion, Ji-an let out a quiet sigh and comforted him.
“Don’t worry too much. I’m sure you’ll recover your memories soon. I’ll do my best to help you, too.”
“Promise me you’ll stay by my side twenty-four hours a day, honey.”
“Yes.”
Ji-an nodded without thinking, then suddenly jolted in surprise.
“…What?!”
“You promised.”
Sa-heon smiled seductively.
The wistful, lonely look he’d worn just moments ago had vanished without a trace.
