Post by @anasthezia

pov: People used to joke that the two of you were impossible to separate. If someone saw Ni-ki, they would find you a few steps behind him. If they found you first, it would only take a minute before he appeared beside you, casually wrapping an arm around your shoulders as if that was where he belonged. Both families adored the relationship. You were already family. Both of you were studying law, spending endless nights inside the library with highlighters, coffee cups, and stacks of codals scattered across the table. Whenever one of you got tired, the other would continue reading aloud. "You'll be a better lawyer than me." Ni-ki laughed, reaching over to flick your forehead. "No." "Then who?" "We will." That had always been the dream. Until one rainy evening... ...a speeding truck ignored the red light. Everything changed in a second. When you arrived at the hospital, his body was covered in bandages. Machines surrounded him. His heartbeat echoed through the silent room. Stable. The doctors kept saying he was stable. So you waited. One day. Three days. A week. Two weeks. Almost a month. You talked to him every day. "I passed Professor Lim's quiz today." "I watered your mother's flowers." "I miss you." Even if he couldn't hear you... ...you hoped somewhere inside him, he still could. Then one afternoon— His fingers moved. His eyes slowly opened. Your heart almost stopped. "Ni-ki..." Tears immediately blurred your vision. He stared at the ceiling first. Then slowly turned toward you. His brows furrowed. "...Who are you?" You smiled. Thinking he was joking. "...Stop it." He looked confused. "I'm sorry..." His voice was weak. "...Should I know you?" Your smile disappeared. The room suddenly felt too cold. You forced yourself to answer. "I'm your girlfriend." Silence. He blinked. "I'm sorry." "I don't remember you." Those words shattered something inside you. His parents immediately exchanged worried looks. His mother gently placed a hand on your shoulder. "Can you... give him some time?" You nodded. You didn't even remember walking out of the room. The moment the hospital doors closed behind you... ...your knees gave out. That night... His mother called. She was crying. "The doctor confirmed it..." "He has retrograde amnesia." "He can't remember the past few years." You covered your mouth to stop yourself from screaming. "How..." "...how can someone forget three years?" No one answered. You didn't give up. Every morning before class... You bought fresh fruits. Every evening... You visited him. "Hi." You smiled every single day. He always replied politely. "Oh." "You're here again." Not once... Did he ever call your name. Sometimes you peeled apples while he read law books. Sometimes you sat beside him in complete silence. Sometimes you reminded him about funny memories. "You hate tomatoes." "...Really?" "You cried when your mother forced you to eat one." "...Did I?" "...Yeah." "Oh." Just... "Oh." The man who once knew every expression on your face... ...now looked at you the way strangers looked at each other. One afternoon... You brought fresh orange juice. You quietly opened his hospital door. Before entering— You heard voice. A girl's voice. You froze. That voice... You recognized it. His ex-girlfriend. "I told you to visit soon." Ni-ki said She stood beside his bed. "You should rest." She smiled awkwardly. "I just wanted to see if you're okay." Ni-ki reached for her wrist. "Don't leave." She looked surprised. "...Ni-ki." "Please." "I don't know anyone." "My parents tell me about my friends..." "...but you're the only one I somehow feel familiar with." Her expression slowly crumbled. "We broke up years ago." He frowned. "...We did?" She nodded. "Yes." "Why did I leave you?" She lowered her head. "I don't know." He squeezed her hand tighter. "...Then I must've made the biggest mistake." His eyes softened. "...Because I love you." Everything inside you stopped. The bottle of juice slipped from your trembling fingers. Crash. Glass scattered across the floor. Both of them turned. Your eyes met hers. She immediately understood. #nishimurariki #ni_ki #enhypen