Chapter 10: Lost

"When we lose everything, humanity becomes the first thing we start looking for."

~~~~

Sungyeon

Mr. Jung, Jihye's doctor, leads us all out saying he needs to interrogate Jihye alone. Daeyeol, Sungyeol and I find mom and dad standing outside when we come out.

"Noona, what happened?" Daeyeol asks me again, and just as the first time I don't know what to say. In fact I don't even know the answer myself. What was wrong with her? She looked so scared of every single thing. Although I was glad when she calmed down when I hugged her, the door slammed open again she started crying harder.

I stand staring at blank space, deep into my thoughts and not replying Daeyeol yet again.

A pat on my shoulder jerks me back to reality, I tilt my head to the side to see  mom looking at me with a faint smile on her face, "How's the girl doing?"

"She...she.." I'm speechless. How's she doing? I don't understand, she didn't know her name and she didn't know anything about her personal life although she was communicating like a normal person.

The door of the room opens and the doctor came out, massaging his temples making my paranoia take over me.

"Ms. Sungyeon, can I talk to you please?" He announces across the hall, and I abruptly nod and follow behind.

I pass by Sungyeol, he looks frustrated as he rests his back against the wall. I shrug off the sight of him and enter the office.

"Is everything okay with Jihye?" I ask, the doctor takes a seat on his chair and exhales loudly. He leans onto the table resting his elbows over it and intertwining his fingers together.

"Take a seat please," he ushers me towards the chair across his desk. I sit down, "Ms. Sungyeon, Do you know what amnesic syndrome is?"

My breath hitches at his question. "Yes, of course. It's amnesia, or loss of memory." I reply, where is this going? I was in denial, I refused to believe although I'm well aware of what's being said.

"Jihye is diagnosed by this syndrome," he says looking at a file, "The memory can be either wholly or partially lost due to the extent of damage that was caused." My mind goes blank in shoke as he goes on, "I'm not sure about her case yet, but apparently only personal memories are missing. Her academic level is normal and her memory strong."

We don't even know who she is, what is this poor girl going to do with her life now?

"I think it's because what happened to her before the accident, her brain refused to accept what happened so it chose to forget instead of dealing with the incident." He explains, "This happens with many patients, and in this case there is no treatment. Her memories are supposed to come back alone. Over time."

I stay quiet, my eyes glued to my twisting fingers on my lap. "How is it supposed to come back alone?" I ask, confused.

"Take her to places she had been to before, her room, home and such. Old memories will be retrieved first since they became stronger over time, on the other hand recent ones may take a little while." I'm not her mom, I'm a stranger. What am I supposed to do?

"The kid is currently in an unstable state, mentally and physically. So please, she needs a lot of care and gentle treatment. Don't make sudden movements in front of her or shout for now, any violence may greatly affect her." He warns. "She can be discharged tomorrow, please take care."

I exhale feeling my mind is in turmoil. I'm disturbed, conflicted, and confused.

~~~

"What did he say?" Daeyeol asks rushing to me when I exit the doctor's office.

My head hangs down, my eyes staring straight at my shoes, what now "Sungyeon?" Mom calls as dad stands beside her in anticipation, Sungyeol was still in his spot, back leaning over the wall while he stared at us from a distance.

I couldn't collect my words yet and the only thing I could make out was that this girl laying there is currently a lost child with no one, not even memories she could hold onto.

"She has amnesia," the three words I could say tumble out of my mouth. They all gasped and Sungyeol stands straight on his feet.

"What are you going to do now?" Daeyeol asked tugging on my arm. Dad looks at me in sorrow and mom eyes me with her crystal sparkling eyes.

"I-- I don't know," I say slowly combing my hair out of my face as I exhaled loudly.

"There is nothing we can do anymore." Sungyeol says coming closer to us and shrugs nonchalantly. I can see that he doesn't know that girl was going to stick by for too long when he first lied about her being my daughter, but still it's unacceptable acting that way when a person is going to lose everything.

Actually lost.

I glare at him, what he was doing is wrong. So wrong and heartless, he is just being ruthless. It's strange how the tables turn. "Noona?" Daeyeol asks, I don't take my eyes off Sungyeol when he looks back at me blankly.

"Sungyeon," Dad calls, I instantly looked at him. Mom nods to me in approval, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking. I look back at dad and he nods too, assuring my decision.

There's no choice, and if it comes down to this I'm up for it, "I will take her in, till she remembers."

~~~

"Hey Jihye," I greet as I enter room 217, the girl instantly shots her head up at my voice.

Our eyes meet and she gives no reply, I didn't expect one to begin with so I walk to the chair beside her bed to take a seat. Not having any idea of what I'm doing, I start talking redundantly.

"How are you feeling?"

"Do you need any drink?"

"Are you feeling hungry?"

"Ms. Sungyeon," she cuts me with a monotonous voice that shook due to her medical condition but she still maintains a stone like coverup.

I got it. She is numb, either because she can't survive the massive shock and pain awaiting her or she already had enough of them, she refuses to feel.

"Do you think this is important right now? I'm not stupid, Ms. Sungyeon." She maintains formal speech, "I know I lost my memories but I still have my brain and I'm aware of the fact that I'm a homeless no one."

Taken aback by her sharp conclusions, I stay quiet. She already knows everything. Formerly paranoid because of the burden of telling her she has amnesia, relief floods through me now as I confirm that Mr.Jung was right when he said that her thinking is proper, she just doesn't remember.

"Jihye,"

"Huh," she scoffs painfully, "even that—the only thing I know about myself is something that your brother made up. How old am I? You said I'm seventeen, maybe I said it, It was so automatic I didn't have to think but I don't know! Who am I? I don't know either!" she started shouting as her eyes tear up again.

The lump in my throat becomes heavier and I move to sit beside her on her bed and take her between my arms, her body shudders and she cries harder.

"What happened to me?" she asks shakily, her voice barely decipherable making my heart shatter in pieces. But at that moment I realize something, I'm her only rescuer and I'm not letting her go.

"I'm here with you, don't cry. I'm going to take care of you Jihye, don't worry." I pat her back with my hand going up and down her black hair. My voice was full of determination and so was I.

When her weak slender arms encircled my waist, I chose- no, I decided that I'm not letting her go till I see her with my own eyes in her family's embrace.

~~~

After asking mom to stay with Jihye and Daeyeol volunteering to stay too, I go to get some papers done.

I told mom about my decision, I was surprised when she told me she expected it and that if I didn't do it she would have. Dad didn't question me and nodded in reply, making me grateful for the fact that he trusts me enough.

Albeit Daeyeol was so open about the whole issue and was visibly dedicated on making Jihye feel better, Sungyeol fought with me, claiming my actions insane.

I rub my cheek in frustration as I recall the unintentional incident.

"You can't do this! We don't know her; it's not of our business. It was my mistake I even saved her in the first place!" he shouted, I felt my nerves fire up at his last statement.

It was too late when I realized what I've done, after slapping Sungyeol on the face I stood as shocked as he was and only mom's gasp pulled us back to reality.

He stormed out of the hospital, the only thing I was able to do then was groan in frustration and leave too after making sure someone stays with Jihye.

Monsters that went this far may still be out there for her, and I'm not letting anything else happen to her.

Some Jihye related registrations later, I was told that she must be with me to get an ID and a Passport for her, I totally forgot she was supposed to come for the pictures.

The thought of her getting discharged and fully in my care made me feel excited, I start my car with newly existent hope. I pass by a designer clothing store that works under our magazine back in England, knowing that I can get anything free with my card made me feel giddy.

Passing by the many clothing pieces a tingly feeling rushed through me, I always wanted to shop for my daughter- if I ever had one. Because I don't know her exact size, I walked to the jumpsuit section and went through the various designs and colors, recognizing some of my own.

Finally, I bought five: Maroon, black and white plain ones and two floral patterned. Grabbing some other essentials, I drive back to the hospital thinking about where she'll sleep and how will she like me.

Will she still want to listen to me?

I already decided to take her to live in my apartment. I'm not going to disturb my family, this was my own decision from the very beginning. Also, I already have a spare room but it does need a lot of work and cleaning. I immediately take out my phone and do some phone calls and get someone to repair the room.

The sky was getting darker and they were going to finish the room as night comes. With a sigh, I take the bags from the passenger seat and walk back into the hospital. Instead of going into the elevator I went to the nurse standing behind the desk in the lobby.

"Hello," I started, she looked up from her computer at me, "I'm Jihye's guardian, my name is Lee Sungyeon." I introduce while she nods typing something.

"You are Ms. Sungyeon, Lee Sungyeon?" I nodded awkwardly at her question fighting the frown that threatened to appear on my face, "Oh my," she squeals, "I'm a big fan of your magazine." She fights her urge to squeal again, suppressing her outburst. I smile at the sweet gesture.

She recognized my name! I internally squeal myself. It've been a while since I was transferred to England and I just thought that Korean people would totally forget about me.

"You are my favorite designer, I feel honored someone like you is Korean!" she shot up bowing enthusiastically. My smile grew wider.

After talking and answering some of her questions about the clothing line I work in she drifts back to work, "Jihye? Oh, I was going to call her guardian because her information wasn't properly filled." I nodded to the expected.

"I came here to fix that," I said taking out my ID card.

"We were really busy lately with other patients so we couldn't have time to look into it. It's even written here that she was in a comma, no one had time to visit these patients and look them up, I wish no problems occurred,"

"Oh, no. Don't worry, she's fine now."

"So you are her mother as written here- I didn't know you had a daughter," She smiles up at me, I nod smiling nervously, "Her surname isn't provided, other personal information too."

Her surname? My heart tightened as I remembered my ex, the very reason I was transferred. It's all for the best, I convince myself.

"Min." I reply, absentminded. When I'm aware of what I said I see the nurse already moved to the next question.

I hate him, and the effect he left on me makes me hate him even more. I nod again as we go on filling the form, I was even making stuff up somewhere through it.

I didn't know anything.

Neither did Jihye.

No one knows anything...

~~Next chapter in 20 votes and 9 feedbacks~

Is it messed up? Speak up if something isn't put in the right way. And if you have an opinion, I'd love to see that in the comments and I'll certainly reply.

What do you think happened between Sungyeon and her ex?
Why does she hate him so much- let alone, why did they breakup?
Did she say this is why she moved her work to England? Oh, so he works with her—damn I should shut up.

It gets more exciting gradually I promise.

Thank you for reading,
Did you like it?
Lots of love ♡

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