“What’s this.” I move back away from him, another step, not trusting him one bit and thinking distance is the only thing I have to combat him. A million things are racing through my mind at what this could be.
“Medical records and two background checks. On you…. and your friend.” Jyeon’s voice is huskier than usual, and a hint of emotion makes it almost raspy. His focus narrowed on me, and I can’t read what’s going on in his mind. I blink and stare at the white papers, everything swimming with the reality of what they are, and then push them away with disgust that they would dig around and invade someone’s life that way.
“Whatever bullshit this is, I’m sure it’s not even legal. … GRETA!!” I yell on my backup to come to me, hysteria evident in my raised voice and losing all composure. I thank my stars when I hear the distant scrape of a chair followed by footsteps coming to the s
“Maybe I don’t want to. Maybe something inside of me decided I didn’t want those memories anymore, and that’s why they haven’t come back. Maybe the reason I’m happy to be here and not go looking for my past is that my gut says I shouldn’t.” I bite harshly, so badly wanting to call him out on his bullshit with all this. Like he conveniently forgets everything, and what about his mistress? I’m sure he didn’t just toss her aside, and she’s probably lurking in the background of his life still. The woman he threw me away for.“You don’t belong here, Sohla!” Bryant cuts in because Jyeon’s at a loss for words, and I know it’s probably because my words triggered the truth. He knows what he did, how it was between us the night I disappeared. I can’t believe he has the audacity to come and act like his beloved wife needs to be returned to him. He can’t be this arrogant.&l
“Look, everyone, calm down…. He’s not saying that's the intention. He’s wound up, and at times, he’s a bit highly strung. He genuinely cares about her…. we all do. She has been a big part of our lives since we were kids. Sohla was the baby sister to many of us, and there through everything. We all depended on her. No one wants to hurt her or restrict her freedom. We want to take her back where she belongs and let her find out who she is so she can decide where her future lies with all the facts. Then she can figure out what she wants to do with her wealth. We owe it to her to protect what’s hers and let her sensibly choose.” Bryant is the voice of reason again, and I can’t get used to him being the soft one. Mr stable and calm, while Jyeon seems devil incarnate.“You can come with her. I’ll cover whatever earnings this place loses in the meantime. She stays in the family home …..” Jyeon begins.
“Remind me again why we gave in so easily and came here?” Greta is still sulking as I unpack my case into the empty closet of the apartment Jyeon organised for us. Tired after our trip and not up to another argument over this. It’s all we’ve done since they showed up two days ago. She’s mad at me for falling into his trap and doesn’t understand how little choice we had.“Because this way it’s still my choice, in my control. I can call the shots and make demands. He’s playing nice and looking to keep me sweet, so I don’t make waves in his perfectly constructed life. He would probably have kidnapped me and locked me in a psyche ward if we fought. Treating me for non-existent amnesia.” I point out and push past her to start pulling open empty drawers.We went over this. That resistance is futile, and I have to be careful about the method
“I’m not her anymore, and I don’t want to be. Look at what she ended up with. A husband who cheated and then killed her….. Everyone just got on with their lives without me. Easily.” I point out and then jump at the sudden invasion of a door knock. It’s a rattle of an impatient person.“No guesses who that might be!” Greta states blankly. “He barely gave you breathing room on the boat or in the car, and now he can’t give you an hour to unpack. Anyone would think he cares.” She rolls over onto her belly, making it clear she’s not answering it, and I eyeroll.“Get off of those before they wrinkle and put them away.” I smack her ass with a substantial wallop that makes her yelp and run off before she retaliates. Giggling at her show of fierce and knowing she will pay me back for it at some point. We have an immature rel
“Watch your step.” Jyeon reaches out for me as we walk down a dark shadowy staircase, and I pull my arm away, so he doesn’t get a chance of touching6. I walk faster and skip ahead down two steps at a time, knowing exactly where this is but acting dumb.If I thought I had seen everything so far and could suss him out, then the barefaced audacity of where he’s brought me has blown my mind. He’s going the whole hog trying to paint us as something we never were. Wading full steam into sentimentality by bringing us to a place I have stepped foot only once.The lights come on as I step into the vast, spacious banquet hall that belongs to OLO. A private function room under one of our buildings that held our wedding ceremony for family, friends, and business partners. The so-called happiest and most important day of our life. He’s going in with the big guns, and I have to
“You broke me. Never in a million years did I think that you no longer exiting my life would devastate me so much. I know I was a shitty husband, and I never once made you feel like I cared…. I told myself I loathed everything about you, and I showed you that too, but my world stopped when you left it. You have to believe that. Everything came crashing down on top of me, and it’s why I had to bring you home, why I’m doing this. Why I couldn’t leave you on that island and forget all about you…. because……. everything has been empty and lifeless without Sohla Park.” Jyeon’s words filter off so quiet and low and breathy; I have to strain to hear him, which renders me completely mute. Shocked. My emotions tumbling inwards like a giant hole opened up inside of me, and everything is sucked down to leave me in stunned silence. Staring at the hands on the table and unsure what else to do except breathe. Ne
“We shouldn’t overdo it. The specialist said to take your time and go slow. Not overwhelm you with stimuli to force it. You remembered Tia; that’s more than I thought would happen so soon…..It’s a good step. You did good, Sohla. Don’t try too hard, or it may affect you negatively.” Jyeon is being weirdly gentle with me as though I’m vulnerable, delicate rice paper. Or maybe a child, and he’s cheerleading me over the tiniest of achievements. It feels off for so many reasons. He’s kept touching non-existent since I pulled myself together and seems somehow warmer since I broke down.“I’m hungry.” I point out, dodging conversation because I’m embarrassed and disappointed in myself for losing my shit like that. Walking ahead in the street and aiming for the hot dog vendor in the near distance while dodging other walkers this late in the day. It’
“I haven’t changed, just the face I showed you did. Maybe I’ve matured stopped being so two dimensional in my outlook, but the inner me is still the same. I guess like you. You seem different in so many ways, but the girl I grew up with is what I see again, so I guess you just changed your face too. Do people ever really change? Or do we just take off masks?”Another tense silence as we think about his words, and I break the intense heaviness.“What if I never remember? Are you going to keep me prisoner and refuse to set me free? Stay married to a guy I don’t know at all.” I skip around a lamppost, and we’re split up for a few seconds as two men walk between us before we come back together. He reaches out, catches me by the elbow and tugs me in beside him as more people push our way, and they have to walk around us instead. Making it clear he didn&rsqu
One Year Later (final chapter)“Here, watch your step. Take my arm. Be careful, baby.” Jyeon catches me by the elbow as we make our way down the cobbles embedded in soft grass that are a bit slippy from light rain. It’s a beautiful day, drying out from yesterday’s weather as the sun starts to climb, and the birds are singing loudly as though to welcome us here again. We come often, yet the beauty of this place never ceases to please me.I’m carrying a box of plants and flowers, concentrating on leading the way while he makes sure I stay steady. I am focused on today’s task list in my head as it seems we have a jam-packed schedule today. It’s Yoonies birthday, and we have a family tea party after this.“I’m fine. We’re almost there.” I turn back, screwing up my nose and making a silly face at the bundle of joy nestled in his arms that always puts me in a good mood and melt when I get a giggled response. Big brown eyes set in the sweetest face and the cutest dimples, resembling his dadd
I follow Jyeon around behind the estate agent as she shows us the third property today, and I’m a little bored with endless beige walls and marble kitchen counters. It seems to sell, everyone removes all personality from the buildings, and they blend into a see of neutral boringness. Jyeon seems rooted with interest, and all I keep thinking about is how soon we can eat. Fed up with this already.My fingers are held snugly in his as he takes command and leads the way, pulling me along like a tired toddler to view endless open spaces and listen to the droning agent describe the light and airy feel. He seems aware of my lack of interaction. Asking her questions and pointing out things I might like in this property instead of the others to coax me to respond. So far, I haven’t seen many differences to care.I’m so tired and done with this today. Aching all over and back with a shitty morning of nausea and fatigue that’s dragging my mood down.
I prop my chin in my palms while resting my elbows on the table and gaze out over the sea view from the second floor of the shack. Relaxed, and I’m tired today.“Here we go, ladies.” Bryant slides the plates in front of us, wearing a kitchen apron and looking domesticated today. He’s been learning the ropes of working the kitchen with Greta and helping her cook because apparently he’s a master chef, and it’s been his hidden talent for years. She doesn’t seem too enamored with him muscling into her domain, but she hasn’t stopped him either. I wonder if this is him trying to infiltrate because he knows this is a long-term thing for him, and his future lies in helping with the shack.“What is it?” Greta pipes up, gazing up at him across the table from me, and then picks up a fork to prod the pasta with suspicion. No one gives Bryant a hard time like she does, but it’s amusing.“Seafood pasta wi
I’m lying on the couch of the boat, idly watching daytime tv, and keep checking my cell for any messages from Jyeon at the council meeting. Restless, yet I don’t have the energy to do much about it and hate that my own body prevented me from going there. This was my baby, and this is an essential step in proceeding with the plans for the island.Nothing so far, complete radio silence, and I sigh dejectedly, turning on my side and pausing as another wave of nausea laps over me like warm ocean water. A prickling of heat and then cold showering every inch of my skin in a motion that’s happened frequently since I woke up. I hold very still until it passes and then exhale with relief when it dies down again. My brain fixated on the endlessness of waiting here alone, even though the reality is it hasn’t been long at all. Jyeon refused to leave until the last minute because he didn’t want me to fend for myself, and I know he’ll rush right ba
“Hey, sleepyhead. Do you want breakfast?” Jyeon’s gentle voice filters through my sleep-addled brain as warmth envelopes my downward-facing body. Content and heavy in my haven of bliss and not willing to budge just yet, even with his coaxing. I am star-shaped on the double bed and sinking into my comfy softness. His breath on my cheek and fingers lightly skim through my hair, tingling my scalp before he leans in and kisses me with soft grazing on the temple. Cosily snuggled against me, I flicker my eyes open and come around properly.“Hmmm, what time is it?” I stifle a gentle yawn, too relaxed to lift my head or open my eyes. I could get used to this vacation existence with him. For three days, all we did was play in the sand and sea, have sex, eat, and sleep. I’m exhausted still, as though I haven’t slept, so it has to be ridiculously early. We sailed back to the harbor yesterday evening and had ourselves an early night in prep for t
“You look beautiful. Jyeon is the luckiest man alive.” Mother takes my hand at the car door and helps me slide out, adjusting my simple cream lace dress that reaches the ground and fluffing my hair before handing me my bouquet back. It’s fitted down to my thighs and then flairs out enough for a bit of drama in a mermaid tail shape, and today my hair is curled and swept to one side. I feel glamorous and pretty, eager to get moving and see Jyeon.Jyeon wanted to do this right and slept at the hotel last night with Bryant, leaving the boat for me, mother, and Greta to have ourselves a girly bonding sleepover. It was only one night, and yet I missed him like crazy. I haven’t seen him since he kissed me goodbye after supper and told me today was the start of the rest of our lives. It was a long night, and I swear it’s been days instead of hours.I’m nervous even though it seems so stupid to be, given I have known him forever, and this is
Jyeon leads the way up a narrow path worn down and not defined all too well, but a pretty walk through the trampled grass. Lined with trees and shrubs in a secluded part of the island, which took thirty minutes to drive to and I’m shocked he managed to find this place.“Where does this lead, and how did you even find out about it?” I have a tight grasp on his hand as he guides me and stops every few minutes to check my footing, although it’s a pretty easy walk and not steep either. It’s a casual meander through nature, and we come out on top of the most breathtaking flat top with short grass due to some wild horses we saw near the makeshift car park further back. It’s a plateau on a cliff that’s not as high as my thinking spot but looks out over the island's north side where there’s no sign of the village or harbor and feels crazily secluded.“The lady in the bakers told me about it and set it up on my phone app wit
I push the paperwork aside to allow one of the twins to slide the sandwich platter on the table between the four of us and smile her way warmly. Watching as the other lays out four glasses of iced soda to help fuel us for a few more hours. Such attentive employees and I already decided with Greta to keep them as full-time staff when we boost the Shack’s incoming.“Thank you. You’re a star.” I am completely starving after sitting here all morning while we trash out details and plans for the island for the fourth day in a row, and Bryant is taking notes to help draw up the proposal. Jyeon gave him the assignment to work here for two weeks while we do this, and he’s not complaining, even if his legal department is without a head and constantly calls for guidance. He’s been glued to Greta since he got here and now side by side, facing us; I can tell Greta is happy. She still won’t admit they’re officially a couple, yet she blooms wh
Jyeon reaches inside the leather jacket of his causal attire today and tugs out a small bunch of keys. Not hesitating before pulling the right one with a single hand and unlocking the door. Clunk, click…the opening of the vault of my fears.“Ladies first.” He swings it open in front of us and steps aside, letting my hand go to make a move, and I stand frozen as it comes into slow view. My breath hitching as it feels like my heart skips a beat, and my blood runs cold in my veins.The neutral decorated and modern interior is so anally clean and neat that I always liked. Everything had a place, and I never could deal with clutter or lots of art and mess, so it’s pretty organized and minimal, yet the atmosphere is heavy. I can almost visualize the sharp-suited and cold me of old sitting at that large arc of a desk by the windows. Head down, expression blank and barking orders at the poor secretary who resided there. Her desk is vacant and free from