Back at their condo, Cha sat on the edge of the bed, her face heavy with a profound, aching sadness.
She stared blankly at their wedding photo resting on the nightstand, lost in a sea of overwhelming thoughts. She felt completely utterly lost, unsure of what her next move should be. Taking a deep breath, she reached for her suitcase and began packing her clothes, one by one.
She needed to leave. She needed to go far away—just for a little while.
To her, it was the only way to survive the heartache. She would simply wait out in the distance, leaving it up to fate whether Jinho would eventually remember her or if he would forget her forever.
Meanwhile, Jinho's health had steadily improved until the doctors finally cleared him for discharge. After finalizing all his medical paperwork, he and Tanya flew back to the Philippines.
Because he had no memory of ever owning or living in a condominium, Jinho went straight back to his family's ancestral home.
"Oh, my son! How are you feeling? Are you okay?" his mother greeted him warmly the moment he stepped through the door.
However, her smile faded as she noticed who was standing right beside him. "Wait... where is Cha?"
"Who?" Jinho knit his brows. "That irritating woman?"
Tanya quickly caught his mother's eye, gently taking her arm and guiding her toward the kitchen out of Jinho's earshot.
"Tita, I'm so sorry..." Tanya whispered softly. "Because of the accident, Jinho has no memory of his present life."
"What?!" his mother gasped, her hand flying to her chest. "Even Cha? He doesn't remember his own wife?! Where is Cha right now?"
"I honestly don't know, Tita. Jinho refuses to see her. Ever since he woke up in the hospital, he's done nothing but push her away."
"Oh, my poor daughter-in-law..." she murmured, her heart aching for Cha.
"Mom!" Jinho's sharp voice echoed from the living room.
"Yes, sweetie?!"
"My room is a total mess! Tell the maids to clean it properly!"
"Alright, alright!"
Ever since the accident, Jinho had become dangerously short-tempered. He was perpetually irritated, taking out his frustration on the household staff over the smallest mistakes.
Later that evening, during dinner, Jinho slammed his spoon down.
"What is this?! It tastes terrible!" he snapped, glaring at his plate.
His mother blinked in surprise. "Is there something wrong with the food?"
"Who cooked this?!"
"One of the housemaids, Jinho. Our main cook had to take a day off today."
"Call her here, Mom."
"Jinho, come on, it tastes fine—"
"Mom, call her. Now." Jinho's voice dropped to a dangerously low, controlled whisper.
"Okay... okay."
A few moments later, the young housemaid stood before him, trembling, her head bowed in fear.
Jinho stood up, towering over her. "Do you honestly think this mess is acceptable to serve?!"
"I-I'm so sorry, Sir Jinho... I'm sorry if you didn't like it," she whimpered, not daring to make eye contact.
"Jinho, stop it!" his mother interjected, standing up. "What is wrong with you?! You've been terrorizing all the maids!"
"Because they can't do a single thing right, Mom!" Jinho barked. "If this keeps up, I'm firing every single one of them!"
Throwing his cloth napkin onto the table with a harsh thud, he turned on his heel and stormed up to his room.
His moodiness was growing out of control. Since he was still recovering, he remained cooped up at home, unable to return to work. Tanya, on the other hand, visited the house constantly.
Whenever Tanya was around, Jinho seemed lively, almost like his old self—a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor. His mother couldn't help but notice the shift.
One afternoon, she decided to ask him directly if he was falling for Tanya.
Jinho paused, staring out the window. "I don't know, Mom..." he admitted quietly. "Lately... every single night, I have this reoccurring dream. There's a woman with me. In the dream, we're so happy... but I can never see her face."
His mother's eyes widened slightly. "Are your memories coming back?"
"No. Not yet."
"Jinho... what if the woman in your dreams is your wife?"
"That woman from the hospital in the U.S.?" he muttered, scowling slightly.
"Jinho, please go find your wife," his mother pleaded softly. "It's been almost three months, and no one can reach her. She is still your wife, Jinho, whether you remember her or not. You cannot give your heart to someone else."
"Mom—"
"Please, Jinho... find her."
He let out a heavy, defeated sigh. "Fine..."
"Thank you, son." Smiling softly, his mother reached out and playfully ruffled his hair.
"Mom! Stop it!" Jinho groaned, pulling back before adding under his breath, "I can't promise you things will be fine between us, though."
The search began the very next day.
Jinho's first stop was Cha's parents' house. The moment he stepped onto the porch, Cha's mother opened the door—and immediately burst into tears upon seeing him.
"Why are you here?!" she sobbed, her fists pounding weakly against Jinho's chest. "How dare you show your face here after what you did?! Our daughter is missing because of you! We can't find her anywhere!"
"Honey, stop, that's enough," Cha's father interjected gently, pulling his sobbing wife back. He looked at Jinho with weary eyes. "I'm sorry about her, Jinho."
"I... I'm sorry..." Jinho stammered.
Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain shot through Jinho's chest, followed by a throbbing headache that made him reel back.
"Jinho?! Are you okay?" Cha's father caught his arm, guiding him inside to a chair and handing him a glass of water. "Drink this. Are you feeling better?"
"I-I'm fine... thank you," Jinho rasped, clutching his head. "I'm really sorry your daughter is missing. Don't worry... I promise I'll find her."
Cha's father sighed softly. "It's not entirely your fault, Jinho. We know you lost your memory."
"I'll bring her back. I should go now."
"Are you sure you're fit to drive? You look pale."
"I'll be okay, don't worry."
Jinho spent the following days tracking down everyone in Cha's circle, questioning her acquaintances and closest friends. But no one had a single clue where she had gone.
While driving down a winding highway, another agonizing migraine struck him out of nowhere. Flashes of fragmented memories tore through his mind—a breathtaking view, him kneeling down in front of a woman, holding out a ring... but her face was still blurred out.
The pain intensified as images of exploding fireworks flashed behind his eyelids.
"Arghhh!!" Jinho screamed aloud, gripping the steering wheel as he pulled over to the shoulder, clutching his throbbing head until the darkness finally swallowed him whole.
When Jinho finally opened his eyes, night had already fallen.
He blinked against the dark, looking around in confusion. "Where am I...?"
He realized he was parked on a coastal road overlooking the ocean. The surroundings felt strangely, hauntingly familiar. Following a gut instinct, he drove further up the winding road, searching for a place to stay.
Near the top of the hill, surrounded by quiet residential houses, he spotted a cozy resort perched high above the coastline, offering a panoramic view of the town below.
He walked into the lobby, where a friendly receptionist greeted him. "Good evening, sir! Checking in?"
"Yes."
"Alright, sir. You'll be in Room 204. Here is your keycard."
I've definitely been here before... Jinho thought, staring at the keycard.
"Are you here to pick up your wife, sir?" the receptionist asked casually.
Jinho froze. "My wife?"
"Yes, sir! She's currently staying in Room 204 as well. I've already logged your name under her room reservation."
"Thank you!"
Without another word, Jinho bolted up the stairs toward the second floor.
He swiped the keycard and pushed the door open to Room 204. "Cha?!" he called out, but the room was empty.
He searched the hallway until he made his way out onto the resort's private view deck.
There, standing near the railing and gazing at the sea of sparkling city lights below, was Cha.
Jinho stood still for a moment, captivated by the breathtaking scene. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, reached out, and gently took her hand, pulling her around to face him.
"Cha?!"
Cha's eyes widened in shock. "Jinho...? How... why are you here? Did you finally remember everything?"
Jinho quickly pulled his hand back, clearing his throat awkwardly. "No. Mom begged me to find you. She wants you to come home. Everyone's worried about you—your parents, everyone."
Cha looked at him, searching his eyes. "That's your only reason? How did you even find me here? Nobody knew where I went."
"I... I just happened to drive here by accident!" he retorted defensively.
"Is that so?"
"Yes! I'm telling you the truth!"
"Don't yell at me!"
"Fine!" Jinho scoffed, turning on his heel and marching back toward the suite.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?! Come back here!" Cha called out, hurrying after him.
Jinho walked straight into Room 204 and flopped onto the king-sized bed.
"Hey!!" Cha barked, standing over him with her hands on her hips. "Why are you going in there?! That's my room!"
"It's my room, too!" Jinho grunted, closing his eyes.
"Who said you could stay in here, huh?!"
"The staff downstairs! He said you're my wife," Jinho muttered, raising an eyebrow at her. "Which makes me wonder... did you tell them that?"
Cha flushed slightly. "No! I didn't... Do you really not remember anything about this place?"
"Nothing," Jinho lied quietly, turning his back to her. "Look, I'm exhausted from looking for you all day. I'm going to sleep, so stop talking to me."
"Oh no, you don't!" Cha grabbed his arm, yanking him up to force him off the bed. "Get up! This is my bed—you sleep on the sofa!"
"Woah—hey!"
Jinho was caught off guard by her pull. Off-balance, he stumbled forward, knocking them both down onto the floor.
Thud!
Cha gasped as Jinho landed directly on top of her, his body pressing against hers.
Their eyes locked in the quiet room. Time seemed to freeze as Cha's heart hammered wildly against her ribs—and beneath his chest, Jinho's heart was racing just as fast.
Flustered, Cha shoved his shoulders away. "Get off me!"
"Fine, fine!" Jinho muttered, scrambling to his feet and rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "You take the bed. I'll take the couch."
Jinho lay down on the sofa, pulling a blanket over himself.
Neither of them could sleep. Cha tossed and turned endlessly on the large bed, while Jinho lay staring at the ceiling, utterly restless. He couldn't understand why his heart had pounded so fiercely the moment their bodies touched.
The next morning, Cha woke up later than usual. The rich, savory aroma of freshly cooked breakfast drifted into the room from the kitchenette.
Curious, she padded over and found Jinho standing by the stove, expertly flipping pancakes.
"You're awake," Jinho said casually without turning around. "Breakfast is almost ready. We'll eat in a bit."
Cha didn't answer. She sat down at the small dining table, resting her chin on her hands as she quietly watched him move around the kitchen.
I hope you remember me soon, Jinho... she thought to herself, a soft, wistful smile touching her lips. I missed you so much. I'm just so glad you're here... and that you're not pushing me away anymore.
He looked impossibly handsome, even standing there in a casual shirt, cooking like a seasoned chef.
"All done. Let's eat," Jinho announced, setting the plates down on the table.
"Okay!"
Cha eagerly took a bite, her eyes lighting up. "Wow... this is amazing! I had no idea you were such a good cook!"
Jinho smirked subtly. "Really? Well, after we finish, we're heading straight back home. Everyone is out of their minds with worry. I already called them to say I found you."
"Okay," Cha replied softly.
She hadn't told anyone where she was going because a small part of her had secretly hoped Jinho would be the one to find her—believing that somewhere deep in his subconscious, he would remember where to look.
And even though his memories hadn't fully returned yet, he had still found his way back to her. Being right here, sitting across from him once again, was more than enough for now.
_______chapter13 end_____
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