Ji-Woo looked at Mrs. Kim with a mix of confusion and unease, her eyes narrowing as she took a step back.
She blinked rapidly, her voice trembling as she asked, "I...I don't know you. Who...Who...are you?"
Mrs. Kim's face contorted in distress as she took a step forward, her eyes pleading.
"Come on, I know I made a mistake, but please stop messing with me," she implored, her voice cracking with emotion.
But Ji-Woo continued to back away, her grip on the hospital gown tightening.
"What mistake?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Do I know you?"
Mrs. Kim's expression crumpled, and she whispered, "I am your mother."
Ji-Woo's response was immediate, her eyes flashing with anger and fear.
"I don't know you," she repeated, her voice rising.
Just as it seemed like the situation was going to escalate further, a doctor appeared behind Ji-Woo and gently tapped her back.
"Let's take a look at her, shall we?" he suggested with a warm smile.
Ji-Woo's gaze snapped to the doctor, and she looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and hope.
"So she doesn't remember anything because of the accident suffered a head injury," he explained, his eyes flicking to Mrs. Kim before returning to Ji-Woo.
"Temporary memory loss, Amnesia probably due to the trauma she experienced. It's not uncommon, especially in cases of severe head injuries."
Mrs. Kim nodded, trying to compose herself as the doctor spoke.
"Thank you, doctor," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you so much."
The doctor nodded sympathetically and patted Ji-Woo's arm.
"Don't worry, Miss...I'm so sorry, I didn't catch your name," he said, his eyes darting to Mrs. Kim for help.
Mrs. Kim hesitated for a moment before answering, "Mrs. Kim Ji-Woo's.''
''Yes Mrs. Kim You daughter it's going to be just fine. It's a temporary Amnesia she will soon remember Everything it's just the matter of time.'' The doctor reassured with a warm smile.
----
Ji-Woo sat silently in front of her mirror, her eyes fixed on her reflection as she brushed her long hair with careful, deliberate strokes.
Her uniform was neat, the fabric crisp and pressed, but her mind was elsewhere. She smiled softly, a faint, fragile thing, as her fingers combed through her hair, her bangs meticulously styled in place.
A sigh escaped her lips, heavy with unspoken worries, and her gaze drifted downward, her hands trembling slightly as she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt.
Suddenly, the quiet was broken by a slow, deliberate creak of the door.
Mrs. Kim stepped inside, her presence as commanding and elegant as ever. Her posture was perfect, her expression composed, radiating authority and grace.
Without a word, she approached Ji-Woo and extended a neatly folded paper.
"Since you are temporarily suffering from amnesia," Mrs. Kim said smoothly, her voice calm yet commanding.
"I have a full schedule prepared for you." She handed the paper to Ji-Woo and slowly turned on her heel. "Read it carefully. Make sure you accomplish everything on time."
Ji-Woo's chest tightened as she looked down at the list of tasks.
Her eyes scanned the rigid, relentless schedule: go to school, come back, chop wood, go to parties, come back, train—train for what? For being elegant, it said.
Her mind reeled, her heart pounding with a mixture of confusion and despair.
It felt like her entire life had been reduced to a series of chores, a script she was forced to follow.
How did Mrs. Kim manage to control every aspect of her life so seamlessly? Was this truly her destiny, or was she just a puppet in someone else's game?
Her grip on the paper grew tighter, knuckles white. The words blurred, but she forced herself to focus.
"I expect much from you, Kim Ji-Woo" Mrs. Kim added, her voice no more than a whisper before she gracefully exited the room, leaving Ji-Woo alone.
She watched the list again, her eyes lingering on each task—going to school, returning, chopping, attending parties, training—each one a reminder of the life she was supposed to lead.
Her heart clenched painfully, a dull ache spreading through her chest. She blinked slowly, fighting back the rising tide of emotion, and then stood up abruptly.
Without a word, she shoved the paper into her bag, her movements stiff and deliberate.
"All right, Kim Ji-Soo," she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You're living in someone else's life now, pretending to have amnesia... just to fulfill a wish I can't even remember making. I feel guilty for this, but I have no choice." Her grip tightened around her bag as she stared at the empty space where her soul once was, the weight of her silent rebellion pressing down on her.
---
Ji-Woo stepped out of the house, her footsteps echoing softly on the marble floor.
She approached the lavish car parked just outside, its polished surface gleaming in the sunlight. With a graceful motion, she opened the door and slid into the seat, closing it gently behind her.
She straightened her posture, her back perfectly aligned, and bowed slightly, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"Good morning," she said cheerfully, her voice light and pleasant.
The driver, who had been about to start the engine, blinked in surprise.
He had never heard her greet him before, and her sudden cheerful demeanor caught him off guard. His eyes flickered with a hint of confusion, but he nodded politely.
"Good... good morning," he replied, his tone cautious but respectful, and he eased the car into motion.
---
Ji-Woo stepped out of the car, her eyes widening at the sight before her.
The school was enormous, its towering structure casting a long shadow over the grounds.
"Evergreen Academy," she whispered softly, her voice tinged with awe and apprehension.
As she entered the gates, her chest tightened painfully. The atmosphere shifted instantly—every pair of eyes seemed to turn toward her, whispers rippling through the air like a tidal wave.
She could hear every word, each one piercing her like a dagger.
"She has long hair now," someone murmured, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"She looks a little more mature now," another added, the tone mixed with surprise and judgment.
"She came back after almost giving everyone a heart attack by going missing," a third voice hissed, laced with disdain.
''I heard she was in an accident and has Amnesia now,''
''She can't remember anything?'' Someone asked indisbelief.
''Yes she can't.''
Ji-Woo paused, blinking rapidly as her mind struggled to process the barrage of whispers.
Her grip on her bag tightened instinctively, her knuckles blanching. Her hands trembled slightly as she clumsily dropped her books onto the ground, scattering papers and supplies in every direction.
"Still a scared cat," sneered a voice from behind her.
"I thought after changing her style, she'd change her behavior," another whispered, voice dripping with contempt.
"But she's still the same scared little monkey," a final voice sneered, venomous and mocking.
Ji-Woo sighed deeply, bending down to gather her scattered books. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, eyes downcast.
Just as she reached for her books, a light hand brushed against hers—gentle but firm, reaching out to pick up her belongings first.
Frozen, her entire body stiffened.
Her breath caught in her throat as she turned her head slightly, eyes wide with a mixture of surprise, fear, and curiosity.