Chapter 221 - Chapter 217: IF Side Story - Still Getting Devoured (19)
I had a dream.
It was a dream about living with a woman so lovely that I wouldn't regret giving her everything I had.
In the dream, I went through things that would make anyone who heard about them wince.
But every time I saw her face, I felt so happy that all the hardships just melted away.
However, the happy moments didn't last long.
The dream ended abruptly while I was selling my body to another woman, and I could no longer return to that blissful state.
Was it really just a dream?
If it wasn't, there's one thing I want to tell her.
Even if the time I spent with you was difficult, I was happy.
Even if it was all a lie, those moments of happiness you gave me are memories I can't just throw away. That's all.
But before my eyes, only she remained, wearing a sad expression, tears in her eyes as she apologized.
Thinking that if I comforted her—even if this were just an illusion—I might be able to return to that happy dream, I reached out.
I wiped the tears from her face and said,
"Don't cry... Bianca... Even so... I was happy..."
Suddenly, everything went blindingly white.
I hadn't even finished comforting her.
Is this all going to end as just a dream?
I felt... so much regret.
When I woke up, my head throbbed as if someone had hammered a nail into it.
'Ugh... my head... and I feel so nauseous...'
"What kind of dream was that? Huh? Where am I? This is strange... I can't remember anything. Something's not right."
Even when I tried to focus, it felt like a wall was blocking me; not a single memory would surface.
Is this amnesia?
My friends, my name, my family, even the house I lived in—nothing comes to mind.
"This is driving me crazy. What should I do? Let's start by figuring out where I am..."
There's no point in worrying about what I don't know.
In times like this, it's best to just accept the situation and figure out where I stand.
I looked around.
A stark white ceiling I didn't recognize.
There was a saying for times like this, what was it again?
No matter how hard I tried, the phrase wouldn't come to me.
It wasn't important anyway, so I pushed the thought aside and sat up. The room looked exactly like a hospital room.
There was a vase on the table next to me, and fresh flowers—likely changed yesterday—caught the sunlight streaming in from the window.
"Flowers? And I'm wearing a patient gown... It's definitely a hospital. And it looks like I'm alone."
Judging by the single bed, it was a private room.
As I scanned the room, I felt a presence outside the door.
The doorknob turned, and someone walked in.
Click!
The person who entered was a woman with black hair, cut slightly longer than a bob.
She looked to be about twenty.
She was holding flowers, and she must have been the one who brought them.
Surprised to see me awake, her eyes went wide with disbelief.
"Seon... Seon-ah? You're awake?"
'Seon-ah? Is that my name?'
"...I'm awake."
When I answered, she pinched her own cheek, then rushed over with a shocked expression.
She buried her face in my chest and sobbed quietly.
"Hu... Hu-heuk... Thank goodness. Really... thank goodness, Seon-ah..."
We must have been close.
Was she my sister? My girlfriend?
I felt terrible for soaking her shirt with her tears, but I had to say it. I'd missed my chance when she first walked in, but if I didn't say it now, it would only get more awkward.
"Excuse me... but who are you?"
"Seon-ah... what?"
She looked up at me, her expression one of pure disbelief.
.
.
.
The doctor diagnosed me with amnesia of an unknown cause.
Usually, there's some partial recall, but my memories were gone as if sliced away by a knife. Even the doctor had never seen a case like it.
What do I do now?
"Whew..."
All I could do was sigh.
"Seon-ah... don't worry too much. You might remember again someday."
The fortunate thing was that this woman, Yu-rin, was helping me.
Even though I didn't remember her, she cried for me and comforted me.
And seeing the fresh flowers, she must have been coming every day.
What was I to her? What was our relationship?
"Thank you... you said your name was Yu-rin, right? What was our relationship before I lost my memory?"
"..."
Yu-rin kept her mouth shut.
'Why did she stop talking? Is she an ex-girlfriend who broke up with me?'
If I had dumped a woman this pretty, the "me" from before must have had terrible taste.
'To dump someone this pretty, who seems so kind...'
"Were we lovers?"
"Ah... no. We were... just people who worked together."
"I see..."
Just coworkers. I guess I was wrong.
'Well, there's no way I could have dated someone like her.'
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"Did I have any family? Or friends?"
"You have both parents, and as for friends... um... I don't know..."
My god, to not have a single friend...
What Yu-rin said was shocking. How can a person exist without friends? Is that even living in society?
Thinking that it was me, I felt a wave of sadness.
"Seon-ah, your face is pale. Are you hurting anywhere?"
Yu-rin reached out and placed her hand on my forehead.
"Ah... no. I'm just a little surprised."
"Well... it hasn't been long since you woke up, and you don't even have your memories. It's understandable to be flustered. I understand."
'You understand that I don't have a single friend? You're not teasing me, are you?'
"Now that I think about it, you said we worked together... are we coworkers?"
"You don't even remember being a streamer? I'll show you... Ah, wait. Your mother deleted the channel. I'm sorry, Seon-ah. Things happened, so I had to get rid of the broadcast channel you were running."
"...?"
I was a streamer?
And the channel is gone? Why?
"Why did it disappear? Is it related to my mother?"
"I'm not going to tell you because I think you'll be shocked. I'll tell you later, so just rest for now."
"I'm curious, can't you just tell me?"
"No... you might get shocked and collapse for no reason. Please, just listen to me and stay still. I'm asking you."
Grind.
Yu-rin's hand, which was holding mine, tightened with surprising force.
Moreover, it sounded like she was grinding her teeth.
I was afraid that if I pushed her further, she might explode, so I quickly shook my head.
"Ah... I won't. I'll stay still."
"Good... that's a good boy, right?"
She was smiling, but it was an angry, terrifying smile.
.
.
.
Not long after Seon-ah went missing, news broke that he had been kidnapped.
It wouldn't have mattered if only the facts were revealed, but malicious comments and absurd rumors began to spread.
To be honest, the situation spiraled because Min-ah-eomeoni and I had stirred up the Scavengers' distribution networks.
When the Hwaryong Guild got involved, those absurd rumors inflated until they were unrecognizable, turning into a completely new, twisted story.
Rumors claimed Seon-ah was involved with a criminal organization and was sold to the third world to pay off debts. Others told disgusting stories about him spreading his legs for everyone, getting caught in a love triangle, and being sold to China as a living meat dildo with his limbs cut off. Countless suspicions were posted openly in the comments of his old channel.
Sensational, unbelievable stories always catch the public's attention.
I sued everyone, but as the rumors spread on a minor gallery named after Seon-ah, Min-ah-eomeoni couldn't hold back her resentment. She went wild, and I had no choice but to blow up the channel I'd been with for so long.
Of course, before deleting it, I saved all the clips, but it was still a pity.
Fortunately, Seon-ah returned safely, but for a while, I feared those videos would be his last appearance.
To be honest, I didn't think he would come back.
Even when we raided the Scavengers' largest network, I couldn't find a single trace of him.
However, Seon-ah returned after one month.
He lay in the hospital in a coma for two months, perhaps because of a head injury.
After three months, Seon-ah was finally back.
Regaining his memories will be a gradual process.
I have my friend, my mentor, and the Seon-ah I love back.
For now, that's enough.
However, there is one thing I'm worried about.
I wonder if he'll be able to treat me without wariness once he remembers the day I first brought him to my house.