TDIMEH Chapter 48

48. The Other Side of the Island

With nothing much to do except explore the island, time seemed to pass surprisingly quickly on the deserted island. After diligently scouting around, they concluded that the only way to reach the other side was to scale a cliff.

It had been four days since Amihan joined them.

"[Coco.]"

A soft voice came from behind Se-ah as she tended to the fire.

When she turned around, she saw Amihan holding out his palm, which was filled with small berries, toward her.

"[Thank you. I’ll enjoy them.]"

Se-ah smiled warmly, causing Amihan to scratch his head shyly before squatting down next to her.

"Why is he acting like a child when he isn’t one? And why do you keep humoring him?"

Moon Sohee clicked her tongue in annoyance as she walked past them, her tone dripping with disdain.

Amihan, visibly tense, pressed himself closer to Se-ah. Se-ah felt sorry for Amihan, who constantly watched Moon Sohee and shrank away whenever she passed by.

"That’s enough, don’t you think?"

"I think the person who needs to stop isn’t me, Coco. Anyone watching would think he’s your own child."

"Whether he is or isn’t, I want to take care of him. What does that have to do with you, Ms. Moon Sohee?"

"Consider it my way of showing concern. He’s obviously going to cling to you like a leech, so I’m warning you now. Just wait and see if I’m wrong."

With a cold sneer, Moon Sohee turned and walked away.

Se-ah wanted to argue further, but she had to restrain herself because Amihan was clutching her clothes tightly.

"She may be harsh toward you, Coco, but she’s not entirely wrong. He’s been sticking to you a lot,"

Boss Nam chimed in as he passed by.

And indeed, as Moon Sohee had pointed out, Amihan stuck to Se-ah like glue except when sleeping or when they ventured deep into the forest.

While he was no longer completely silent like on the first day, he still spoke very little and remained afraid of the mountain.

Whenever Se-ah and Junhyuk went into the forest, Amihan would follow them to the entrance with a worried look but then turn back alone to the beach.

Perhaps aware of Amihan’s fear, Se-ah and Junhyuk didn’t venture deep into the forest as they had before.

Their plan to cross the mountain was also delayed for this reason. No one knew what lay beyond, so they all agreed they needed proper preparation before attempting it.

One of the most surprising things they learned in the past few days was that Amihan was twenty years old.

Even considering how young the locals often appeared, Amihan looked even smaller and frailer, leading everyone to assume he was no older than seventeen or eighteen at most.

Upon learning Amihan’s age, Junhyuk’s wariness—already present—grew even stronger, as he now saw Amihan as an adult rather than a teenager.

However, Se-ah couldn’t help but see her younger brother, Sejun, whenever she looked at Amihan. She instinctively treated him like a child. The last time she saw Sejun, he was twenty-two, so there wasn’t much difference.

Amihan also suffered from nightmares and mild hallucinations at night.

Despite eating quite a lot for his small frame, he was visibly losing weight.

Although he seemed fine during the day, someone still needed to keep an eye on him at night. Thus, Amihan’s wooden shelter was set up right next to Se-ah’s, where they could easily hear one another.

With no soundproof walls, most noises could be heard clearly.

Tonight, just as Se-ah was about to fall asleep, she heard moaning from Amihan’s shelter.

As Se-ah sprang out of bed, Junhyuk immediately followed suit.

Under the light of a small torch, they looked down at Amihan’s sweat-drenched face. Se-ah gently wiped his face with a towel she had brought.

“I think he might be addicted.”

Although the subject was omitted, Se-ah immediately understood what Junhyuk was referring to.

“The color under his nails, the redness in his eyes—they're all signs. Judging by how much the discoloration has accumulated, it seems to have been building up for quite some time…”

He tilted his head, noting that the symptoms didn’t seem severe enough for something so long-term.

“How do you know all that?”

“Well, when I was living in the States, I came across a few people like that. But his symptoms seem milder, almost like it’s from indirect exposure rather than direct inhalation... Wait, when did I ever live in the States?”

Junhyuk stopped mid-sentence.

He looked uncharacteristically startled.

From what Se-ah had heard, Junhyuk claimed to have lost his memory on the flight to the States…

If that were the case, the memory he just mentioned must have occurred afterward.

Which meant…

Se-ah’s heart sank.

A wave of hope and regret crashed over her simultaneously.

"Did… did you just remember something?"

She asked, her eyes wide with surprise. Junhyuk looked just as confused as she felt, his uncertainty reflected in her gaze.

"No, my mind still feels blank. I think it just slipped out unconsciously,"

He replied, pressing his temple with a hand.

"Still, something like this hasn’t happened before. Maybe your memory is starting to return."

If even a small crack had formed, perhaps his memories would soon flood back like a bursting dam. Whether it happened in the next minute or years later, his memories would eventually return. Of that, she was sure.

And yet, it somehow felt like it would be sooner rather than later.

If that happened, would Junhyuk remember what had happened here?

Would he forget all the memories they had created, different from the ones of his twenty-year-old self?

Se-ah’s expression darkened.

Junhyuk’s face mirrored her gloom as he sighed and asked,

"…Is that what you want?"

"Of course! It’s only natural. You need to regain your memory so it’ll be easier for you to manage everything, especially since you’ll have to work once we’re rescued. You said you were the boss, didn’t you?"

She said, biting her lip to hide the truth—that she was okay with things staying as they were now.

Junhyuk leaned closer to her, his voice low and filled with unease.

"Are you being honest? Do you really want me to regain my memory?"

His face, now inches away, reflected the same anxiety she felt.

"Well, um…"

Junhyuk shook his head as he watched Se-ah struggle to find an answer with a trembling voice.

"I don’t want to. What if I lose all my current memories? What if the only thing left in his memories is going to America?"

His face flushed slightly, as if he were agitated.

"That… that won’t happen."

"And how can you guarantee that?"

"Even now, some of your memories have returned, but you’re still the same person."

Although Se-ah shared the same anxiety, she tried to comfort him, pretending otherwise.

"Someone as smart as you isn’t going to forget everything. You’re amazing."

"Yeah… maybe you’re right."

His voice softened slightly as he nodded, his agitation easing a little.

Se-ah quietly let out a sigh and patted his shoulder.

"Even if you don’t remember, I’ll remember everything."

"I hate that even more."

"Why? Isn’t it better for someone to hold on to those memories?"

"No. What’s the point if you’re the only one left remembering the time we spent together? I’d be living like a fool, completely unaware. I’d rather freeze my brain than let that happen to you. Never."

Junhyuk’s resolute tone brought Se-ah close to tears without her realizing it.

If he forgot, she’d have to carry all those memories alone. Even though she tried to act like she’d be fine, deep down, the thought of it was unbearably painful.

But she couldn’t let those feelings show. Seeing Junhyuk understand her unspoken emotions made her chest ache even more.

Junhyuk’s fingers gently brushed her tearful eyes.

"Soldier! No, kiddo. Don’t worry. Even if I return to the way I was, I’ll think of you a hundred times a day."

"That’s… that’s too much…"

Se-ah sniffled as she responded.

"What do you mean too much? Even now, I think of you hundreds of times a day… No, wait. Forget I said that."

Junhyuk’s face turned crimson.

He stood up abruptly, only to bump his head on the ceiling.

It was the first time Se-ah had seen him so flustered.

Although she couldn’t see her own face, she was certain it was just as red as his.

Her head felt like it was burning up. Lost for words, she could only gulp nervously as Amihan shifted in the opposite corner of the room.

What was she thinking, acting like that next to a sick child?