Eclisse • MICHAENG •

Chapter 39

Mina and Chaeyoung's jaw dropped as they saw a large portrait of themselves pasted on the wall, kissing each other, on the edge of the cliff while an eclipse took over the whole sky on the background.

Both were lost of words as eyes became moist. A teardrop have finally escaped Chaeyoung's eyes, while it gazed every oil paint of the portrait. There was an unknown ache inside her heart that wanted to explode at the moment. She felt that a big weight have come crashing down at her.

Whereas Mina stunned on her position, eyes cannot be taken off from the portrait. She probe every detail of the art shown in front of them. A silent weep escaped from her as tears didn't bother to race down her cheeks. A part of her have finally been returned after a long time of seeking it. She can't figure out which one, but it made her complete and at the same time broken just by seeing a single masterpiece.

"That's us" Chaeyoung said as her voice wavered looking at Mina.

"Yeah, You and I." Mina replied catching Chaeyoung's gaze.

"But how?" Chaeyoung asked bewildered. "Is it possible that we both are a memory in each other's forgotten past?" Chaeyoung hypothesized.

"I guess so" Mina quietly uttered, slowly wiping her tears. "I want to remember everything right now" She added grabbing her hair, trying to force her brain to recollect the missing memories.

"Mom, I'm sorry" Shae whose presence almost forgotten spoke up. She held Mina's hand preventing it to hurt herself even more.

"A-are you m-mine?" Mina asked lowering herself to Shae's height, facing the little girl as a stream of waterfall have fallen her eyes once again. She traced Shae's face structure with her gaze, falling in love on how she was molded exactly the same as her. Mina was unsure if she wanted to hear the response, there's a part of her that she wanted Shae to be hers, but there's also a part of her that she doesn't want because there will be a sudden arising of guilt that she was never there on her child's side.

"I-I don't know." Shae trembled, seeing how Mina struggled to breath and keep herself still. The little one didn't know why, but she's feeling extreme tribulation seeing the older girls in distress.

"How did you know about this honey?" Chaeyoung said, trying her best to speak properly despite the shortness of breath. She kneeled down beside Mina, holding Shae's hand, looking intently at her, silently letting her know, that she must not feel pressure on their questions.

"Mum brought me here on my 4th birthday" Shae explained as she offered both her palms to the older girls which they took.

The silence is the loudest at the moment as they try to figure out Shae's answer. Tiptoes echo on the huge house as they followed the little girl as she was leading them into a living room, which consists of more arts plastered stylishly on the walls with a signature of Chaeyoung printed on it.

Both girls roamed their eyes around, taking all in at once. They cannot believe such a place existed, which holds living memories that have been long dead inside their brain. They all settle in a long black couch, feeling the warm ambiance the place offered. They were so overwhelmed on the unforeseen revelations.

"Hey honey" Chaeyoung cutting everyone's thought said. "You can tell Mama and Mommy everything you know, if you're ready, okay?" Chaeyoung added, knowing that her daughter have severe anxiety, that even Shae is sure hustled at the moment.

"I'm ready now Mama" Shae innocently said, capturing the orbs of Chaeyoung. Shae started to tell the tales to both the older girls.

"Happy birthday sweetie!" Somi quietly said, entering the dark room of her daughter, holding a cake. Only the candle on the cake is the source of light.