Under Hypnosis | Bbangsaz

Assessment

A few days later..

Minji stepped out of the room for the first time. During the days when she couldn't stand up properly, Sebastian had brought her meals and restricted her from walking around.

Now that she was all better, she finally managed to leave the room. During her confinement, she memorized the patterns and arrangement of everything inside the room out of sheer boredom.

"Seems like you're feeling a lot better," a familiar voice remarked from behind. Minji turned to see Hanni holding a cup of tea.

"You want some tea?" Hanni offered.

"Not really." Minji responded, her tone sounding a bit unfriendly.

Hanni took a sip of her tea, studying Minji thoughtfully. "I understand. It's good to see you up and about, though."

Minji nodded, glancing around the space. "Thanks. It feels good to move around again."

"Would you like to go downstairs?" Hanni asked the girl beside her. "Breakfast is ready."

A few seconds of silence echoed on the air before Minji responded, breaking the stillness. "I don't feel like eating early in the morning."

"Then, just keep me company," Hanni suggested, her tone gentle yet firm.

With no other option and the memory of Sebastian's serious warning about not following Hanni's orders or what the latter wanted was engraved inside her brain. Thoigh against her will, Minji still agreed. She followed Hanni downstairs to the dining area.

They settled at a long dining table, filled with a variety of breakfast items. Minji picked up a piece of brioche and took a bite.

"Do you like bread, Ms. Psychiatrist?" Hanni asked, watching her closely.

Minji sighed, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I'm no longer a psychiatrist."

Hanni smiled faintly at the latter. "You're still a psychiatrist, Ms. Kim," she insisted. "Your skills and knowledge don't disappear because of your current situation."

"Thanks, but no thanks." Minji responded to Hanni's words with a hint of rudeness in her voice, her gaze steady.

Hanni's expression hardened slightly. "Have you forgotten about our deal, Ms. Kim? Or are you planning to b–"

"I haven't forgotten about it," Minji interrupted. "So now, just eat and mind your own business."

Hanni studied her for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough," she replied, turning her attention back to her breakfast.

Minji watched the younger woman eat her breakfast. Though she'd been acting rude to Hanni lately, she couldn't help but observe her closely. At first glance, Hanni appeared composed and mentally strong. But Minji's eyes caught the signs: the way Hanni's hands occasionally trembled, how her gaze sometimes seemed distant. Hanni tried to appear strong on the outside, masking her true self from everyone.

But there were moments when her mask suddenly slipped, revealing the vulnerability kept hidden from beneath.

"Do you, I mean, would you mind if I want to assess you first before putting you under hypnosis?" Minji asked, causing Hanni to stop eating.

"As a psychiatrist, it's a necessary measure to assess your situation. Patients need to express what's bothering them or how they feel about certain things before we can proceed with hypnosis—"

"A patient? Do you think I'm a patient?" Hanni interrupted, disbelief evident in her voice. "I'm not a patient. We made a deal, Kim Minji. I'm more of a business partner or a client than a patient. You got it?"