her || lee know ff

• t w e n t y - t w o •

Before Arin could enter the house, she was suddenly pulled into a tight hug. Surprised and momentarily off-balance, she struggled against the embrace.

“I'm sorry,” Minho mumbled, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m so sorry for everything.”

Arin rolled her eyes, noticing the strong smell of alcohol on him. She pushed him as strong as she could .

Minho staggered back slightly, his expression one of surprise and hurt. He looked at Arin with a mixture of confusion and frustration, still trying to process her reaction amidst the haze of alcohol.Minho started to turn away, feeling a pang of rejection.

"I guess you’ve already forgotten about me, Areum,"

But just as he was about to leave, he felt a firm grip on his arm. He looked back to see Arin, her expression remained calm and nothing.

"Get inside," she said firmly, pulling him toward the house.

-

"Drink this," Arin said, handing him a glass of water.

Minho took the glass and drank, his eyes still clouded with confusion and regret.

"Minho, right?" Arin asked, her tone measured.

Minho looked at her, bewildered. "What kind of question is that?"

“Bet she never mentioned me,” Arin said with a chuckle, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.

Minho's brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean? I don't understand. Why do you look so different ? ”

Arin didn’t say a word. She simply stood up from her seat.

“Let’s talk later. You’re drunk,” she said, turning to leave.

Before she could move, Minho grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but unsteady.

“No, wait. I need to understand. Please, just tell me what’s going on.”

Arin just sighed .

" First of all , I'm not Areum . I'm Arin, her twin sister. "

" You — what ? Twin sister ? "

“Yeah,” Arin confirmed. “She’s in a coma right now. Don’t do anything stupid. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see her.”

~

Minho stood quietly beside Areum’s bed, his heart heavy with sorrow. The sight of her lying there, motionless and connected to various medical devices, was almost too much to bear. He reached out a trembling hand, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

His eyes filled with tears as he whispered, “I’m so sorry, Areum. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

Each word was laced with regret and pain, his voice breaking as he tried to hold back his emotions. The beeping of the heart monitor and the soft hum of the machines seemed to emphasize the silence between them.

Minho’s heart ached at the sight of her vulnerable state. He felt a profound sense of guilt, knowing how much he had contributed to her suffering.

“I should have been here sooner,” he said, his voice barely audible.
“I should have done more. I should have protected her . ”

Minho gently took Areum's hand in his, holding it with a tenderness that belied the turmoil in his heart. He leaned closer, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"Wake up faster, please. I miss you, love." His fingers clasped around hers, as if willing her to awaken through sheer force of will. The silence of the room seemed to stretch endlessly as he waited, hoping for a sign that she could hear him.