When Love Forgets

Chapter 2

Mina POV

Entering the room, I slipped off my wedding dress and walked straight to the bathroom. The sound of the water filling the shower was like a soft whisper, and as the hot water cascaded over my aching body, I let out a deep breath.

Broken? Maybe more.

I had expected him to be different, but this-this distance, this coldness-was more than I had imagined. He hadn't even recognized me. He hadn't looked at me once.

I let the water pour over me, trying to wash away the weight of the night, but nothing could erase the emptiness.

When I finally stepped out of the shower, I slipped into a simple pair of pajamas and made my way to the bed. This would be my room now, at least for the foreseeable future.

The thought made my chest tighten, but there was nothing I could do about it.

What would happen between us?

After my father had transferred me to the same university Taehyung attended, I still didn't know how to feel. We weren't studying the same field, but it didn't matter.

We were heading to the same place-living in the same city. And yet, he was a stranger to me now.

I could sense that he wasn't in the mood to be around anyone, let alone me. But when I remembered the boy who was once my best friend, my lover, I couldn't bring myself to be angry with him.

He didn't remember me, and that wasn't his fault.

I'd have to be more than just his wife. I'd have to be his friend. A new beginning. I couldn't give up on him. I wouldn't.

With that determined thought, I drifted off into sleep, hoping for a fresh start.

---

The next morning, I woke up early, perhaps because everything felt new to me-the unfamiliar room, the strange house, the overwhelming quiet.

My mind raced, so I decided to get up and prepare breakfast for him. I remembered that Taehyung loved pancakes, strawberry juice, and omelets. So, I set the table with everything I could recall he enjoyed.

After I finished, I hesitated for a moment, but I gathered my courage and walked to his room. I knocked twice on the door, my hand trembling just slightly.

"It's 10 in the morning," I told myself, "It's not too early to disturb him."

After a brief silence, I heard shuffling from inside the room, and then the door swung open.

There he stood, shirtless, wearing only sweatpants. His body was lean and toned-more muscles than I remembered. His messy hair hung loosely over his forehead, and he rubbed his eyes, clearly startled to see me standing there.

"What do you want?" His voice was deep and rough, still sleepy.

I swallowed, my heart racing.

"Breakfast is ready, if you want to eat," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

He glanced at me for a moment, his gaze lingering on me for longer than I expected. My cheeks flushed with heat under the intensity of his stare.

After a long pause, as if he were weighing his options, he finally said,

"Okay, I'll be there."

I let out a small breath of relief, and a smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

Not a bad beginning, I told myself.

---

The tension in the kitchen hung thick in the air. We ate in silence, and I couldn't shake the desire to start a conversation.