| Third Person |
"Eomma~~~!!!"
A little girl's excited squeal filled the car as she unbuckled herself from her seat in the back. Her tiny feet thudded lightly against the car's floor as she climbed forward, her hands reaching toward her parents.
"Jihye, stay in your seat, love," her mother said, her voice gentle but firm as she glanced back with a quick smile.
"But I want ice cream nowww~~~!" Jihye whined, her voice drawing out into a playful sing-song tone as she pouted dramatically.
"Jihye!" her father's voice came sharper this time, a warning. "We told you to sit down. It's not safe to move around while we're driving."
"But Eomma promised!" the little girl protested, tugging at her mother's sleeve.
"Jihye, please," her mother pleaded, her attention divided as she tried to soothe her daughter and focus on the road ahead.
The car swerved slightly, just for a moment, as her mother's gaze lingered too long on Jihye.
Suddenly, the blaring sound of a horn shattered the playful atmosphere.
"Watch out!" her father shouted, gripping the wheel tightly.
Jihye froze, her small hands clutching the back of her mother's seat. She turned her head to see blinding headlights rushing toward them, far too close.
"Eomma...?" she whispered, her voice trembling with confusion and fear.
The world seemed to move in slow motion as her mother screamed, her father yanked the steering wheel, and the sound of metal crunching against metal erupted in a deafening roar. The car spun wildly, the impact throwing Jihye forward.
And then—darkness.
Jihye jolted upright, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. Her hands clutched at the bedsheets, damp with sweat. The phantom sound of screeching tires and her mother's scream echoed in her ears, fading only as she realized where she was.
Her chest heaved as she glanced around her dimly lit room, the familiar surroundings grounding her back in reality. It was just a dream.
'Just a dream.'
She pressed her hands to her face, trying to shake off the lingering panic. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape the haunting feeling of the headlights or the sound of her mother's voice calling her name.
"Why now?" she murmured to herself, her voice barely a whisper.
The dream wasn't new. It had been years since that day—years since the accident that had changed everything. But it always felt so real, like she was back in that car, helpless and afraid.
Jihye swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor. She needed to breathe, to clear her mind. But as she sat there, staring at her reflection in the darkened window, the weight of her past pressed against her like a familiar shadow she couldn't escape.
She pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling the heat radiating off her as she tried to calm her racing heart.
A rustling sound to her left made her freeze.
"Jihye?"
The voice was soft but laced with concern. She turned her head to find Jeonghan sitting up, his brows knitted together as he studied her face in the dim light.
"Are you okay?" he asked, he whispered gently yet insistent, minding his brother and Areum being still asleep.
Jihye shook her head, attempting to brush him off. "It's nothing. Just... a bad dream," she muttered, her voice hoarse. She tried to pull the blanket up to her chin, but the heat made it unbearable.
Jeonghan reached out, his hand resting lightly on her arm. His touch was steady, grounding. "You're burning up," he said, his concern deepening. "Jihye, you're too hot."
"I'm fine," she insisted, but her trembling hands gave her away.
"No, you're not," Jeonghan replied firmly, his eyes narrowing. "What happened?"
She hesitated, the memory of the car crash still vivid in her mind. Her mother's voice, the blinding lights—it was all too much. But the last thing she wanted was to drag Jeonghan into it.
"It's nothing, Jeonghan. Just... leave it," she murmured, averting her gaze.
"Jihye." His tone softened, more than it was, but it held a quiet persistence that made her look at him. "You don't have to tell me everything, but don't pretend it's nothing. You're shaking."
Her shoulders sagged, and she let out a shaky breath. "It's a memory. From a long time ago," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jeonghan didn't push further. Instead, he grabbed the glass of water from the nightstand and handed it to her. "Drink this. You're overheating," he said, his voice gentle but steady.
She took the glass, her hands still trembling as she sipped the cool water. It soothed her throat and helped ease the fog in her mind, though the weight in her chest remained.
Jeonghan stayed close, watching her carefully. "If you want to talk about it, I'm here," he said softly.
Jihye nodded, her gaze meeting his for a brief moment. She wasn't ready to share everything—not yet. But the warmth in his eyes and the steady presence of his hand on her arm made her feel a little less alone.
"Thank you," she whispered, setting the empty glass back on the nightstand.
"Always," he replied simply, his voice reassuring as he helped her settle back down.
The room fell quiet again, but this time, Jihye felt a small measure of peace. Jeonghan didn't say anything more, but his presence beside her spoke volumes.
Jeonghan hesitated, watching her less-tense shoulders. He wanted to press further, but something in him stopped him. Instead, he exhaled quietly and lay back down, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
He sighed, his worry lingered in the air. "If you need anything, just wake me up, okay?"
She nodded wordlessly, fully aware he couldn't see because of the dimly lit room, but the truth was, she couldn't shake the remnants of the dream. The headlights, the crash, her mother's voice—it all clung to her like a shadow.
As Jeonghan's breathing evened out again, Jihye remained awake, her mind racing. She wiped her damp forehead with the sleeve of her sweatshirt and glanced at him, his face peaceful in sleep.
'You don't know, Jeonghan' she thought to herself, guilt and sorrow welling up inside her.
''And I don't think I can tell you.''
***
Hello lovely people!! How's the chapter?? The next few might be filler chapters like this one, 'cause an organ called BRAIN isn't in service right now, when it's repaired, the chapters will be interesting... But this was interesting too, right? Well then, till the next chapter, stay safe and take care
Adiós.
YOU ARE READING
Here I Am | Yoon Jeonghan
Fanfiction''I'll help you get over her... Only under one condition.'' ''And that is?'' ''Buy me lunch every day'' ''That's it?'' ''You want more?'' Hong Jihye, A girl who has been friends with Yoon Jeonghan, finds out that the girl he loves is dating his very...
