Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 31

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The sun hung lazily in the afternoon sky, casting soft golden light through the sheer curtains of Sarang's bedroom at her parents house. She lay sprawled across her bed, her limbs feeling heavy from days of exhaustion. 

It had been a while since her encounter with Sunghoon at the hospital. After that day, she had taken time off to recover—not just from the physical toll of her collapse but from the emotional weight of seeing him again after all these years.

Her parents had insisted she stay with them during her rest, and she didn't have the energy to refuse. Her mother pampered her with home-cooked meals, making her favorite dishes, ensuring she was eating properly. 

The warmth of home was comforting, but her thoughts still drifted—often and involuntarily—to the way Sunghoon had stared at her that day.

A knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. Before she could even respond, the door swung open, and a bright voice filled the room.

"Sarang! Are you still in bed?"

It was Sana. Her brothers girlfriend.

Sarang groaned and pushed herself up, running a hand through her tousled hair. 

"I was resting, Sana."

"You mean sulking," Dohwa teased as he stepped into the room behind his girlfriend.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll throw this pillow at you."

Dohwa smirked and plopped down on the bed beside her while Sana giggled, making herself comfortable on the other side. 

They had been together for three years now, and Sana had naturally become a part of the family. She was warm and bubbly, always bringing energy wherever she went.

"Your mom told us to check on you," Sana said, crossing her arms. "You barely texted me back, so I had to come see for myself."

"I'm fine," Sarang sighed.

Dohwa raised a brow. "You don't look fine."

Sarang rolled her eyes, but before she could retort, Sana clapped her hands together. "Okay, enough gloomy energy! Let's talk about something fun."

Sarang gave her a blank look. "Like what?"

"Like... when are you going to get a boyfriend?"

Dohwa choked on his own breath. "Sana, really?"

"What?" Sana laughed, nudging him. "She's so pretty and smart. I'm just saying, she should start dating. Right, Dohwa?"

Dohwa scowled. "No. I don't like the thought of any guy dating my sister."

Sarang burst out laughing. "That's not your decision to make."

"Still," he muttered, glaring at Sana for even bringing it up.

They continued chatting about random things—Sana's work, Dohwa's recent project, and all the small, silly things that filled their days. It was a normal, peaceful afternoon, something Sarang hadn't had in a long time.

Eventually, they left, and the house quieted down once more. The rest of the day passed uneventfully until dinner time.

As Sarang sat at the dining table with her parents, enjoying the warmth of a home-cooked meal, her father suddenly cleared his throat.

"So," he started, casually cutting his steak. "This Friday, my company is co-hosting an annual celebration event with other major corporations."

Sarang nodded, not thinking much of it, until she noticed the way he was eyeing her.

"And?" she prompted, already suspicious.

Her father set his fork down. "It's a formal gathering. Very prestigious. A lot of well-known people, including top business figures, millionaires, billionaires... even celebrities, will be there."

Her mother smiled knowingly. Sarang narrowed her eyes.

"Where are you going with this?" she asked.

Her father let out a deep sigh. "I want us to go as a family. It's important."

Sarang groaned, leaning back in her chair. "Dad, I might be busy with my hospital shifts—"

"I already checked with your schedule. You're free that night."

She frowned. "That's not fair."

"Come on, Sarang," her mother chimed in gently. "Your father works so hard. He rarely asks for anything from you. Just this once, please?"

Sarang sighed, rubbing her temples. "I hate these kinds of social gatherings."

"I know," her father admitted. "But I still want you there."

She hesitated, but the look in his eyes made it impossible to say no.

"Fine," she muttered.

Her father smiled, satisfied. "Good. I already told Dohwa. He and Sana are coming too."

Sarang exhaled, already regretting her decision.

The next day, her mother was practically glowing with excitement. She had already arranged for a tailor to prepare a dress for her and wouldn't take no for an answer.

"You need something elegant," her mother said as she pulled out different fabric samples for Sarang to approve.

"Mom, I can just wear something I already own."

Her mother gasped in horror. "Absolutely not. This is a high-class event! You need to look your best."

Sarang sighed, watching as her mother fussed over every detail. The tailor took her measurements, and she resigned herself to the fact that there was no escaping this.

By the end of the day, everything was arranged—her dress, her shoes, her accessories. Sarang wasn't sure whether to be impressed or overwhelmed by how efficiently her mother worked.

As she lay in bed that night, she stared at the ceiling, exhaling slowly.

A grand event... filled with Korea's elite...

Somehow, she had a bad feeling about this.

Feeling restless, Sarang reached for her phone on the nightstand, unlocking it with a tired sigh. Without thinking much, she scrolled through her playlist and tapped on her current obsession—"Infinity."

As the soft melody filled the quiet room, she sank deeper into her pillows, her eyes growing heavy. The song had been on repeat for weeks now, something about it resonating with her in ways she couldn't quite explain. 

Maybe it was the lyrics, or maybe it was just the way the melody felt like a dream—both endless and fleeting at the same time.

Her mind wandered as she listened, memories of the past and thoughts of the future blending into the soothing rhythm. Before she knew it, her breaths slowed, her grip on the phone loosened, and sleep gently pulled her under—leaving "Infinity" playing softly in the background.

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