MOTHER | vsoo |

03: A Fresh Start

6 years later...

"Taehyung-ah." My mother's voice pierced through the haze of my sleep, soft but urgent.

"Mmm?" I groaned, barely lifting my head from the couch.

"It's Jisoo..." Her voice cracked, and my eyes snapped open. "...Son, she's awake."

I bolted upright, knocking papers and a cold cup of coffee onto the floor. My heart raced. "What?! How? Take me to the hospital now!" I scrambled to put on my shoes, but my mother gently grabbed my arm, forcing me to sit back down.

"Taehyung..." She hesitated, her face clouded with sadness.

"What?" I pressed, dread building in my chest. "What's wrong? Is something wrong with her?"

"She woke up," my mother said cautiously, "but... she doesn't remember anything." Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

"N-no, that can't be," I stammered. "We've been married for ten years. She couldn't just forget me..." My voice dropped to a whisper as denial clawed at my sanity.

"Come with me," my mother said softly, and I followed her, numb and desperate.

....................

At the hospital, the doctor's words crushed what little hope I clung to. "She has retrograde amnesia. In cases like this, memories might come back over time, but sometimes they don't."

I stared at Jisoo through the glass window of her hospital room. She looked fragile yet beautiful, lying there as if nothing had changed. But when her eyes met mine, there was no love in them—no recognition. She looked at me like I was a stranger.

"Jisoo-ah, remember me? I'm Taehyung... your husband," I said shakily, stepping into the room and taking her hand in mine. My voice cracked, tears threatening to spill. "You remember, don't you?"

She pulled her hand away.

"My baby," she rasped, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. My heart shattered all over again.

"Jisoo..." I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. "We don't have a child, honey. Don't you remember?"

Her eyes narrowed, and she shook her head vehemently. "We? You're not my husband, mister. I clearly remember Eunji—she was right here with me every day." Her voice rose, anger flashing across her face.

My chest tightened at the mention of Eunji. The name we had planned for our daughter—the baby we lost.

"Sweetheart, it's not wise to push her right now," my mother whispered, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"And what if she doesn't come back?" I snapped, my voice cracking. I turned back to Jisoo, tears falling freely now. "We were going to name our baby Eunji," I whispered brokenly, but my words meant nothing to her.

She just stared blankly, her brows furrowing in confusion.

I barely noticed Irene's arrival until I heard a small voice.

"Taehyung?" I turn around to see Irene with Jang-mi holding her hand.

"Daddy!" Jang-mi's sweet cry snapped me out of my daze. She ran to me, jumping into my arms. Her bright smile momentarily eased the ache in my heart, but guilt quickly took over. I hugged her tightly, burying my face in her hair.

I had failed Jisoo, and in my despair, I'd ruined everything. I'd spiraled after her accident, drinking, fighting, and eventually... a reckless night with Irene had led to Jang-mi.

A sudden screech alarmed us all. "Eunji-ah! Eunji get away from that man right now!" we all looked at Jisoo in shock and confusion. 

The room went silent as everyone froze. Jisoo's trembling hands reached for Jang-mi, who shrank back in confusion.

"M-mommy, who's this strange woman?" Jang-mi said while backing away from me. It wasn't soon before Jisoo was out of her hospital bed, coming closer to her.

"Jisoo what are you talking about?", I shook her trying to find any sign of sanity left in her.

Jisoo's expression twisted in anguish. "Thats my eunji, let me go!" sshe screamed, her voice raw with desperation. She broke free of my grip and tackled Irene to the ground, clawing at her.

"Why did you take her away! huh?! Answer me!" she screamed as she strangled Irene who was screaming for help.

Nurses and security pulled jisoo away and said we all had to stay out for a while so they could give her some pills and shit like that.

Outside the room, the doctor sighed heavily as he adjusted his glasses. "This isn't uncommon in cases of severe amnesia. Your wife has likely repressed the pain of her past and is confusing your mistress's daughter for the child she lost."

"Im not his mistress" Irene sharply commented and clung to my arm but I shrugged her off.

"Regardless," the doctor continued, ignoring her, "it may help to allow her to believe the child is hers for now. It could aid her recovery. But there's a risk she may never regain her full memory."

Irene glared at me as the doctor spoke. I knew what she was thinking—she wouldn't stand for this. But I didn't care. Irene was never more than a temporary solace, a mistake born out of my grief. My only concern now was Jisoo.

"I see," I murmured, bowing slightly to the doctor. "Thank you."