TAF Ch 25

“Sleeping pills?”

“I know I shouldn’t have, but I… I put sleeping pills in his drink and gave it to him without him knowing.”

Instead of asking why he did such a thing, Sanggyun asked about the type of sleeping pill, the dosage, and how many he’d used. Then he shook his head.

“It’s rare for that dosage to cause brain damage. In any case, since the symptoms appeared right after the car accident…”

“But what if the car accident was my fault too! Then… what do I do?”

“If what you’re saying is true, the car accident happened more than 24 hours after Baek Chahyun took the sleeping pills. It’s safe to assume it’s unrelated, and this is my opinion as a doctor, not as an acquaintance. So you don’t need to blame yourself.”

Although Sanggyun said it wasn’t Yeonwoo’s fault, Yeonwoo found it difficult to shake off the guilt, thinking his actions might have contributed to Chahyun’s amnesia.

In the end, the conversation with Sanggyun concluded without knowing the exact cause of the amnesia or when Chahyun’s memory might return.

When they came out of the examination room, Chahyun was standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He looked clearly annoyed by the situation, as if he’d undergone various tests while Yeonwoo was with Sanggyun.

It made sense. His memories of work, family, and other acquaintances were all intact. Baek Chahyun’s memory had selectively erased only Hong Yeonwoo.

Chahyun probably wouldn’t mind if he never remembered Yeonwoo again, a supposedly former lover who was now whining in front of him about things he couldn’t even recall.

At first, Yeonwoo was simply confused, but he gradually became sad. They had dated for four years and known each other for a whopping thirteen years.

That entire period had vanished.

The emotionless gaze he’d received in the hospital room, as if he were looking at an inanimate object, was proof enough. To the current Chahyun, he was nothing more than an annoying remnant of the past.

“Did they say anything else is wrong? What tests did you have?”

Yeonwoo approached Chahyun and asked cautiously.

“Do I have to tell you that?”

He responded curtly, not even bothering to look at Yeonwoo, as if he didn’t care what he said.

“…I’m worried. Truly.”

“And it’s not because you’re upset that I don’t remember you?”

Chahyun finally turned his head towards Yeonwoo. There was still no trace of affection in his expression, voice, or gaze.

Though hurt by his gaze, Yeonwoo maintained eye contact, hoping that somehow, Chahyun would remember even a little bit about him.

“I’m suddenly curious. You said we dated and broke up.”

“…….”

“What brings you here after we’ve already broken up?”

It was definitely Baek Chahyun’s face, but it wasn’t the person Yeonwoo knew.

“You kept calling me even before you knew about the accident.”

Yeonwoo suddenly remembered why he had decided to contact Chahyun in the first place.

Just a few hours ago, loan sharks had come to his officetel and threatened him, even resorting to violence. He had temporarily forgotten about it, shocked by the news of Chahyun’s accident.

The loan sharks’ threats would continue if he couldn’t repay the money soon. Not only to him but also to his mother.

Thinking about the two men who had come to see him today, he felt a throbbing pain all over his body. Until now, the shock of Chahyun’s accident had prevented him from fully registering it, but a tingling pain was now spreading throughout his body.

His body would probably be so swollen and bruised that he’d have difficulty walking tomorrow, and such days might repeat themselves.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“…….”

A strange glint suddenly appeared in Chahyun’s eyes. Cruel and innocent, like a child who had discovered a new toy.

“Is it about money?”

And Chahyun’s guess was correct. Hitting a nerve, Yeonwoo averted his gaze.

“…….”

He hesitated to answer truthfully. Chahyun had been in an accident and now didn’t even know who Hong Yeonwoo was… Was it right to bring up money? Besides, it was uncertain whether the Baek Chahyun in front of him would help him.

“It’s obvious why someone like you would cling to me.”

At the mocking tone, Yeonwoo bit his lower lip hard. It stung where it had already been split.

“I hate repeating myself. Is it about money? Answer quickly.”

Yeonwoo’s conflict didn’t last long. This wasn’t the time for pride. His battered body alone was more than he could handle.

“Yes. I… I run a cafe. It’s quite famous and doing well. But I suddenly need money…”

Nodding, Yeonwoo lowered his gaze. His voice trembled as he spoke, almost inaudible.

“So?”

Chahyun asked back in a tone that suggested he’d expected as much, upon hearing that Yeonwoo needed money.

“I’m planning to move out. And I was wondering if I could get the key money in advance.”

“Why are you asking me for the cafe’s key money?”

“Because you helped me set up the cafe, and when I asked your secretary, they told me to talk to you…”

“How much.”

“…200 million won.”

A snort. Chahyun’s laughter echoed through the hospital hallway. It was clearly derisive.

Yeonwoo felt his face flush and lowered his head further.

“Ah, 200 million won.”

“It’s money I’d receive as key money anyway when another cafe moves in after I leave. I’m asking for it a little early because my situation is urgent…”

“Hey.”

“…Huh?”

Startled by Chahyun interrupting him, Yeonwoo looked up. His eyes met Chahyun’s, who was looking down at him as if he were an insect.

“I don’t like being spoken to informally.”

“…….”

The pain spreading from his chest, pierced by Chahyun’s gaze, made Yeonwoo understand his words a beat later.

Ah. Did he think Yeonwoo was younger than him?

“I’m older than you.”

“So? You came here begging for money, and now you want to argue about who was born first?”

Yeonwoo shook his head. Suddenly, Chahyun grabbed his chin and forced him to look up. Then, as if annoyed by the cap, he took it off without permission.

“You seem to be seriously mistaken about something. I think you’re under the impression that I played around with you for a bit because you have a decent face.”

Chahyun’s dry gaze scanned every inch of Yeonwoo’s pale face. He was still wearing the mask, but it was pulled down slightly, revealing the general outline of his face.

He observed everything: Yeonwoo’s long, thick eyelashes, flawless skin, smooth forehead, and well-defined nose.

And the longer Chahyun stared, the more painful the situation became for Yeonwoo.

“At least… be angry with me. Don’t talk to me like this.”

“Angry?”

Chahyun tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“You need to get a grip on reality first. Why would I be angry at an omega like you?”

Just as he’d said, Chahyun remained perfectly calm throughout. To Yeonwoo, it sounded as if he wasn’t even worth getting angry at.

“And I told you to speak formally.”

“…….”

“Do you not understand me the first time?”

Yeonwoo could only open and close his mouth, unable to answer. As he struggled to turn his head free from Chahyun’s grasp, Chahyun let go without hesitation.

✧✧✧

The next day. Yeonwoo wore a mask, a cap, and this time, even glasses to cover his swollen eyes.

Waking up this morning was agony. His entire body ached from the beating, his ankle had started to throb, and the bruises on his face had darkened.

On top of that, after meeting Chahyun at the hospital and returning home, he’d cried for a long time, causing his eyelids to swell so much that it was difficult to even open his eyes.

Despite having painstakingly brought up the key money with Chahyun, he had simply abandoned Yeonwoo and left when a nurse approached to speak to him.

Chahyun’s expression and tone, treating him like an insect, had tormented Yeonwoo all night.

Chahyun really didn’t remember a single thing about Hong Yeonwoo. That fact was more painful than being beaten by the loan sharks.

Even so, he had to go to work at the cafe. Until he received the key money and handed the cafe over to someone else, Neo Bell was his only source of steady income.

Today was Yeonwoo’s day to open the cafe alone. His part-timer had messaged him saying they would be a few hours late due to personal reasons, so he had to go in early to cover for them.

Yeonwoo brought in the ordered coffee beans, refrigerated food, and packaging materials, and finished checking the grinder. His body ached, making him slower than usual.

Not long after opening the cafe, a customer entered.

“Welcome.”

He cleared his raspy throat and managed to greet the customer, but a familiar face stood before the counter.

Baek Chahyun.

Yeonwoo murmured to himself.

Why did he come here? Did his memory return?