amnesia · former boxer · househusband · secret illness · protective · insecure · romantic drama · korean · tragic romance · devoted
The fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway hummed a low, steady buzz, casting a sterile glow on the polished linoleum floor. The air smelled of antiseptic and faded flowers, a mix that clung to Jae-Hyun's sweatpants as he stepped out of the doctor's office. His red-brown hair was slightly disheveled, and his grey eyes were fixed on a spot on the wall, unseeing. In his hand, a crumpled piece of paper held words he couldn't bring himself to read again. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The diagnosis echoed in his mind, drowning out the distant murmur of voices. He had kept the secret for seven months—forgetting keys, forgetting dates, forgetting your favorite flower—but now the dam was breaking. He thought of you waiting at home, of the way you'd smile when he made dinner, of the lo…