Retrospect: I

This chapter would employ narration from another character (Dave). Set around the time Han Su Jin was having his dream.

I gazed at Jeong Su, seated on the bed, her eyes narrowed, and her gaze fixed on Han Su Jin's serene face as he slept. "Who is KJ?" she suddenly asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She had been crying since.

"Why do you ask?" I replied, my tone measured.

Jeong Su's fingers drummed against her thigh, a subtle sign of frustration. "I couldn't see Han Su Jin's memories; it was like he had walls up. But when I held him in my arms, I saw a glimpse of his memories. It wasn't clear, I couldn't piece it together, his mind is built like a fortress. But right before he passed out, I heard him say KJ. I want to know who that is."

"My eyes darted to Han Su Jin, then back to Jeong Su. "KJ... Kim Jin-A. We all knew her from university. She was part of our clique, the only girl, probably the only person Han Su Jin was close to."

I rose from the chair I sat on and made my way to the door, trying to escape the conversation. Unfortunately, Jeong Su followed me, her eyes fixed on me like a shark attracted to blood.

"You're trying to avoid the conversation, why?" she asked, her voice firm.

"I won't deny it, I truly am," I admitted, trying to walk away again, but she held onto my clothes. I quickly turned, my eyes widening. "Is she trying to see my memories?" I asked myself, but fortunately, she had her gloves on. That gave me some form of relief.

"I know you find me a pest for following you around, but I just want to know who she is," Jeong Su said, her voice laced with determination. "His mind has always been locked up; you guys might not know this, but it is. He's the only person who doesn't have to prepare to bar me out of his mind; I'm always barred, so for him to still not be vulnerable even during a life-and-death situation, means she must mean a lot to him."

"Hmmm..." I took a deep sigh. "You seem inquisitive, so let me just douse your curiosity a little; you can ask Su Jin himself when he wakes up. That's if he'd talk about it though."

We headed for the railing and rested on it for comfort. Outside the windows of ARIES, I saw the sun setting, and my mind went to Su Jin; he always loved watching the sunset. "It almost makes me feel like the world isn't evil. As the colors lighten up the sky, the gloom in the eyes of the sun knowing that it's time to go is sad, and I can relate to it." He always said.

"Dave, Dave..." Suddenly, I snapped out of my trance. "Oh sorry, my mind raced elsewhere," I said with a smile on my face.

"I will continue persisting and pestering until you tell me who she is," Jeong Su said, her eyes sparkling with determination.

"What does she want from me?" I asked myself, "Why is she so interested in Jin-A? For Christ's sake, that name alone holds memories."

There were some things I couldn't tell her, like things involving both Su Jin and KJ; a part of me didn't want to say it, but a larger part of me didn't even know what to say because I had no information. Their bond was just too tight. They were the type of people to look at each other, nod their heads, make a particular sound, and laugh, or Su Jin would say total rubbish and KJ would laugh; they understood each other's silence and what it meant. They were that close."

I went on and explained to her, "You said you wanted to know who Kim Jin-A is, right?" I paused for a second, trying to gather myself. "The first person KJ knew among us all was Daesang; they attended the same high school and lived in the same area, so basically, they were like siblings. But she became close to Su Jin when they met three years ago. KJ had a good rapport with all three of us and a lot of people in school too; she was quite gaiety at the same time as feisty, if I remember correctly. You only knew she cared about you when you got to know her personally; if you didn't get to know her personally, she'd be quite belligerent and annoying. The only person she was never like that with was Su Jin. I liked her, though; she was smart, cool, funny, friendly, and promising."

I paused for a bit, looking at Su Jin with pity, but at that moment, I saw him squeezing his eyes, even while unconscious he was still going through pain, and I pitied him even more. Jeong Su also diverted her attention toward Su Jin, saying she hoped he woke up soon, claiming she felt guilty.

I continued my speech, "Su Jin seems fine but deep down he's far from that, he has always lived like an outcast ever since we first met. KJ was the one that made him talk, and we were the only ones he talked to." I stopped to get a reply from her, but she seemed to want to know more. I sincerely didn't have anything else to say, but I continued..

"At first, when I met her, I hated her to be honest, big time hate, like I said. If you don't get to know her personally, she'd be belligerent. But as time passed, ya know, a guy can't hate a fine lady for too long, you understand. When we finally got to get along, she was nice and dems. See, I don't know a lot about KJ, but she was a good soul that I can stand for and we all ain't been the same since she left."

"Where did she go?" Jeong Su asked.

"Well, she's, she..... Hmmm," I took a deep sigh and my voice started breaking "She died a year ago." Soon before I knew it, a tear had dropped from my eye, I wiped it off with my arm. Clothes and smiled. "She's in a better place now, I know that. Then tears started flowing freely.

"You guys were probably very close. I've never seen you tear down, never." She said and handed me a handkerchief. I took it and wiped it off my face.

"What was the cause of her death?" She inquired again.

"Mitochondria," I said, but my voice was muffled because of the handkerchief that was over my mouth.

"Huh? I didn't get that" she said.

I removed the handkerchief and said again: "Mitochondria. She died of mitochondria." She looked confused, trying to process what I had said. Just as she was about to speak again, we heard a scream from inside the room. Jeong Su rushed in immediately and I followed just as quickly. It was Han Su Jin. He had woken up. I found him in Jeong Su's arms. She was patting him like a baby.

I rushed back to the door," Daesang-a! Maenijo! Su Jin's up," I said, and everyone rushed in.