9 You donst remember me at all? (1/2)
”What do you mean she has amnesia? Why would she have amnesia?” Han's voice was falling up and down in anger and frustration. ”I don't fucking believe this. So, she doesn't remember anybody at all? Not even her parents?”
”She remembered them or rather she feels like she knows them,” his mother shrugged. ”The doctor said it could be short-term or long-term or she might never remember at all. She went through a traumatic experience, Richard, so give the poor girl a break, will you?”
”Hello, I'm here listening to you.Look at me. I'm here,” the girl in question piped in, waving her arms from the bed.
Han raked a frustrated hand through his hair. ”So you don't remember me at all?” he asked, finally turning to the girl. ”Not even a little bit?”
”Should I?” the girl frowned. ”Who are you anyway?”
'I'm Richard, your fiancee.”
”So you're the louse responsible for this, huh?” the girl said, flinging the covers from her body to reveal her stomach.
”Well, you had a hand in it, too, you know.”
”Very convenient for you that I lost my memory. You can pretend you're not responsible.”
”Are you a dunce? You're living in my parents' house, for Christ's sake. If I really wanted to ditch you I could have just dumped you somewhere and not let you meet them.”
”Why not? I'm pretty, cute and I think your mom likes me.”
”Mom....,” Han helplessly rolled his eyes towards his mother.
His mother laughed. ”She's acquired a little sauce along with the amnesia. I think it's cute.”
”See?” the girl pouted prettily. ”She likes me.”
Han sighed. ”Be a good girl and put some clothes on, will you? I don't want you to catch a cold. Have you eaten? I'm famished. Eat with me?”
An Ning jumped excitedly from the bed. Han quickly ran to her side and put an around her. ”Be careful, will you? We can't have you falling down and hitting your head or something.”
”Might help with the amnesia,” An Ning said, looking up at him with a mischievous grin. ”If we're gonna eat, let me cook it.”
”Do you even know how to cook?” Han asked, staring at her glowing face with a tender smile.
”I don't know. Amnesia, remember?” An Ning pointed at her head. ”Wait a minute, you mean I never cooked for you before? How did we eat? What's your favorite food? Do you like spicy food or not? I discovered that I like peanut butter. The crunchy not the creamy ones. I hate pickles but I love spinach. And pizza and garlic bread.”
”You had all that in only half a day?” Han said, grabbing a light robe and helping her put it on. ”Careful or you'll turn into a pig. Where did you put your slippers?”
”I don't know. Under the bed I think.”
”Sit down for a bit and I'll go look for it. Don't move.”
An Ning pouted. ”Bullying a pregnant woman.”
Han chuckled. ”But you said you'll cook for me. We can't have you barefoot while you're doing that, can we? It might affect your cooking,” he winked.
An Ning giggled.
”There you go,” Han said, sliding the slippers on An Ning's feet. ”You have baby toes,” he laughed. ”How can you be pregnant with tiny little toes like that?”
”Haha. Don't tell me you have a foot fetish?”
Han helped her up. ”My only fetish is you, babe,” he leered.
Laughing, the two of them walked out the door, An Ning leaning against Han for support and Han cradling her gently in his arms. The old lady looked at them with a smile. She had never seen her son acting so indulgent with someone before. Richard had always been so erratic, so confusingly independent yet clingy. It was rather astonishing to see him looking so carefree like this. As if he had cast aside his worries and decided to instead shine a light on this new and much improved Richard in front of this girl he had once so outrageously betrayed.
Surprisingly, An Ning moved around the kitchen like it was natural for her to do so. She was not intimidated by the well-stocked fridge nor the gleaming pans in the cupboard. She found what she wanted and started slicing and dicing confidently.
A short while later, the aroma of butter and spices and chicken dashed with sesame oil filled the kitchen. She cracked some eggs, sliced some ham along with green onions and fried the rice to perfection. Han set the table and poured grape juice for both of them.
They ate quietly, enjoying the companionable silence between them.
”This chicken is delicious,” Han complimented, clearing his plate with a flourish.”I was doubtful at first but I'm now convinced. You are a good cook.”
An Ning met his admiring gaze. ”So, how did the two of us meet again? We've made a baby together yet you seem surprised by all this,” she said, indicating their empty plates. ”I would have thought you'd know more about me than a convenient bedmate.”
”Don't refer to yourself in that tone ever again, ok?” Han's voice was hard. ”You were never just a convenient fuck for me,” he stopped when An Ning flinched at the word. ”Sorry. I forget my manners when I'm annoyed.” He took a deep breath then continued. ”We've known each other since we were kids....”
”Oh, god. Don't tell me this is one of those icky disgustingly sweet childhood love pairings that's been done to death by Korean dramas,” An Ning groaned. ”I hate those the best. They're not even believable.”
”Will you let me tell the story or should I stop?”
”Continue.”
”As I said, we grew up together. You always followed me around....”