When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

(S02) Chapter 19

I lick my lips. "How did you and Harin end up here?"

His expression shifts immediately, and for the first time in our conversation, he hesitates.

His fingers tighten around his juice carton before he exhales, shaking his head. "Does it even matter?"

I nod. "Yeah. To me, it does."

He studies me for a long moment, as if deciding whether or not to answer. Then, finally, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"It was all family planning," he says, his voice quieter than before.

I blink. "What do you mean?"

He huffs out a small laugh, but there's no humor in it. "You know how these things go. Families arranging things, setting expectations. Her family and mine-our parents were close. They thought it would be a good match, so eventually, it just... happened."

I watch him carefully. "So it wasn't your choice?"

Han Wool shakes his head. "It wasn't just my choice." He pauses, then, almost like an afterthought, adds, "But it wasn't forced either."

A strange emotion twists in my chest.

He continues, his tone more distant now. "Harin and I... we were in love in high school."

I stop breathing. "What?"

"She told me that we were in love, so yea"

My head snaps toward him. "She told you that?"

Han Wool frowns slightly at my tone. "Yeah, why?"

I search his face, but there's no flicker of recognition, no hesitation, no second-guessing.

He believes it.

He believes they were in love.

I swallow the lump in my throat. "And... do you remember that?"

He stills.

It's only for a second, but I catch it-the brief, almost imperceptible tension in his shoulders.

Then he exhales and looks straight ahead. "No."

Silence.

My fingers dig into my juice carton.

Han Wool rubs the back of his neck. "I had an accident years ago. After that, I don't remember some things. But..." He gestures vaguely. "Everyone is here. Everything is in place. So I learned. I adjusted."

He doesn't look at me as he says it.

I force my expression to stay neutral, but inside, something is clawing at my chest, something that aches.

Because I know.

I know that what he doesn't remember isn't just some things. It's me.

It's us.

I take a slow breath. "So... you don't remember falling in love with Harin?"

Han Wool shakes his head. "No. But I know we did."

I force a smile. "Right. Because she told you."

He finally turns his gaze to me, eyes searching. "Why are you asking me all this?"

I hesitate, then, before I can stop myself-

"Do you love her?"

His eyes darken slightly. "Why are you asking me?"

I meet his gaze, unwavering, his voice is calm. "If I don't...so that you can take me?"

Something flashes across his face, something unreadable, but before I can decipher it, he lets out a dry laugh. "Ye Na."