You Forgot Me, But I Never Forgot You

The Night Everything Broke

Rain had been falling since late afternoon, the kind that blurred city lights into streaks and made the roads look deceptively calm. Practice had gone longer than expected, leaving all nine of them drained, sprawled across the studio floor in uneven silence. The hum of the air conditioner filled the space, mixing with the occasional laughter that came and went in short bursts.

"I'm not going out in that," Nayeon complained, glancing at the window. "Look at it."

"It's just rain," Jeongyeon replied, already grabbing her keys. "You act like it's a storm every time."

"It is a storm," Momo added dramatically.

"Then stay here," Jeongyeon shrugged. "I'm leaving."

Across the room, Mina quietly packed her bag, movements precise, controlled—like always. Jeongyeon's gaze drifted toward her without thinking, lingering just a second longer than it should have.

"You coming with me?" Jeongyeon asked, voice casual but softer than before.

Mina paused.

It wasn't obvious.

Most people wouldn't notice it.

But Jeongyeon did.

"...I think I'll go with the others," Mina said.

Something small shifted in Jeongyeon's chest.

Not pain.

Just... something off.

"Okay," she replied quickly. "Suit yourself."

Mina nodded. "Drive safe."

Jeongyeon smirked faintly. "When do I not?"

⸻

Jeongyeon's POV

It shouldn't have mattered.

People didn't ride with her all the time. It wasn't unusual. It wasn't personal.

But the hesitation—

that was new.

Mina didn't hesitate with her.

At least... she didn't think she did.

Jeongyeon tried to brush it off, but the thought stayed longer than it should have, replaying in the back of her mind as she stepped out into the rain, the cold immediately soaking into her sleeves.

It was nothing.

It had to be nothing.

⸻

The roads were slick, reflecting headlights like fractured glass. Jeongyeon drove like she always did—steady, confident, one hand loosely gripping the wheel while the other tapped an absent rhythm against it.

Her mind, however, wasn't on the road.

"...Why did she hesitate?" she muttered.

The rain grew heavier.

Visibility dropped.

A sharp curve approached faster than expected.

And then—

a flash of light.

A sound that didn't quite register.

And everything—

stopped.

⸻

Mina's POV

She didn't know why she hesitated.

That was the worst part.

Because now—

that moment replayed endlessly in her head.

Jeongyeon standing there.

Asking.

Waiting.

And Mina—

choosing differently.

If she had just said yes...

If she had just gone with her...

Would things have been different?

⸻

The call came twenty minutes later.

No one spoke at first.

Then—

"What do you mean accident?" Jihyo asked, her voice sharp, controlled in a way that meant she was barely holding it together.

Silence followed.

Then movement.

Fast.

Uncoordinated.

Fear settling in before anyone could process it properly.

Mina didn't remember leaving the building.

Didn't remember the ride.

Didn't remember anything—

except the feeling in her chest.

Heavy.

Unbearable.

Wrong.

—

Hey guys! This is my first ever AU, so, please don't be hesitant to say anything about it. It will help me improve my writing! Thank you for reading! I will update soonnn~
-Nika💖(Author)