A Stethoscope and a Stolen Kiss

"Today, I don't know why I'm so tired. It's unlike my usual days. I did my regular tasks. I taught in class, designed and created decorations, and even took on extra work. 'Could it be because I've been going to the coffee shop more often?' I thought. But no, I go to coffee shops frequently and I'm not usually this tired.**

I went to the bookstore and searched for the latest Jujutsu Kaisen book. 'Ah, there it is!' I headed to the cashier.

'You look pale,' the cashier said.

She was pretty, probably 20 years younger than me. Her skin was fair, like typical Korean girls.

I looked at her and smiled.

'Oh, I forgot to wear makeup today. You know, old age,' I lied.

'Really? You don't look it. I thought you were around my age.'

I laughed. Inside, I thought she was great at cheering people up. She handed me my change, saying, 'Be careful on your way home.' I nodded and smiled sweetly.

I walked to my favorite coffee shop. I love this coffee shop because it's quiet and has a nice aesthetic. There's an empty bench in front of the shop overlooking the city. The view is beautiful. There's a shady tree behind it. But before I got there, my head started to hurt really badly. 'Aish, not now. Please hold on. Not now,' I thought. Without realizing it, my hand reached for the handle of a long bench, and I decided to sit down.

'Ahh,' I moaned.

I held my head. I bowed my head and endured the pain. I hoped it would pass. Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming towards me. They stopped in front of me. I couldn't see their face. I only saw their legs. Yes, their legs. The shoes they were wearing were the latest Nike model. Jeans. The scent of this perfume... it seemed familiar. 'Ahh, it hurts.' Lately, my head has been aching whenever I remember something.

'Noona.'

Suddenly, my heart pounded. What was this? I hadn't seen his face yet, so why was I so nervous?

'Noona.'

His voice was normal. But why did I feel strange in my heart? I tried to lift my head. A jean jacket and a white t-shirt. His neck was long and white. His jawline and the smile on his lips made me even more nervous. His eyes looked at me and smiled. He looked at me deeply.

'Noona.' He smiled.

His smile was so sweet. But why didn't I recognize him?

'My Noona.'

He called me 'my Noona'. Who is he? I slowly started to move away from him. He noticed and stopped me by holding the end of the bench with his hand. His expression changed. It wasn't a scary change. He seemed worried. He could tell I was confused.

'Noona. Are you okay?'

I was silent, staring at him. He was handsome. But I didn't recognize him.

'I'm fine.'

He didn't believe me. He took something out of his bag. He took out a stethoscope. Then he started touching me.

'Are you a doctor?'

I avoided him. He was surprised and smiled.

'Noona, you shouldn't ask that question. Of course I'm a doctor. You know that.'

He looked at my face. His smile faded when I shook my head.

'Noona. What happened to you?'

I tried to remember. Suddenly, 'Ahh.'

'Noona!'

'Who are you?'

His hand held my shoulder. 'Noona, this is me, Park Myung.'

Yes, that name sounded familiar. That name was in my phone contacts. Park Myung, my bae, he is in my contacts. 'Park Myung, my bae?'

He smiles.

'I don't remember.'

He looks at me closely. 'Are you really sure you don't remember me?'

I shook my head.

'Let me help you recover your memory.'

He pulled my head towards him. Then he kissed me.

His kiss was warm. His lips... his scent... 'My Noona. I love you.'

He kissed me again. His touch suddenly brought back my memory.

'Bae...'

'Remember?' He kissed me back again. Then touched my neck.

'Don't, bae.'

He looked at me and smiled. 'My hot noona.'"

"Bae, what are we doing here?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"You're tired, right? I just wanted to help you relax."

The way he said it was soothing, but the way he held my hand was firm. It was as if he didn't want to let me go. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

The bench we were on was old, the paint chipped and the wood weathered. The city view behind him was blurry, the buildings' lights creating a soft halo around his figure. His eyes searched mine, looking for something that I wasn't sure I could give him.

"Relax," he whispered, his breath warm against my cheek. "Just let the memories come back to you."

I nodded, closing my eyes, trying to focus on his touch. The feel of his lips on mine, the smell of his cologne, it was all so familiar. But why couldn't I remember? The pain in my head grew more intense, as if my brain was fighting to keep something hidden.

Park Myung pulled away and took my hand, leading me to the quiet alley behind the coffee shop. The walls were lined with posters and graffiti, a stark contrast to the serene scene in front of us. He stopped at a small, dimly lit spot, and turned to face me.

"You remember the night we had our first kiss, right?" His voice was low, a hint of desperation in his tone. "It was right here."

The alley was cool, a stark contrast to the warmth of his hand. I tried to recall that night, but all I could summon was a haze of colors and emotions. "I... I don't know," I murmured, feeling more lost than ever.

He looked into my eyes, his own filled with a mix of hope and concern. "Do you remember how nervous I was? I'd never kissed anyone before, and you..." He trailed off, his thumb stroking the back of my hand gently. "You made it so easy for me."

I tried to focus, to grasp onto the fragment of memory he was offering. But all I could feel was the pounding in my head and the fear of the unknown. The alley was eerily quiet, the distant sounds of the city muffled by the walls. I could feel my heart racing, and the coolness of the evening air did nothing to calm my nerves.

Park Myung must have noticed my distress. He pulled me closer, his hand moving to cradle my cheek. "Noona, please, remember me." His voice was earnest, pleading. His eyes searched mine, willing me to recall the moments we had shared.

The pressure in my head grew unbearable, and suddenly, a single image flashed through my mind. A moonlit night, his nervous smile, the tentative touch of his lips on mine. The memory was faint, like a whisper, but it was there.

"Our first kiss," I murmured, my eyes fluttering open.

He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. "Yes, Noona. That night, you told me that I was your first love, and you kissed me like it was the most natural thing in the world."

The alley was bathed in a soft, ethereal glow, as if the moon itself was peeking through the clouds just for us. The memory grew clearer, and with it, a warmth began to spread through me. I placed my hand over his, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

"You've always made me feel so safe," I said, my voice barely a whisper. The headache began to subside, replaced by a warmth that started to fill the void in my heart.

Park Myung's smile grew, his eyes lighting up at the sound of my voice. "And you've always been the light that guides me through the dark." He leaned in again, his lips brushing against mine in a gentle, reassuring kiss. It was as if our souls were connecting, and the world around us faded into the background.

As we broke apart, the alley didn't seem so scary anymore. The shadows played across the walls, creating a dance of light and dark, reminiscent of our past. He took a step back, his hands lingering on my arms.

"Noona," he said, his voice filled with a warmth that seemed to chase away the cold, "Do you remember the promise we made?"

I searched his eyes, trying to recall the words we had exchanged. The memory was hazy, but I nodded, hoping that I wasn't leading him on. "What promise?"

"The promise that no matter what happens, we'd always find our way back to each other," he said, his voice filled with hope.

My heart skipped a beat. Did we really make such a promise? The doubt in my mind was like a fog that just wouldn't lift. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice wavering. "I want to remember, but..."

He nodded, understanding. "It's okay. Sometimes memories take time to come back. But I'll be here to help you remember." His grip on my arms tightened slightly, his thumbs tracing small circles on my skin. "We can start with the small things, like our favorite coffee orders."

I managed a weak smile. "Vanilla latte with an extra shot of espresso," I murmured.

"And I always get the caramel macchiato," he said, his eyes sparkling with happiness. "Do you remember how we'd sit here every week, discussing our favorite scenes from the anime we'd watched?"

The alley felt less claustrophobic now, the walls seeming to lean in closer as if to listen to our conversation. The cool air was replaced with the warm scent of coffee and the sweetness of caramel. It was comforting, a beacon of familiarity in the sea of amnesia.

"I'm sorry," I said again, feeling guilty for not remembering something so important.

He placed a finger on my lips, silencing me. "Don't worry, Noona. We'll get through this together. I'll be your memory keeper." His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of the love I knew we had shared.

We walked back to the coffee shop, his arm around my shoulders, guiding me through the darkness. The bell above the door jingled as we entered, the warm light spilling out onto the sidewalk. The barista looked up and waved. "Welcome back!" she called out.

Park Myung ordered our drinks, the same as always. He told her about my condition, and she nodded with a knowing smile. "Take your time," she said, placing the steaming cups on a tray. "You two always did."

We sat at our usual table, the one by the window that looked out onto the street. He took my hand again, and I didn't pull away. Instead, I studied his face, trying to find the pieces of the puzzle that would complete the picture of our relationship.

"We used to sit here and argue over which character was the strongest," he said, sipping his caramel macchiato. "You always rooted for Gojo Satoru, and I was a die-hard Itadori fan."

I chuckled despite myself. "I can see that." The warmth of the latte seeped through the paper cup, comforting me. "But why are we here now, in the middle of the night?"

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Because this is where we always come when we need to escape from the world. Whenever we're stressed or sad, we find comfort in each other's company."

The words resonated deep within me, and I felt a tear slip down my cheek. He reached over and gently wiped it away with his thumb. "Don't cry, Noona. We'll get through this."

I took a sip of my latte, feeling the caffeine start to work its magic. The headache was gone, but the fear remained. "What if I never remember everything?"

He squeezed my hand. "It doesn't matter. We'll make new memories. Ones that are even better than the old ones."

I looked into his eyes, searching for the truth in his words. They were filled with so much love and determination, and for the first time since the headache had started, I felt a spark of hope. "Okay," I said, smiling through my tears. "Let's start with our favorite anime scene."

He grinned, his eyes lighting up. "The one where Gojo saves Itadori," he said.

"No, the one where Itadori confesses to Kugisaki," I corrected, a hint of mischief in my voice.

We both laughed, and in that moment, the fog in my mind lifted just a little more. It was a small victory, but it was ours. And as we sat there, holding hands and sharing stories of our past, I knew that no matter how much I had forgotten, we had a future worth fighting for.

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