#Side Story 2
After examining Idam’s condition, the doctor called Taemin to the consultation room separately.
“Patient Yeo Idam currently exhibits patterns of dissociative amnesia, specifically continuous and selective amnesia.”
The doctor diagnosed Idam with “dissociative amnesia.” It’s mostly caused by psychological factors, and in Idam’s case, it’s presumed to be due to mental shock from poison intoxication.
“Continuous amnesia means not remembering events from a specific time until the present, while selective amnesia means not remembering parts of specific events that occurred. When I examined Yeo Idam earlier, he had no memories from age 14 until now. That’s why he showed symptoms of both types of amnesia combined. This will cause hormonal changes, leading to physical changes as well. For example, his libido might disappear, and hormone changes may make breastfeeding challenging.”
Taemin was dumbfounded. Even at 21, Idam was like a baby to Taemin, but now at 14 and with regressed bodily functions, he felt even more like an infant. It reached a point where Jimin and Idam seemed almost the same to him.
“We’ll combine psychological and drug treatments, but he could regain his memories overnight, or it could take years or longer.”
“Longer” could mean decades, or he might never recover his memories. Taemin felt at a loss.
“For now, he needs to avoid stress and rest. Above all, there’s a high chance he’ll recover memories through his existing living environment. So let’s have him stay in the hospital just for today and start outpatient treatment from tomorrow.”
Taemin left the consultation room and walked down the corridor with a heavy heart.
“CEO!”
Secretary Kang, holding Jimin, stood in front of Idam’s hospital room with an anxious face. Jimin also looked gloomy. Taemin first took Jimin in his arms.
“Baba.”
Jimin seemed more comfortable with Taemin as his father than with Secretary Kang.
“How is the madam?”
“Well, about that…”
Taemin relayed what the doctor had said with a deep sigh.
“My goodness, so the madam has become even more of a baby?”
Secretary Kang seemed to share Taemin’s view of Idam as a baby.
“For now, Idam needs to rest.”
“Then, the madam won’t be able to go to the cafe for a while?”
“Yes. So we need to increase the cafe staff. Find an employee who can start work from tomorrow.”
“Yes, I’ll look into it.”
Secretary Kang looked at his phone’s contacts app and tilted his head.
“But who did the madam meet to suffer such a misfortune? Have you checked the madam’s phone?”
“Of course. There was nothing special except for contacts and spam numbers. Same with the messages.”
“Then, did the culprit erase any records that might reveal their identity?”
“That’s possible. Or Idam might have deleted it himself.”
Taemin’s eyes sharpened like a blade. Secretary Kang’s expression turned to one of shock.
“Why… why would the madam delete the number?”
“Probably so I wouldn’t worry. Idam never showed any signs in front of me even when dealing with difficult customers.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Taemin had one concern since Idam started running the cafe. He expected there would be ill-mannered customers. His young bride was too pretty, so such guys would surely be drawn to her. So, some of the professional staff deployed at the cafe reported Idam’s every move to Taemin.
“Earlier, a crazy man with pomade hair was hitting on Idam. He even waited for Idam after work. Did you deal with that bastard?”
“Yes, the boys took that man away and quietly handled it.”
“Then it’s probably not that man. But I remember there were several other troublemakers. One of them must have gotten Idam’s number and contacted him personally.”
“Oh! That must be it.”
Secretary Kang nodded. Initially, he thought Taemin was being overprotective with these concerns. But as the cafe opened and customers increased, there were quite a few people who hit on Idam. So it was expected that someone might approach Idam and do something crazy.
“Hah…”
Taemin sighed. After getting married and giving birth to Jimin, Idam had become calmer and more mature. It seemed he had changed like this after experiencing the big turning point of having a family and developing a sense of responsibility and paternal love while caring for his own blood.
Perhaps because of this, Idam didn’t speak about his difficulties. He seemed to be considerate, not wanting Taemin to worry.
Taemin felt hurt by Idam’s behavior. He wished Idam would tell him everything and rely on him instead of hiding things… As a result, Idam almost lost his life and even lost his memories.
But even so, what’s done is done. For now, all he could do was deal with the 14-year-old Idam and hope for his memories to return quickly.
And…
“Secretary Kang. Obtain CCTV and black box footage of Idam’s movements that day. Find out who Idam met.”
“Understood.”
“Also, I’ll give you Idam’s phone. Do a forensic analysis to see if there are any suspicious records.”
“I’ll start on it right away.”
Secretary Kang’s eyes seemed to show determination to catch the person who did this to Idam.
“Moreover, according to Dr. Jang Jiyong, who saw Idam’s condition, the poison Idam was intoxicated with was Jeramy.”
Jang Jiyong was a doctor who used to be Ji Taehwa’s friend and worked on the new drug development team together.
“What? Is that true? But you’ve already ended the Jeramy Revolution project.”
“That’s right. So there shouldn’t be any Jeramy poison in circulation now, but the fact that it was used means this is no ordinary person. We need to be on high alert.”
“I think so too.”
“I need to talk with Idam, so take Jimin home.”
Taemin handed Jimin back to Secretary Kang.
“Yes… Is there a babysitter at home?”
“Yes, there is. Just hand Jimin over to her.”
“Understood.”
Secretary Kang left with Jimin. Jimin also looked at Taemin with anxious eyes. This made Taemin’s heart even heavier. Jimin was like Idam’s shadow. He felt conflicted thinking about how confused Jimin would be when faced with the younger Idam. So he needed to help Idam recover his memories as soon as possible.
Taemin took a deep breath in front of the hospital room door. After steeling his resolve like a knight going into battle, he gently opened the door.
At the same time, Taemin was dumbfounded.
“What are you doing?”
Idam was doing a handstand on the bed. His cute toes were pointing towards the ceiling.
“Ah… Aah.”
Idam quickly lowered his body and sat on the bed. Then he slipped his entire body under the blanket, covering himself up to his head. Taemin calmed his confusion and carefully approached.
“Why? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Honestly, he didn’t think someone who was unwell would do a handstand, but he asked the question wanting to start a conversation.
“No, I’m fine.”
Idam lowered the blanket a little. Thanks to this, Taemin and Idam’s eyes met at close range.
“Aah.”
Idam’s face seemed to turn red, and he turned his head away. Taemin felt strangely hurt, as if he had been rejected. So he followed Idam’s gaze to meet his eyes again. For some reason, Idam’s face seemed to turn even redder, like a ripe apple.
“Stop looking.”
“Why? Can’t I look at my own face?”
At Taemin’s response, Idam’s face seemed to heat up even more. But soon, he gripped the blanket tightly and his eyes became firm.
“I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“You said earlier that you married me. Is that true?”
Taemin thought he should first inform Idam of the current situation.
“Yes, that’s right. Look at your left hand, Idam. There’s a ring, right?”
“Oh… Ah…”
Idam looked at the ring on the fourth finger of his left hand.
“Yes. It’s currently 202x. We also have a baby named Jimin.”
Taemin explained everything about how they met and reached marriage, trying to help Idam recover his lost memories as much as possible. It might be considered memories now, but the words flowed as if he had experienced it yesterday.
“Above all, now honey…”
Taemin naturally started to say “honey” but changed his words considering Idam’s current state.
“Now, Idam, you’re the owner of a cafe called Fairy Tales.”
“Me, an owner…”
Idam stared at Taemin with an expression of disbelief. Taemin felt the same. He had always thought Idam’s irises were like topaz containing caramel. But now, was it because his memories had regressed? There was a sense of overflowing bright energy, beyond pure.
“Then, am I living with you, mister?”
Having learned of the age difference, Idam naturally called Taemin “mister.”
“Yes, because we’re married.”
Taemin wondered why Idam was asking such an obvious question. Gradually, Idam’s cheeks became filled with a pink color, as if flowers had bloomed.
“You’re… you’re not lying, right?”
“There’s no way I would lie.”
“No, it’s just that I can’t believe I married someone like you…”
Someone like you? Taemin didn’t understand what Idam meant by this. Was he saying Taemin wasn’t good enough? Taemin felt unnecessarily diminished.
“It’s so amazing.”
Idam added, looking up at Taemin. His eyes sparkled brightly. He had expected the 14-year-old Idam to be cute, but he was even more lovable. Moreover, his pheromones started bubbling up and the scent grew stronger. Idam looked at his own body, seemingly flustered.
“There’s a strange scent coming from me, what could this be?”
“It’s pheromones. As I mentioned, you manifested as an extreme heat omega.”
“So this is pheromones… Wow… How is this possible?”
Taemin wondered why Idam was showing such a surprised reaction, but soon realized.
Idam manifested as an extreme heat omega at fifteen. In other words, at fourteen now, he hadn’t experienced the pain caused by his pheromone disorder. That’s why he seemed brighter and purer than the Idam Taemin knew.
“Ah! I love my scent!”
Idam got off the bed as if dancing to the pheromones coming from his body. He ran around various parts of the hospital room. He was like a dandelion seed. He even opened the window and leaned his upper body out.
“Everyone in the world! Smell my scent! It’s really good!”
Idam shouted and smiled brightly. He could have fallen if he made a wrong move.
“Dangerous!”
Startled, Taemin grabbed Idam and pulled him back, barely managing to close the window.
“Ah…”
Idam’s eyes were full of regret, and Taemin exhaled roughly.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
