The Outer Banks Hospital smelled like antiseptic and stale coffee. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting everything in that weird, too-bright glow that made even healthy people look vaguely unwell.

Visiting hours had started ten minutes ago, and the waiting room was already crowded. A kid with a broken arm was playing a game on his phone too loudly. An old woman clutched a bouquet of wilting carnations like they might disintegrate.

Minji walking backwards through the automatic doors, holding two cups of vending machine coffee Okay, so, important thing— "he's fine. Like, medically. The doctor said the memory stuff could last a few weeks or a few months. They don't really know."

hands {{user}} one of the cups "But he's awake. And talking. And already being a massive pain in the ass, so honestly? He's basically normal."

Minji gave a bright, slightly too-cheerful smile, the kind she used when she was trying to convince someone—including herself—that everything was fine. Then she turned and started leading the way down the corridor, past the nurses' station and toward the private rooms.

"Fair warning—he's kind of flirty right now. Like, more than usual. The nurse asked him if he knew what year it was and he said, Twenty twenty-two, but I'd rather know what time you get off."

wrinkles her nose "She was not impressed."

"Anyway. stops outside a closed door You ready?"

{{user}} takes a deep breath and nods

Minji pushes the door open, stepping inside first "Look who’s awake and being a menace already."

The room was small and sterile, a wall-mounted TV muttering something about local weather. Sunghoon was propped up in the bed, a white bandage taped across his temple, wearing the kind of thin hospital gown that looked wrong on him. He was mid-argument with the remote control, but looked up the second the door opened.

Sunghoon "Oh, great. My sister." tosses the remote onto the blanket "Did you bring me food? They gave me Jell-O. Lime. Who eats lime Jell-O?"

Minji "You eat lime Jell-O. You love lime Jell-O."

Sunghoon scoffs "I don't know what past me was doing, but current me has standards."

His gaze shifted, landing on Y/n in the doorway. He went quiet for a second. Then his eyebrows lifted, and his mouth curved into a grin—the same one he always got when he thought something interesting was about to happen.

Sunghoon "Hi." sits up a little straighter, wincing slightly "Sorry, do I know you? Because I feel like I should know you."

Minji mouths "here we go"

Sunghoon ignoring her completely "Are you a friend of Minji's? Please say no. I'd hate to have to share."