The Woman Who Knew Me
1141 Words
The rooftop conversation lingered in Yuna's mind long after it ended.
The image of Rei's sad smile refused to disappear.
The sound of his voice echoed endlessly inside her heart.
"I won't force you."
"But please don't think I was only playing with your feelings."
The memory felt painfully warm.
And that was exactly the problem.
Because deep inside, Yuna knew he wasn't lying.
Everything he had shown her felt real.
Every smile.
Every hug.
Every word.
And somehow, that truth only made everything more complicated.
---
The next afternoon, Yuna found herself wandering through the crowded market district after school.
People moved around her like a rushing river.
Vendors called out to customers.
Children laughed while running between stalls.
The world continued moving normally.
Yet Yuna felt trapped inside her own thoughts.
She carried a small eco bag in one hand while absentmindedly walking down the sidewalk.
Her mind replayed countless memories.
Ren's distant gaze.
Rei's gentle smile.
"You'll probably be happier with him."
"What I felt for you was real."
The words collided inside her head.
She pressed a hand against her temple.
Everything felt tangled.
Nothing made sense anymore.
---
Lost in thought, she accidentally turned a corner too quickly.
THUD.
Yuna crashed into someone.
Several plastic bags slipped from the stranger's hands.
Vegetables rolled across the pavement.
Yuna immediately bowed.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!"
The woman knelt down to gather the fallen groceries.
"It's alright—"
"I'll help!"
Embarrassed, Yuna quickly crouched beside her.
Together, they picked up carrots, onions, and leafy vegetables scattered across the ground.
Then—
Their eyes met.
The woman suddenly froze.
Yuna blinked.
For a brief moment, surprise flashed across the stranger's face.
As though she had recognized someone she never expected to see.
Then a gentle smile appeared.
"...So you're Yuna."
Yuna paused.
Her hand stopped midway toward a grocery bag.
"...Huh?"
---
Once everything was gathered, Yuna awkwardly stood.
"Do you know me?"
The woman calmly organized the vegetables inside her bag.
"A little."
Her voice was warm.
"I've heard your name before."
Yuna frowned slightly.
Who was this woman?
Why did she know her?
The stranger studied her face for a moment.
Then smiled again.
"You're prettier in person."
Yuna immediately felt embarrassed.
"Ah... thank you?"
The compliment only made her more confused.
---
The woman chuckled softly.
Then, without warning, she asked:
"Aren't you scared?"
Yuna blinked.
"Scared?"
The woman's calm eyes remained fixed on her.
"Of those two."
The world seemed to stop.
Yuna's blood ran cold.
Those two.
There was only one thing that phrase could mean.
Slowly, she stepped back.
"You..."
Her voice trembled.
"You know them?"
The woman was silent for a few seconds.
Then she nodded.
A small smile touched her lips.
"I'm their mother."
The grocery bag slipped from Yuna's fingers.
It hit the ground with a soft thud.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Her mind had completely frozen.
"...What?"
The woman offered a small bow.
"My name is Kaori Kurokawa."
Yuna's eyes widened.
Kurokawa.
The same surname.
The same family.
The same truth.
This woman was Ren and Rei's mother.
---
A few minutes later, they found themselves sitting together on a small bench beside the street.
The afternoon sun painted everything gold.
Cars passed by quietly.
Yet Yuna barely noticed any of it.
Kaori held her grocery bag on her lap.
Then she sighed softly.
"I'm sorry."
Yuna looked at her.
Kaori smiled sadly.
"For my sons."
The apology surprised her.
"You knew?"
Kaori nodded.
"I've known for a long time."
Her gaze drifted toward the sky.
"Especially Rei."
Yuna remained silent.
Listening.
Trying to understand.
---
Kaori's expression softened.
"You know..."
A faint smile appeared.
"Rei has always been a quiet child."
A memory seemed to flash through her eyes.
"But after meeting you..."
She laughed softly.
"It was the first time I saw him smile like that."
Yuna lowered her gaze.
Her heart tightened.
Kaori continued.
"Even when they were young, they were already different."
The gentle breeze carried her words.
"Rei was always emotional."
A boy who wore his heart openly.
A boy who smiled often.
A boy who loved deeply.
"And Ren..."
Her smile became sadder.
"Ren learned how to be alone."
Yuna imagined the two brothers as children.
Standing side by side.
Looking identical.
Yet growing into completely different people.
---
Finally, Yuna gathered enough courage to ask the question that had haunted her for weeks.
"Why did they hide it from me?"
Kaori became quiet.
Her eyes reflected years of memories.
"Because ever since they were children..."
She spoke carefully.
"They hated being compared to each other."
The words carried a painful weight.
"They wanted people to see them as individuals."
Not as twins.
Not as copies.
Not as reflections.
Just themselves.
"But as they grew older..."
Kaori lowered her gaze.
"They became more and more different."
Yuna immediately thought of them.
Ren.
Cold.
Reserved.
Guarded.
Rei.
Warm.
Open.
Gentle.
Like two seasons sharing the same face.
---
Another question surfaced.
The note.
The scars.
The secret everyone seemed afraid to discuss.
Yuna gripped the edge of her skirt.
"...What about Ren's scars?"
Kaori froze.
For the first time, genuine surprise appeared on her face.
"He never told you?"
Yuna slowly shook her head.
"No."
Silence.
A heavy silence.
Kaori lowered her eyes.
And whispered:
"I see..."
The sadness in her voice made Yuna's chest tighten.
Whatever those scars meant—
It was important.
Very important.
---
Suddenly, a voice called from across the street.
"...Mom?"
Yuna immediately turned.
And froze.
Ren stood there.
His expression completely still.
Yet his eyes betrayed his shock.
He stared at Yuna.
Then at Kaori.
Then back at Yuna.
"...Yuna?"
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The peaceful afternoon disappeared.
A strange tension settled between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Unavoidable.
Kaori quietly observed both of them.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
Yet countless unspoken words filled the space between them.
---
Yuna slowly stood from the bench.
Her heart pounded inside her chest.
Ren's gaze shifted toward his mother.
A hint of anxiety appeared in his eyes.
"What did you tell her?"
Kaori remained calm.
Composed.
Patient.
She looked at her son for a long moment.
Then answered quietly.
"Nothing yet."
Relief briefly flickered across Ren's face.
But it vanished almost immediately.
Because Kaori wasn't finished.
Her eyes became serious.
And for the first time that day, she sounded like a mother tired of watching her children run from the truth.
"But you can't hide it forever."
The evening wind swept through the street.
And suddenly, Yuna realized something.
The biggest secret hadn't been revealed yet.
Not the twins.
Not Rei.
Not the lies.
Something else.
Something connected to Ren.
Something connected to the scars.
And whatever it was—
Everyone seemed afraid of it.
End of Episode 7 🌸🔥
- Writer
