How about Cosmic Horror? Chapter 14

“So, anything coming back now that you’re lying here?”

“Uh… no.”

Nothing. Not even the slightest hint of familiarity.

Absolutely nothing. The office, the bed—it was all foreign. Not even a hint of deja vu, as if it were her first time being here. In dramas, people usually get flashbacks in situations like this…

“Well, that happens.”

He sounded unfazed, though whether he was hiding disappointment or genuinely unbothered, she couldn’t tell.

Seeing no point in staying on the bed, she got up and began exploring the office, hoping to find something, anything, that would spark a memory. But there was nothing.

“Want to visit your old team?”

He suggested, placing his hand on her dejected shoulder. She considered it for a moment, then shook her head.

“I’d rather not interrupt their work.”

Imagine the CEO and his wife showing up at a workplace where everyone wanted to escape. As a fellow worker, she couldn’t bring herself to do such a thing.

“They’d be happy to see you. You worked together, after all.”

This was the problem with people in positions of power. Their way of thinking was completely different.

“I’ll just take a quick peek as we pass by.”

“If that’s what you want.”

He readily agreed, then grabbed her hand, interlacing fingers without asking. Well, it would be weirder to ask permission to hold hands as a married couple, but she wished he’d consider that. To her now, he was no different from a stranger.

It felt too awkward to pull away, so she walked beside him toward the elevator. His secretary, Nia, stood waiting there and grimaced when he saw their joined hands. His face read, Am I really seeing this right?

It’s not like we’re making out. Why the overreaction? Anyone would think we were defying the laws of reality.

She cautiously tugged at her husband’s sleeve, and he quickly leaned towards her. Standing on tiptoe, she whispered against his box-head.

“Why is he like that? Nia.”

“He’s separated from his wife. He’s probably jealous because we’re being lovey-dovey.”

He answered in a whisper too.

He’s married?! Surprised by the unexpected information, she covered her mouth with her hand, then felt a sharp gaze on her. Her husband’s secretary was staring at her husband, his expression incredulous. He must’ve heard them.

“No surprise a dimwit only spouts nonsense.”

“And yet you can’t even read a dimwit’s mind.”

“Whatever. I won’t waste words on a blind fool.”

Irae anxiously watched the two men bicker. She briefly worried it might escalate into a physical altercation, but thankfully, their conversation ended there. Nia swiped the card key, pressed the elevator button, and her husband, wordlessly, pulled her into the elevator. Both acted as if nothing had happened.

She was confused. What was their relationship? No matter how she looked at it, they weren’t your typical employer and employee. She decided to ask him about it later at home. Just as she was making that mental note, the elevator stopped.

Her husband walked at a steady pace, holding her hand. Everyone they encountered bowed, making her feel increasingly uncomfortable. Her husband, on the other hand, was unfazed. Well, he was the CEO, so this must be his daily routine.

“Here it is. Your old team.”

His gentle voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned her focus to observing. Since she didn’t want to disturb the workers, she chose not to step inside. Nevertheless, she looked around thoroughly, hoping to find something, anything, that would trigger a memory. She’d passed by this place countless times on her way to and from work, so there had to be at least one memory, right?

“Anything?”

Nothing. Her innocent brain couldn’t conjure up anything.

Shaking her head weakly, he patted her back like soothing a child.

“It’s alright. Don’t rush it.”

“I guess so.”

How can I feel nothing? It’s like my first time here.

To shake off her unease, she took a shower as soon as they got home. Feeling refreshed, she was drying her hair when a sudden question crossed her mind. She put down the dryer and went looking for her husband.

“Yohan? Where are you?”

“Right here.”

His voice from behind startled her. Spinning around, she saw him, box-headed, arms crossed, standing casually.

“How long have you been there? You weren’t there just a second ago.”

“You called, and I didn’t want to keep you waiting. So I teleported.”

Teasing, he reached for the towel on her head, gently drying her damp hair.

“So, why were you looking for me?”

“Ah, I was curious about your relationship with Nia.”

“I told you, we don’t have a ‘relationship’.”

“You say that, but you two talk pretty rough to each other.”

She pressed, not letting him dodge. They had insulted each other’s intelligence just minutes ago, then carried on like normal. No matter how she looked at it, they weren’t your typical employer and employee.

“Well, we’ve known each other a long time. He’s got a sharp tongue, but he’s good at what he does. If I had to label it, I’d say… loyal dog?”

What’s with this noir-film talk? At this rate, he’d probably say something like, ‘I have this dog, and he forgot who his master was… What do you think should happen to a dog like that?’ Then pulled out a gun from his suit and shot.

“Calling someone a dog is too much.”

She scolded him. Even a subordinate shouldn’t be belittled like that—it made her, a proletarian, want to stab this bourgeois.

“That’s not my nickname for him, it’s what everyone calls him.”

“You don’t have to go along with it just because others say it.”

“That’s true. That’s why I said we don’t have a ‘relationship’.”

His smooth reply left her speechless. He resumed drying her hair, then added,

“Turn around, honey.”

She obediently turned around, and he patted the back of her head dry as well. His overly careful movements made her restless. When someone was being this meticulous, it made her feel tense, as if she had to be extra careful as well. The touch itself felt nice, ticklish, but she wondered why he was putting so much effort into it.

“You don’t have to be that careful…”

“I’m afraid I might damage it. You’re fragile, even your hair.”

…My hair’s not that thin. It was healthy hair that had never been bleached or dyed.

She didn’t understand, but she decided to let it go. He must see her as fragile as a newborn baby. It was a rather embarrassing misconception. She was a grown woman, after all.

Dabbing her hair like it might break, he grabbed the hairdryer, sat her down, and dried her scalp meticulously. His gentle tousling felt so good she wished it’d last, but worried about his arms, she asked,

“Is your arm tired?”

“What? This?”

He laughed like it was the most absurd question. She was relieved to hear it wasn’t.

“About earlier… the dog thing. Don’t do it.”

“Okay. I won’t do what you don’t like.”

His sweet reply made her heart flutter. Whether he meant it or not, she’d find out later, but for now, it was nice to hear.

“All done.”

Switching off the hairdryer, he kissed the top of her head lightly and stepped back. Surprised, she looked up. Pink hearts poured from the box’s opening as he explained nonchalantly.

“I almost forgot, I haven’t given you today’s good morning kiss.”

If there was one benefit to the bizarre phenomenon of her perceiving her husband as a creature from cosmic horror, it was that while she couldn’t read his facial expressions, his nonverbal communication was incredibly dramatic. Hearts. Such a straightforward way of conveying emotions.

This meant he was head over heels for her, right? Her brain must be translating the adoration on his face into hearts. 

Watching the endless stream of hearts, her cheeks flushed, she shyly averted her gaze.

And just like that, they ended up watching another movie together. Again, in his arms, as he had claimed this was how they always watched movies.

Like before, he peppered her with kisses throughout. Once the movie ended, she slipped from his embrace and stood up from the sofa.

“Do you want a massage? If you’re sore anywhere.”

“Um, no. I’m fine today.”

She’d only felt tense last time because it was all new. Being that close to someone unfamiliar was stressful. She still didn’t know him well now, but at least it wasn’t as uncomfortable.

He got up from the sofa and rubbed the box’s underside, murmuring,

“I’ve always thought this, but you adapt quickly.”

“Me?”

She’d never thought of herself that way. She’d never experienced such drastic changes that required her to adapt, thanks to her uneventful life. An incredibly ordinary life, so mundane to the point of boring. Something she’d desperately wished for…

Huh?

Something in her thoughts didn’t connect. I desperately wanted a boring life? When? Hadn’t I already had that dull life?

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“Just… a strange thought.”

“What kind of strange thought?”

“Something that felt… wrong. Like a mistake.”

“Then don’t think about it.”

He whispered in a honeyed voice. Amid her confusion, that sentence etched itself clearly into her mind, like it had bypassed her ears and gone straight to her brain.

“Yeah. You’re right.”

She agreed, as if in a trance, and brushed aside her useless thoughts.

***

That night, she had a strange dream.

A space with towering pillars and writhing flames, a snake, a tongue-flicking toad, a lizard, an elephant statue, a colossal monster on an ivory throne, and a figure in yellow robes.

They said nothing, simply stared at her. Even the eyeless pillars and flames seemed to be watching her.