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“Did I have any hobbies?” Nia asked the mystery man.

She had hobbies now.  But she wondered if she had different ones in the past.  She had been a different person back then, surely.

“Hmm.  You loved drawing.  You used to spend hours sketching.  Then you’d turn your sketches into oil paintings.  You also loved to do your hair.  You’d spend hours braiding.” She also used to braid his hair.  He had grown his hair out just so she could braid it.

“Really?  I still do both of those things…I haven’t found any paintings in my belongings, though.”

“That’s odd.  You loved those things.  You used to hang them on your walls.”

So, Nia went in search of those paintings.  She snuck into her parents’ house and searched high and low.  Until she found a box.  And in it…were the paintings.  She pulled one out.  It was a painting of a sunset.  But in the middle of it was a person.  He had short, dark brown hair that appeared to be only a few inches at the back.  But his hair was tied up into two loose French braids that joined at the crown of his head.

The painting seemed too vibrant.  It almost looked like a picture.  She quickly packed it back into the box and snuck back home.  Clearly her parents didn’t want her to know this existed.

When she got home, she started to go through the paintings.  The boy seemed to be in nearly every painting.  Sometimes his hair was free flowing, allowing it to be tossed around in the wind.  Sometimes it would lay flat on his head.

He looked so familiar…but why?  She assumed it was probably because she’d clearly known him before, but his face seemed more familiar than just a distant memory.  She sat there staring at the paintings for hours trying to figure it out.  But she couldn’t put her finger on it.

But he had to be the reason her parents had hidden her past.  Why?  He seemed perfect.  He was very handsome, and just from the paintings she could tell he gave off an air of peace.

Then she wondered.  Was he the mystery man she’d been talking to on the phone?  Was this why he couldn’t reveal his identity to her?  Had he been sworn to secrecy?  She found it all very odd.

——————–

“Mrs. Choi, can I ask you something?”

Mrs. Choi smiled at Hobi. “Of course, son, you can ask me anything.”

Hobi smiled sadly.  He knew he’d never be her son-in-law now.  He loved Nia too much to drag her into a marriage.

“I wondered why we have to keep Nia from discovering her memories.  It’s been eight years now.  She’s sure to start remembering things soon.”

Mrs. Choi seemed hesitant.  Hobi sought to comfort her, but he couldn’t honestly say he wouldn’t tell Nia.  She was the whole reason he was asking.  It hadn’t piqued his interest until she’d mentioned something.

“She had a boyfriend.  But he was not the one for her.”

Hobi furrowed his brow.  How had he never noticed back then?  Nia had never mentioned a boyfriend to him. “Why wasn’t he the one for her?”

Hobi saw the worry that flashed across Mrs. Choi’s face, and in that instant, he knew that she didn’t have a valid excuse.  There was something more to this.  He had a feeling Nia’s parents were being selfish.  But why?  Then it hit him.  They weren’t well off, and Hobi’s parents were very well off.  Were they marrying her off for money?  Was that why their relationship seemed rushed?

Suddenly, Hobi’s phone chimed, saving him from having to admit he’d figured it out.

“Can we talk?” It was Nia.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Choi.  I have to head out now.  I’ll see you tomorrow at dinner?”

“Yes, of course.”

Hobi nodded and headed for the front door.  He had a feeling tomorrow would be the last time he saw her at dinner.