Chapter 80 – Who’s My Girl?

The next morning, Alex showered, shaved, and cleaned himself up before heading into the office with renewed purpose.
“Good morning,” he said as he passed through the laboratory, his voice light and steady for the first time in weeks.

Miguel and Jill exchanged meaningful glances—relieved, but also puzzled. He looked…almost refreshed. Transformed.

Jill hadn’t told Alex that Naosa would be visiting that day. She wasn’t entirely sure why Naosa wanted to come to Saint Clarion, and, given how broken Alex had been just the day before, she’d decided to wait and assess his emotional state before revealing anything.

Just before lunch, Alex noticed a small bouquet of yellow freesias arranged neatly on his desk.
“Who put these here?” he asked aloud, concern rising.
Someone nearby said casually, “Emma brought them.”
Alex’s heart dropped like a stone. He ran for the courtyard.

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At that same moment, Jill had just met Lu and Naosa in the parking lot.
Lu stayed back while Jill and Naosa began walking toward the office building.

“The team’s grown significantly since you were here,” Jill explained as they walked. “We’re based in a new laboratory building now, but I thought you might like to visit the old office first. There are so many good memories there.”

She had even prepared Naosa’s favorite tea in the old break room—where they used to gather, laugh, and tease one another as a family.

As they walked through the familiar hallway, Naosa looked around with growing recognition. The glass-walled laboratory spaces, the messy whiteboards filled with scientific scribbles—it all felt strangely familiar, though no specific memory crystallized.

She sat down in the break room, took a thoughtful sip of her tea, and looked around in contemplative silence.
Jill watched her quietly, tempering her hope.

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Suddenly, tears welled in Naosa’s eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered with genuine regret. “I didn’t bring any apple pie.”

Jill gasped in recognition, then burst into tears of joy. They embraced tightly, crying and laughing at once.

After a moment, Jill asked gently, “Would you like to see everyone? They’re in the cafeteria for lunch.”

Naosa shook her head, uncertain. “Not yet. I still don’t remember everything… I’m not ready for a crowd.”

Jill nodded, then suggested they wait in the peaceful courtyard to see Miguel, Sally, and Kevin instead.

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In the courtyard, Emma was standing near a flower bed with scissors in hand.
Alex appeared suddenly, racing toward her. “Don’t cut the flowers!” he shouted.

Emma flinched. “I…I thought it was okay. Dr. Nao used to cut them, so I…”

“These flowers are for Nao—only,” Alex snapped, protective. The yellow freesias—the ones Naosa had planted lovingly for Maggie. Every year, she took them to her grave with reverence. They were sacred.

Emma looked down, properly ashamed.

Alex softened. “About last night… I’m sorry. But I’ve made up my mind. I’m starting over with Nao. I’m okay now.”

Emma’s voice trembled. “Even if her memories never return?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Alex said, steady. “We’ll make new ones.”

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Emma burst into tears and impulsively hugged him.
Alex gently pushed her shoulders. “Emma…”
But she clung to him. “Please… just look at me.”

At that moment, Jill and Naosa entered the courtyard and stopped cold.
Naosa’s face twisted in shock and pain. She turned and ran without a word.

“Alex, what are you doing?!” Jill shouted.
“It’s a misunderstanding!” Alex called out. “Wait—why is Nao here?!”

“Alex! Go after her—Nao’s starting to remember!” Jill’s voice broke with urgency.

Alex didn’t hesitate. He took off running with everything he had.

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Naosa ran to the car with desperate speed.
“Lu! Start the car—please!”

Lu hesitated, watching Alex sprinting across the courtyard. Then, slowly, she turned off the engine.

“Lu, please!” Naosa cried, panicked. “Drive!”

Alex reached the car and tried the passenger door, but it was locked.
Lu deliberately unlocked it. Alex opened the door.

“Lu!” Naosa cried, furious at the betrayal.

Lu looked at her with calm wisdom. “You need to talk. Running won’t help.”

Reluctantly, Naosa got out of the car, eyes brimming with tears.
Alex scratched his head, awkward. “Uh… hi.”
Naosa wiped her face and whispered, heartbroken, “Hi…”

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A long, heavy silence settled between them.
Then, quietly, she asked, devastatingly vulnerable, “Are you…still single?”

Alex hesitated, confused. “No.”

Naosa turned to get back into the car, but Alex stopped her.

She began to cry, the anguish breaking loose. “Then why did you save me? Why didn’t you just let me die if I had to live without you? I can’t…I don’t know how to live like this. Please… just leave me alone!”

“No, Nao,” Alex said, pained. “I’ve always been yours. You’re the love of my life. That’s why I’m not single.”

Naosa looked to Lu for confirmation.
Lu raised her hands in diplomatic surrender. “We haven’t seen Alex for two weeks. I have no idea what’s happening.”

“Lu—!” Alex groaned.

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Naosa pulled out the engagement ring she’d been wearing on a chain around her neck and shoved it toward him accusingly.
“What is this, then? You threw away our love—our memories!”

“No!” Alex said quickly, desperate. “I thought we could start from the beginning.”

“I don’t believe you!” Naosa sobbed. “You always say things like that!”

Alex clenched his fists. His voice dropped, raw. “Have you any idea how worried I’ve been? How much I’ve hurt?”

Just then, Jill caught up, breathless.
Alex turned to her, an idea striking. “Jill. Tell me—who’s my girl?”

Jill, panting, pointed straight at Naosa. “Are you serious right now? It’s Nao, obviously!”

Alex nodded, vindicated. Then, without warning, he picked Naosa up bridal-style and strode off.

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“Put me down!” she shouted, indignant. “Where are you taking me?!”

He didn’t answer, focused on his mission.

“Hey! Dr. O’Neill!” some staff called as they passed. “What’s going on?”

Alex stopped and asked each one with theatrical flourish, “Hey—who’s my girl?”

They all pointed at Naosa, unanimous. “It’s Nao!”

He carried her straight into the cafeteria—right in the middle of lunch hour.

Conversations stopped. Heads turned. The room fell silent with anticipation.
Naosa, flushed and overwhelmed, didn’t say a word.
Miguel nudged Sally, excited. “This is going to be legendary.” He lifted his phone and hit record.

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Standing in the center of the room, Alex raised his voice, full of feeling.
“Some of you already know. My fiancée fell into a coma and lost her memories. She survived—but she forgot me. And today… I think she’s starting to remember.”

His voice cracked. “So please. Help me out. Tell her—who’s my girl? Who’s my beloved?”

One by one, voices answered with enthusiasm.
“It’s Nao!” “Of course it’s Nao!” “That’s Nao, obviously!”
Even the kitchen staff joined in with cheerful support.

Alex set Naosa down and smiled through his tears. “You see? Everyone knows. You’re the only one who forgot.”

Naosa looked around with dawning recognition. The faces. The voices. The sound of Alex’s voice…
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“I remember now,” she whispered, relief flooding her. “I remember who I loved.”

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Alex turned to the crowd with a flourish. “I want everyone to witness this!”

He looked at her, smiling with everything he had. “If you forget me again, I’m taking you to a deserted island. Just the two of us. Got it?”

Naosa laughed through her tears, pure joy breaking free. “Please do that.”

He pulled the ring from her necklace and knelt with perfect ceremony.
“Naosa Séraphine Miyashita De Valois—will you marry me?”

Naosa nodded, crying with happiness. “Yes.”

Alex slipped the ring onto her finger and pulled her into a passionate kiss. They embraced with complete devotion.

The cafeteria erupted in cheers and thunderous applause.

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Still holding her, Alex called out to Miguel, triumphant:
“I’m taking the rest of the week off!”

Miguel and Sally exchanged a grin.
“Isn’t that a bit much?” Sally joked.

Miguel just smiled. “Nah. He earned it.”