“I only need you to say one thing.”
In the suffocating silence, he finally spoke.
“That the child is mine.”
His deep voice sent a sharp pang through her heart.
She felt a wave of helplessness rising, but Jeong-o kept her lips pressed tight.
Was he certain, or did he just want to believe it? She couldn’t fathom what was going on inside his head.
Her heart, which used to race at the sight of him, now ached. She squinted, the corners of her eyes beginning to burn.
“That Yena is my daughter.”
Jeong-o noticed that his eyes, fixed intently on her, were trembling. His voice was desperate, almost pleading.
“Tell me she’s our daughter.”
When she remained silent, he repeated himself.
Whether he was choking back emotion or not, his Adam’s apple bobbed significantly despite his low, steady tone.
The message was always the same.
As if there could be only one acceptable answer. As if she must never deny it.
*If you just give me the answer, I will give you everything.*
The words he didn’t voice seemed to hang in the air, raking across her chest.
*I’m the one who’s been holding it all in—so why does your face look so twisted?*
Jeong-o reached out to stroke his cheek. Her hand had moved before she even realized it.
However, his expression didn’t soften. If anything, he looked even angrier.
“Say it.”
He grabbed her hand and urged her, his voice rising in intensity.
“Say it. Please.”
Who had driven this man to the brink of madness?
Who had made him this desperate?
Truth or lie, it seemed he no longer cared.
For his sake, she had to speak.
Her eyes, weighing the gravity of her answer, wandered like a lost child.
Perhaps his obsession with having her entirely to himself had clouded his judgment. It might be a dangerous impulse to abandon everything else just to hold onto her.
But in truth, this was something she had desperately wanted, too.
The twenty-three-year-old girl had already become thirty.
Seven whole years. She wanted to end this agony now.
She wanted to be someone who didn’t lie to herself, or to her daughter.
“That’s right. She’s your child.”
She spoke in a steady voice, but the final words crumbled.
Overwhelming emotions burst forth, blurring everything in front of her.
“She’s… our child.”
She stammered out the truth.
The truth he had been craving.
***
Jeong-o Lee. 23 years old.
The impossible had happened to her.
Her hand, holding the pregnancy test, trembled violently.
“This can’t be happening.”
It wasn’t a faint, uncertain line; it was as vivid as if drawn with a marker.
Outside, the day was sunny, but inside her house, a storm was raging.
Truly, an impossible situation.
“There’s really no way this could be true….”
Tears welled up in her voice.
“This shouldn’t be happening….”
She had only bought the test because her ‘time of the month’ was late. She’d thought the nausea and unusual drowsiness were just strange.
She had impulsively grabbed the kit at a pharmacy while looking for something to settle her stomach, thinking it was just unnecessary worrying.
After confirming the result, Jeong-o, who had been writhing in pain where she sat, left the house again.
She went to a different pharmacy and emptied her wallet to buy three more tests.
*Please, let the first one be a dud!*
But her wish didn’t come true. Every single test showed the same result.
Jeong-o tore at her hair. She wanted to cry.
And she’d even had drinks the day before, not knowing this!
*No! The alcohol isn’t the problem right now!*
It felt as if her inner self was splitting in two, bickering.
*Stay calm. I have to stay calm.*
Jeong-o gently stroked her chest and took a deep breath.
They had been dating for six months. It was the first relationship for both of them. No, to be honest, she wasn’t entirely sure. Jeong-o realized she knew less about him than she had assumed.
Ji-Heon Jeong. Twenty-six years old. A senior in the Department of Business Administration at K University. He was about to graduate and was planning to enter the workforce, though he hadn’t decided on a company yet. His father ran a snack factory. That was all she knew.
Jeong-o first met Ji-Heon in Australia during a working holiday. She had been starving for two days, crying in front of a Korean grocery store. He lent her 20 dollars when she admitted she couldn’t eat because she was broke. They kept in touch occasionally and reconnected after returning to Korea.
Because she knew he was a good man, Jeong-o trusted him implicitly. Even when he was reluctant to talk about his family, she assumed he had his reasons.
“My father doesn’t come home often. In 26 years, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve looked him in the face.”
Thinking back, he had said something like that. Perhaps that was why. Realizing he had his own deprivations, just like her, Jeong-o stopped prying into his past.
Still, there were no problems in their relationship. Dating was about the present, and they were happy.
The past six months had been filled with nothing but joy. There was no room for anything else to intrude.
He didn’t often express his emotions with words, but otherwise, he was such a wonderful man. Gallant, kind, polite, considerate… every positive adjective could be applied to him.
He was even thorough about contraception. As far as Jeong-o knew, he was.
*…Was that not the case?*
Her confidence wavered.
Jeong-o remembered his gaze—so intense, as if trying to trap her. On the days he looked at her like that, things always went exactly the way he wanted.
Was all of his passion safe? Was he perfect?
“Then what is this result!”
She wanted to deny it. But if she denied it, that meant there was something else wrong with her body. If it was a problem other than pregnancy, that was just as serious.
*Let’s just go to the hospital first. Confirm it accurately before telling him.*
But do I have to go alone? I’m scared.
If I say I’m here to check for pregnancy while unmarried, won’t people look at me strangely?
How much is the hospital bill? I’m a student; I don’t have money.
“Aaaaah… what do I do, really.”
Jeong-o collapsed onto her desk.
What should she tell him?
If she asked him to go to the hospital with her, would he come?
What if he got angry and asked how this could even happen?
“No, why would you get angry! It’s your mistake too! It’s your fault too!”
Jeong-o jumped up and pointed a finger at the empty air, arguing with her boyfriend, who wasn’t even there.
She hadn’t told him yet, and he hadn’t gotten angry yet. Worrying about hypothetical future disasters was an old habit of hers.
What should she do now? She was only twenty-three.
“What time is it? Oh!”
In the midst of her agony, the meeting time had crept up on her. Jeong-o hastily got dressed and left.
The meeting time was 5 o’clock.
The distance to the subway station was awkward for a taxi, and she didn’t want to run. She didn’t know much about pregnancy, but for some reason, she felt like she should take it easy.
Still, she walked at a brisk pace and reached the station at 5:10.
She could see Ji-Heon standing blankly in front of the station. She could recognize him from a distance. His unique physique, which made people wonder if he were a model, was subtly drawing eyes toward him.
*That’s my boyfriend right there!*
Honestly, his looks—enough to make people gasp—were a bit of a burden. Whenever they walked down the street holding hands, she could often feel the sharp glares of curious onlookers. She wasn’t intimidated by it, but she would sometimes tease him, saying he was prettier than her. Couldn’t he be a little less handsome?
He would answer without changing his expression.
“What are you talking about? You’re much prettier.”
As if it were absurd to compare himself to her.
She knew he wasn’t just saying things for others to hear; it was 100% pure sincerity.
He was…
Jeong-o felt happy, though she was also worried, as if she were under a spell. After all, it is human instinct to want to look beautiful for the person you love.
Jeong-o’s pace slowed when she spotted him. Upon seeing her, Ji-Heon immediately headed her way.
“Sorry. Did you wait long?”
Jeong-o asked. Without answering, Ji-Heon quickly unbuttoned his overcoat.
“Why are you dressed like that?”
Without hesitation, he draped his coat over her shoulders.
Because of the shock of the pregnancy test, she hadn’t thought to dress warmly. Only then did Jeong-o realize she had come out wearing a light early-autumn coat.
With nimble hands, Ji-Heon tucked her arms into the sleeves of his coat.
His shirt stretched taut against his broad shoulders and the firm contours of his chest.
“I have my own style, you know.”
Jeong-o complained, even as he turned her into a human snowman. Whether she liked it or not, Ji-Heon finished buttoning it up.
Normally, she might have resisted more firmly. But today, for some reason, she wanted to keep her body warm.
Dressed in his oversized coat, she looked as if she had wrapped herself in a blanket. Watching her, he stretched his lips into a faint smile, satisfied.
“What is this?”
“It suits you.”
Though it felt like he was teasing her, Jeong-o couldn’t bring herself to complain. It was impossible to say anything when he smiled like that, with a high-school-first-love aesthetic that could disarm anyone.
Still, she had to tell him.
“Shall we go get something to eat?”
“N-no!”
Jeong-o shook her head, flustered. The mere thought of food made her feel nauseous. After seeing those two lines on the test, the idea of eating felt overwhelming.
“You don’t want to eat?”
“Yeah.”
The smile that had melted her heart faded. Ji-Heon knit his brows, examining her.
Seeing her turn down her favorite food, he clearly jumped to the conclusion that she was unwell. A hand large enough to cover her face reached out and pressed gently against her forehead.
Feeling the slight fever lingering in her body despite the chilly breeze, Ji-Heon immediately changed his plans.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
He had decided she was a patient.
Ji-Heon’s fingers interlaced firmly with Jeong-o’s slender ones. The two hands pressed together, absorbing each other’s warmth.
As her body and mind were filled with his presence, a sense of comfort washed away some of her anxiety.
***
The densely packed studio apartment complex.
The sun had set by the time they walked home. Arriving at her door, Ji-Heon let go of her hand.
“Go on in.”
“Come in for a bit.”
“No. You look tired. Go and get some rest.”
“No! I’m not tired at all. I’m full of energy!”
Her face flushed as she raised her voice, denying her current state.
“I have some business to take care of, so I should go home.”
He offered an excuse, smiling warmly.
“What business?”
“Huh? Jeong-o Lee!”
Just as she asked, a man some distance away called her name.
“Seonbae.”
Jeong-o turned her head. It was a senior from her department who lived in a nearby studio.
Ji-Heon frowned and turned to look as well.
Ignoring Ji-Heon, who stood by Jeong-o like an invisible person, the man approached and ruffled Jeong-o’s hair.
“Hey, you’re supposed to be my neighbor—how have you been completely off the radar for nearly a month?”
Seeing the man’s annoying behavior, Ji-Heon raised his hand as well. Fortunately, the man pulled his hand away before Ji-Heon could intervene.
“Are you that busy?”
“Yes. I’ve been a bit busy.”
“Busy with dates?”
The man teased her lightly. When Ji-Heon’s eyes tightened with intensity, Jeong-o felt embarrassed. As she bit her lip to hide it, the man finally realized the lethal glint in Ji-Heon’s eyes and immediately stepped back.
“Have a good date. Let’s grab a meal sometime.”
The man gave a quick nod to Ji-Heon and left immediately.
After the man left, the air grew awkward. Feeling as though she needed to explain, Jeong-o spoke up carefully.
“He’s a senior from my department; he lives around here.”
“Let’s go up.”
He changed his plans again. Just moments ago, he had said he was leaving. He had said he had business.
Jeong-o, who had wanted to talk to him quietly anyway, nodded.
However, for some reason, her footsteps felt heavy as she climbed the stairs.
Feeling the tension—as if the heavy footsteps following her would soon overwhelm her—Jeong-o walked slowly.
Soon, they reached the third floor.
Jeong-o’s slender fingers unlocked the door, and amidst the silence, it clicked open.
A cozy space of barely four pyeong. Today, that snug space felt as though a storm were blowing through it.
Without fail, Ji-Heon pulled her into an embrace from behind.
Even though she knew the storm was coming, Jeong-o let out a low gasp.
“Your body is cold.”
“…….”
“I’ll warm you up.”
He loosened the buttons of the coat he had put on her, whispering lowly, his lips so close it felt as if he were biting her ear. His breath against her ear soon moved to the nape of her neck.
As the thick coat slid to the floor, he turned her body to face him.
His gaze seemed to erase all her thoughts, making her focus blur as if she were losing her soul.
As his head moved, his sharp jawline stood out.
The distinct shadows created by the dim light were etched into her pupils. Her eyes ached.
She tried to back away, but he filled the gap instantly. Her feet gave way, and Jeong-o found herself sitting on the bed. The situation made it look as if she had led him there unintentionally.
Filling her field of vision, he leaned in with a faint, satisfied smile.
His breath flowed calmly into her mouth. The pace was gentle, but the heat was not. The scorching breath made her eyes sting, and Jeong-o lowered her eyelids. Just trying to hold onto her racing heart was taxing enough.
She couldn’t escape him—not her body, not her gaze, not her voice.
She always fell for him. As if it were only natural.
*What should I do?*
Still, I have to tell him.
“Wait…… just a second.”
She couldn’t overcome him with force. And, of course, she had never tried to.
“Wait.”
Having barely escaped his kiss, Jeong-o spoke again. Her breath, thick with heat, broke out in short, sharp gasps.
His eyebrows furrowed slightly at the interruption.
His lips were glistening, wet and polished. His gaze was fixed right there.
As if telling her to speak up.
Jeong-o parted her flushed lips and slowly let out her voice.
“I…… have something to tell you.”
Her heart hammered for a different reason now.
*What kind of expression will you wear, I wonder?*