𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓰𝓲𝓻𝓵𝓿𝓮𝓻

For a moment, panic takes over and you don’t know what to do. But as soon as you hear his knuckles knocking on the wood, you finally snap into action: you quickly get rid of the pregnancy test and hide it somewhere Wonwoo would never find it, not even by chance.

“Baby, can I come in?” he asks. Even after years of living together, he’s still careful and respectful of your space.

“Um… Yeah! You can come in, honey,” you reply, your nerves completely on edge.Wonwoo opens the door and walks in casually, finding you sitting on the sink brushing your teeth. What he doesn’t know is that you’re trying your best to act normal and calm your racing heartbeat. Still, he finds it a bit odd how you keep avoiding his gaze and refusing to make eye contact. Even so, he doesn’t question you and simply leans in to kiss your forehead before grabbing his own toothbrush to do the same.

“How are you feeling this morning?” he asks with genuine interest, before bringing the toothbrush with toothpaste to his mouth.You take a moment to finish your oral hygiene routine and then answer his question.

“I’m better. The nausea and dizziness are gone. After I took that pill last night, I felt much calmer. I got up a while ago and didn’t feel anything strange,” you assure him, trying to sound as natural as possible. Of course, you left out the part where you woke up so early because of a sudden, intense urge to vomit. You also skipped mentioning the pregnancy test. He didn’t need to know that at least not yet.

“I’m going to prepare what we’re taking to the picnic. Seungcheol said we didn’t have to, but I know the others are planning to bring something too, because Mingyu told me days ago. So it wouldn’t feel right to show up empty-handed,” you complain, frowning in distaste just imagining the awkward situation. “While I take care of that, you can go shower and get ready,” you tell him as you start to leave the bathroom.

“What if we shower together instead? It’d be faster and I could come down to help you in the kitchen,” he suggests in a teasing tone, watching you through the mirror reflection.His deep voice and the intensity of his dark gaze make you shiver. You’re about to nod in agreement, but the reminder that an unconscious little intruder is now growing inside you fills you with fear, and you decide against it.

“No. We both know that when we shower together, we do anything but try to get out quickly,” you counter, pointing toward the shower cabin. And your words weren’t far from the truth. “Plus, I’d be embarrassed walking funny in front of the guys and having them ask what happened to me,” you add, narrowing your eyes at him while he pretends to be innocent about it.

“Alright, you win, my love,” he says with a defeated smile, raising both hands in surrender. You smile back, satisfied that he fell for your excuse. You don’t say anything else and reach for the door again, intending to finally leave the bathroom, but once more your beloved husband stops you. “Hey, baby, I didn’t mention this last night because you weren’t feeling well and went to bed early, but I was thinking about going to the cemetery after we spend time with the guys. I’d like you to come with me to take flowers to Mom.”

His invitation catches you off guard. Until now, you had only gone with him once, since he usually preferred to go alone or with his dad and younger brother.

“Okay, honey. I’ll go with you, gladly,” you reply, stepping closer to give him a quick kiss on the lips. “Now let me go or we’ll be late.”

With that final warning, you finally manage to escape. You sigh in relief once the door closes behind you, running both hands over your face to clear your mind. You grab your phone from the nightstand, pick it up, and head out of the bedroom toward the kitchen.

A while later…

The good thing about preparing something simple was that you finished quickly. You left your husband packing the containers into a bag while you went to shower.Once you were done, you started looking for something to wear. Everything was fine until you tried to put on a pair of jeans and they wouldn’t close. You were about to let out a string of curses when the possible reason why your clothes were starting to not fit crossed your mind.

“It’s only been a few weeks. You can’t possibly be taking up that much space in there already,” you grumble indignantly at the living being currently residing in your uterus. “Now I’ll have to wear a dress, and it’s all your fault.” You complain, clearly annoyed, and reluctantly head to your closet to find a summer dress.

Just as you finish slipping the light garment over your body, Wonwoo opens the bedroom door and walks in to let you know everything is ready and he’s just waiting for you so you can leave. Even though his words weren’t meant to pressure you, that’s how they felt, and it only heightened your already turbulent emotions.

“If you’re in such a hurry, just go without me,” you snap in the sharpest tone possible, leaving him frozen in place, confused and unable to understand what he had said to make you this angry.

He stands petrified at the doorway. A heavy, awkward silence settles between you as he tries to figure out if his words had really come across as pressuring.

You deliberately ignore him and continue getting ready, feeding the bad mood gnawing at you inside, though guilt quickly settles in your chest. You feel terrible for reacting so defensively when all he was trying to do was say something completely innocent.

After what feels like an eternity, Wonwoo gently clears his throat.

“I’ll wait for you in the car, baby. Take all the time you need, there’s no rush,” he murmurs calmly. Without another word, he leaves, once again leaving you alone with your thoughts.

As soon as you hear his footsteps fade away, you let out a long, heavy sigh. You go to get your sandals, leave them within reach, and put on some light accessories before doing a bit of makeup. While your hands work on autopilot in front of the mirror, your mind is already rehearsing a proper apology. You hated being rude to him, especially when he had always given you nothing but love, respect, and treated you like a true queen.

You place one hand on your abdomen and, in a very soft voice, speak to the small, unknown life inside you : “It’s your fault I just snapped at the person who loves me most in this world… and who I’m sure is going to adore you too once he knows you’re in here,” you murmur with affectionate annoyance, almost pouting at someone who has no idea what’s really happening.

Once you’re finished getting ready, you grab your bag, your sandals in the other hand, and finally leave the room. You head downstairs and confirm that your husband has already taken the things from the kitchen out to the car.You take the opportunity to grab a couple of special items you want to bring to his mother’s grave and pick up the house keys.

You’re just about to walk out when a fleeting but impossible-to-ignore thought suddenly hits you with full force.

From inside the car, Wonwoo watches you through the windshield, completely confused as he sees you stop with the door half open and then suddenly hurry back into the house. You rush upstairs to do something quick and come back down a minute later. He sees you come out again, calmly put on your sandals on the porch, lock the door, and finally walk toward the car. Once you get in, he leans over to buckle your seatbelt with his usual gentleness. But before he can sit back, you wrap both arms around his neck, stopping him from pulling away. His body tenses for a second in surprise, but you quickly speak in a soft, low voice:

“I’m so sorry, honey… I didn’t mean to speak to you like that earlier. I was just a little irritated and took it out on you. I really am sorry.” You offer him a sincere apology. As he listens, the tension in Jeon’s shoulders completely melts away.

He reaches out to caress your leg over the light summer dress, then cups your face with both hands and brings his lips to yours. It’s a deep, slow, lingering kiss, the kind that makes you melt, completely captivated by the man in front of you. He even smiles when he hears the soft sigh that escapes you as you kiss him back. Then pulls away gently and leaves a sweet little kiss on the tip of your nose.

“Don’t worry, my love. It did catch me by surprise, but I wasn’t upset with you. I understand you were probably overwhelmed by everything you did since early this morning and the pressure of going to a social event. These things happen,” he assures you with an understanding look. You smile, touched by his endless patience and maturity.

Tough, your smile tenses a little as you secretly remember the real reason behind your emotional imbalance. You give his cheek a gentle caress followed by a quick peck on the lips, then straighten up. Wonwoo settles into the driver’s seat, starts the engine, and pulls away, beginning the drive to where the rest of the guys are already waiting.

The drive passes in a cozy calm. Soft music plays from the stereo, creating a serene atmosphere that matches the steady movement of the car. Jeon drives with his usual quiet ease, keeping one hand intertwined with yours on the gear shift thumb against thumb in a gesture as everyday as it is intimate. Outside the window, the scenery rolls by in shades of green and morning light, simply beautiful.

The road is remarkably flat, with no sharp curves or bumps, so it makes no logical sense for a sudden wave of nausea to settle in your stomach. You choose not to say anything. You shift a little more against the seat, close your eyes for a few seconds, and try to find a comfortable position, convincing yourself it will pass soon… even though deep down you know exactly why it’s happening. By the time you finally arrive and Wonwoo turns off the engine, the silence inside the car feels a bit heavier. He soon turns to look at you.

“Is something wrong? You seem a little off… Do you need anything?” he asks softly, searching your eyes with concern.

“I’m fine, really. Maybe I just need to eat something soon, or the car ride didn’t sit well with me,” you reply, giving him a small smile and trying to sound normal.Wonwoo watches you in silence for a couple of seconds.

You can practically see the gears turning in his mind. He knows you too well to miss that something isn’t quite right. He senses something is on your mind, but he doesn’t want to press you or ruin the moment right before joining everyone. Without pushing further for now, he gets out of the car, walks around the front, and opens your door. He offers his hand to help you out with extreme care.

“Are you sure you don’t want a minute before we go in? Once we’re inside with everyone, it’s going to be chaos,” he murmurs with a slight smirk, checking your face again.

Instead of answering with words, you step closer and wrap your arms around his waist, resting your chin on his chest to look up at him. He immediately wraps you in his arms, pulling you against him. For a moment, the two of you stay like that, gazing into each other’s eyes and silently acknowledging the emotions you’re both carrying though the source and intensity of yours are completely different from his.

“I’m okay, my love. Really… thank you for being so attentive,” you insist sweetly, rubbing his back in an attempt to reassure him. He lets out a resigned but tender sigh and leans down to place a warm, lingering kiss on your forehead.

At that exact moment, the sound of another engine interrupts. A car parks just a few meters away. Junhui steps out with his wife and their two children: the older one and the youngest, a baby girl named Meilin. Smiles appear instantly as they realize how long this reunion has been overdue. Wonwoo walks over to greet Jun and exchanges a few words with the little boy while they start unloading things from both cars. Meanwhile, Jun’s wife comes straight to you for a warm hug, carrying little Meilin nestled in her arms. As her godmother, your eyes light up when you see the girl and you naturally reach out for her, as you always do.

“Come here, beautiful!” you say affectionately. But to your surprise, Meilin suddenly shrinks back against her mother’s shoulder.It doesn’t seem like she doesn’t recognize you. Rather, your mere closeness seems to deeply upset her. The moment you try to get a little closer to hold her, the baby starts whimpering, squirms uncomfortably in her mom’s arms, and desperately reaches her tiny hands toward Junhui. He quickly steps over and takes her to calm her down.

“That’s weird… She always gets along so well with you. I don’t know what got into her,” Jun comments, holding his daughter against his chest and gently patting her back.

“Kids have their days sometimes. I’m sure she’ll be fine in a bit,” his wife replies, looking a little embarrassed by her daughter’s behavior.

You simply smile understandingly and say it’s okay, but inside, your stomach flips. You remember that old myth about babies and animals being able to sense a new life before anyone else. Your gaze discreetly drops for a second to your abdomen, confirming the secret you’re carrying. No one pays much attention to that detail, and so everyone prepares to go inside.

But before you can move toward the entrance, a familiar commotion sounds in the distance. Soonyoung arrives with his little family, making his usual loud and energetic entrance, with his kids running alongside his chaos. Almost at the same time, Joshua arrives with his wife, and Seokmin with his fiancée. It seems you’re the last to join, because by the time you finally walk through the doors of the country club, the rest of the guys and their families are already settled.

The greeting is a beautiful mix of tight hugs, booming laughter, and overlapping conversations. The reason for the gathering is simple and ordinary: a group of longtime friends and colleagues who just want to catch up, reminisce about old times, and share the present with the special people who are now part of their lives.

Seungkwan and Seokmin waste no time starting the first round of jokes and uncontrollable laughter. In the middle of all the festive chaos, Wonwoo doesn’t let go of your hand for a single second. Everyone knows you well and there’s deep trust in the group, but the way he keeps you close feels almost instinctive, subtly making sure you feel comfortable at all times.

Little by little, everyone settles into the grassy area they had reserved. Picnic blankets are spread out, spaces filled with homemade dishes, fresh fruit, desserts, and drinks passed from hand to hand. The atmosphere becomes light and warm, filled with constant jokes, years of camaraderie, and genuine laughter echoing under the open sky.

The two of you were sitting together on the blanket, enjoying the gentle sun. Very close by were Mingyu, his wife who was sporting a very noticeable advanced pregnancy and their first child. While your husband and Mingyu chatted animatedly, catching up on everything, Yerin shared some of her pregnancy stories with you. You asked plenty of questions, genuinely interested in every detail of how she was feeling. No one suspected a thing; after all, you had always been just as curious with the other wives in the group during their previous pregnancies.

At some point later in the conversation, Yerin insisted you try some of the homemade kimchi Mingyu had prepared, swearing it turned out spectacular. You accepted with a polite smile, holding the container while handing her some of the meat you had made before leaving. When the two men noticed the exchange, they turned their attention toward you.

That was exactly when Wonwoo noticed. The moment the tray with kimchi was in your hands, all the color drained from your face. A pale tint washed over your skin, and you had to make a superhuman effort to suppress a treacherous gag that threatened to rise in your throat. Unable to hide it any longer, you quickly handed the tray back to him and stood up in a hurry, slipping your sandals on awkwardly.

“I forgot my phone in the car… I’m going to get it so I can take some pictures,” you excused yourself in a rushed voice. Without waiting for a reply, you practically fled toward the exit of the country club.

Yerin watched the path where you had just disappeared, then turned to your husband, puzzled. “Is everything okay with her? She seemed a bit off… or maybe it’s just my imagination.”

“She’s been a little sick since yesterday. But this morning she woke up feeling better and assured me she was well enough to come,” he answered calmly, trying not to raise any suspicions.

Mingyu, who had been quietly observing the scene while chewing, tilted his head and asked, half-joking but also genuinely curious: “And you’re sure it’s just a sickness? Or could it be something else?”

Wonwoo visibly tensed. His heart lurched violently as Mingyu’s words hit exactly on the suspicion he had been quietly carrying all day. “I’m going to check on her,” he declared without hesitation, excusing himself immediately and standing up.

When he reached the parking lot of the country club, he didn’t find you near the car. He walked a few steps further and spotted you coming out of a more secluded, discreet area. Your face was pale, your forehead covered in a light sweat, and your breathing was heavy. The world dropped from under his feet the moment he saw you in such a vulnerable state. Anguish tightened his chest, and he instinctively closed the distance between you in long strides.

“Baby, what’s wrong? What’s happening?” he asked, his eyes scanning you for any sign.

“I really needed to throw up. I’ve been holding it in for a while and couldn’t anymore,” you murmured, your voice breaking with exhaustion. Wonwoo didn’t say a single word in response.

Instead, without hesitation, he gently gathered you in his arms, carrying you so you wouldn’t have to walk. He took you straight to the car, opened the back door, and sat you carefully on the edge. Then he leaned in to search for your bag on the floor. He knew exactly what you always carried with you, so he carefully rummaged until he found your usual cloth handkerchief, the small portable fan, and some mints. He returned to you, crouched down to your level, and faced you directly. With incredibly gentle movements, he wiped your face with the handkerchief, slipped a mint into your mouth, and then turned on the portable fan, directing the cool air toward your sweaty skin.

“Would you rather we go home?” he asked, searching your eyes with a look full of devotion and genuine concern. “If you’re not feeling well, we can leave right now. There’s nothing we need to force, and we don’t have to risk your comfort. Or if you want, we can go straight to the doctor so they can check you…” He raised one hand and felt your forehead for fever. When he confirmed your temperature was normal, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he cupped your cheek, cradling your face. You leaned into his touch, letting out a long sigh of relief at the unique comfort that only his contact could bring you in a moment when you were battling not only physical discomfort but also the whirlwind of emotions surrounding your secret.

Wonwoo softly stroked your skin with his thumb. He hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke in a whisper full of tenderness and absolute sincerity.

“My love… Please be honest with me. Tell me what’s really going on. Does this have anything to do with the pregnancy test you hid in the bathroom this morning?” He paused briefly, his eyes flicking down to your bag. “The same one you’re now carrying in here…”

You froze. Surprise, horror, and shame flashed across your face in milliseconds. You felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured down your back at being caught, completely stunned and at a loss for words. He offered you a small, closed-lip smile, looking slightly apologetic about how everything had come to light.

“I admire so much the effort you made today trying to handle something this overwhelming and much bigger than you on your own,” he continued, breaking the silence before panic could take over. “I respect your fear, because I know exactly how terrifying this is for you. But I would have loved to find out because you chose to tell me because you wanted to share what you were feeling with me… not because I found something you clearly didn’t want me to see.” He moved a little closer, still caressing your face.

“I’ve known since this morning. Actually… I suspected it even before you did, a few days ago. I just didn’t want to say anything because I know how difficult this topic is for you and how much the idea of motherhood has always scared you. But you’re not alone in this. You have me. I’m the dad of this baby, and I’m also your husband.”

Hearing his words, the heavy weight on your shoulders finally crumbled. You instinctively leaned into him, wrapping your arms around his neck and burying your face in the crook of his shoulder, seeking refuge.Without a second’s hesitation, he held you firmly. With a smooth, careful movement, he shifted positions: he sat where you had been and gently pulled you onto his lap. He pressed you against his chest and began rubbing your back with slow, soothing strokes.The silence stretched for several seconds, dense but strangely comforting until you finally stopped hiding.

You lifted your head to look at him and, in a whisper laced with slight frustration, asked: “How did you find it? I… was sure I had hidden it well.” Wonwoo let out a soft, deep chuckle. There was no mockery in it, only pure tenderness at the little disappointed pout on your face.

“Hiding it at the bottom of the clean towels drawer wasn’t your brightest plan. I just went to grab a towel to dry my face and saw the edge sticking out. I picked it up and… well, I saw the result,” he revealed with a spark of amusement, giving your hip a light squeeze. You closed your eyes and pressed your lips together in pure bewilderment before burying your face in his neck again. He chuckled once more, patting your back lovingly, though his tone grew much softer when he admitted, “I got a little scared at first too, you know? Seeing that clear, real result. But then I thought about how you felt last night, your strange behavior this morning, everything… and all the pieces fell into place. I wanted to wait for you to tell me, to give you your space. But when I saw you feeling so bad out here, I just couldn’t hold back anymore without knowing how you really were.”

You let out a long sigh and pulled back just enough to look him straight in the eyes.

“Wonu… yes, I’m pregnant,” you finally admitted out loud, letting the words take life in the air. And suddenly everything felt more real than ever. “But I really didn’t know how to process it at first. I panicked and thought the easiest thing was to hide it until I could figure out what to do. Though now I know that was really silly of me. Because you’re right it’s your baby too, and you’re my husband… I shouldn’t have hidden something so important from you, like the fact that we’re going to be parents. I’m sorry for reacting like that.”

Wonwoo gently shook his head and cradled your cheek. “You don’t have anything to apologize for. Everything is okay between us,” he assured you, a sincere smile lighting up his eyes and making the atmosphere feel much lighter. “I’m really grateful you’re telling me now. Because, to be honest… I’m incredibly excited about this. I was just trying to be patient and discreet because I know what this means to you.”

This time it was you who let out a soft laugh, the first genuine one all day. You shifted to straddle his lap so you could hug him tighter, wrapping your arms around his neck and pressing your body against his. He returned the hug eagerly, holding you close to his chest as both of you released a sigh of pure relief.

“I love you so much, Jeon Wonwoo. I really do,” you murmured against his skin, kissing his jaw.

“And I love you, with all my soul,” he replied close to your ear, pulling you even closer. Then he pulled back just enough to look at you properly. “But this conversation doesn’t end here, okay? When we get home, we’ll sit down and talk calmly about everything: medical check-ups, monthly appointments, and the steps we’re going to take. Together, the way it should be.”

You nodded immediately. For the first time in hours, the idea of motherhood didn’t feel like a terrifying abyss. And then your heart literally melted as you watched him slowly lean down, his gaze dropping to your body. With a reverence that took your breath away, he lifted the fabric of your summer dress just enough to reach your abdomen. There, he placed several gentle kisses, tracing a warm path over your navel while caressing the subtle curve with his fingertips. He looked genuinely adorable like this, loving you and loving this little creation of his. He was happy, truly happy, and you could feel it. It was beautiful. It made you wonder how you could possibly be scared of something so wonderful? especially when this was your husband and his reaction.

After a good while of cuddles, caresses, and comforting words, you both straightened up a little and returned to the country club. The rest of the afternoon went wonderfully; the physical discomfort had eased, and the heaviness in your chest had completely disappeared.

Near the end of the gathering, while everyone was sharing dessert, Wonwoo held your hand firmly and they decided to share the big news. The reaction was a genuine explosion of joy. The guys made a beautiful commotion: there were tight hugs, congratulations mixed with laughter, and a wave of jokes directed at Wonwoo for officially joining the group’s “dad line.”

Later, amid well wishes, recommendations for a healthy pregnancy, and affectionate goodbyes, the lively gathering came to an end. Now you were heading back in the car, the atmosphere inside completely peaceful. You rested your head against the seat and, without anxiety or fear stirring inside you, fell deeply asleep, lulled by the soft hum of the engine and Wonwoo’s free hand gently caressing your abdomen. However, it wasn’t a very long rest. When you opened your eyes, the car was already parked. Looking out the window, you immediately recognized the place: you were at the memorial columbarium where your husband’s mother’s ashes rested.

“We’re here, baby,” he told you in a calm voice as he unbuckled his seatbelt. He got out, walked around the car, and opened your door, warmly offering his hand to help you out.

You walked together, fingers intertwined, through the silent and solemn hallways of the building. The atmosphere was serene, lit by warm lights and surrounded by small urns protected behind glass cases. He guided you effortlessly to his mother’s memorial niche. Once in front of the glass plaque, you opened your bag and took out the special items you had prepared with so much care: a small bouquet of fresh flowers and an artificial candle. He looked at you with infinite tenderness and kissed your forehead before helping you arrange the offerings in the niche. Then he gazed at the photograph of his mother behind the glass.

“Hi, Mom…” he greeted softly, briefly resting his hand on the glass as if caressing her face in the photo. “I hope you’re well, wherever you are. I came to visit you, just like I originally planned. But it turns out I’m also bringing you some very special news.”

He turned slightly toward you, wrapped his arm around your waist, and pulled you to his side. His hand easily covered the subtle curve marked under your dress. He also gave you a quick kiss on the crown of your head.

“We’re going to be parents. This wonderful woman beside me is carrying our little baby, and that makes me happier than words can say. I want to ask you to please watch over us from up there… especially this little person who is now joining our family. And who will come to say hello once they’re here with us.”

You also leaned slightly toward the glass case, offering your mother-in-law some sweet and sincere words, promising to take care of her son and the new life on the way. Wonwoo gave her a summary of how his younger brother and dad were doing, and how they still remembered her with the greatest love. The moment was filled with pure, transparent emotion.

Eventually, after a few final minutes of respectful silence, you said your goodbyes and slowly walked back toward the exit.

Once outside, under the afternoon sky beginning to tint with orange hues, Wonwoo stopped and pulled you into a long, deep embrace, breathing in the scent of your hair.

“Thank you, my love…” he murmured, his voice thick with raw emotion. “Thank you for being my partner, for loving me the way you do, for always taking care of me, and for giving me the most beautiful honor in the world, becoming a dad by your side.”

You smiled against his chest, feeling your heart fill with absolute fullness. You rose onto your tiptoes to reach his lips.

“Thank you. For being exactly the incredible person you are.”

He smiled against your lips, sealing the promise of a shared future with a slow, sweet, unhurried kiss as the evening breeze wrapped around you in a perfect moment.