I've Been Possessed, But What If I Get Pregnant First? - C46
#46
“Ah, ho-hot! But del-licious.”
“Is it that tasty?”
The lady smiled pleasantly even while scooping up some water for me. I felt a bit embarrassed, but I bit into the fish cake again while sniffling. The fish cake was extremely hot, but the slightly salty taste melted under my tongue.
I quickly finished one and picked up a new fish cake. The lady, who had been spreading whipped cream generously on one side of the finished waffle, burst into hearty laughter, saying it was nice to see me eating so well.
“Oh my, you’re eating so well, it brings good fortune. Student, do you like tteokbokki too? Want some?”
Around the time I had finished my 5th fish cake while preciously holding the completed waffles in my arms, the lady, who had been watching my live eating show, asked while stirring the tteokbokki with a ladle.
“I do like it, but I can’t eat it because of the baby! They say if you eat red things during pregnancy, the baby will turn red.”
It was close to a superstition, but still. When I shook my head and spoke, the lady’s eyes widened a bit.
“You look young, but you’re already a father? Your belly doesn’t look like it’s showing at all.”
The lady asked, lowering her head to peek at my belly.
“It hasn’t been long yet. Our baby’s prenatal dream was a white tiger, a white tiger!”
At first, I was confused by this world setting where men could get pregnant and the fact that I was pregnant, but as the baby started appearing in my dreams, that sense of oddness gradually faded away and only affection for the baby remained intact.
“Wow, a white tiger? The baby must be destined for greatness~”
The lady went along with my words. It was suffocating not having anyone to brag to all this time, so this was good. I glanced at the lady and settled into a round chair.
“The face was so cute too, and the eyes were so clear like an angel. And crying like this-“
I brought up the stories I couldn’t brag to anyone about until now. I boasted about how pretty our baby was in my dream and made a “hrrnng” sound like the white tiger, and the lady even clapped and listened attentively to my words.
“That was so good. I think it’s been a really long time since I ate this much.”
I lost track of time chatting with the lady and filling my belly to the brim. I belatedly came to my senses and scanned the seats I had swept through, realizing I had eaten an incredible amount like a pig. I smiled sheepishly, looking at the piled up fish cake skewers and plates.
“Aw~ The baby’s daddy needs to eat well for the baby to grow well. Here, take this too.”
“Wow… Aun-… I mean, Auntie….”
At the lady’s fingertips was a steamed corn on the cob with plump kernels. When I looked at it with emotion, the lady patted my shoulder and encouraged me.
“Looks like the baby’s daddy is still a young student, raise the baby well. Stay strong for the baby.”
“Yes, thank you. I’ll eat well.”
My heart warmed as I hugged the fragrant corn tightly.
“Then, I’ll get going now. I’ll come again next time, Auntie!”
There were barely ten minutes left until the train departure. I hurriedly headed to the platform with the corn and waffles filling both hands. Although it was an unexpected expense, my steps towards the train were endlessly light with the satisfaction of having made the best purchase.
“I’ll check your boarding pass.”
“Ah, here it is.”
“It’s confirmed. Car 5, seat 19D.”
“Yes, thank you.”
When I handed over the boarding pass I had put in my pocket, the train attendant checked it and guided me to my seat. My reflection with both hands full of food appeared in the train window. Feeling the heat rise to my ears at the sight of looking like a greedy person, I hurriedly went inside.
“Wow…. So this is what it looks like.”
It was my first time riding a train. I had taken the subway often, but it was my first time in my life riding a train that looked like this.
“It’s so nice….”
As I set up the folding table and placed the waffles and corn on it, I felt as if I had the whole world, my heart abundant. I did eat quite a lot of fish cakes, but that was just a snack….
I carefully opened the bag, took out a waffle, and put it in my mouth. The combination of thinly spread whipped cream and apple jam was truly the best. I bit into the waffle in a big mouthful, half-listening to the announcement that the train would depart soon. A sweet aroma soon filled my mouth, and my heart was dyed with just as much happiness.
***
“Speak.”
“It’s been confirmed that he boarded the KTX bound for Gangneung. He already got on the 6:05 train and is scheduled to arrive at Gangneung Station at 8:04 PM.”
“Let’s move by helicopter.”
Taebeom took in the sight of Yuwon brightly smiling with fish cakes in both hands at the shabby snack shop in the station. When was the last time he saw him laughing so cheerfully like this? For a moment, Taebeom’s eyes softened. Taebeom stroked Yuwon’s cheek in the photo and recalled his warm body temperature.
“I have a helicopter on standby on the rooftop.”
Junseok, who was on the phone, spoke to Taebeom. Taebeom forced himself to tear his gaze away from the photo and got up from his seat. First, he needed to get Cha Yuwon in his hands. That came first. Taebeom loosened his necktie with a tired face and tossed it aside, boarding the elevator.
Ding-
The elevator doors opened upon arriving at the topmost floor, and Taebeom and the men stepped out. Right then, Junseok’s cell phone received a call.
“Yes, this is Secretary Park Junseok speaking.”
Junseok turned his head and asked to be excused for a moment, his face gradually turning pale.
“Is that true?”
Taebeom turned his head to look at Junseok, who had uncharacteristically raised his voice and abruptly stopped in his tracks.
“I understand for now. I’ll check and contact you again.”
“What is it?”
“Hyung-nim, I think you need to confirm this once.”
Junseok swallowed dryly and handed his cell phone to Taebeom. There was a photo on the screen of Junseok’s phone. Taebeom muttered with furrowed brows.
“An abortion surgery guide?”
“Well… They say it came from the sister-in-law’s room. To be exact, the aunt found it torn up and thrown in the trash can.”
The screen clearly showed traces of the guide being ripped into several pieces.
“And this came from Cha Yuwon’s room.”
“Yes. She saw the word pregnancy, so she tried putting it together just in case.”
“Ha, fuck….”
The moment the word “someone I love” from the letter Yuwon left behind came to Taebeom’s mind. It felt like his blood was rushing in reverse.
“Cha Yuwon is pregnant?”
“…….”
“So that’s why he ran away?”
Taebeom’s eyes turned cold as he grinned bitterly. That night with Yuwon vividly came to mind as if imprinted, but according to the contents of the letter Yuwon left, he said he found someone he loved. If Cha Yuwon was pregnant with another bastard’s child….
Junseok remained silent at Taebeom’s indescribable mood. He had been by his side for over 10 years, but it was the first time he saw Taebeom exuding such a chilling form of anger.
“As soon as you arrive in Gangneung, bring Cha Yuwon back to Seoul.”
“Then what about you, hyung-nim…?”
“The hospital Cha Yuwon said he went to. I’m going there first.”
Taebeom turned his steps and got on the elevator again. Taebeom’s hand that pressed the 1st floor button was full of force. Junseok earnestly prayed that nothing would happen this time.
***
I dozed off with a corn in my hand, then suddenly opened my eyes wide at an announcement that came on.
“Gasp… T- That was close.”
It seemed I hadn’t arrived at Gangneung Station yet even though I had dozed off. I wiped the drool around my mouth with my sleeve and looked around with an embarrassed face. Fortunately, no one was looking this way. They said you get sleepy a lot when pregnant, and it was really true. I was tired all the time, and when I opened my eyes, a lot of time had passed.
[The next station is Gangneung Station.]
I hadn’t packed anything in my hurry to run away, but I pretended to organize my luggage, fixing my clothes like the busy passengers. Right then, a boy who looked about five or six years old, perhaps on a family trip, opened his mouth in a bright voice.
“Mom! There’s a huge dinosaur over there, a dinosaur!”
“Wow, it’s really the dinosaur our Chaewoo likes, isn’t it?”
The child, pointing to the camera with his chubby hand, nodded his head vigorously. The child’s parents hugged him tightly with a smile.
“How cute….”
They were such a lovely family. It was so cute and adorable that they were wearing matching family outfits.
“Our baby is….”
My eyes drooped and I rubbed my belly. I felt so sorry to the baby that I couldn’t create a perfect family for it.
“But Daddy will do his best. I’ll make you the happiest in the world.”
I promise I won’t let you be lonely like me.
Perhaps because of the memories of always being lonely as a child, I didn’t want to raise the child to be lonely at all.
“By the way, I wonder what happened to that world….”
Recalling my childhood memories, I suddenly started worrying about my original world. It wouldn’t be a big deal with just one person like me missing, but I felt like the people at the company would be very inconvenienced. Team Leader Im would do well with the project I was originally working on-
Right then.
“Ah…!”
My head throbbed and for a moment, my vision turned pitch black as if entering a long tunnel, then disappeared.
“Wh- Why is this… Cha Yu-“
I unintentionally let out the name “Cha Yuwon” that was stuck in my mouth, then came to my senses at the strange feeling I suddenly perceived.
“Come to think of it… What was my original name?”