I've Been Possessed, But What If I Get Pregnant First? - Side Story 20
Side Story 20 (End of Side Stories)
Hyung gently drove the car after putting Yubum in the car seat and getting into the driver’s seat. The car, which had been driving on the highway after leaving Seoul with its many buildings, turned towards a forest dense with green trees. As the car shook on the bumpy gravel road, unlike the smoothly paved roads, Yubum giggled and enjoyed it. Thankfully, our son was positive and bright about everything.
“Wow, this is really nice.”
As we got out of the car, we felt the fresh air. I spread my arms wide and took a deep breath, and Yubum followed, taking a big breath too. I couldn’t help but laugh at how cute he looked with his tiny hands spread as wide as he could.
“Sister-in-law, you’re here?”
“Uncle Junseok!”
It was a face we didn’t see as often now that Uncle Junseok, who was the last to guard the Wuneondong mansion, had also moved out. Looking around, there were many familiar faces besides Uncle Junseok. It seemed the news of our glamping trip here had spread through Dr. Yoon Seolah.
“It’s been a while, everyone!”
“How have you been, young master? You’ve become even more handsome.”
“Yeah! Yubum is doing well too! I eat lots and lots!”
Yubum’s face also lit up at the fact that there were so many people he knew. After receiving plenty of affectionate greetings from the uncles, Yubum looked around as if he remembered something. Then, when he spotted Dr. Yoon Seolah holding a child, his eyes widened.
“Papa, I want to see the baby. Can Yubum go?”
“Sure, but be careful. Remember to be gentle when touching the baby, okay?”
“Yeah!”
Yubum put on the bag with Jeongyeon’s gift and moved his little feet diligently towards the tent not far away. Watching the back of the child walking bravely, it suddenly hit me how much Yubum had grown.
As I was feeling a bit wistful, hyung hugged me from behind. He was nudging my head with his chin playfully, probably noticing my mood and trying to comfort me.
“Where’s Yubum?”
“He went to see Jeongyeon. Hyung, the uncles are here too.”
“I see, it seems so.”
As his voice suddenly lowered, I looked up to see hyung’s eyes dry as he looked around. The uncles seemed busy rolling their eyes, as if trying not to make eye contact with hyung. In the chilly atmosphere, I deliberately pulled hyung’s hand and forced an awkward laugh.
“It’s, it’s more fun and better with more people, right? They’ll take good care of Yubum too. That way we can play more with you…”
At my words, hyung nodded as if he had no choice. Still, I was just happy to be able to rest peacefully for once. Once hyung gave his permission, everything proceeded smoothly. As if they had already divided the tasks, groups organizing the tents and preparing meals moved in perfect coordination. Even when I tried to help, they told me to sit down, and I thought that might actually be more helpful.
“Yuwon, have you been well?”
Dr. Seol-a approached and asked as I was watching the outside from the warmly heated tent. We hadn’t seen each other for the past few months because both of us were busy, but the doctor’s face looked good after a long time. It was clear at a glance that she was someone receiving plenty of love.
“Yes, have you been well too, doctor?”
“I’ve been doing well.”
I heard that she had received her family’s permission belatedly, and perhaps because of that, the doctor’s face looked very happy.
“I hope our Yubum isn’t bothering Jeongyeon too much.”
I could see Yubum playing with Jeongyeon in the tent directly opposite, giving her a rabbit doll. Seeing him not taking his eyes off Jeongyeon for a moment, I really wondered if we should have a second child. He likes his younger sibling so much, and I wanted to give the child his closest friend. We were planning to have one more anyway, it would just be moving up the timing…
Actually, I thought I might have gotten pregnant right after the knotting during our last intimate moment with hyung. But there had been no news so far, so I thought maybe it wasn’t time yet. Seeing Yubum who loved his younger sibling, thoughts of a second child crept up again.
“No, our Jeongyeon loves him so much, I’m grateful.”
“That’s good then…”
“Yuwon, have you not thought about a second child yet?”
The doctor carefully asked, probably sensing my concern. As the person who had watched over me the longest after grandmother, the doctor knew everything about me.
“I’ve been thinking about it lately. But I also want to give birth after graduating from school… It’s a bit complicated.”
I thought I should have a serious discussion with hyung when we get home. As I was talking about various things with the doctor, I heard an uncle’s voice saying that meal preparations were finished.
When I went outside, my mouth automatically watered at the sight of meat and seafood spread out on the table. It had been so long since I had meat and seafood grilled over charcoal, especially outdoors.
“Come sit here.”
“That’s right. Please eat first, sister-in-law. I’ll take care of the young master. I already ate earlier, so I’m full.”
“Ah, then I’ll leave him to you. Thank you, uncle.”
Thanks to Uncle Donghun who offered to look after Yubum, I could sit comfortably next to hyung and have my meal. As I was busy picking up and eating meat, hyung peeled a shrimp about the size of two fingers put together and handed it to me.
“Eat it quickly before it gets cold.”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
I felt grateful and sorry seeing him continuously peeling the shells despite how hot they must be. And there was black ash stuck on his handsome face, probably from grilling the meat. Is it ash or seaweed? Handsome-ness.
“Pfft. Hyung, there’s something black on your face here.”
“Really?”
“Yes, here.”
After having some strange thoughts to myself, I wiped the ash off hyung’s face. Then I felt embarrassed when I made eye contact with the uncle who was putting down freshly grilled sausages on the table. I quickly put a sausage in my mouth to avoid his gaze, but strangely, I smelled an unpleasant odor.
“Ugh…”
“What’s wrong? Is something strange?”
“Huh? No, it’s fine… oop.”
I tried to hold my breath and eat it out of consideration for the person who grilled it diligently, but the meat juice flowing from the sausage twisted my stomach. Without realizing it, I jumped up from my seat and covered my mouth.
“Urgh-“
“Yuwon!”
“Papa!”
…Why does this familiar scene seem so familiar? It was definitely a delicious sausage that I loved, but I felt a strange aversion. As I kept squinting my eyes and moving my body, Yubum, who had been eagerly eating the meat Uncle Donghun was giving him from across the table, came running to me with eyes as big as marbles.
“Papa, are you okay?”
Seeing Yubum holding my cheeks with both hands and looking into my eyes, perhaps imitating hyung, I remembered a scene I had seen in a dream once. Could it be… was that a prophetic dream? My heart started pounding as I recalled that small cotton ball I had seen in my dream.
“Hyung… I…”
When I raised my head to face hyung, he seemed to be thinking the same thing as me, letting out a faint smile. Hyung hugged me tightly and stroked my head.
“Should we go to the hospital first?”
I looked up at hyung whispering so that only I could hear in a gentle voice. Hyung didn’t look that surprised, as if he had already expected it. Somehow, I had been wondering why he had been buying and collecting clothes and shoes that were too small for Yubum to wear recently.
“Not today. Let’s go together… tomorrow.”
This time, I didn’t have to go alone. As I imagined confirming the existence of the child together with hyung for the first time, even my twisted stomach started to calm down. My stomach quickly settled, as if the child just wanted to announce its presence. As I slowly rubbed my belly and looked up at hyung, he took off the jacket he was wearing and wrapped it around me.
“Thank you and I love you, Cha Yuwon.”
My heart fluttered at hyung’s love confession. Although I heard love confessions every day, the fact that my heart was pounding like it was about to burst every time made me realize anew how much I loved hyung.
I knew other people were watching us, but I didn’t want to hide my emotions. As I put my hands around hyung’s waist and hugged him, I could feel the strong beating of his heart through our touching chests. A happy smile formed at the sound of his heart, not different from mine. And then, Yubum ran towards us vigorously and shouted loudly.
“Papa! Yubum too!”
Yubum, who jumped between us with brave steps, hugged hyung’s and my necks with a bright face. As we gently stroked the child’s head with happy smiles, Yubum blinked his big eyes and asked us with an innocent face.
“Papa, will Yubum have a sibling too?”
It seemed he had heard it from someone. The child looked at us alternately as if asking for an answer quickly. Yubum nodded his head vigorously, his eyes sparkling, saying he would take really good care of his sibling if one came. Looking at the child like that, I was reminded of the small cotton ball that was with Yubum in my dream.
“Maybe you’ll have a pretty sibling like a cotton ball?”
Indeed, what happened in that dream must have been a glimpse of the near future. My heart started beating hard, full of excitement as I looked forward to what was to come. It was a beautiful spring day in April, full of pink cherry blossom petals fluttering in the air.
The End of “I’ve Been Possessed, But What If I Get Pregnant First?” Extra Stories