The sun was scorching, making it feel like the head was about to boil. Low clouds gathered in the blue sky.

Below were sporadic coconut trees and dense, nameless trees. The sounds of birds chirping leisurely.

Despite being in Bali for a winter trip in December, it was as hot as midsummer all year round, with Yeonwoo and Junhwi.

With a splash, Junhwi, breaking the water flow in the private pool, emerged outside without going through the stairs.

Even if he claimed to be a swimmer, his right-angled shoulders, firmly defined arms, well-developed chest muscles, and meticulously carved abs made him a masterpiece crafted by a master. His appearance, drenched thoroughly, was quite seductive.

However, despite having such a splendid view in front of her, Yeonwoo’s gaze lingered briefly on Junhwi in swim trunks and then turned her attention back to a video call on her phone.

Even though he made time to do weight training to look good for someone, even doing it during busy hours to show off, Junhwi nonchalantly wiped himself dry and covered his shoulders with a beach towel.

“Yeah, peekaboo! Ohoo, woong. Yeonwoo, Auntie, that’s right. Oh my, smiling. Smiling! Auntie recognizes me, right?”

Dash> Auntie, Yeonwoo’s aunt. Try it yourself.

“Jian already sat alone? Well done! Oh, he’s admirable.”

Even though her husband gestured for her to look at him from the side, Yeonwoo was too busy making eye contact with her friend Kyung-ah’s 100-day-old daughter.

“Isn’t she a genius? Why is she growing up so fast? Look at her sitting alone with so much strength in her waist.”

Dash> A genius? What’s that? She’s just a bit faster than other kids.

“No, have her undergo an intelligence test later, Kyung-ah.”

Dash> Really? Should I do that? Hm. Our Jian is a bit clever.

Just sitting down, and they call her a genius. What a fuss. Junhwi shook his head and scooped up the mashed potatoes prepared on the table with a spoon.

On the first day of their Bali trip for their first wedding anniversary, Yeonwoo was busy since morning, dealing with work on her laptop and even video calls with her friend. Ironically, Junhwi, who seemed to be on a much more leisurely vacation, was enjoying a real break.

Dash> Yeonwoo, you’re so lucky. Going to Bali. I envy you. Is the weather good there?

“Yeah, it’s just like summer here.”

Dash> Yeah, yeah. Enjoy your honeymoon for a long time, and then have a baby after I’m done. Don’t have a baby too early, like me, never.

“Ah…”

For a moment, Yeonwoo’s complexion turned pale. Her anxious, trembling eyes met Junhwi’s firm gaze.

He slowly raised his head.

“Uh, yeah… Kyung-ah, I need to eat breakfast. I’ll hang up.”

Yeonwoo hurriedly hung up the call and smiled at Junhwi.

“The call was a bit long. Did you wait for a long time?”

“Why do you even take such calls?”

“It’s just a friend asking how things are. Oh, but…”
Yeonwoo took a sip of the iced coffee on the table, and instead of finishing it, her eyes widened even more. It was because she discovered Junhwi’s well-defined abs, neatly visible between the beach towel draped over his shoulders.

“Wow, our husband is amazing. When did he create something like this?”

“I didn’t create it. It was already there.”

“Really cool! That’s why I fell for him.”

When she sincerely praised him, Yeonwoo felt relieved inwardly as she saw Junhwi, who proudly raised his eyebrows. Lately, Junhwi had become unusually sensitive whenever the topic of babies came up.

“I should start exercising hard too.”

“For someone like you, who only eats carbs.”

Upon Junhwi’s remark, Yeonwoo gently put down the morning bread she had been holding.

“From next year! From next year. Diets always start from next year.”

“Joking. Don’t push yourself too hard. Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet.”

“······I know.”

Once again, a dark shadow cast over Yeonwoo’s face. It was an atmosphere that didn’t match the clear Bali, with her eyes that were clear enough to make them tear up.

Now, she really needed to let everything out. Yeonwoo smiled, erasing the momentarily dark shadow, and picked up her fork.

A baby had come to the two of them as well.

Yeonwoo had been tired for several days, even running a fever, so on the day she insisted that Junhwi visit the hospital, she had left work. When she came back, she handed Junhwi a black-and-white photo.

“Our baby.”

“What?”

“Here, a black dot. This is our baby. Isn’t it amazing?”

As a newlywed couple who had not been married for a year, childbirth and childcare were considered something to be dealt with far in the future. Perhaps that was why. The sudden appearance of a baby felt surprising yet like a sudden gift.

However, the baby angel did not stay by their side for long and quickly returned to heaven.

On a day before their next obstetrics and gynecology appointment, from the moment Junhwi heard Yeonwoo’s tearful voice upon answering the phone, he could sense it.

Ah. It came so suddenly like that and left just as abruptly.