It was hard to believe, and not only that, despite eagerly anticipating the child, Su-yeon didn’t burst into laughter like Su-jin.

Her chest felt strange, as if it were throbbing with an odd emotion.

Was this a happy feeling? I don’t know. It just felt strange.

Although she hadn’t taken a sip of alcohol, her head and mind were dizzy, as if she were drunk.

“Unni, quickly go up and see.”

Still swaying her head without trying to grab her numb mind, Su-jin swept her lower abdomen with her hand, and suddenly Su-jin’s voice reached her.

“Aren’t you going up?”

“Ah… I went somewhere for a bit.”

“Where?”

“Um, the mart?”

Although Su-jin’s answer sounded odd, there was no room for doubt.

Su-yeon nodded and unbuckled her seatbelt, looking out the window. Beyond the car window, the familiar view of the underground parking lot appeared.

“Need the car?”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course. Or should I rent a car for you? Let me know if you need it. I can manage that much now.”

Her voice, still soaked in drowsiness, didn’t skimp on consideration for Su-jin.
The voice, still immersed in haziness, did not spare consideration for Su-jin.

“Oh, you were a bit cool just now. Anyway, go up. There probably won’t be a need, but if there is, I’ll talk about it then.”

“Got it. Then, come back safely.”

Su-yeon stepped out of the car and walked towards the building entrance.

Soon, the sound of tires rubbing against the ground sharply echoed from behind.

Upon entering the building and taking the elevator, the previously noisy surroundings fell silent.

It was only then that Su-yeon thought of In-ho.

‘I need to tell In-ho about this soon. Will he be happy when he hears it?’

Imagining his face, her heart felt like it was beating faster.

She took out her phone and dialed his number.

In the meantime, the elevator had passed the 10th floor.

It was quick to reach the 17th floor. However, In-ho still hadn’t answered the call.

‘Strange. He said he wasn’t busy today.’

There must be a clear reason for not answering the phone, but still, it felt strangely hurtful.

‘He used to say he never wanted me to feel upset. Liar.’

While thinking like that, she realized it was a forced pout.

But strangely, emotions surged in her.

The somewhat lifeless fingers pressed the door lock’s password.

The sound of unlocking resonated brightly, and Su-yeon opened the door.

“……. ”

Just as she took a step forward, Su-yeon felt something strange.

The shoes In-ho had worn when he left in the morning were neatly placed right in front of the inner door.

“……In-ho?”

With a hesitant heart, she called In-ho, but there was no answer.

Hurriedly taking off her shoes, she entered the house.

Perhaps he had come back early and fallen asleep due to fatigue—that thought crossed her mind.

She headed straight to the bedroom through the entrance corridor and living room.

Just as she passed by the half-open bedroom door, she felt something odd.

Tap, a sound of the switch being pressed echoed, and light flooded into the dark kitchen.

And beneath it stood In-ho.

“……In-ho.”

Su-yeon stared at In-ho with a surprised expression.

“What, what is all this?”

What surprised her wasn’t just In-ho alone.

Su-yeon looked blankly at the cake placed in the center of the dining table.

Come to think of it, balloons of various colors were stuck on the kitchen wall.

It seemed hastily prepared, but it was enough to wash away the disappointment of him not answering the phone.

“You came earlier than I thought.”

“Who are you?”

“It’s you.”

“Ah……. When did you come home?”

“About an hour ago?”

“Did you prepare all this in an hour?”

“Yeah.”

In-ho’s answer lacked hesitation.

Even if it was poorly done, there seemed to be enough reason to prepare an event suddenly.

“Do you, by any chance, know?”

Su-yeon asked with a trembling voice. Her heart pounded.
In truth, I was worried the whole time.

The moment when the child came to me is so precious that it cannot be exchanged for anything, but for him, it might not hold such meaning.

Unlike herself, who was always anxious about pregnancy issues, In-ho had never shown such a side.

Moreover, there had been times when their relationship had significantly drifted apart due to the same issue.

This fact became vividly recalled only after hearing about the pregnancy at the hospital.

So, Su-yeon couldn’t rejoice wholeheartedly.

Perhaps he didn’t wish for the pregnancy. Maybe the joy of having a child in the belly belonged only to her.

“Can we at least blow out the candles first?”

In-ho urged instead of responding to her trembling words.

Su-yeon’s heart still raced anxiously, but as he said, she blew out the candles. Then she looked at him with a tense face.

He placed the cake on the dining table and glanced at the bouquet placed beside it.

Suddenly, he turned his gaze towards Su-yeon. First at the bouquet, then at Su-yeon.

After repeating this several times, he finally looked away from the bouquet and approached Su-yeon at a rapid pace.

And without hesitation, he tightly embraced her.