“Oppa… I’ve been a fan since your first photo shoot. I followed you a lot at fan signings and photo shoots. There’s nothing left in my school days without Seo Taeseok.”

“It’s an honor.”

Smiling, Taeseok handed over the autograph. The message conveyed wishes for Haetsari’s family’s health and happiness.

“Shall we take a picture too?”

As Taeseok suggested, the woman burst into tears.

“Really… It’s really an honor. Be happy, oppa. You’re my first love.”

Taeseok looked around for a moment, then found tissues and handed them to the woman.

“Don’t cry. It seems like you’re quickly giving up your first love by crying like that.”

Taeseok said with a playful smile.

“Even though you’re still in your 20s, you got married and have a baby. You got married to a man you love more than your first love, so you shouldn’t cry like this. It seems like I’ve been abandoned on my side.”

The woman laughed, seemingly embarrassed. Her face was a mess from crying while laughing.

“Don’t make such jokes. It’s unnecessarily exciting. Don’t you know how fluttering it is? Now that you’re a married man.”

The woman tidied up her face and took a photo. She was moved several times by the glory of the family.
“Author Choi Yeoreum, thank you. Be happy.”

Yeoreum watched her disappear into the examination room with a smile until the end.

She couldn’t understand why the woman was thankful to her. Maybe the woman didn’t know what she was saying. It must have been how excited this moment was, once considered the entirety of her life. Yeoreum’s everyday life could be a miracle for someone.

Afterward, a few more people gathered the courage to come closer and requested autographs, and Taeseok gladly complied. However, as the number increased, he politely declined, citing the need to wait by his wife’s side.

It was the moment when the popularity of Seo Taeseok became apparent.

Beyond comments and likes, meeting real fans made him feel more tangible.

The man who was the idol of numerous girls during his school days was right in front of her. In Yeoreum’s heart, there was an idol she had cherished like a first love. Even if he wasn’t active now, hearing occasional news about him still made her flutter for no reason.

She needed to live well. Because a first love should be beautiful.

If she got entangled in various incidents and fell, the memories of the girls might become somewhat sad. Even though she was no longer a girl, thinking about that star made her forever a girl in a woman’s heart.

He was like a dream husband.

The experienced male director was taciturn. After examining the medical records of the university hospital, he reassured her that early bleeding during pregnancy is common, so she shouldn’t worry too much.

“Let’s talk after seeing the baby first.”

The ultrasound room was next to the examination room. Following the nurse’s guidance, Yeoreum lay on the bed and prepared to see the baby. Light shimmered on the dark ceiling. The baby in the ultrasound probably looked like that.

Ten days have passed since discharge. She wanted to run to the hospital a dozen times a day, but it’s not good to have frequent ultrasounds, so she endured it.

“Peekaboo. Are you doing well here?”

“Do you see the baby here? It looks very different from two weeks ago. Now it looks quite human, right?”

Indeed.

What used to look like a black bean, then a small jelly bear, had now completely transformed into a human form. Head, hands, feet—everything was clearly visible.

Taeseok stared fiercely as if trying to pierce through the monitor. There was nothing else he could do.

To show a calm appearance to Yeoreum, he pretended to be casual, but Taeseok, too, was, in fact, reaching his limit. On days when he worried about whether the baby was growing properly, he had trouble sleeping. That’s how he endured for a whole ten days.

“Oh? Doctor, just now something.”

“Did you see it? The baby moved. It’s greeting Mom and Dad.”

Taeseok had to put more effort into his eyes to keep from shaking his body. As he did, his eyes became blurry and hot. It seems like he applied too much pressure to his eyes.

He brushed his eyes with his hand. It couldn’t be a relief that the ultrasound room was dark.

“Hello… Peekaboo.”

Yeoreum greeted in a small voice.
“The baby changed position quickly. Wasn’t the head on this side earlier? But now it’s the opposite. Haha. The little one is really active.”

“Thank you.”

“The uterus shape is good too. No signs of bleeding. It’s growing well according to the gestational age.”

Taeseok now liked the hospital. He felt an infinite trust in the doctor just for saying the baby is normal. He decided to settle in this hospital.

Summer’s eyes, lying down, were moist. Taeseok gently held her hand. He hoped that the warmth flowing through the hands they held could be conveyed to the baby.

‘Mom and Dad will wait here.’

“A few more tests are needed, so do a blood test before leaving. Come back in two weeks. Do you have any questions?”

“Can’t I come back after a week?”

Summer quickly asked. Taeseok, wanting to ask the same question, nodded silently.

“You don’t need to come too often. In my opinion, the baby is very healthy.”

While receiving a maternity handbook, baby pictures, and listening to an explanation of an app where you can see the baby’s video, Taeseok protected Summer from behind.

Despite some mothers constantly coming in and out, and someone screaming, he remained calm.

He didn’t know there were so many things needed during pregnancy. Some things Summer didn’t explain, and some things she herself didn’t know.

Folic acid, supplements, vouchers, health centers.

Fortunately, they had already booked a postpartum care center. It was a domestic VVIP room with the best facilities, regardless of the cost. Confirming the pregnancy, the first thing Taeseok did was reserve it.

“Thank you. Take care.”

The two left the hospital. The people left behind stared as if enchanted.

Anyone could tell. It was love.

Taeseok, who was considerate of the much smaller Summer, guarded her from behind, gently tilting his upper body, never taking his eyes off her, protecting her affectionately.

He listened attentively as if determined not to miss a single word whenever Summer spoke.

“Wow… I envy them.”

Someone’s whisper echoed softly. It was a small happening in the maternity ward.