#145.

Outside the window, snowflakes fluttered faintly in the winter dawn, and frost flowers bloomed on the hospital room’s window. In the heart of the cold season, the warmth of new life began to fill the room. As the faint light of dawn began to seep in through the window, the baby’s first cry echoed through the room. At that sound, Han Su-jin’s eyelids slowly fluttered. She struggled to open her eyes, her still unfocused gaze turning towards the sound of the cry.

She saw a small life held in the nurse’s arms. Soaked in amniotic fluid and flushed red, the baby was crying sadly, as if scared of coming into the world. At the sight, hot tears streamed down Han Su-jin’s face.

,Our baby…” Han Su-jin’s voice was hoarse, but the affection within was deep and warm enough to embrace the whole world.

The nurse carefully placed the baby in Han Su-jin’s arms. The moment she received the baby, Han Su-jin’s whole body trembled. With trembling hands, she held the baby close to her chest. Feeling her mother’s warmth, the baby stopped crying a little and snuggled even deeper.

Han Su-jin stroked the baby’s tiny fingers, eyebrows, and nose one by one. Tears streamed down her face incessantly. They were not tears of pain, but tears of indescribable joy and love.

,Honey…” Kim Tae-young’s trembling voice was heard.

Han Su-jin raised her head and looked at her husband. Kim Tae-young’s face was also full of tears. He alternated between looking at his wife and the newborn baby, biting his lip.

,You’ve worked hard… Thank you so much.” Kim Tae-young’s voice was trembling with emotion.

Han Su-jin smiled and nodded. ,Thank you… It’s our baby.”

She looked down at the baby again. The small life had now stopped crying and was nestled in its mother’s arms with a peaceful face, as if asleep. Han Su-jin gently kissed the baby’s forehead.

,Our baby, Mommy loves you so much. Grow up healthy and happy.”

—

The humid air, as if signaling the end of the rainy season, seeped in through the hospital room window. At midday, when the sunlight announcing the start of the heat wave was dazzlingly bright, the hospital room was filled with tension and anticipation.

,Give it a little more push, Kim Eun-ju-ssi. The baby’s almost out.”

At the doctor’s encouragement, Kim Eun-ju gritted her teeth. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and her face flushed red from straining.

,Eueueue…”

Kim Eun-ju’s painful groans echoed through the hospital room. Her hands were gripping the bed rails tightly, and all the muscles in her body were focused on straining.

,That’s right, you’re doing great. It’s almost over!”

The nurse’s urgent voice was heard. Kim Eun-ju squeezed out her last bit of strength and pushed with all her might.

At that moment, the cry of a new life filled the hospital room.

,Waaah! Waaah!”

Tears streamed down Kim Eun-ju’s face at the baby’s cry. The nurse quickly picked up the baby and approached Kim Eun-ju.

,Congratulations, Kim Eun-ju-ssi. It’s a beautiful princess.”

At the nurse’s warm voice, Kim Eun-ju struggled to raise her head and look at the baby. A small, red-faced baby came into her view.

,Our daughter…” Kim Eun-ju’s voice was filled with emotion.

The nurse carefully placed the baby in Kim Eun-ju’s arms. Kim Eun-ju received the baby with trembling hands. Her eyes were filled with an indescribable light of love.

At that moment, the hospital room door opened and Lee Hyun-woo entered. His face was a mixture of worry and anticipation.

,Eun-ju-ya, you’ve worked hard.” Lee Hyun-woo’s voice was trembling with emotion.

Kim Eun-ju smiled weakly and looked at her husband. ,What about Jin-woo?”

,I left him with your mother.” Lee Hyun-woo replied.

,Thank you…” Kim Eun-ju’s voice was weak, but the joy within was deep. ,Look at our daughter.”

Lee Hyun-woo alternated between looking at his wife and the newborn daughter. Tears were already welling up in his eyes as well. He approached the two mothers with a bright smile.

,She’s so pretty…” Lee Hyun-woo carefully took his daughter’s small hand.

The hospital room was filled with a warm energy celebrating the birth of a new life. Although the hot summer sun was shining outside the window, the inside of the hospital room was filled with a fresher and more refreshing energy than ever before.

—

The clear autumn sky stretched out beyond the hospital room window. In the season when the leaves were turning red and yellow, the moment announcing the birth of a new life was approaching.

Tears streamed down Park Min-ah’s face as she held Kang Ji-won’s hand tightly. Her face was a mixture of worry, anticipation, and complex emotions.

,Ji-won-ah, it’s okay. Don’t worry.” Park Min-ah said in a trembling voice.

Kang Ji-won nodded, forcing a smile even in the midst of pain. ,Thank you, Min-ah.”

At that moment, a strong contraction hit Kang Ji-won. Her face contorted, and a scream escaped her lips.

,Eueueue…” Kang Ji-won gritted her teeth and strained.

Park Min-ah wiped the sweat from Kang Ji-won’s forehead and continued to soothe her. ,You’re doing great, Ji-won-ah. Just a little more strength.”

As time passed and the contractions continued, Kang Ji-won’s consciousness gradually faded. Just as her vision was turning white, a new sound suddenly filled the hospital room.

,Waaah! Waaah!”

It was the baby’s loud cry.

All the strength drained from Kang Ji-won’s body in an instant. A sigh of relief escaped her lips, and tears streamed down her face.

,Congratulations. It’s a healthy baby boy.” The nurse’s bright voice was heard.

Park Min-ah shed tears and held the baby in her arms. Her face was full of joy and emotion. She carefully approached Kang Ji-won and showed her the baby.

,Ji-won-ah, look. Isn’t he so pretty?” Park Min-ah’s voice trembled. And then she added in a small voice. ,He looks like Lee Han-ssi.”

At those words, Kang Ji-won’s eyes widened. She received the baby with trembling hands. Tears welled up in Kang Ji-won’s eyes as she looked at the small, red-faced baby.

,Our baby…” Kang Ji-won’s voice was filled with love and emotion.

A bright smile spread across Kang Ji-won’s face as she held the baby in her arms. Within that smile, along with the joy of a new life, was a subtle emotion about the complicated situation.

Park Min-ah smiled as she looked at Kang Ji-won and the baby. Her eyes held joy along with a hint of longing.

The hospital room was filled with a warm energy celebrating the birth of a new life. The clear autumn sky stretched out beyond the window, and the red-tinged leaves rustled as if blessing the new beginning.

—

The chilly autumn wind swirled through the hospital corridor. Kim Tae-woo sat anxiously on a chair outside the hospital room, shaking his leg. His eyes constantly alternated between the hospital room door and the clock.

,It’s been hours already…’

The worry in Kim Tae-woo’s heart grew more and more. The intermittent groans coming from inside the hospital room made his heart beat even faster.

At that moment, a new sound was suddenly heard from inside the hospital room.

,Waaah! Waaah!”

It was the baby’s loud cry. Kim Tae-woo jumped up and ran to the hospital room door. He paced back and forth in front of the door, unable to settle down.

A few minutes later, the hospital room door opened and the doctor came out. Kim Tae-woo hurriedly approached the doctor.

,How did it go?” Kim Tae-woo’s voice was filled with worry and anticipation.

The doctor smiled brightly and took off his gloves. ,Sunbae-nim, who do you think I am? Both the mother and the baby are healthy.”

A look of relief crossed Kim Tae-woo’s face.

,Go on in.” At the doctor’s words, Kim Tae-woo hurriedly entered the hospital room.

Inside the hospital room, Jung Seo-yeon looked exhausted, but her eyes were shining brightly. She was holding a small baby in her arms. Jung Seo-yeon smiled brightly when she saw Kim Tae-woo.

,Oppa, come here.” As Jung Seo-yeon called out to Kim Tae-woo, he carefully approached.

,Our baby is handsome like Oppa.” Jung Seo-yeon’s voice was filled with joy even in her exhaustion.

Kim Tae-woo’s eyes turned red as he looked at his wife and baby. ,You’ve worked hard, Seo-yeon-ah.”

He carefully took the baby’s small hand. At that moment, the guard ring on Jung Seo-yeon’s finger glowed faintly. She looked at the baby and whispered.

,Our baby, grow up healthy and happy.”

The hospital room was filled with a warm energy celebrating the birth of a new life. Although the chilly late autumn wind was blowing outside the window, the inside of the hospital room was warmer and cozier than ever before.

—

Im Ha-yoon organized the documents on her desk and let out a light sigh. Snow was falling quietly outside the window. Her gaze was momentarily blankly directed out the window.

,It’s already been a year…’

It had been a year since she was transferred to a new position. During that time, Im Ha-yoon’s life had changed greatly. The passionate police officer who once burned with justice was no more. Only a mechanical routine of handling cases as desired by those above remained.

Her hand unconsciously picked up her cell phone. When she turned on the screen, the message window with Lee Han appeared. A smile flashed across Im Ha-yoon’s lips.

,Lee Han-ssi…’

A few months ago, Lee Han had left only a message saying that he would be gone for a while and had cut off contact. Since then, he had occasionally sent short messages only to Im Ha-yoon. She felt her heart race every time she read those messages.

Im Ha-yoon slowly got up from her chair and walked to the window. Watching the snowflakes fluttering down, she thought of the other women. Han Su-jin, Kim Eun-ju, Park Min-ah, Kang Ji-won, Jung Seo-yeon… She had been giving them Lee Han’s news as well.

,Is he only contacting me?’

A strange joy and guilt simultaneously swept through Im Ha-yoon’s heart. Unlike the other women who had children, she only had memories with Lee Han. Was that why she wanted to think that Lee Han regarded her as special?

She picked up her cell phone again and skimmed through the conversation with Lee Han. They were short and concise messages, but she found herself trying to interpret the meaning within them.

,I have to trust and wait…’

Im Ha-yoon took a deep breath. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions. Where had her once just and passionate self gone? Was her current life really the right thing? Such questions flashed through her mind, but she tried not to dwell on such thoughts any longer.

Im Ha-yoon looked at the clock and confirmed that it was almost time to leave work. She slowly put on her coat and muttered.

,I should go to the management office again today…”

That statement contained anticipation and a sense of resignation. Im Ha-yoon looked at herself in the mirror one last time and checked her appearance. Her eyes were not as bright as before, but they still held a deep affection for Lee Han.

Putting her cell phone in her pocket, she found herself waiting for Lee Han’s call, just in case. Im Ha-yoon’s steps were light as she left the office. She no longer regretted her choice. Although she had become different from her past self, her feelings for Lee Han remained unchanged. That was the strength that sustained her.

—

The cold winter air enveloped the apartment complex. Han Su-jin pushed a stroller towards the management office. Her steps seemed hurried, but she moved carefully for the baby in the stroller.

,Haneul-ah, it’s cold today. I’m glad it’s not snowing.”

Han Su-jin muttered, carefully checking the stroller’s wind shield. At that moment, her gaze turned towards the management office. The lights were on. Her heart began to beat rapidly.

,Could it be…?’

She hurried her steps. At that moment, she ran into Jung Seo-yeon. The two women’s eyes met, and they contained the same anticipation. Han Su-jin saw her own reflection in Jung Seo-yeon’s appearance, which was devoid of her usual haughty demeanor.

When they opened the door to the management office, their premonition became reality. Lee Han was sitting at his desk.

Tears welled up in Han Su-jin’s eyes. ,Welcome…”

Jung Seo-yeon called out ,Lee Han-ssi…” and approached him.

Lee Han got up and approached the two women. ,You’ve worked hard.” At his words, Jung Seo-yeon finally burst into tears as well.

At that moment, the door opened again. Kim Eun-ju came in holding a baby, followed by Kang Ji-won, Park Min-ah, and Im Ha-yoon.

Park Min-ah burst into tears as soon as she saw Lee Han. Kang Ji-won proudly held her baby. ,This is our baby, Lee Han-ssi.”

Kim Eun-ju also approached Lee Han, holding her daughter preciously. ,It’s a daughter. She looks like Lee Han-ssi.”

Im Ha-yoon stood in the back, smiling happily. When Lee Han approached her and said, ,Thank you for giving me the news,” she lowered her head shyly.

The management office instantly became noisy. The space, filled with six women and four children, drove away the winter chill and was filled with warmth.

Lee Han smiled as he looked at everyone. His eyes were filled with complex emotions. Joy, relief, and perhaps even guilt.

,Everyone… I missed you.” Everyone nodded at Lee Han’s words.

Han Su-jin spoke first. ,We missed Lee Han-ssi a lot too. Where have you been?”

Im Ha-yoon asked cautiously. ,Are you… going to stay here from now on?”

Lee Han looked at everyone for a moment. His eyes were full of conviction and warmth. He answered with a gentle smile.

,Yes, I’ll be here from now on. Don’t worry.”

A look of relief spread across everyone’s faces at his words. Tears streamed down Han Su-jin’s face, and Jung Seo-yeon sobbed softly. Park Min-ah clapped her hands in joy, and Kang Ji-won held her baby even tighter.

Lee Han slowly got up and approached everyone. He gently stroked each person’s shoulder and said.

,Thank you for waiting.”

Kim Eun-ju asked cautiously. ,You’re really not going to leave, are you?”

Lee Han nodded and replied. ,This is our apartment, and I’m the manager here.”