episode_0152

Even though winter was still far off, the air in the kitchen felt so cold that it could give you chills.

In the quiet dining room where even the sound of water dripping from the faucet could be heard clearly, I looked back and forth between Jaehyuk and the future in-laws with a puzzled expression on my face.

…Why is the atmosphere like this?

Why is everyone looking at Jaehyuk as if he’s some kind of criminal?

Why does Jaehyuk look so guilty as if he’s committed a crime again?

The mood shifted so abruptly over a few bouts of fake retching.

Puzzled by this, I began to slowly mull over the situation that had just unfolded.

The problem lay in one thing only, the fact that while everyone else was eating apples without a care, he was alone, retching and spitting them out.

What exactly was the issue with this behavior?

After pondering for a while, I soon felt a shock as if I had been hit hard on the back of my head.

…It wasn’t a change in taste like when I overcame garlic, it was morning sickness?

So, what you’re saying is… I’m pregnant?

Confused and bewildered.

While I had always entertained the thought of having a child, now that it had actually happened, I was simply dumbfounded.

Does this mean there’s no way to stop the marriage now?

Because I have to take responsibility… it’s completely mine now?

Excitement and joy bubbling up in my hazy mind.

Although I wanted to smile, the atmosphere was so tense as if it could kill a person.

In order to save my endangered husband first, I began to suppress the sweet joy and started to explain myself.

“Mother? I’m sorry, but there seems to be a little misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding? Are you planning to blame it on someone else?”

“No? It’s just that my taste buds have changed.”

“…Explain slowly.”

Even in the midst of confusion, my calm explanation seemed to calm her down, as my mother-in-law crossed her arms and looked at me as if to say, “Go on, speak up.”

Feeling overwhelmed by the intense scrutiny, my mind went blank, but I couldn’t afford to lose the opportunity I had barely managed to secure.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my thoughts and began to recount the story of overcoming the garlic that had been so brutal four months ago.

“So… Jaehyuk almost died because he ordered garlic chicken when we first started living together?”

“Huh, yes, I thought I was experiencing a chemical attack! Tears, snot, and saliva all coming out at once, and on top of that, fake retching… how difficult it was…”

“…Son, is what Jieun just said true?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Shouldn’t you be telling Jieun instead of me? Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s, it’s okay, Mother! It’s all in the past now, what’s the big deal! It’s just a funny memory now… hehe.”

“Sigh, how did I end up with a son like you… Jieun, don’t you feel sorry for yourself?”

“Well… I always feel like I’m lacking in some way?”

Even before becoming a vampire, I had a tendency like that, but after becoming one, I can confidently say that I’m living a truly miserable life.

Remember when my studio disappeared in the first semester and Jaehyuk readily helped me?

He even gave up everything he had to make sure I was comfortable.

I was able to find a new job thanks to Jaehyuk’s help.

And ever since I started working, Jaehyuk has been doing all the housework.

Would there be another vampire roommate in the world who has been so thoroughly taken advantage of?

No matter how I look at it, I feel like I’m lacking compared to Jaehyuk.

Anyway, I was able to dispel some misunderstandings and suspicions rather than confirmations, after venting my frustrations.

Honestly, there were many aspects that made it hard to be certain about being pregnant.

While a normal human might not have these issues, I am a vampire with many hidden traits.

In a world where common sense has crumbled, fantastical things like changing tastes within a month could very well happen.

Even the pregnancy test might not function normally for a vampire like me.

Was that the reason? As my mother listened to my story, she let out a deep sigh and, with a hesitant gaze, finally spoke.

“…So, you two did have a relationship, right?”

“That… yes.”

“Just in case, after the holiday, go see an obstetrician. Once you get the results, let me know immediately. Got it?”

“”Yes.””

“Alright, rest well. Jaeyeon? Can you do the dishes instead of me, I have something to discuss with your father.”

“…Got it.”

…Looking back now, it wasn’t that my lies were convincing, but rather that my efforts were appreciated.

How could I not know that from her disappointed expression?

As I watched my mother and father leave the kitchen, I tried to grab the rubber gloves instead of Jaeyeon.

But.

“Don’t bother trying to score points, just go to your room and rest. I don’t want to see both of you right now.”

…Once again, I was rejected.

It was a moment of sadness from the perspective of a prospective daughter-in-law.

—–

“Take care, and don’t forget to let me know the results.”

“O-Of course. I’ll get tested right after the holiday.”

“…I’m sorry I couldn’t treat you properly. Please understand, it was a situation.”

“I’m more sorry! Oh, you came after a long time, and I caused so much trouble…”

“Still, it was fun. I hope you come again next time, I’ll treat you better than now.”

Having visited late the previous day, I had to rely on them for a day and got up for dinner.

Thinking that it was really a nuisance to eat dinner, I prepared to leave with Jaehyuk to the front door.

Fortunately, perhaps she had calmed down a bit, my mother bid me farewell with a softer voice than yesterday.

…In many ways, it was the worst visit.

Well, it might be a relief that the next visit will be better than this one?

Walking back to my room filled with a heavy silence, I cautiously called out to Jaehyuk, who seemed lost in thought since yesterday.

“Um… Jaehyuk?”

“…”

When he didn’t respond to my call and just stared at me, I must have looked pitiful, as Jaehyuk slowly turned his head.

As if asking why I called him, he looked down at me, and I timidly asked him a question, lowering my head weakly.

“If… if, hypothetically speaking… if it’s not just a change in taste but I’m really pregnant, what would you do?”

Jaehyuk always said he would take responsibility every time we had a relationship, but seeing him with such a serious expression made me anxious.

…Could it be that my petty possessiveness has made things too difficult for the person I love?

If I had known he would be so awkward about it, I would have been more careful when starting a relationship.

Regrets always come too late.

As the silence grew longer and my anxiety swelled, I could feel Jaehyuk’s hand resting on my head.

Pat, pat.

And what followed was a comforting stroke that eased my mind.

As I gently lifted my head in the drowsy sensation, Jaehyuk started to answer my question with a warm smile.

“I’ve been saying all along that I’ll take responsibility. Why, are you worried that I won’t keep my promise?”

“Oh, no, it’s not that…”

“Come on… are you really that worried that I might not keep my promise? How pathetic did I look for you to be so anxious, huh? Disqualified as a boyfriend… no, as a husband.”

“N-no, it’s not like that… huh?!”

As I let out a surprised gasp at his teasing remark, Jaehyuk stopped in his tracks and pulled me into a tight embrace.

As a warm feeling enveloped my body, the anxiety and fear that had been dissipating in an instant.

I felt the void left by those emotions being filled with a sense of calm, as I listened to Jaehyuk’s continued words.

“…I was just surprised to hear that you might be pregnant. I didn’t say anything until now because I was thinking about how we would live if you were really pregnant.”

“Sorry. I was just taken aback by how serious you looked…”

“You know, I always make this face when I’m thinking. I have enough ability to take responsibility, so why wouldn’t I be happy about the news of a pregnancy? Right?”

Peck –

After lightly kissing my forehead and letting me go, Jaehyuk, unlike before, started humming a tune as he walked.

Although he still had a serious expression due to habit, hearing his firm commitment to take responsibility made even his face look more dependable now.

I chuckled foolishly, replaying the words I had just heard over and over, and then quickly realized that Jaehyuk had moved away and hurried my steps.

“…Oh, by the way, what do you want to eat for dinner when we get back? Just the usual rice bowl?”

“Not a bad idea. We’re less than 20 minutes away from home, should we order ahead? The usual?”

“Yes, the usual. Oh, and let’s stop by the convenience store on the way back. I realized I don’t have any drinks left in my apartment.”

“Just ask them to add a 1.25L cola to the order?”

“I want something else to drink. And I’m craving some sweet snacks too.”

As we talked about dinner and late-night snacks while walking, we soon arrived at the convenience store.

While Jaehyuk was momentarily distracted by the snack corner, I quietly ran to the counter and asked the cashier for a pregnancy test kit.

“…Here’s the change, please pretend you didn’t see anything.”

Whispering as I handed over a ten-thousand-won bill, the cashier nodded quietly as if understanding.

With the pregnancy test kit successfully hidden in my bag, I returned to Jaehyuk’s side as if nothing had happened and started picking out snacks.

“What did you find?”

“My phone battery has been acting up lately, so I was looking for something useful. Anyway, did you pick out everything you wanted?”

“You know, I’m not a big fan of snacks. This should be enough. Now, pick out what you want to eat.”

“Got it! Let’s see, where’s the caramel peanuts…”

After achieving our goals at the convenience store, we arrived at my studio apartment with nervous hearts.

Changing into comfortable clothes and having mastered the instructions for the pregnancy test kit, I rushed to the bathroom to start using it.

It’s said that using it in the morning is most effective, but as a vampire with the opposite lifestyle, it shouldn’t be a problem to use it now.

The test results would take 10 to 15 minutes to show.

As I waited for the results while tidying up the room, swallowing my saliva dozens of times, I finally saw the results.

“Haha… congratulations on becoming a dad?”

I ran up to Jaehyuk with a chuckle and handed him the pregnancy test kit.

With a puzzled expression, Jaehyuk alternately looks at the pregnancy test kit and me.

Now that I have completely become the owner of this lovely person, I opened my mouth with a charming smile.

“Promise… Are you going to keep it?”