Ch.276276. An Encounter Also Comes Suddenly

After placing Hwa Nabi in the passenger seat, I drove frantically to the obstetrics clinic. The journey took about 5 minutes. I had covered a distance that would normally take a good 15 minutes by car in just 5 minutes.

It was a lesson in how much people can focus when in a hurry, but that’s not what matters right now. I parked the car and carefully supported Hwa Nabi as we entered the emergency room. This didn’t seem like a time to wait for regular consultation.

“Her water has broken.”

And my intuition was spot on. After examining her, the emergency obstetrician explained that Hwa Nabi’s delivery was imminent, evidenced by her water breaking.

The doctor explained that when delivery approaches, the mother’s cervix opens and mucus is released. Since this mucus and blood often flow in very small amounts, they use the expression “water breaking.”

“So, is everything else okay?”

“Yes. From what I can see, both the mother and baby are healthy. If you’re not in a hurry, I recommend the mother be admitted immediately. For first-time mothers, labor doesn’t necessarily begin right after the water breaks—it usually takes one to three days for contractions to start, but you never know with these things.”

That makes sense. This concerns Hwa Nabi’s health and delivery—the most important thing—so it’s a hundred times better to have her admitted to a hospital with specialists on standby 24 hours rather than being careless. What’s a little money compared to that?

I nodded to indicate my agreement. Since admission required both the patient’s and guardian’s consent, I first signed the admission papers as her guardian. I could get Hwa Nabi’s consent after she finished her follow-up procedures.

I stepped outside the examination room alone and looked through the admission information.

“Liability for damaged property falls on the patient and guardian…”

That’s standard, so I’ll skip it. Looking at the more important part about room usage, I saw that private rooms and special suites weren’t covered by insurance, making them quite expensive.

Single rooms were relatively affordable, but special suites… why are they so expensive? They start with five zeros at minimum, and the expensive ones have six. Could there be even more expensive options?

“Excuse me, nurse? I have a question. What’s the difference between a single room and a special suite?”

Out of curiosity, I stopped a passing nurse to ask. Both single rooms and special suites would be used by Hwa Nabi alone, so I wondered why there was such a price difference.

“A single room is exactly what it sounds like—a room used by the mother alone. A special suite offers better facilities and care. You can call a nurse anytime, even at night or dawn, and it’s closest to the nursing station for quick response in emergencies. There’s also security staff on duty, so it’s safer.”

“Ah, I see. Then a special suite would be better?”

So it’s about human resources. Since I can’t stay with her all day, it would be good to have someone constantly looking after her when I’m not around.

But the nurse had a blank expression. What’s going on? Is she tired? I cleared my throat, and she finally snapped back to attention, looking around cautiously before whispering.

“Actually, special suites are just expensive without much difference from single rooms. If anything, they’re just more spacious, which gives a sense of security. Other than that… it’s a waste of money. Since your patient is pregnant, she won’t be able to properly use the facilities anyway, and it seems a shame to pay five to ten times more per day.”

“Hmm, I see. But is it okay for you to tell me this?”

Recommending the special suite could be considered part of their sales strategy. I asked cautiously, and the nurse smiled with her eyes.

“I shouldn’t, but I’m telling you because you’re handsome. Just don’t tell the other staff that I told you, okay?”

“What? Oh, thank you…”

It’s a compliment and useful information, so I’m grateful, but her unusual friendliness makes me feel awkward.

I nodded awkwardly to express my thanks, and the nurse waved goodbye with a smile. I quickly turned my head away, pretending not to notice, when—

“…Oh, you startled me!”

I suddenly made eye contact with Hwa Nabi, who was standing behind me. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but the sudden eye contact startled me.

“I almost dropped the baby. Couldn’t you have made some noise to let me know you were there?”

“The baby is in my belly, why would you say that?”

“It’s just a figure of speech…”

“What did you do wrong? Why are you so surprised?”

There’s no point in denying it. Ending the small talk, I showed her the admission papers I was holding. I’ve already chosen the room, so I just need her confirmation.

“Here, sign this.”

“Okay, let me see. Special suite 1A, daily fee… one hundred and fifty?”

Hwa Nabi, who had been mumbling, suddenly looked up. Her eyes widened, apparently shocked by the special suite’s fee of several million won per night.

“Wait, honey? Isn’t one hundred and fifty too expensive for one day? I don’t think we need a special suite…”

“Oh, that? They said all the other rooms are full, so we have no choice. We have to use special suite 1A.”

Hwa Nabi seems extravagant but is secretly obsessive about saving money. If I don’t say this, she’ll downgrade the room to save on hospital bills. I can’t allow that. This isn’t just anything—it’s childbirth.

I hate to imagine it, but in the worst case, it could be life or death. At times like this, it’s right to spare no expense.

“Really? If it can’t be helped… but still, one hundred and fifty? That’s our monthly living expenses…”

“Think of it as spending for Ua. If it means a healthy delivery, what’s one hundred and fifty? I’d spend one thousand five hundred.”

“You’re right. If it’s for Ua… what’s a little money.”

Despite her words, Hwa Nabi signed with trembling hands, her eyes tightly shut. I took the papers and delivered them to the admission desk, then returned to tell her what the staff had told me.

“They’ll admit you as soon as the room is ready. It’ll take an hour or two, and they said you can lie on the emergency room bed until then. What do you want to do?”

“Hmm… should we get something to eat? You didn’t have a proper lunch, did you?”

“Really? What do you want to eat? I’ll go buy it.”

“I’d like some oyster porridge… but why are you going alone? Let’s go together.”

“No, the doctor said you need to be careful after your water breaks. Let’s stay at the hospital just in case. Okay?”

I stroked her head as I spoke, and she reluctantly nodded. She knew this wasn’t a situation where she could casually follow me around.

“Alright. But come back quickly, okay?”

She looked at me with a very regretful expression the entire time she moved to the bed, as if she didn’t want to be separated from me. I kissed her on the cheek for reassurance.

“Yes, I’ll be back as quickly as possible.”

Leaving the strangely docile Hwa Nabi behind, I left the emergency room. I’m currently in the lobby of the obstetrics ward. To get to the porridge restaurant I spotted earlier, I need to pass the main entrance and walk to the right.

I wish there were fewer people. This is the most famous and largest hospital in Seoul, so there are many patients and staff. Even though I said I’d be quick, it will take at least 30 minutes.

I should start walking now. Just as I was about to head toward the main entrance, I spotted two familiar faces in the reception waiting area.

“…Huh?”

“Oh.”

By coincidence, they spotted me too. Our eyes met as soon as I turned my head.

The two people were Im Hansol and Jin Jiyu. Why are they here? I wondered as I approached them. Im Hansol looked a bit thinner, while Jin Jiyu had her usual expressionless face.

“Wow, it really is Im Hansol! Good to see you.”

“Oh, yeah. Good to see you too. Are you here for a checkup too, Siwoo? By the way, was everything okay earlier?”

Strictly speaking, I’m not here for a checkup—Hwa Nabi is—but anyway, the details aren’t that important. Let’s move on. I have something more curious to ask.

“Yeah, nothing happened. But why are you and Jin Jiyu here together at this time…”

I was about to ask “at the obstetrics clinic?” but suddenly closed my mouth. I sensed something strange.

…I’m not sure, but this isn’t something to ask lightly. After all, a man and woman visiting an obstetrics clinic together isn’t usually an ordinary matter.

I thought it couldn’t possibly be what I was imagining, but I didn’t want to be rude by speaking carelessly. As I hesitated, trying to choose my words carefully, Jin Jiyu looked at me with a smirk and said casually:

“Why, you ask? What reason would a man and woman have for coming to an obstetrics clinic together? Obviously, we got a positive pregnancy test and came for an examination.”