Ch.307307. Twenty-One Years Old, Father of Two.

“Congratulations. You’re six weeks pregnant.”

Perhaps it was because I had already anticipated this outcome. The doctor’s sudden pregnancy announcement wasn’t particularly surprising.

It was more like, “Oh, I see. So it finally happened…” that kind of feeling?

No matter how difficult pregnancy is supposed to be, we made love every day regardless of time and place, so it would be stranger if it didn’t happen. With a resigned mindset, I slowly nodded.

“Ah… thank you.”

“You should thank the mother, not me. She’s done something remarkable.”

“…Thank you, Nabi.”

“Heh, it’s nothing.”

Whether she understood my feelings or not, Hwa Nabi just smiled brightly and squeezed our interlocked hands. I gently stroked her head to show my appreciation, then casually asked the doctor:

“There aren’t any other issues, right?”

“No. The ultrasound shows the fetal heartbeat is normal, and there are no unusual signs. The baby is growing well, so you can rest assured.”

“Everything’s fine, Nabi.”

“Yes, that’s a relief. Isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it’s a relief.”

Well, since it’s already happened, the best outcome would be a smooth pregnancy all the way to delivery. Let’s think positively.

“By the way, both mother and father are very lucky. Even with consecutive children, pregnancy is usually difficult with such a short interval. Heaven must have helped you.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes. When you’ve recently given birth and are still breastfeeding, pregnancy is almost impossible. The fact that you conceived means this is truly heaven’s will…”

The explanation was long, but the point was that we were incredibly lucky.

…Or should I even call this luck? Normally it shouldn’t happen, but we beat those astronomical odds. Like I thought before Woo-hee was born, Hwa Nabi and I must not have ordinary fortune. In many ways, really.

‘What do you think, husband?’

Hwa Nabi nudged me with her elbow and asked with just her eyes, so I looked back at her.

‘Huh? About what?’

‘About our second child. Do you think it’s heaven’s will too?’

‘Well…’

Getting pregnant despite using contraception, and conceiving during a period when pregnancy is supposed to be difficult. Yes, at this point, it must be heaven’s will. As they say, man proposes, God disposes—once you’ve done everything humanly possible, the rest is in divine hands.

Hwa Nabi and I tried our best to have a second child, so perhaps heaven was moved by our efforts and blessed us with a child.

‘I guess it is.’

‘Hmm….’

“Oh, ma’am. Have you lost weight?”

“Weight? I’m not sure, but maybe I have? Both my husband and I have been quite busy…”

“You seem thinner than when I last saw you, but pregnant women shouldn’t lose too much weight. I’ll prescribe some nutritional supplements for you to take.”

“Ah, I understand.”

I bowed politely and slowly got up to leave the examination room. Since we came for a check-up, there was no separate prescription, so after paying the hospital bill, I immediately took Hwa Nabi to the IV room to receive the nutritional supplements the doctor mentioned.

“It will take about an hour. When the nutrients are all gone, this water drip will stop, see? Then press the bell to call a nurse, remove the IV, and you can go home. Do you have any other questions?”

“No.”

After the nurse gave these simple instructions, she left. Hwa Nabi lay down on the hard hospital bed, and I sat in the visitor’s chair beside her. With nothing particular to do for the next hour, I figured I’d just keep her company.

“This bed is really hard.”

“All hospital beds are like that. Just bear with it for a little while.”

“…Hmph!”

Hwa Nabi pressed down on the back of my hand and quickly turned away. It didn’t hurt, but I was taken aback by the sudden attack while just sitting there.

“You’re not a child. What was that for?”

“I don’t know, it’s your fault.”

“Huh? What did I do wrong?”

“Just because. You could have said ‘Are you feeling okay?’ but you had to say something weird instead.”

“…I see. Are you feeling okay anywhere?”

“My body feels a bit heavy, but I think I’ll be fine if you hold my hand.”

So that was her real purpose? As soon as I asked, she turned back toward me and stretched out her right hand, clearly wanting me to take it.

Really, she’s such a peculiar person. I would have held her hand if she’d just asked directly, but she always has this talent for adding strange conditions and speaking in roundabout ways. Are all women like this?

Well, I’d have to have met more women to know that. Secretly smiling to myself, I took Hwa Nabi’s hand. She gently pulled my hand and whispered quietly:

“Husband. Come a little closer.”

“Is this good?”

“No, a little more.”

“…There, is this okay?”

“Yes, that’s perfect.”

I wonder why she made me lean my upper body like this. Is there something important she wants to tell me that others shouldn’t hear?

“Husband.”

“Yes?”

“We’re… having our second child now.”

“Yes… that’s right?”

“What should we use for the baby’s prenatal nickname?”

“…Don’t tell me you called me closer just to ask that?”

“Why? The baby’s prenatal nickname is so important. Don’t you know that how you name the baby affects the remaining 10 months?”

“It’s not even the real name, just pick something cute and be done with it…”

I got tense for nothing. Feeling deflated, I straightened my upper body. Hwa Nabi pulled my hand again to bring me closer.

“Don’t be difficult. Just think of one special, nice prenatal nickname. When I told my friends about naming our first ‘Woo-ah,’ they really liked it. Just come up with something that good.”

“Hmm, really? How about Woo-ah Two?”

“…Husband.”

“I’m joking, joking…”

She looks ready to scold me immediately. Secretly frightened, I quickly shook my head.

“Don’t joke around. Think of something nice. Don’t you have any ideas?”

“Well, I think I need to give it some thought…”

No matter how much she pushes, good names don’t just pop up instantly. If it were that easy, I’d have opened a naming business by now.

Still, I can’t say nothing. I tried to come up with a pretty and meaningful prenatal nickname, racking my brain. Safe options would be Sea, Sun, Affection, Love… abstract concepts like those. But they’re commonly used, so not very special.

So what would be good? I tapped my chin with my finger as I pondered.

That’s when it happened.

—Ring ring.

My phone rang in my pocket. Not a text message, but a call. The caller was Park Sehyun, my high school classmate.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Sehyun. You remember him, right? We were in the same class in first year of high school. You know, the guy with the marine haircut.”

“Ah, the one who was always asking you to introduce him to girls. Right?”

“…That’s not wrong, but is that how you remember him?”

“Yes. He made quite an impression. Aren’t you going to answer? It might disconnect.”

“Ah, yes. Sorry, I’ll take this call quickly.”

Hwa Nabi nodded and gestured for me to go ahead. She meant for me not to worry about her and take the call.

When I pressed the answer button, noisy sounds came through the phone. He must be calling from outside.

“Hello? Park Sehyun?”

[Siwoo? Are you busy right now?]

“Not really. Why, is something up?”

[Hey, do we need to have a reason to call each other?]

“What? I thought we had that kind of business relationship.”

[What? You ungrateful bastard. Han Siwoo, don’t you remember how I always covered for you with the teachers when you disappeared somewhere with Hwa Nabi during school? Should I tell everyone in the alumni chat about that?]

“I was just joking. Why are you getting so worked up? So, what’s really going on?”

[Oh, nothing much. I’m in Seoul right now, and I was wondering if we could meet up if you’re not busy. You haven’t had lunch yet, right?]

“Hmm… I don’t think I can right now.”

I glanced at Hwa Nabi while speaking. I appreciate the invitation, and friends are important, but… my family is more important. I can’t leave Hwa Nabi while she’s lying here getting nutritional supplements.

[You can’t? Why, are you busy? Or are you with your family?]

“Yeah. I’m with Nabi and someone who’s about to become family.”

[What? What does that mean?]

“Nabi is pregnant with our second child. I need to stay with her while she gets nutritional supplements at the hospital.”

[Ah… I see. You should have said so earlier. Now I feel like a jerk. Is she there with you now?]

“Right beside me. Why, want to talk to her?”

[No, don’t put her on. It might be awkward. Just give her my regards and wish her well with the second baby. I’ll hang up now.]

“Ah, wait, hey, Park Sehyun! Don’t hang up. Could you maybe suggest a prenatal nickname for our baby?”

At the word “prenatal nickname,” Hwa Nabi looked at me intently. I smiled slightly and gently stroked her hair.

[You want me to suggest a prenatal nickname? Isn’t that really important? Are you sure you should be asking me?]

“Yeah, don’t feel pressured, just suggest a pretty name. If it’s good, we’ll use it; if not, we’ll discard it.”

[If you’re going to discard it, why ask me in the first place?]

He grumbles but falls into a thoughtful silence. He must be considering a prenatal nickname because of my request.

[Boy or girl?]

“Probably a boy. But since we’re not certain, people usually choose gender-neutral names. By the way, our first child’s prenatal nickname was Woo-ah.”

[Hmm, so a gender-neutral name.]

“Yes. Got any good ideas?”

[Well… how about this?]