Baby Girl

by planet_p

Summary:

Shi Yeong just wants someone to hold her, maybe.

Chapter 1

Shi Yeong lifted her head up off Cheol Am’s chest, her hand moving to cover his heart as she helped herself to sit. The mattress made that little sound mattresses did, Cheol Am opened his eyes to meet her tearful gaze. He sat, shifted to pull her into his arms, holding her and rubbing a slow circle on her back. A tear dripped from her eye and then another. “I lost the baby,” she said, crying now.

Cheol Am’s hands found her arms and he held her away from him to look into her eyes. “Tae Yi was pregnant?”

Shi Yeong’s tears halted and her eyes turned hard, glaring. “You’re ruining it, Cheol Am.”

“Did she tell you that?”

Shi Yeong rolled her eyes, scowled. “We’re friends, I told you that already. Yes, she told me. I’m hurting. What are you doing right now?”

He frowned, considering. “Back up. You’re saying the baby was Min Hyuk’s?”

“Graces! How are you this dense? Who else’s would it be? Yours?”

“They’re a couple?”

She pressed a finger against his forehead, pushing his head back a little. “Everybody knows this. Are you stupid?”

He sighed, looking uncomfortable, rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “I must be stupid,” he grinned uncertainly, “right?”

She rolled her eyes, making a gagging sound, pressed a shaking hand to her mouth.

Cheol Am wrapped his arms around her, held her tighter, kissed her hair. “There, there. Let it all out, baby girl. It’s OK.”

Shi Yeong choked, pushing him away from, eyes flashing. “Min Hyuk’s your friend. Do you really think he’d say something like that? So stupid.”

“Just what are you suggesting about... my friend?”

“Min Hyuk doesn’t talk like that and you know it. He’s quietly passionate.”

He laughed. “Go on then, what would Min Hyuk say?”

Shi Yeong pushed him back on the bed, climbed on top of him. “You’re really ruining it, stupid.”

He touched her cheek, flipped her over so he was straddling her. Her kissed her forehead, stroked her hair, wiggled her nose with a finger and then kissed the end of said nose. “Don’t cry, baby girl. I got you. Our love is strong enough to weather any storm.” He bent down to whisper in her ear, his hot breath stirring her hair. “We’ll just try again.”

He growled playfully, bit her ear lightly.

Shi Yeong made a puking sound while Cheol Am picked her hair out of his mouth. He kissed her shoulder. “Happy?”

“Are you deaf? I threw up a little.”

He rolled off her, closed his eyes. “If that’s not it, then I give up.”

Shi Yeong sat up, crossed her arms. “Are you sure about that, Ki Cheol Am?”

He snapped open his eyes, clambered to sit. “You want to go? I can get the paperwork ready right now.”

She glared death at him. “Kiss me.”

“You’re not my type.”

“You’re not my type, either.”

He moaned, traced her lips with a finger. “I love you, Shi Yeong.”

“‘You’re the person I love most in this world,’” she said, nodding and taking his hands in hers.

“You’re the person I love most in this world,” he breathed, lifting her chin with a finger.

Shi Yeong let her eyes flutter closed, waited to feel his lips on hers.

He kissed her forehead, the side of her jaw, her eyes, her nose, her cheeks.

She pressed a finger against her lips impatiently, gritting her teeth.

Cheol Am took a deep breath, sighed, steeling himself.

“If I’m that ugly, just pretend I’m Tae Yi,” she hissed.

“You’re not ugly. And Tae Yi doesn’t do anything for me.”

Shi Yeong opened her eyes. “How quick can you knock out the paperwork?”

He blinked, slipped a hand into her hair. “Not as quickly as I can knock you up, baby girl.” He started to kiss her but she pushed him away.

“That’s not a good thing,” she told him.

He wet his lips with his tongue, thinking through her words. “Cut. We’ll do that take again.”

Shi Yeong glowered at him. “I don’t want to. You’re not Min Hyuk.”

He pouted. “Baby girl, you wound me. Who else would I be if I wasn’t Min Hyuk oppa?” He pulled her into his lap, dropped kisses onto her face like cherry blossoms. He brushed her lips with a thumb, kissed her there, gently and then more passionately.

She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him back. “Oppa?” she said, when they broke apart to breathe. “Who are you trying to fool? I’m older than you.”

“Aein.”

She kissed him again, wiggling in his lap.

After a moment, he stopped kissing her, held her face in his hands to look into her eyes. “Shi Yeong, that’s really uncomfortable. I don’t want to do anything you’re not into, but I can’t control my body if you’re doing that.”

She slid a hand along his chest, fingers trembling, grinding against his growing erection. “I’m into it. Put a baby in me, Min Hyuk.”

“Stop.”

Shi Yeong slapped him across the face.

“This isn’t going to make you feel better,” Cheol Am told her.

“Fuck you!” she spat, tears swimming in her eyes.

He pushed her back on the bed, pinned her down with his body, holding her hands so she wouldn’t strike him. “Fuck you. Do you want Min Hyuk to fuck you that badly?”

She blinked wetly, struggling in his hold. “I do!”

He considered her words, some of the fire dying in his eyes. “Well, I’m not Min Hyuk.” He sighed, let go of her hands to stroke her hair. She pounded her fists against his shoulders and chest, tears building in her eyes. A few drops ran out of her eyes.

Cheol Am watched them disappear into her hair. “I’ll do it if you still want me to,” he said finally.

She sobbed quietly, pressed her hand against his crotch. Even she could tell he wasn’t in the mood.

“Just give me a few moments.”

She nodded, brushing her tears away roughly. She climbed out of bed to remove her clothing and he rummaged in a drawer for condoms and a jar of virgin coconut oil to use in place of lubricant since he’d didn’t have any.

“Is coconut oil OK?”

“Fine,” Shi Yeong said, lying down and shifting on the mattress to get a better position. She watched Cheol Am undress, stroke his cock to hardness and roll on a condom.

“Do you need me to help you get ready?” he asked.

“No. Just use the coconut oil.”

“Are you sure?” He climbed onto the bed, watching her.

“I’m sure.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

She sighed, grabbed hold of his hand and placed it between her legs. He cupped her sex, getting her used to the feeling of his hand. “Just rub it,” she instructed impatiently.

He moved over the top of her, trailed his hands along the insides of her thighs lightly, then gripped them tighter, pulling her closer. He circled her sex with a finger, brushing her nub gently. She groaned, pressing her hand over the top of his. “Just rub it.”

He rubbed her until his hand was slick, her breath panting. She reached for him, hands grasping.

“Are you ready now?”

“I’m ready,” she moaned. She forced herself to look into his face, her eyes fixed with his. “Put it in me.”

He positioned himself at her entrance, breathing heavily. “I’m going to put a lot more than that in you, baby girl.” He thrust into her, averting his gaze from hers.

Shi Yeong placed a hand on his face, making him look at her. “Harder.”

“Do you want Min Hyuk to teach you how to handle stick?”

“Teach me, you disgusting pervert!”

---

Tae Yi sighed heavily, rubbing her thigh with a hard.

Shi Yeong sipped her coffee, watched Tae Yi without comment.

“It’s been tough, but I think we’re finally in a good place.” Tae Yi took a gulp from her mug.

“I’m happy for you,” Shi Yeong lied.

“I think I’m happy too. I’m trying to be happy.” Tae Yi stared into her coffee, trying to find the words. “I am happy, just not the same as before.”

“That’s understandable. You’ve gone through a lot, Tae Yi.”

Tae Yi nodded, a light mist appearing in her eyes.

Realising she’d said the wrong thing, Shi Yeong said the first thing she could think of. “I’ve been seeing a man.” She regretted it immediately, of course.

“A man?” Tae Yi was all smiles abruptly.

“Just a man,” Shi Yeong said.

“Do I know this man?” Tae Yi asked, eyes sparkling.

“I don’t want to say.”

“Do you like him that much?” Tae Yi laughed. “Or have you done some things with him you’d be embarrassed for your friend to know about?”

Shi Yeong touched her hair, fanned her face which was suddenly hot. “We’ve done quite a lot. In quite a lot of places.”

Tae Yi giggled and reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly.

“I don’t know why I’m telling you this,” Shi Yeong said. “You don’t tell me what you do with Min Hyuk.”

“What don’t I tell you?” Tae Yi asked.

“The sexy bits.”

Tae Yi laughed and smacked her arm. “I can’t tell you that. I don’t want you thinking about my Min Hyuk like that.”

“Please,” Shi Yeong said, “I’m not into him. I’m just curious.”

“I’m curious too.”

“In the bathroom.”

“Oh my!”

“In the car. In his office.”

Tae Yi squealed, covering her mouth with a hand. “No way!”

Shi Yeong smirked. “Twice.”

“You’re a bad woman,” Tae Yi told her. “Min Hyuk would never do anything like that. He’s the sweetest thing. He’d be so mortified.” She sighed. “Do you like him?”

“Not at all,” Shi Yeong said. “But I enjoy the sex. Do you enjoy sweet Min Hyuk?”

Tae Yi smiled. “You have no idea.” She patted her chest. “It melts my heart every time.”

“You’re so goofy.”

A song they both knew came on over the sound system and Shi Yeong leapt out of her seat, grabbing up Tae Yi’s hands and pulling her to her feet. They danced happily, laughing and giggling.

“I don’t know if I like your man,” Tae Yi said, leaning close to whisper in her ear. “He’s a bad influence on you.”

Shi Yeong moaned, her eyelashes fluttering. “‘I could just eat you all up, baby girl.’”

Tae Yi snorted, blushing.

“He’s so bad at dirty talk,” Shi Yeong said. “But it’s hilarious.”

“Harder,” Tae Yi joked.

“How hard? This hard? Or this hard?” Shi Yeong snorted. “Just plough me. I’ll plough you like a wheat field.” She fell about in laughter. “A freaking wheat field! Where are these wheat fields and what’s so damn good about them?”

“He’s not that smart,” Tae Yi laughed.

“He’s not smart at all, but he’s good for a laugh.”

“It’s so good to see you smiling,” Tae Yi said.

“I feel the same way.”

---

Cheol Am rolled off the couch with a thud and crawled away from Shi Yeong. “Save me! Somebody, please.” She ran after him and leapt on top of him, laughing and falling to the floor beside him. He dropped his mouth to hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck, accepting his kiss.

The office door whooshed open a short while later, startling the pair, and Shi Yeong jumped to her feet, pointing to the couch they’d been kissing behind. “Look under there.”

“Did you lose something?” Min Hyuk asked.

“My ear piece,” Shi Yeong said. “It’s no big deal.”

“Oh, I’m stuck,” Cheol Am groaned.

Shi Yeong brushed a hand over her hair. “Did you find it?”

“No.”

“Wiggle. Wiggle, wiggle.”

“Hang on.” Cheol Am stood up, held out his hand, opened his palm to reveal an ear piece.

“Thank goodness!”

“Put it in your pocket next time.”

“I’ll put it in your pocket,” she said, leaning over in an attempt to shove it in his pocket.

He jumped back, giving her a weird look.

She patted her thighs, indicating her skirt. “Where are the pockets? Are they invisible? Hold up—in another dimension?”

“Your jacket pocket.”

“That’s where my dev goes, and when I take it out—oops!”

“Can I talk to you?” Min Hyuk asked Cheol Am.

“Inside pocket.”

“My gun.”

Cheol Am glanced at Min Hyuk. “Mmm. One moment.” To Shi Yeong, he said, “I’ve seen you wearing pants. They must have pockets. Why not wear those?”

“Is there something wrong with your ears?” Min Hyuk asked.

Shi Yeong stared at him; Cheol Am winced.

“Should I come back?” Min Hyuk asked.

“Do stay, sweetheart.” Shi Yeong fit the ear piece into her ear, glared at them both, and stomped out.

Cheol Am gestured to the couch. “Have a seat. What is it you wanted to talk about?”

---

“Oh my!”

“Oh my!” Cheol Am sipped his iced tea loudly through a straw, looking around the clothing store dubiously.

Claudia waved him over with a hand. “Why are you here?”

“Why do you think? I’m your escort.” He winked.

She shook her head. “I guess they give you a pass, since you’re the boss.”

“You got it.”

“Did you get a girlfriend?” she asked, browsing through a rack of jackets.

“Get? Babe, I’ve got a girlfriend for every day of the week, and two for weekend days. Did I? I don’t know. That’s not the word we use. She’s a lady. A very sexy lady.”

“Ki Cheol Am,” Shi Yeong said through his assist, “as much as I find your messed up love life fascinating—shut up.”

He bit his lip, touched his ear piece. “Copy that. Over.”

Trying on a sequinned jacket, Claudia hit him with a coat hanger. “Finish your iced tea. Don’t speak. Just look nice.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is plain, nondescript—so spy.”

She raised a finger to her lips. He took a sip of his iced tea, smiling cutely.

Claudia made a slow turn. “What do you think? Does it look good on me?”

He made a finger heart.

She pulled a face. “That means it looks bad.”

---

“Can you imagine being as rich as Claudia that you can time travel just to go shopping?” Hye Soo asked Tae Yi and Shi Yeong in the gym.

“Too rich,” Shi Yeong snorted. “Head Office assigned Ki Cheol Am as her guide. As if he’s somehow the better option, just because he’s the director.”

“No, it’s so everyone else can get a break from him every once in a while,” Hye Soo joked. “Thank God for tiny mercies.”

Tae Yi crossed herself. “Amen.”

Shi Yeong started coughing, hit the button on her treadmill to make it slow down and stop.

Tae Yi leaned over and rubbed her back, sympathising with her.

Shi Yeong reached for her bottled water, took a swig. “I’m good.”

“That cold really got you good,” Hye Soo said. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” Shi Yeong replied. She gulped another mouthful of water.

“Frustrated,” Tae Yi teased. “Shi Yeong’s seeing a man. But they had to take a break so she didn’t give him the cold.”

“You’re so considerate,” Hye Soo said.

Shi Yeong waved a hand, waving away the conversation. She didn’t want to talk about that right now.

“Did you break up?” Tae Yi asked, slowing down and stepping off the treadmill to stretch.

“We’re fine. I’m just uncomfortable talking about this with Hye Soo.”

“Hye Soo wants in on the juicy stuff,” Hye Soo pouted. She tried out a few different looks, frowned. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

Shi Yeong coughed, choking on some water. She pat her chest.

“I’m down with that,” Tae Yi said. “I didn’t know you had anyone, Yung Hye Soo.”

“I wouldn’t term it quite like that. I’m more of a casual hookup type of person. Relationships are hard work, and, let’s face it, hardly ever pay off.”

Shi Yeong clapped a hand to Hye Soo’s arm. “I’m with you.”

“Oh, is it Gang Up On Tae Yi Day? Is that what day it is?” Tae Yi laughed. “Don’t believe her, Hye Soo. She’s been seeing the same guy for three months. They’re practically married.”

“Ew,” Shi Yeong said.

“I once dated a guy for two weeks,” Hye Soo confessed. “It was wild.”

“You can talk about marriage,” Shi Yeong teased Tae Yi. “What about you and yours? Haven’t you been together for longer than a year?”

“You’re so jealous,” Tae Yi laughed.

“Yeah, I am,” Shi Yeong said seriously.

Tae Yi’s smile died a bit and she frowned. “What?”

“I’m so jealous.”

“Oh Shi Yeong, quit messing with me.”

“Who’s messing?” Shi Yeong asked.

“What is going on?” Hye Soo said, coming to stand beside Tae Yi in case she needed to intervene.

“Stop it, Shi Yeong!” Tae Yi said. “It’s not funny any more.”

“It was never funny,” Shi Yeong ground. “I never found it funny.”

Tae Yi closed her eyes, sighed. “I can’t believe this. I trusted you. I told you about us.”

“Thank you so much,” Shi Yeong said falsely. “I was sicking in my mouth every single time.”

“You’re shitting me,” Hye Soo interrupted. “You’re fighting over a guy?”

“My guy!” Tae Yi growled.

Shi Yeong coughed, winced. “Unfortunately.”

“Far out,” Hye Soo groaned.

The glare in Shi Yeong’s eyes faded and she smiled slowly. “I’m just fucking with you!” she laughed.

Tae Yi’s shoulders dropped and she started hitting Shi Yeong. “Bitch! You bitch!”

“You’re right,” Shi Yeong said, pulling her into her arms. “I’m a bitch.” She rubbed Tae Yi’s back. “Shh. It’s all right. Everything’s all right now.”

Hye Soo swallowed, slowly started to back away.

“Where are you off to?” Shi Yeong asked her, grinning. “You haven’t heard anything yet.”

“If I knew you were a crazy bitch-”

“Crazy bitches have more fun.”

Tae Yi grabbed Hye Soo’s arm. “Stay. I can’t be alone with this crazy bitch or I might just punch her out.”

“Sounds legit,” Hye Soo said.

---

Shi Yeong sighed heavily, laying back on the mattress. She pulled Rama, Cheol Am’s ugly pink blob fish plushie, towards her. She bit his fin, stuck her tongue out at the awkward feeling of fabric in her mouth. “I nearly wrecked myself today. I was this close to fucking everything up.” She dropped the blobfish, turned over to catch Cheol Am’s eyes. He picked up her hand, kissed it. “My heart was pounding and I just felt so sick and messed up. It was a scary feeling.”

“How are you feeling now?” he asked.

She sighed. “Not much better, to be honest.”

He put an arm out and she moved closer, resting her head on his chest, listening to his heart.

“Cheol Am?”

“Mmm?”

“Do you think I’m a crazy bitch?”

He laughed. “A bitch, maybe. On your bad days. Crazy? No, never.” He stroked her hair.

She closed her eyes, letting herself relax. She had a feeling he’d have said something else entirely if it had been Min Hyuk asking, but she wasn’t upset about it. It was what it was. “You’re the crazy to my bitch,” she joked.

“Stamp it and sign on the dotted line. It’s certified.”

She sat up suddenly, brushing her hair out of her face over her shoulder. “When are you going to introduce me to your other girlfriends? I’m particularly curious to meet Misses Saturday and Sunday one and two.”

He touched her cheek, stroked it gently. “That was crazy person talk. You’re the only girl in my life.”

Shi Yeong glared at the blobfish.

“Rama’s a boy fish.”

“He’s pink.”

“Pink is a colour not a gender,” he smiled.

She bent down, kissing him slow and long. She really did love Tae Yi, she figured, which meant she’d have to get over her feelings for Min Hyuk one way or another. If she lost Tae Yi because of it, she’d be just so totally wrecked.

She settled on top of Cheol Am, kissed his cheek, his brow. “Let’s make love. Tae Yi says Min Hyuk is sweet. He never puts it on her in indecent places. Forget dirty talk, that’s simply crude. If you can’t repeat it to your mother during Sunday Mass, those words better not touch your goddess’s ears.”

“I’d love to, Shi Yeong, but we’re out of condoms.”

She groaned, scrambled off him to pull open the drawer on the bedside table, rummaged in it for a moment, dropping things to the floor in her search.

He kissed her shoulder, the back of her neck.

She headed to the bathroom, checked there too. Came back and plonked herself down on the mattress with a huff. “I’m so frustrated.” She lay back, gazing up at the ceiling. He placed his head in her lap, rubbing a hand up and down her calf.

“Do you want me to help you feel better?”

“No.” She pushed herself into a sitting position, combing her fingers through his hair. “I could take a pill. Afterward.”

“What about STIs?”

She made a face. “How many women are you going around sleeping with exactly? I thought you said I was the only one.”

“I haven’t been tested before.”

“Neither have I,” she grouched.

He sat up, kissed her briefly. “Safety first, aein.”

“I’m going out of my mind.”

“I’m the crazy one here, remember? You’ll be fine. Do you want to lie down?”

“What good is that going to do?”

“We could touch each other.”

She nodded, taking to the idea. She clambered across the mattress and lay back, rolling onto her side to wait for him to join her. They kissed some more, exploring each other’s bodies with their hands. Shi Yeong had unzipped his fly and was sliding her hand into his pants when Cheol Am said, “Shit. I haven’t washed my hands.”

She smacked his chest. “You’re crazy.”

He smiled at her softly. “Come with me.”

She rolled her eyes, went with him to the bathroom. They washed their hands together and ended up getting each other off against the mirror, their panting breaths and moans loud against the tile.

Laying in each others arms on the floor later, Shi Yeong closed her eyes, smiled sleepily. “Your bathroom is the best.”

“I know.”

---

“Graces!” Shi Yeong giggled, turning the skirt this way and that in amazement. It was professional, gorgeous and classy—and it had pockets! “Thank you. Thank you!” She reached up on tippy toes to kiss Cheol Am. “I love it.”

“I love you.”

---

Crazy, he’s crazy, Shi Yeong told herself throughout the day. You can’t believe what he says.

Fuck! Fuck! If he was for real then she’d just have to dump him. Actually, if she was being strictly honest, they’d never been a couple to begin with. They were more like cuddle buddies turned fuck buddies; associates with benefits.

“Tae Yi, I’m in so much trouble. I made a mistake. A colossal fucking mistake!”

Tae Yi slid an envelope across the table, smiling around a mouthful of pastry.

Hye Soo arrived and slipped into a seat. Tae Yi passed her an identical envelope. “For you.”

“Plush!” Hye Soo hurried to open it and gasped, grinning brightly. “Oh my Gods, you’re getting married!”

Shi Yeong felt her heart sink.

“Yes,” Tae Yi said happily. She moved her gaze to Shi Yeong. “What’s the matter, sweetie? Why are you in trouble? What mistake did you make?”

Shi Yeong shook her head, snatched the envelope up with shaking hands and pulled out the invitation within. “Congratulations, Tae Yi.”

“Congrats!” Hye Soo gushed. “But are you sure this is right? It says you’re marrying Min Hyuk.”

Tae Yi blushed. “That’s right.”

“Plot twist.”

“You didn’t know?” Tae Yi asked.

“I guess I figured, but I tried not to know.”

“That’s kind of you.”

Hye Soo waved a hand. “Congratulations again!”

Shi Yeong stood up abruptly, her stomach roiling. “I’m hungry.”

“Have one of my pastries,” Tae Yi offered.

Shi Yeong shook her head violently. “I’m craving something savoury,” she lied, forcing herself to walk slowly and calmly in the direction of the cafe even though she felt like throwing her entire stomach up, and maybe some of her guts.

---

Shi Yeong felt tears coming on. This doctor seemed awfully judgey and it was killing her just then.

“Are you saying you had no idea you’re pregnant? None at all?”

“None,” Shi Yeong said, reaching for a tissue. She scrunched the tissue in her hand and started at her palm, the strange redness she hadn’t really taken notice of before. She grabbed another tissue, blew her nose.

“You’re sixteen weeks pregnant. Every body is different so while some may be showing at four months, others may not. You might also notice a stuffiness in your nose and nosebleeds, among other things.”

“Can I still abort?” Shi Yeong asked.

“Discounting extenuating circumstances, I have to tell you you’re a little bit past that stage. However, in the case of rape, certain health, social and economic reasons, you may be permitted to terminate up until the twenty-fourth week.”

Shi Yeong nodded and immediately burst into tears.

---

Despite knowing very well the code to Cheol Am’s suite, Shi Yeong knocked on the door and waited instead. She’d have to forget she knew it now; she couldn’t be sneaking in at all hours for hugs and kisses, or anything else, either.

If she thought about it—really thought about it—it had been extremely unprofessional of them to carry on as they had.

Cheol Am opened the door, smiled when he saw it was her. “Did you forget-?” His words trailed away along with his smile, noting the seriousness of her expression. He reached out to hug her but she shied away and stepped past him, allowing the door to close after her.

Shi Yeong fell back against the closed door, tears blurring her vision. “We need to talk.”

“Do you want to sit down first?”

“No.” She brushed her tears away and forced herself to meet his eyes. “I found out I’m pregnant and I want to abort. I don’t love you and I have no desire to raise a child with you.”

He blinked, took a deep breath, leaned back against the wall. “That’s a lot to process in one go.” Neither of them spoke for a long moment. Shi Yeong fought with her tears silently. “I’m sorry you’re going through something you never asked for. Of course you must do what you think is best. It’s your body.”

He slid down the wall to sit on the floor. “I’m really sorry, Shi Yeong. I... I can come with you, if you need someone... for whatever reason.”

“How can you say that?” Shi Yeong cried. She let herself sink to the floor, crying openly now.

He turned to catch her eyes. “Say what?”

“That you’re OK with it all.”

“Because it’s your body.”

“Don’t you care about the baby at all?” she sniffed.

He passed her a handkerchief. “I never said I didn’t.”

She took the handkerchief with trembling hands, careful not to brush their fingers. “Will you really come with me?”

“I have to. It’s my baby too. It is, isn’t it?”

She nodded, unable to say the words.

“That’s what you do when you love someone. You stay by their side, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.”

“Please stop saying you love me. I don’t feel good hearing you say that.”

“I’m talking about the baby. I don’t want to make you feel bad.”

Shi Yeong crawled closer, rested her forehead against his shoulder, cried. “Hold me, Cheol Am.”

He wrapped her in his arms, stroked her back and she let herself sink into the familiar comfort.

Chapter 2

Tae Yi and Min Hyuk’s wedding was just lovely, lovely in every way. Shi Yeong cried too much, had a single glass of champagne, and danced with Hye Soo until she was ready to drop where she stood.

Baby was now five months along and starting to show. Shi Yeong had been advised against standing for long periods of time and so she sat down for work, working from her one of the terminals and occasionally putting her feet up.

Dancing with Hye Soo was the longest she’d been on her feet for a month, and her feet ached. Her legs ached. She also needed to pee quite badly.

Hye Soo accompanied her to the bathroom and they chatted about the party. “How are you going with...?”

“Not going, gone. We broke it off.”

“Seriously?”

“A few weeks ago.”

“I guess... you’re a free woman again.” Hye Soo grinned. “And we just so happen to be at a party. What are the chances?”

Shi Yeong finished peeing and came out of the stall. She washed her hands, fixed her hair in the mirror.

Hye Soo leaned over to dab a little lipstick on her mouth and Shi Yeong smacked her lips. “That’s enough.”

“You seem a bit down,” Hye Soo noted. “Did you like him after all?”

“I liked him a whole lot.”

“Then why did you break up?”

Shi Yeong sighed. “Min Hyuk, Hye Soo.”

Hye Soo’s eyes widened. “What?”

Shi Yeong wiped her nose on some paper towel, threw it in the bin. “Forget I said anything. I’m happy for him. I’m happy for both of them.”

Hye Soo sighed heavily. “You don’t have to be sad. You can be happy, too. At least for tonight.”

“I don’t need to hook up, Hye Soo. I really don’t.”

“Are you really OK? I mean-”

“What?”

Hye Soo winced. “It sort of seems like you’ve been comfort eating. Why did you break up?”

“I don’t know what you’re saying, Hye Soo. What are you talking about?”

“Did he hurt you?” she whispered. “Is that why... you don’t want another partner? And why you’re having trouble with your mood?”

“There’s nothing wrong with my mood,” Shi Yeong told her, tears swimming in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, but there really is.”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” Shi Yeong said, stepping around her and marching out of the bathroom. She looked around at all the people, spotted Cheol Am and grabbed his hand. “Dance with me. Hye Soo is annoying me.”

Hye Soo returned from the bathroom, watching them for a while and chewing her lip. Eventually a young man came to ask her to dance and she accepted, leaving Shi Yeong with Cheol Am.

“I met with my doctor and she said everything looks good to go ahead.”

“Do we have to talk about that now?”

Shi Yeong started crying; loud, messy tears streaming down her face, her nose running.

Cheol Am produced a handkerchief and wiped her eyes, helped her blow her nose. “I’m sorry, Shi Yeong.” He pat her back slowly, somewhat awkwardly.

Hye Soo appeared out of the crowd, a frown on her face. “No, just no.” She pulled Shi Yeong towards her, wrapping her tightly in her arms. Tae Yi hitched up her skirt so she wouldn’t trip on the hem and rip her nice new wedding dress and hurried over, standing between Cheol Am and Shi Yeong and Hye Soo.

“Don’t do that,” Tae Yi said. “Whatever your game is, stop.”

Cheol Am stepped back, slightly alarmed. He put his hands up as if thinking Tae Yi might take him down, her wedding dress and the guests be damned. “I’ve stopped. I’m not doing anything.”

“Shi Yeong?” Han, Shi Yeong’s mentee, looked between the women and Cheol Am.

“Hye Soo, take Shi Yeong inside,” Tae Yi instructed. “Han, go with them.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m watching you,” Tae Yi breathed dangerously, then she spun about and went to join her husband.

---

Shi Yeong was asleep in the guest room. Tae Yi sat beside her on the bed, stroking her hair gently. Hye Soo stood in the doorway, her expression tense.

“You’re worried about Shi Yeong too, aren’t you?” Hye Soo asked.

“I’m sure Cheol Am didn’t mean anything by it,” Tae Yi said. “He just doesn’t know when to shut his mouth.” She sighed, pulled the blanket up to cover Shi Yeong’s sleeping form. “How can I not be worried? Shi Yeong’s having a hard time. She broke up with that idiot and now she’s pregnant.”

“Wait, wait—pregnant? I thought-” Hye Soo shook her head. “Never mind. Somehow it all makes sense now.”

Tae Yi gave a heavy sigh. “Poor thing.”

“Do you know who this man is she was seeing?”

“No, I have no idea. Shi Yeong never mentioned him by name. I just know he’s an idiot.”

“I can’t help feeling like he did something, hurt her somehow,” Hye Soo said quietly. “Why did Shi Yeong suddenly run to the director? And then she started crying.”

“Good point.”

“He’s not going to tell us, though, is he? Not after we wounded his ego like that.”

“Min Hyuk?” Tae Yi suggested.

Hye Soo peered into the gloom, rubbing the sole of her shoe over a bobble in the carpet compulsively. “I don’t know, Tae Yi. I think Shi Yeong would prefer this matter stay between us. She didn’t even tell me she was pregnant.”

“She didn’t tell me, either. I connected the dots and broke into her doctor’s office to confirm my suspicions.”

Hye Soo lifted her gaze from the floor. “When did you do that?”

“Two days ago.”

Hye Soo nodded silently.

“She’s getting an abortion.”

“What?” Hye Soo’s hands started to shake and she clenched her fists.

“I’m going to get to the bottom of this, I promise. But you have to calm down. We can’t let Shi Yeong know about this. She’s dealing with enough as it is.”

“I want to rip his eyeballs out and stomp them so bad!” Hye Soo took calming breaths, shaking her arms to try and release some of her anger. “She’s really fucked up.”

“Isn’t that taking it a bit far, Hye Soo?”

“You have no idea the shit she’s told me.”

Tae Yi folded her arms. “I have a lot of ideas, Hye Soo.”

“Like what?”

“Like this guy got her into all kinds of nasty shit she wasn’t into but she liked him too much to say no.”

“Drugs?”

“For all I know, he might have done,” Tae Yi scowled.

On the bed, Shi Yeong moaned and flailed her arms about, reaching for something. Tae Yi fixed her blanket and rubbed her back. “Shh. It’s OK. It’s all OK.”

Shi Yeong grabbed her hand and held onto it, hugging it to her chest. “Cheol Am, I’m sleeping. Stop reading.”

Tae Yi met Hye Soo’s eyes, her blood running cold. “Shh, shh. It’s all right. Go back to sleep, sweetie.”

Shi Yeong opened sleepy eyes and moaned. “I can’t sleep.” She suddenly noticed who she was talking to and dropped Tae Yi’s hand. She sat up hurriedly in the low light, fighting with the blanket. “It’s not what it sounds like.”

“Gods!”

“Don’t be angry. Please don’t be angry,” Shi Yeong pleaded.

“We’re not angry at you, sweetie,” Tae Yi told her.

“He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“He did plenty wrong. You don’t have to stand up for him, Shi Yeong. Hye Soo and I won’t let him hurt you again.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Hye Soo growled.

“He didn’t hurt me,” Shi Yeong said, starting to cry. “We’re two consenting adults.”

“That’s not how it works, Shi Yeong,” Tae Yi told her. “He’s your boss. He’s in a position of authority and power over you. At the bare minimum, it’s an abuse of power.”

Shi Yeong climbed out of bed, groaning abruptly and clutching her belly. Tae Yi and Hye Soo rushed to her side in concern. Shi Yeong ran for the door and out into the hall. Her friends stared after her for a moment, then they took chase.

Cheol Am was lying on the grass, talking to a cat in the garden when Shi Yeong ran up to him, nearly tripping over him in her haste. The cat bolted and Shi Yeong grabbed Cheol Am’s arm, trying to pull him to his feet.

“Wait, where are you going?” Cheol Am asked the cat. He staggered to his feet. “Shi Yeong, Oh Shi Yeong.” He hugged her clumsily, clapped a hand to her back as if they were old pals.

“Why are you drunk?” she groaned.

“What a strange fellow, am I right?” He held a hand over his mouth suddenly. “Mmm, no.” He stumbled away to throw up in the garden bed. Shi Yeong patted his back gingerly, warily eyeing Tae Yi and Hye Soo as they approached.

An older woman came out, carrying a bottle of liquor. “I’m marrying him no matter what you say.” She laughed. “Shi Yeong, my dear!”

“Vanessa. What are you doing here?”

“I came to see,” she pointed, “him. Arthur wants to meet him. I can’t imagine why, but that’s Arthur for you.”

“Why are you here—at this wedding?” Shi Yeong elaborated.

“This is... Correct me if I’m wrong but this is a garden.” She waved a hand vaguely. “Cheol Am will do anything to avoid me. I paid someone to find out where he’d run off to and I came here, post-haste.”

“Leave me alone, Mother. I don’t want to meet Arthur. Ever.”

“You already met him, you demon!”

“I know,” he groaned. “Bring that bottle over here. I’m not drunk enough.”

Vanessa passed the bottle to him. “Drink, my child.”

Shi Yeong snatched the bottle out of Cheol Am’s hands. “Absolutely not.”

“Arthur,” he moaned. “Arthur. I hate Arthur. He’s a bastard.” He collapsed in a heap, crying quietly.

Vanessa turned away, shouted across the garden. “Arthur, we’re back here! I found him.”

Cheol Am shook his head, crawling away into the garden bed.

Tae Yi turned on the spot, scandalised at all these strange people crashing her wedding, especially since the party was already over.

Shi Yeong followed Cheol Am into the garden bed, attempting to help him to his feet.

An older man—Arthur, presumably—appeared and Tae Yi grabbed hold of his arm. “No, no, no. Stop right there. You people are really trying my patience.”

Arthur pulled his arm out of her hold, gave her a withering look. “Who are these people, Vanessa?”

“It was a wedding, apparently,” Vanessa expounded in flowery, mocking tones.

Tae Yi groaned. “Oh, my head!”

Min Hyuk arrived with a gun, pointed it at Arthur. “You’re trespassing. Kindly direct yourselves to the exit. It’s that way.”

Tae Yi pouted, affecting a girlish tone. “Yeobo, put the gun away. Please! It’s our wedding night. I know you’re a gangster but none of that matters tonight. Tonight, you’re just my husband.”

“I don’t like the look of him.”

“Aw!”

“He looks unsavoury.”

Tae Yi slipped her arm through his, kissed his cheek. “You’re too sweet.”

“You’re upsetting my wife,” Min Hyuk growled, lowering the weapon to Arthur’s knee.

“Vanessa! Vanessa, come over here.”

Vanessa tossed her head. “You’re not a nice person, mister,” she lectured Min Hyuk. “And I don’t like the look of your fucking wife.”

She turned the bottle of liquor she’d commandeered from Shi Yeong upside down and let it pour out onto the grass, dropped the bottle with a dull thud. “Have a nice party!”

She strutted away ahead of Arthur and he marched after her quickly.

“I’m so sorry,” Shi Yeong apologised, emerging from the garden bed as Min Hyuk was putting his gun away and Cheol Am was trying to dig a hole to hide in. “Vanessa is utterly vile when she’s drunk and the basest character you could possibly have the misfortune to meet.”

“Cheol Am’s mother,” Tae Yi whispered to Min Hyuk. She made a face, glancing the way of Cheol Am. “What is he doing?”

“He doesn’t like Arthur,” Shi Yeong said.

Tae Yi waved a hand. “Somebody stop him before he destroys the whole thing.”

Shi Yeong returned to where Cheol Am was digging in the flower bed. Seeing her approaching, he made himself as small as possible. “I’ll be good. I’ll be good.”

“It’s Shi Yeong,” she said, bending down to stroke his hair. He scampered closer and wrapped his arms around her legs.

“Shi Yeong!”

She patted his head. “Arthur is gone. Get up now. Come on.”

He made a deep growling sound.

“Are you growling at me? Ki Cheol Am, stop that!”

He made to bite her ankle and she jumped back, yelping. “He’s lost his mind.”

Hye Soo picked the empty bottle up from the lawn, walked slowly over, cracked it over Cheol Am’s head. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Shi Yeong stared at her, aghast.

Hye Soo shrugged. “Arthur sounds like a real piece of work. Director Ki was clearly suffering. He’ll be fine for a while. Let him sleep it off.”

Shi Yeong crouched down to check on Cheol Am, picking pieces of glass out of his hair.

“Shi Yeong, don’t touch that. You’ll get hurt,” Hye Soo said.

“He’s bleeding.”

“A little blood never hurt anyone.”

Shi Yeong nodded, stood up shakily. Hye Soo hugged her and they returned to the guest house.

“It looks like it’s just you and me, hubby,” Tae Yi said to Min Hyuk. She grinned.

He put his hand in hers. “It looks like it, yeobong.”

---

“You need to get a restraining order on that woman,” Shi Yeong told Cheol Am over breakfast. He was camped out by the kitchen sink in case he needed to retch while Tae Yi, Hye Soo and Shi Yeong ate leftover wedding cake and Min Hyuk slept with his head on Tae Yi’s shoulder.

“Her lawyers are not human,” Cheol Am moaned.

“Come and have some cake.”

He puked into the sink.

“At least open the window.”

He felt for the window latch blindly and got it unlocked, pushed the window open.

“I recommend AA,” Hye Soo put in her two cents’ worth. “For you both.”

“I thought you were going to bite me,” Shi Yeong told him. “You scared me.”

“Give me the dev,” Cheol Am groaned. “I’ll call them now.”

“Who?”

“The AA.”

“AA,” she said.

Hye Soo leant closer. “Give it to him,” she whispered to Shi Yeong. “Where is it? I’ll do it. Hang on, I’ll give him mine.”

“Don’t,” Shi Yeong said. “He’ll hark up on it and it’ll be ruined. It’s his thing.”

“My thing is being adorable,” he whined. “Give it to me.”

Hye Soo laughed. She took out her dev, pressed a couple of buttons, stood up, walked to his side. “What did you say?”

“Give it to me.”

She stepped back out of his reach, snickering. “So good!”

“Give it.”

She shook her head, skipped back to the table, slipping her dev back into her jacket pocket.

Tae Yi sipped her coffee, attempting to keep a straight face. She burst out laughing, startling Min Hyuk awake. Tae Yi handed him her coffee, wrapping his hands around the mug. “It’s coffee.”

Cheol Am slid down the cupboards under the sink, pulled the cupboard door open and tried to climb inside. “Why?”

“I’m dying of shame and you’re just having the best damn time,” Shi Yeong remarked to Hye Soo.

Hye Soo fell about in laughter. “Gods, yes!”

“Sip it slowly,” Tae Yi told Min Hyuk cutely. “It’s hot.”

“Where am I?” Cheol Am groaned. “Are we still on Earth?”

Shi Yeong grabbed a slice of cake and threw it at him.

“Shi Yeong!” Hye Soo admonished.

Cheol Am growled and scampered over to the food.

Shi Yeong buried her face in her hands. “Hye Soo, why did you have to konk him over the head with that bottle? He’s so weird.”

Hye Soo picked a macaron from pile arranged beautifully on a plate. She tossed it at Cheol Am. He snatched it off the floor and started eating it.

“Don’t be cruel,” Shi Yeong moaned. “He’s not himself.”

Hye Soo made a face, grabbed a macaron. She crossed to the sink, held the macaron out to Cheol Am. He edged closer, took the biscuit from her hand swiftly. “Good boy.” She patted his head while he ate the biscuit. “If I can’t laugh, I’ll cry,” Hye Soo said. “Pass me another, please.”

Shi Yeong chose a light brown macaron, took a bite, nodded, and passed it to her.

Cheol Am threw up on her shoes.

“Oh no!” She dropped the macaron, too disgusted to even hold it.

Cheol Am’s eyes rolled in his head and he collapsed to the floor, twitched a bit.

“It think he died. He’s dead,” Hye Soo said. “I guess that means I’m the next director.”

“It’s a seizure, because you hit him on the head,” Shi Yeong grumbled, scrambling to put him into the recovery position so he didn’t choke to death.

“Don’t do that,” Hye Soo whined. “I’m really next.” But she crouched down to feel for his pulse, took her dev out to call an ambulance.

“What a lovely honeymoon!” Tae Yi sighed wistfully, gazing in to Min Hyuk’s eyes lovingly. “I love you, honey.”

“And I love you.”

“Min Hyuk,” Shi Yeong called. “Is this right?”

Min Hyuk glanced around. “Very good.”

Shi Yeong stroked Cheol Am’s hair, smiling. “You poor thing. You’re covered in puke.”

“We’re covered in puke,” Hye Soo groaned.

“I told you not to feed him, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“You started it.”

“I didn’t think he’d eat it off the floor.”

---

“If I ever get married, I’m not inviting anyone,” Hye Soo said, holding a medicine ball out in front of her. “Come on! How can they mix up the flavouring in the cake and drug everyone? Do gangsters run bakeries now?”

“It’s better than mixing it up with poison,” Shi Yeong told her, crunching on a dried seaweed snack while watching her friends exercise.

“What did the doctor say about the baby?” Tae Yi asked.

“The baby will survive. I personally have mixed feelings about the whole thing.”

“What have you decided?” Tae Yi asked.

“Mmm, I’m not there yet.”

“Don’t do any more drugs,” Hye Soo said. “For reals.”

“You ate like one bite of cake.”

Hye Soo laughed sarcastically. “And then I ate all the cake for breakfast! My brain. My brain!” She dumped the medicine ball in Tae Yi’s hands, grabbed her water bottle, took a sip, replaced the lid, picked up her dev.

“Shi Yeong, darling!” She bit her lip, pointing a finger at her seductively. “I’m going to wean you off that weirdo if I have to sneak into your room at night and play it for you when you’re sleeping.” She pressed a button on her dev to play back the audio recording.

Shi Yeong covered her ears with her hands. “I can’t hear anything.”

“Don’t lie,” Tae Yi grinned. “You can hear just fine. You love it.” She laughed. “Hye Soo, she’s a bad, bad girl. You’re just giving her ideas playing that.”

Shi Yeong fell back on the floor, rolling about in laughter. She wrapped her arms about herself. “Come to Shi Yeong, baby. I’ll give it to you good.”

Hye Soo squealed. “Oh no! I’m scarred!”

---

Tae Yi pointed her gun at the door and shot the lock out, doing a quick sweep before spotting their client attempting to beat someone to a pulp. She holstered her weapon, leapt at Hong Seob and kicked him off the younger man. She levelled her gun on Hong Seob’s head. “Don’t get smart, kid.”

“Get out of my way, bitch!”

“Aw! Not a chance, asshole.”

He laughed. “What are you going to do? Shoot me?! I pay for your wages!” He swung a hammer at her.

She avoided the blow, dodging out of his way. “I’m the one with the gun, you deranged little shit. Are you kidding me?”

He screamed and ran at her in a rage. She dodged, grabbed his arm and pinned it behind his back, slammed him up against the wall.

“Can’t you read, kid? Are you illiterate? You signed the contract, now stick to it.”

Hong Seob struggled and she pressed a knee into his back. Min Hyuk glanced around, took in the scene. “We need an ambulance, Shi Yeong.”

“It’s on the way,” she reported through his assist.

“Get this crazy bitch off me!” Hong Seob growled. “You need to get a leash for her. She’s fucking crazy!”

Min Hyuk ignored him and knelt down to share a few quiet words with the trembling, bloody young man on the floor.

“You talk too much,” Tae Yi said.

Min Hyuk stood up, took something out of his jacket, passed it to Tae Yi. She jabbed the autoinjector into the side of Hong Seob’s neck.

“Where are these people coming from?” she asked as Hong Seob went limp and slid down the wall. “I’m so leery right now. Help me carry him back to the car; he’s heavy.”

Once they were back in the car, she turned the stereo on and cranked some tunes. “The paperwork’s going to be a nightmare.”

Min Hyuk smiled at her. “Don’t worry, we can work on it together.”

---

A month after the wedding, Tae Yi found out she was pregnant. She went straight to the situation room, unable to contain her excitement.

“I need to speak to Min Hyuk,” she whispered to Shi Yeong, offering her a chocolate milk for her troubles.

Shi Yeong pressed a few buttons, typed in Tae Yi’s code. “Go ahead. I’ve put you on a private channel.” Shi Yeong stabbed a straw into the packet of milk, drank it while watching her vaguely, her attention switching between several screens and her friend.

“Min Hyuk, it’s Tae Yi. I have amazing news.”

Shi Yeong stopped drinking her milk to listen.

“I’m pregnant!” Tae Yi beamed.

Shi Yeong smiled, looked away, sipping her milk again. “Can we get a westerly view on the gallery? Han, head to the second floor.”

Tae Yi leant down to whisper in her ear. “Thank you, Shi Yeong.”

“You’re welcome,” Shi Yeong whispered back. “And congratulations.”

“It’s still early days so I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I’ll take it. I’ll see you later. We can talk more then.”

“See you later, Baby’s mum.”

---

Tae Yi nodded, listening to Aiden explain her options. Aiden was filling in for Cheol Am since he was still in a coma and while Tae Yi didn’t particularly like Aiden, it was a relief not to have to deal with Cheol Am. She still wanted to punch him out something fierce.

“I’ll have the baby here and when it’s three months old, we’ll go home.”

“Back home?”

“No, I want to stay here so we’re close to my husband, Min Hyuk. I haven’t picked out a home yet. I suppose I have time.”

“Indeed.”

---

Shi Yeong looked up from painting her toenails a bright popping pink.

“Cheol Am woke up,” Tae Yi told her, taking a seat on the bed beside her. “I can come with you, if you want to visit him.”

“That’s a generous offer, Tae Yi.”

“Shi Yeong, we’re friends. It’s the least I can do.”

“Don’t you trust me?”

Tae Yi laughed. “What are you talking about? Get your mind out of the gutter, woman.”

“My mind is firmly planted in the gutter.”

“I’d best come with you, for his sake,” Tae Yi joked.

“My nail polish still has to dry.” Shi Yeong screwed the cap back on the nail polish, reached over to set it down on the bedside table.

“What are you going to tell him about the baby?”

“I don’t know.”

“Are you really still into him?”

Shi Yeong nodded.

“How do you know his mother?”

“Vanessa is Mama’s friend. I don’t really know her, but I’ve been on shopping trips with Mama and her friends so we’ve crossed paths. I didn’t meet Cheol Am until I started working for Alice, thankfully.”

Tae Yi gave her a smile. “Why do you say that?”

“He’s a problem child.” Shi Yeong climbed off the bed, pulled open a drawer to search for her lipstick. She painted her lips in the little mirror beside the humidifier, wiping away the fog with a sleeve of her sweater.

She turned back to Tae Yi. “How do I look?”

“Wholesome.”

Shi Yeong snorted, twisted her hair up into a loose bun at the back of her head, snapped a hair band around it. “Wholesome is the opposite of what I’m going for.”

---

It had been a while since they’d seen each other. The journey to the infirmary was a nervous one for Shi Yeong, but when she arrived, when she saw Cheol Am, all of her anxiety disappeared. Her mind was suddenly very, very clear.

Cheol Am was not the sort of person she needed, the sort of person that could handle being needed, for that matter. He was messed up. And, finally, she felt nothing for him.

“How are you?” she asked, doing the polite thing.

He met her gaze as if thinking her someone else, someone who cared. “I’m well now. All better.”

Shi Yeong just felt uneasy. She could still remember him saying he loved her as if those words from him meant anything, could ever mean anything. They didn’t mean a thing to her. They were nothing more than uncomfortable.

It was in that moment, watching the way he smiled at her, that she found the clarity she’d been desperately searching for. She did not want a baby, much less a baby with him.

They chatted for a while, about work and other things, meaningless words. Tae Yi gave him a rundown of how things were going with Min Hyuk and her but didn’t share anything about her pregnancy news.

Standing from the chair she’d taken a seat in, Shi Yeong leant in to speak quietly to Tae Yi. “Can I have a few moments alone with Cheol Am?”

“Of course.”

Tae Yi took her leave and Shi Yeong sat once more, glanced at Cheol Am. He was still smiling and it annoyed her. He hadn’t caught on yet, but he would soon. “I’m going to go ahead with the abortion.”

He stopped smiling, reached for her hands. When she didn’t reciprocate, he merely said, “OK.”

“That’s settled then.”

He winced, looked at the mattress, the blankets, anywhere but at her or the baby bump.

“I’ll organise an appointment with my doctor and let you know.”

“OK.”

His tone grated on Shi Yeong’s nerves. Cheol Am was clearly not in agreement with her choice, but no way was he going to tell to her face. “Can I still count on your support?”

“I’ll be there.”

She climbed to her feet, brushed the front of her dress down. He glanced at the bedside table as if he didn’t see her, as if something on the table was much more interesting than his unborn child. An idiot, he really was an idiot, she thought.

Later, when the foetus was gone, he’d regret his behaviour. His heart and his conscience would hurt so much more than his pride ever could.

She paused at the door, waiting to see if he changed his mind.

He found his dev in the drawer, switched it on, checked his messages.

Shi Yeong stepped outside.

“Are you OK?” Tae Yi asked.

Shi Yeong nodded. “I’m OK.”

“Did you talk it out?”

“We did.” They strolled for a while, then Shi Yeong said, “I’m aborting.”

Tae Yi stopped, her eyes glimmering ever so slightly.

“I’m OK,” Shi Yeong said, and that was that. No tears, no hugs. They went back to work and Shi Yeong finally felt that things were going well, things were going back to how they were supposed to be.

---

The appointment went as well as could be expected. True to his word, Cheol Am accompanied her, sitting with her in the waiting room. Shi Yeong picked up a magazine from the table, flicking through the pages until she came to one of those oft-found relationship quizzes.

Cheol Am opened a bottle of water for her and she took a sip. “Do this quiz with me?”

He glanced at the page, saw what it was about, made no comment, and had some water. “What’s the question?”

She skipped the first two questions that asked how long they’d been together and how often they saw one another. “When you’re apart, do you chat often? The options are A) Yes, we chat about all kinds of things all the time; all the chit chat. B) Yes, but we only talk when we have something to talk about. C) Yes, but rarely. We only chat when it’s something important. D) No, we don’t really talk when we’re not together.”

“D. No. I’m dead inside.”

“I feel bad for your,” she counted on her fingers, “nine girlfriends.”

“What’s the next question?”

“On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the best, how-” She fell short—how good is sex together?—closed the magazine. “Never mind. It was stupid anyway.” She grabbed the bottle, took a gulp of water. “Tell me a joke.”

“Mmm.” Cheol Am considered for a moment. “Why did the salmon swim upriver?”

“Oh Gods! Why?”

“He was salty.”

She snickered. “That’s really bad.”

Someone called her name and Shi Yeong stood up. Cheol Am got to his feet, shared a glance with her. She was about to turn away and follow the nurse when he stepped closer awkwardly. He lifted an arm, put it back down.

“I’ll see you after the procedure.”

“Oh Shi Yeong?” the woman called her name again.

“I’m here,” Shi Yeong answered, raising a hand. She started to turn away and Cheol Am met her eyes.

“Can I hug you?”

Shi Yeong put a hand on his arm. “Go ahead.” He put his arms around her, hugged her lightly, a very casual hug. “I have to go,” she said.

They stepped apart. Shi Yeong followed the woman out of the room.

---

Cheol Am drove her back to Alice after she was released from the recovery room following the half hour procedure. Tae Yi was waiting for her at the entrance and they hugged.

“Have you taken painkillers?” Tae Yi asked.

“Yes, and antibiotics to prevent infection,” Shi Yeong said.

Tae Yi rubbed her back, leading her away. Shi Yeong went with her, feeling safe and cared for at last.

---

Shi Yeong took a week off work to recover. When she returned, Cheol Am bought her a box of chocolates to welcome her back and she shared them with Tae Yi and Hye Soo.

“I’ve been looking at houses and I found this amazing place that absolutely speaks to me,” Tae Yi explained. She chose a chocolate and took a small bite, decided it worked, popped the rest in her mouth.

She took out her dev, leaning closer to show them some photos.

“I love the green door,” Shi Yeong said.

“Same!” Tae Yi grinned.

“Do you know when you’re going to?” Hye Soo asked, pointing to a chocolate. “What’s that one, Shi Yeong?”

“Coconut.”

“I have,” Tae Yi replied, taking the sweet from a frowning Hye Soo. “1992.”

“Old school.”

“Just promise you’ll visit often.”

“Of course,” Hye Soo laughed.

“I can’t promise often but how does semi often work for you?” Shi Yeong asked her friend.

“Since it’s you,” Tae Yi replied with a grin, “I accept. Crazy bitches are busy bitches.”

Shi Yeong winked. “You said it.”

“Aren’t you eating any?” Hye Soo asked of the chocolates.

Shi Yeong shivered bodily. “They’re from Cheol Am. That’s a negative.”

Hye Soo dropped the chocolate she’d just picked up. Tae Yi pulled the box closer. “More for Tae Yi. Bonus! Thank you, Idiot.”

Hye Soo guffawed. “Such an awkward move.” She tilted her head in Shi Yeong’s direction.

Before she could speak, Shi Yeong tossed a hand. “No. Just no. We’re done. Forever. Enjoy, Tae Yi.”