My Girlfriend Is Very Good To Me [EN]: Chapter 195

〈 194 〉 Outside. Future Story with the Second Child

* * *

Hee-na mentioned her period was late. Since her periods aren’t usually severe, she hadn’t paid much attention and seemed to have forgotten, as she’s been quite busy lately.

As soon as I heard that, I rushed out and bought a pregnancy test.

And the result.

“You’re pregnant.”

“What should we do? We haven’t even decided on a nickname for our baby yet…”

Of course, she was pregnant. While I was overjoyed, I accepted it more calmly than I expected. I was determined to have another child, and I figured she’d be pregnant around this time.

Hee-na wasn’t just overjoyed either; she was also a little saddened that we hadn’t picked out a nickname yet. She gently stroked her belly, which didn’t show much, making it hard to tell she was pregnant.

I sat next to Hee-na and stroked her belly with her. I usually don’t touch her belly, but maybe because she’s pregnant, she didn’t mind.

“When did our second child come to us? If you just missed your period this month, it probably wasn’t during our trip.”

“I don’t know? Our baby~ When did you come to Mommy?”

“Last month. When Mommy handcuffed Daddy.”

“What~ But I think it was around that time too. You were cute that day.”

We both smiled as we thought about our second baby. The baby isn’t visible yet, but it’s there, in her belly.

But this brings another worry. If I had known there was a baby, I wouldn’t have been so rough earlier.

Of course, if there were a problem, Hee-na would have noticed something was wrong, but you never know. I have to be careful from now on.

“Hee-na, it’s late today, and the clinics are closed tomorrow, so let’s go to the OB/GYN [Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic] on Monday. You’ll need to use a lot of vacation days later, so if you feel okay, let’s go right after you get off work. I’ll take a half-day and go to your company. And you know you have to be careful about what you eat now, right? Don’t do yoga too intensely either. And…”

“Hehe, I know. Calm down, honey. I’ll be careful.”

“Tell me everything you need from now on. Oh, and should I adjust my work hours? I can drive you to work too…”

“It’s okay. And you know how congested it is around there during rush hour. I’ll be extra careful so you don’t worry, okay?”

Once I started, ten more worries popped into my head. Hee-na soothed me, who was suddenly overwhelmed with anxiety.

Of course, I’ve already experienced this once, but the situation is completely different now. When she was pregnant with Sarang, Hee-na was a student, but now she’s a working woman who goes to work every day.

Besides, I was able to stay by Hee-na’s side most of the time back then. I was studying for my retake exams, so I was at home. But that’s not possible now.

I wanted to quit my job and take care of Hee-na, but we’re now parents of two children. Realistically, neither Hee-na nor I can quit our jobs.

We can’t always rely on our parents’ help.

So all I can do is trust Hee-na. I’ll help with anything at home, though.

“Okay. But if anything happens, call me no matter what. You’re the most important thing.”

“Okay. I will.”

After receiving Hee-na’s promise again, I stopped talking about it. I’ll worry about it later, but if I keep showing this side of me, Hee-na will have a harder time.

Anyway. Okay.

Welcome, baby.

***

The house became busy again. After Hee-na’s pregnancy news spread to the whole family through the group chat, we immediately received endless congratulatory messages.

Starting with Hee-sung hyung [older brother], who called 0.5 seconds after seeing the text, to our parents, hyungs, hyung-soo [brother’s wife], and Rin noona [older sister figure]. Everyone without exception.

And our Sarang.

“So, is my sibling in Mommy’s belly now?”

“Yes. Do you want a younger brother or a younger sister?”

“I like both!”

“Just like Mommy~”

“Daddy too, Daddy too.”

Since hearing that she was going to have a sibling, she started putting her head to Hee-na’s belly and listening. Maybe she can’t hear or feel anything yet, but she looked so cute welcoming her sibling.

“Did you decide on a nickname?”

“No, not yet. I was wondering if Happiness would be good for now.”

“That’s good~ It goes well with Sarang [Love].”

“Why are you hesitating when it’s good? You have to decide quickly so we can keep calling our grandchild that.”

Both of them, our parents, don’t care about things like astrology, so I thought it would be okay to decide like this. The meaning was intuitive and good.

When it was Sarang, Hee-na had an overflowing love for the child and me, so she decided on that right away, and now it was a similar feeling in the sense of happiness.

The happiness I feel every day these days is truly unparalleled.

“Hee-na, how about you? Happiness.”

“I like it too! Happiness~ Does our Happiness like the name~?”

“Mommy! Is Sarang’s sibling’s name Happiness?”

“Baby’s nickname is Happiness. It’s the name we call you when you’re in Mommy’s belly like this.”

“Happiness, hello!”

The house became very noisy on the weekend afternoon due to the family celebration. Hee-sung hyung even stopped by the house in the evening after a long time.

He must have felt that hearing the story only through phone calls and texts wasn’t enough, so he ended up coming in person.

“Hey! Uncle’s here!! What’s the second child’s name!”

“Uncleee~”

“Heh, Han Sarang! Come here!”

“Waaaaa!!”

Dududududu!

Sarang ran and hugged Hee-sung hyung, happy to see him after a long time. Hee-sung hyung happily picked her up and came to us.

“So? How long has she been pregnant?”

“I don’t know yet. I have to go to the OB/GYN to find out.”

“Oh, really? What’s the nickname? What’s the nickname?”

“Happiness.”

“Oh~ That’s good? Hey, Sarang. How do you feel about having a sibling?”

“Good! I want to see them soon!”

“Is that so?”

The house became even more noisy with Hee-sung hyung’s arrival. Being together like this felt like going back a few years. I missed it. Memories of playing and joking with hyung sometimes came to mind.

Well, that’s what memories are all about. But seeing that what I thought was an old memory was something that happened in this house, I realized that I had lived here for quite a while. It’s already been 8 years since I lived here. It was 9 years in terms of years.

I’ve been living in this house with Hee-na for almost 1/3 of my life. As a member of this family.

Having Sarang, giving birth to her, and now the second child, Happiness. We were spending a long time together.

***

Monday.

As soon as I got off work, I took a taxi and met Hee-na at the OB/GYN. Fortunately, there was a clinic that offered weekday evening appointments not far from Hee-na’s company.

And the news we received was exactly what we expected.

“Congratulations. You’re 5 weeks along.”

I thought so, but I felt relieved after hearing the doctor’s confirmation. However, it was still too early to know the baby’s gender.

We received some advice and another ultrasound photo. And, another heartbeat.

Our baby’s, the second child’s. Happiness’s heartbeat.

You may or may not be able to hear it at this time, but fortunately, Happiness let us hear the sound.

At the same time, unlike 8 years ago, Hee-na was accepting all of this with a bright smile.

“Honey! Happiness seems very healthy! It sounds stronger than when it was Sarang, don’t you think?”

“I know. Seeing how energetic it is, I think it’s a son?”

“Maybe!”

If there weren’t people watching, she would have jumped for joy. Honestly, I felt the same way. Seeing Happiness’s image and hearing the heartbeat filled me with emotion. I felt like I was going to cry.

The nurse, who was watching us with a happy smile, told us the precautions. Of course, it was mostly information I already knew because it was the second pregnancy, and I was able to hold the mother’s handbook again.

After receiving confirmation, I posted the results in the group chat and stopped by my parents’ house before going home.

“Okay. Take good care of yourself, and Yeon-hoo, take good care of her.”

“The in-laws must be thrilled again. Do you know if it’s a daughter or a son?”

“Oh, of course, Dad. Mom, look at the ultrasound photo. It’s only 5 weeks, so I don’t know yet. I heard it will take about 7 more weeks to find out.”

“But I have a feeling it’s a son~ The heartbeat was very loud.”

“Really?”

Now, following Sarang and Ji-hoo, it was the third grandchild, so Mom and Dad were smiling quite calmly.

The hyungs and hyung-soo weren’t home from work yet, and Ji-hoo was asleep after eating, so the four of us sat in the living room and chatted for a while. When Hee-na and Mom started talking about sons, I called Dad to the master bedroom.

“Yeon-hoo, why? Do you have something to say?”

“Yeah. Um… I do.”

I had something to say. It’s a little late, but it’s about the future I’m planning.

I’m still a young father of 28, but I’m going to be the father of two children and the head of a household. I couldn’t live carelessly forever.

As I raised children and got older, I talked to my father, who I respected more and more, about my plans for the future and listened to his advice.

***

After having a long conversation with Mom and Dad at my parents’ house, I came home and went to bed after talking about the ultrasound photos and the mother’s handbook.

Sarang, who usually clings to me, was sleeping soundly, stuck to Hee-na’s belly, and Hee-na was hugging Sarang tightly.

Hee-na must have been very excited and happy, so she must have been very tired today. She fell asleep at almost the same time as Sarang.

I lay on my side and watched them for a long time. Suddenly, it didn’t feel real. That I was Hee-na’s husband, Sarang’s father, and Happiness’s father.

With that mixed feeling, I got up and left the room. I was thinking of having a drink and going to bed.

But as soon as I left the room, there was already a guest at the living room table. My father-in-law was tilting his glass with only one small light on.

My father-in-law looked at me when he heard the sound of the door opening and said, raising his glass.

“Son-in-law. Would you like to have a drink with me?”

* * *