Somi and I walked through the quiet lands she was considering for her future home, with the real estate agent guiding us. For a little while, it felt good to escape my worries. The sun was warm, the breeze gentle, and for a moment, I could almost pretend everything was fine. But then my phone rang as we were leaving the property, and it was like being pulled back into a storm.

My stomach twisted into a tight knot.

I offered the girls a weak smile, my heart pounding in my chest, and stepped aside to take the call.

"Mrs. Jeon, this is Dr. Oh. We have the results of your pregnancy test. I'd like to be the first to say congratulations, you are pregnant."

The ground seemed to shift beneath me, and everything around me blurred.

"Mrs. Jeon?" Dr. Oh's voice was gentle, careful. "I'll give you time to process the news. Please do call as soon as possible to arrange your prenatal care. We'll set you up with your first

 appointment with a midwife."

"Thank you," I whispered, though it felt like my voice belonged to someone else. My hand shook as I slipped the phone back into my purse. I could barely breathe, my thoughts racing so fast that I could hardly keep up.

Someone was talking to me, but their words were distant like they were coming from underwater.

I'm going to be a mom.

Someone was asking me something, but I couldn't focus on what it was.

I'm going to have a child.

"Y/N, what is it?" Somi's voice finally broke through the fog, filled with concern.

I turned to face her, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over. Her face was a blur, and I could see the worry in her eyes. "I have to go," I said, my voice shaky, barely holding it together.

"Go where?"

"I just—" Panic clawed at my throat, making it hard to get the words out. "I have to go."

"Y/N, you're scaring me. What's going on?"

She was scared? I was terrified. "Somi," I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. The pressure in my chest was unbearable like I was being squeezed from the inside out. "Just... " I paused, seeing the concern etched on her face. "I need to be alone for a little while."

She nodded, though I could see the reluctance in her eyes. The moment I saw her understanding, I turned and started walking, almost running, toward Namsan Tower. I needed to escape, to find a place where I could think.

The walk passed in a blur, my mind spinning with thoughts and fears I couldn't control. Before I knew it, I was buying my ticket, taking the elevator up, and stepping out onto the observation deck of Namsan Tower. The tower was empty, everyone gone for lunch, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I leaned against the railing, gripping the cold metal as if it could steady the whirlwind inside me. The city stretched out below, vast and overwhelming.

I was going to be a mom.

The words echoed in my mind, both thrilling and terrifying. My legs felt weak, and I forced myself to walk to the edge, leaning my elbows on the railing as I gazed out over Seoul. This place had always brought me peace, a sanctuary where I could untangle my thoughts. But now, standing here, I felt more lost than ever.

I had Jungkook, Somi, my family, my friends... and now, I had a life growing inside me, something so precious it made my heart ache with fear. What if I wasn't ready? What if I failed? What if I lost it all?

Tears burned in my eyes, the fear inside me growing into something raw and wild.

"Y/N?"

The sound of Jungkook's voice cut through the chaos in my mind. I turned to him, knowing that everything I was feeling was written on my face.

Somi must have called him, and Jungkook had guessed exactly where I'd go.

His features grew alarmed at the sight of me, and he hurried toward me, gripping my arms in his hands. "Sweetheart, what happened?"

"I'm pregnant," I blurted out, the tears spilling down my cheeks.

Jungkook jerked back like I'd hit him. He stared at me for a long time, as if trying to figure me out. Just like that, he looked like he'd been punched in the gut. "So you came here?" he whispered incredulously.

I didn't know what that meant, but I realized quickly it didn't mean anything good.

"Jungkook—"

"Don't." He cut me off, turning away from me. "Not here."

There was an uneasiness, a new fear, in leaving my place before I'd gotten a chance to work through everything in my head. I'd just wanted that chance before Jungkook and I . . .

We walked in tense silence back down the hill and out of the tower. Jungkook had a taxi waiting for us . I was so out of it I didn't even realize Jungkook hadn't touched me. He opened the door for me, but he didn't put his hand on my arm to help me in. He didn't scoot near me once we were inside. I'd realize this all later when my brain wasn't a tumult of thoughts and my stomach and chest weren't awash with too many feelings.

Not a word was spoken between us, not until the door to our flat was closed behind us and we stood facing each other in the kitchen.

Jungkook's features were hard in a way I didn't like. "You're pregnant with my child, and that's such fucking awful news you go to the tower?"

I couldn't believe he thought . . . That wasn't it at all!

"Jungkook—"

"Are you happy or are you unhappy?" he snapped, his eyes glittering with desperation.My heart was pounding so hard in my chest, I thought I might vomit. "Jungkook." My lips trembled, my nose stinging. "It's not that simple."

He jerked back again, pain in his eyes that he quickly banked.

"Let me—"

I didn't get a chance to finish. He was out of the flat too fast.

Trembling, I sank into a chair. Not only had I not been given a chance to process my own feelings, I was left confused and afraid of Jungkook's. He was the kind of man who gave you a chance to explain, but he'd obviously taken my reaction to the pregnancy the wrong way, and now he was too hurt to listen.

I just needed to explain.

He had to listen.