Min Arin

Today is a big day.

Bigger than any of my other presentations. My mind races as I sit in my office, staring at the final draft of my slides. Today's not just any meeting. My father-in-law, the chairman of the company, Taehyung, who's the president, my own father, and Yoongi, my brother-both partners in the company-are all present. Along with them, a dozen other high-ranking executives and partners, all eyes set on me.

I've done countless presentations before, but the stakes feel different today. My nerves have been playing tricks on me all morning, and I can't shake this subtle unease that's settled in my chest.

"Ma'am, it's time for the presentation," my assistant's voice breaks through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality.

I take a deep breath and nod. It's time.

Walking to the boardroom, I remind myself I've done this a million times before. I'm prepared. I greet everyone as I enter, offering a polite but professional smile. My eyes briefly meet Taehyung's, then Yoongi's, and lastly my father-in-law's. I can't help but notice the weight of their presence, but I push it aside. There's no time for doubt.

"Good afternoon, everyone," I begin, my voice steady as I stand at the head of the table, all eyes on me. "Thank you all for being here. I'll take you through the key points of our upcoming project."

The presentation flows smoothly at first, just like I had practiced. My confidence begins to grow with each slide. But as I move on to the next point, a wave of dizziness suddenly hits me. My vision blurs momentarily, and I blink, trying to focus.

What's happening? I've never felt like this before.

I grip the edge of the table, trying to steady myself. The room feels like it's spinning for a brief second, and before I can collect myself, Yoongi is already at my side.

"Arin, are you okay?" his voice is filled with concern, his hand gently resting on my arm.

I force a small smile, trying to appear calm even though my heart is racing. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... I haven't eaten all day. Must be that," I say, offering a weak laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

"Are you sure?" Yoongi's frown deepens, clearly not convinced.

"I'm fine, Yoongi," I assure him, though my voice sounds more strained than I intended. "Just give me a second."

I straighten up and look at everyone, offering a quick, apologetic nod. "Sorry about that, everyone. Let's continue."

I push forward, fighting the dizziness as I resume the presentation. I apologize once more for the interruption, but inside, I can't help but feel a lingering sense of discomfort. Something is off today. The room is too quiet. Taehyung's gaze feels heavy, my father is watching me carefully, and my father-in-law looks... unreadable.

I carry on, determined to finish what I started, even though that dizziness still lingers like a shadow in the back of my mind.

Maybe it's just nerves. Or maybe... maybe it's something more. But I'll worry about that later. For now, I need to get through this day.

The presentation finally ended. A wave of relief washed over me as I took a deep breath, closing the file on the desk and stepping out of the boardroom. It went well, despite that momentary dizziness. Everyone had seemed engaged, and there were even a few impressed nods from some of the more critical executives.

Outside the boardroom, I found myself surrounded by my father, my father-in-law, Taehyung, and Yoongi, all of them talking about the presentation. They were praising me, giving me their approval.

"That was excellent, Arin," my father-in-law said with a proud smile. "You've grown so much since joining the company."

"Indeed," my father chimed in, nodding. "You handled it perfectly, even under pressure."

Taehyung added a quiet, "You did well," his eyes briefly meeting mine before he shifted his attention back to our fathers.

I smiled, grateful for their words, though I could still feel that lingering unease in the pit of my stomach. As they continued to talk business, I suddenly felt a wave of nausea. My stomach churned, and the urge to throw up hit me hard.

"I'll be right back," I muttered, trying not to draw attention to myself as I excused myself. I headed straight for the washroom, clutching my stomach.

Once inside, I splashed cold water on my face, breathing deeply, trying to shake off the nausea. As I stood in front of the mirror, the cool water splashing against my face, I took a moment to catch my breath. The nausea that had come out of nowhere was unsettling. I stared at my reflection, watching the droplets of water trickle down my pale skin. This wasn't the first time it had happened.

These things are happening more frequently, I thought, wiping my face with a paper towel. My head still felt a little light, and the churning in my stomach hadn't completely gone away. Maybe it was just the stress. After all, managing work, a complicated marriage, and everything else had been weighing on me for a while now.

It has to be the stress, I convinced myself. The pressure from the company, the constant need to prove myself in front of people like Taehyung and his father, my own father, Yoongi-it was a lot. And lately, the tension between Jungkook and me was only adding to it.

But no matter how much I tried to brush it off, a small voice at the back of my mind whispered that something wasn't right. I couldn't ignore how my body had been reacting recently-the dizziness, the fatigue, the nausea. I hated feeling this way, weak and off balance.

With a deep breath, I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. It's just the stress, I repeated in my mind. I didn't have time to dwell on it right now. One step at a time, I reminded myself, hoping that would be enough to keep me grounded for the rest of the day.

After a few moments, the nausea settled down. I straightened up, fixed my hair, and walked back out, hoping no one would notice how long I'd been gone.

But of course, Yoongi noticed.

"Arin, are you sure you're okay?" he asked, his brows furrowed in concern as soon as I returned. "You've been looking pale all day, and now this? We should get you to a hospital."

"I'm fine, Yoongi," I said quickly, trying to wave him off. "It's nothing serious. Probably just nerves or something. I haven't eaten much today either."

But he wasn't buying it. "Nerves don't make you look like you're about to faint. I'm taking you to the hospital, no arguments."

My father and father-in-law exchanged worried glances, and they both nodded in agreement.

"Yoongi's right, Arin," my father said gently. "You've been pushing yourself too hard. We should get you checked out."

"Better safe than sorry," my father-in-law added, concern in his voice.

"I really don't think it's necessary," I began to protest, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks from all the attention. The last thing I wanted was to cause a scene.

"I'll take her," Taehyung's calm voice cut through the conversation. "I'm heading to the hospital anyway. Miso has an appointment today."

I opened my mouth to refuse again, but the looks on everyone's faces made me hesitate. It wasn't just Yoongi and my father looking at me with concern now-it was my father-in-law too. Even Taehyung, who rarely showed much emotion, seemed oddly firm on the matter. The weight of their collective worry was enough to make me reconsider.

The last thing I wanted was to draw attention from the staff and employees who were now starting to glance over. A scene was the last thing I needed.

"Alright," I finally sighed, giving in. "I'll go. But it's really nothing serious."

Yoongi wasn't convinced. "I'm coming too."

"No," I quickly interjected. "I'm fine, Yoongi. I promise. If something happens, I'll call you. I just need to get through the day."

He looked like he wanted to argue, but eventually, he sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Fine. But you better call me the minute something feels off."

"I will," I assured him, giving him a small smile before saying goodbye to my father and father-in-law.

As Taehyung and I made our way to his car, I could still feel the weight of Yoongi's worry lingering in the air. It wasn't like him to be so overprotective, but then again, I hadn't exactly been feeling like myself lately either.

Maybe getting checked out wasn't such a bad idea after all.

_______________________________________

When we arrived at the hospital, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The building itself always seemed cold and clinical, but knowing that Miso would be here, it felt different. Maybe it was her presence, or maybe it was because I needed to be here more than I thought. Taehyung's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Miso texted. She's already here, so let's go," he said, glancing at his phone before turning to me.

I nodded, still trying to steady myself. I had to remind myself that even if nothing came from this check-up, at least I'd get to see Miso. Ever since she got pregnant, we had grown surprisingly close. I hadn't expected to become friends with her so quickly, but her warmth, even through her rough exterior, had drawn me in. She had a way of making me feel like I didn't have to put up any walls around her. Maybe it was because she knew what it felt like to be isolated, in a different way than I did.

As we made our way down the hallway, I could see her sitting in the waiting area, fidgeting with her phone. The moment she spotted us, her eyes widened in surprise. She stood up quickly, her hands instinctively resting on her small but growing bump.

"Arin! You're here too?" she exclaimed, eyes darting between me and Taehyung. "Did you come to give me company?"

Before I could say anything, Taehyung answered for me. "She wasn't feeling well during her presentation," he said calmly, though there was a slight edge of concern in his voice. "We're getting her checked out."

The change in Miso's expression was immediate. Her brows furrowed, and her lips parted in worry. She walked over to me, her hand reaching out to touch my arm gently. "What? You weren't feeling well? Why didn't you say anything earlier? Are you okay? Is it serious? Did you faint? Have you been eating properly?"

The rapid-fire questions tumbled out of her, and I could see the glisten of unshed tears in her eyes. She was getting emotional, and I knew it was because of the pregnancy. Ever since she found out she was pregnant, her mood swings had been more frequent and intense. Normally, Miso was tough, almost unshakeable, but now, she was a mix of emotions all the time.

I managed a small smile and placed my hand over hers, trying to reassure her. "Miso, I'm fine. Really. I just didn't eat this morning, and it's been a hectic day with the presentation and all. It's nothing serious. Just routine."

"But... but what if it's something more?" she whispered, her eyes filled with concern. "You have to take care of yourself, Arin. You're always so strong, but you can't just push through everything. What if you're pushing too hard?"

Her voice trembled, and I could tell she was fighting back tears. I knew this side of her was rare, only coming out because of her pregnancy, and it made my heart swell with affection for her. She was tough, yes, but seeing her like this reminded me how vulnerable she could be when it came to people she cared about.

"I promise I'm okay," I said softly, squeezing her hand. "But I'll get checked out just to make sure, alright?"

Miso sniffled, nodding, though she still looked unconvinced. "You better. I'm going to be checking up on you constantly until I'm sure."

Taehyung, who had been standing beside us silently, finally chimed in. "She'll be fine, Miso. The doctor will let us know soon enough."

Miso shot him a look, her lips curving into a pout, something that was becoming more common these days. "You say that, but she's your sister-in-law. You should be just as worried."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips twitching slightly in amusement. "I am. That's why we're here."

I couldn't help but smile at their dynamic. Despite how distant Taehyung could seem, he clearly cared deeply for Miso. His way of showing it was quieter, less emotional than hers, but it was there. The two of them balanced each other out in a way that made sense, even if it wasn't always obvious.

Miso, still emotional, pulled me into a tight hug, her rounded belly pressing gently against me. "Promise me you'll take it easy, okay? You're too important to us, Arin."

I hugged her back, touched by her words. "I will, Miso. I promise."

Just then, the nurse called for Miso's appointment, and Taehyung gave her a reassuring nod. "Let's go. The doctor's waiting."

As we walked down the corridor, I couldn't help but feel grateful. Grateful for Miso's friendship, for Taehyung's quiet support, and for this strange, complicated family I had become a part of. Even if things weren't perfect, moments like these made me feel like I belonged. Even if just a little.

As Miso's check-up concluded, we prepared to head for mine. I tried once again to convince her that it wasn't necessary for her to come along. "Miso, you don't need to come with me. It's probably nothing, really. Just dizziness from not eating properly," I said with a small smile, hoping she'd take the hint.

But Miso, ever so stubborn and heightened by her pregnancy mood swings, wasn't having any of it. She turned to Taehyung, who had been patiently waiting just outside the door. "Don't even think about trying to stop me, Taehyung!" she snapped, her voice laced with frustration. "I'm going with her."

Taehyung raised his hands in surrender, clearly not wanting to argue. "Alright, alright," he said, a small smirk playing on his lips. He knew better than to fight her when she was like this.

I sighed, realizing there was no point in pushing back anymore. Miso was coming whether I liked it or not. "Okay, let's just go," I muttered, not wanting to draw any more attention. We made our way into the doctor's office, with Taehyung staying behind in the waiting area.

Once inside the doctor's cabin, Miso immediately sat down beside me, clearly ready to be involved in whatever this turned out to be. I could tell she was still riding an emotional high from earlier, and there was no way she was leaving until she was sure I was alright.

The doctor, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, greeted us both before settling into her professional tone. "So, Arin," the doctor said, flipping through her notes, "what's been going on? Tell me about your symptoms."

I hesitated, glancing at Miso, who was watching me like a hawk. "It's just... some dizziness, mostly. And I've been feeling a little more tired than usual," I admitted. "But I think it's because I haven't been eating properly or getting enough rest with work."I keep telling about what's happening with me from some days .Miso, however, was giving the doctor a different look, as if she wasn't buying my explanation one bit.

The doctor nodded thoughtfully, taking notes. "And when was the last time you had your period?" she asked, glancing up at me.

I blinked, not expecting the question, and quickly pulled out my phone to check the app I used to track it. My brows furrowed in confusion as I looked at the date. "It's been... six weeks," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anyone else.

Miso's head snapped toward me, her eyes wide. "Six weeks?" she repeated, her voice rising. "Arin, why didn't you get checked up earlier "

I glanced at her, not sure why she was getting so worked up. "I... I didn't think it was important. I just assumed it was late because of stress-"

Before I could finish, Miso, true to her current emotional state, got even more hyper. "Wait-did you and Jungkook...?" she started, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You two actually got intimate? I thought you two barely even-"

I felt my face heat up instantly, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "Miso!" I whispered harshly, trying to calm her down before she caused a scene. "Keep your voice down."

But Miso, clearly not in control of her emotions, kept rambling. "I just didn't think you guys would ever-you know, because of the whole... marriage arrangement thing. I mean, I know you're married, but still! I thought..."

I squeezed her hand, giving her a look that I hoped would get her to stop talking. "Miso, please," I whispered, utterly mortified as I avoided the doctor's gaze. My heart was racing now, not just because of Miso's outburst but because of the implications of the conversation.

The doctor, thankfully, remained professional, though I could see a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "It's alright," she said, turning her attention back to me. "Given that you're six weeks late, I'd like to ask if you've had any recent intimate encounters."

Still embarrassed, I swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, but I'm on the pill," I added quickly, hoping that would clarify things. "And my husband... he, uh, uses protection."

The doctor nodded thoughtfully but didn't seem convinced. "Birth control and condoms are not 100% foolproof," she explained gently. "There's still a small chance, especially if you've missed any pills or if the protection wasn't used correctly."

Her words made my stomach flip. Was that even possible? I tried to recall the last few weeks, but everything felt like a blur. I couldn't remember missing any pills, and we had always been careful... hadn't we?

Miso, still in full swing with her moodiness, leaned forward, her voice more urgent now. "Wait, so you could actually be pregnant?" she asked, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and excitement. "Oh my god, Arin, if you're pregnant at the same time as me, then we can be preggy bestie-"

I felt my pulse quicken, my mind racing with the possibilities. "It's not possible," I said, though the doubt in my voice betrayed me. "We've been careful."

The doctor gave me a kind smile before handing me a small pregnancy test kit. "Why don't we check, just to be sure? It's better to rule it out early."

I stared down at the kit in my hand, my mind still struggling to catch up. "But I'm on the pill..." I repeated, almost to myself, as if saying it again would make the possibility disappear.

Miso, still wide-eyed and buzzing with energy, squeezed my arm. "Just take the test, Arin. It's better to know now."

I nodded slowly, still in a daze, and got up from my seat, clutching the test kit in my hand. As I walked toward the bathroom, a thousand thoughts swirled in my head, but none of them made any sense. All I knew was that nothing would ever be the same if the result came back positive.

With a deep breath, I stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind me, my heart pounding in my chest as I prepared for whatever was to come.

************************************

Author's Note:

Hey, lovely readers! 🌸

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I loved writing it. Things are getting intense for Arin, and Miso's emotions are all over the place! I wanted to bring out the strong bond that's developing between these two women, and also give you a glimpse into Arin's internal struggle-she's facing so much pressure from all sides, and now there's the possibility of a huge twist in her life.

What do you think will happen next? Is Arin ready for the next chapter of her life, or will this news turn everything upside down? I can't wait to hear your thoughts! Let me know how you feel about the story so far, and as always, thank you for all the love and support. You guys are amazing, and your comments keep me motivated to write more!

Stay tuned for more twists, drama, and of course, more of Miso and Arin's blossoming friendship. Don't forget to vote and leave your thoughts below-I read every single one of your messages!

Much love, StarlitWings ✨