The past few days had felt like a balancing act for Arin. Each morning, she woke up in the quiet apartment that she and Jungkook  shared.  She would get ready slowly, almost as if the silence itself weighed her down. Every step in her routine—brushing her hair, getting dressed, making a simple breakfast—felt both familiar and strangely lonely. It was odd to feel so alone in a space that held so not many memories, but lately, it had become her new normal.

After she left for work, she tried to lose herself in her tasks, filling her mind with work deadlines, meetings, and emails, anything to distract her from the ache that had taken residence in her chest. She knew Jungkook was busy—he always had been—but now that they were  expecting, she had hoped things might be different. Yet, the past few days showed little change. Jungkook’s work continued to pull him away, and she found herself adapting to a life that felt suspended between being together and being alone.

Each evening after work, instead of returning straight to their empty apartment, she made her way to the Kim Mansion. Mrs. Jeon had insisted on this, and Arin couldn’t refuse her mother-in-law’s warm invitation. Mrs. Jeon greeted her with open arms each time, eyes bright with happiness, always ready to fuss over her in the most affectionate ways. “You must eat well, dear. The baby needs you to be strong,” Mrs. Jeon would say, filling Arin’s plate with nutritious food and watching over her with loving eyes.

At times, they would sit together in the cozy living room, Mrs. Jeon sharing stories of Jungkook’s childhood, her laughter filling the room as she recounted his mischievous antics. Arin found herself smiling at these stories, drawn closer to Jungkook through his mother’s memories. It was comforting, but it also made the ache inside her grow stronger. She wanted more than stories; she wanted Jungkook there, beside her, sharing in this journey. But with each evening, as she returned to the quiet apartment, she had to remind herself not to expect too much, not to get her hopes up.

And now, here she was, sitting alone in the hospital’s waiting room, her hands tightly clasped in her lap as her heart thudded in anticipation. Today was her first prenatal appointment—the first chance to see their baby, to hear the heartbeat that would make everything feel real. She’d told Jungkook about it, holding onto the faintest hope that he might show up. She imagined him walking in, looking slightly disheveled but smiling, apologizing for being late as he took the seat next to her.

But as the minutes ticked by, that hope began to waver. Every time the door opened, she found herself glancing up, a quick flutter of expectation filling her, only to be replaced by disappointment when it wasn’t him. She tried to tell herself it was okay, that she understood he was busy. Yet, a part of her had hoped that today would be different, that he would see how much this moment meant to her—to both of them.

She let out a soft sigh, finally allowing herself to accept what her heart already knew. He wasn’t coming. The nurse called her name, and she stood, clutching her purse tightly as she followed the nurse into the ultrasound room. Her heart raced with a mixture of excitement and sadness, and she took a deep breath, steadying herself.

As she lay down on the examination table, the doctor greeted her warmly, explaining the procedure and assuring her that everything would be fine. When the cool gel touched her stomach, she closed her eyes for a moment, bracing herself, her mind drifting to Jungkook once more. But as soon as the monitor flickered to life, her eyes snapped open, and everything else faded away.

On the screen, a tiny form appeared, hazy and indistinct but unmistakably real. Her breath caught, her hand instinctively covering her mouth as she gazed at the little life growing inside her. She could feel her emotions swell, filling her with a warmth she hadn’t anticipated. This was their child—a tiny, beautiful reminder that she wasn’t alone, even if she sometimes felt that way.

And then she heard it—the rhythmic thump of the baby’s heartbeat, strong and steady. The sound filled the room, wrapping around her like a comforting embrace. Tears blurred her vision as she listened, letting the reality of it sink in. Her child. Their child.

When the ultrasound was over, the doctor handed her two printed images of the baby. “For you and the father, just as you asked.” the doctor said with a kind smile. Arin nodded, tucking the photos carefully into her purse.

Meanwhile, The morning had been relentless for Jungkook, filled with back-to-back work demands that left him with barely any time to breathe. His desk was buried under stacks of case files, each one more urgent than the last, all demanding his attention. Reports needed filing, witnesses needed questioning, and the court trials loomed over him like unmovable deadlines. He’d managed to grab a cup of coffee in between, but even that was left forgotten and cold on his desk as he buried himself in the pile of paperwork.

The clock on the wall ticked away, the hours slipping by faster than he realized. He was caught in the rhythm of his tasks, his mind entirely absorbed in the work that seemed endless. He had barely come up for air when his phone buzzed with another reminder about his next appointment, dragging his focus back to reality. As he glanced down at the device, his eyes widened, and he froze for a moment. Arin’s appointment.

A pang of guilt shot through him. He hadn’t thought about it all morning, so wrapped up in his cases that it had slipped his mind entirely. He felt a rush of frustration at himself, knowing he’d let her down. This was their first chance to see the baby, to hear its heartbeat, and he’d almost missed it. He knew how much it meant to her, and suddenly, being here, buried in work, felt insignificant compared to what he could lose if he didn’t try to make it there.

Jungkook stood, hastily gathering his things, his mind racing. But as he reached for his phone, a new problem struck him—he didn’t actually know which doctor Arin was seeing or even where the appointment was taking place. He racked his brain, trying to recall if she’d mentioned it, but nothing came to mind. He’d been so distracted, he hadn’t even thought to ask.

Running his fingers through his hair in frustration, he realized there was only one person he could turn to. Miso. She was close with Arin, and if anyone knew where she’d be, it would be her. Dialing her number, he tried to steel himself, knowing Miso wouldn’t make this easy. She’d been outspoken about his behavior lately, always defending Arin, and he expected nothing less than a sharp-tongued response. But he had no other choice.

The phone rang a few times before Miso’s voice came through, cold and biting. “What do you want, Jungkook?” she asked, her tone laced with annoyance.

He swallowed, trying to keep his composure. “Miso,” he began, “I need to know where Arin’s appointment is. Which doctor she’s seeing.”

There was a pause on the other end, then a sarcastic laugh. “Oh, so now you care?” she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Funny, considering you haven’t shown up for anything else.”

Jungkook clenched his jaw, forcing himself to remain calm. He knew she was right, but he didn’t have time to get into it. “Look, Miso, I don’t have time for this. Just tell me where she is.”

Miso let out an exasperated sigh. “Doctor Lee. At Seoul General Hospital. But knowing you, you’ll probably find some excuse not to make it anyway.”

Ignoring her jab, he muttered a quick “thanks” and hung up. He grabbed his coat, moving swiftly through the office as he headed for the hospital. His heart was pounding, urgency pushing him to move faster. He couldn’t shake the guilt that weighed heavily on him, each step reminding him of how close he’d come to completely missing this moment. It was a rare chance to be part of something that was slipping through his fingers. He was determined not to let it go.

The drive felt like an eternity. Every red light, every delay felt like another reminder of how he’d let Arin down. When he finally arrived at the hospital, Jungkook practically ran into the hospital lobby, eyes darting around as he tried to get his bearings. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and he felt a pang of nervousness settle in his chest, realizing he might be too late. His mind raced with thoughts of Arin waiting alone, her eyes scanning the door, hoping he’d walk through. Swallowing the guilt that had been gnawing at him since he left his office, he quickly approached the reception desk.

A young receptionist looked up at him, and he asked, a bit breathless, “Can you tell me where Dr. Lee’s office is?”

She looked at him, a bit taken aback by his urgency, but nodded. “Yes, sir. Dr. Lee’s office is down that hallway, the third door on the left.”

He muttered a quick “Thank you” and turned on his heel, heading in the direction she indicated. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead as he walked down the hall, each step echoing loudly in the empty corridor. He reached Dr. Lee’s door and opened it without hesitation, only to find the room dim and empty. A pang of disappointment twisted in his chest. He was too late.

His eyes lingered on the empty ultrasound machine in the corner, the faint hum of it indicating it had been recently used. The image of Arin lying alone, looking at their baby on the screen with no one by her side, tugged at his heart. He cursed himself under his breath, his fingers curling into fists as he tried to push back the guilt.

Realizing there was nothing else he could do there, he turned and walked back down the hallway, his footsteps slower, more resigned this time. His hand found the back of his neck as he looked down, wondering if he’d missed the one chance to be there for her and the baby.

As he stepped back into the lobby, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Arin was just stepping out of a side corridor, her hand adjusting her bag on her shoulder. She hadn’t seen him yet, but the moment she looked up, their eyes locked, and there was a brief, unreadable expression on her face—surprise mixed with something softer, something she quickly masked.

As Jungkook’s gaze landed on Arin in the hospital lobby, he could see the surprise flicker in her eyes for a split second before she composed herself, smoothing out any hint of vulnerability. She was standing there, looking almost serene, her fingers clutching the strap of her bag tightly. He took a deep breath, his heartbeat slightly unsteady as he walked toward her.

“Arin,” he began softly, his voice laced with a mix of guilt and hesitation. “I… am I too late?”

Arin held his gaze, and there was a slight pause as she searched his face. Her smile was faint, barely there, and though she tried to keep her voice steady, Jungkook could sense a subtle disappointment in her tone. “Yes, you are. But… it’s okay, Jungkook,” she said gently, her tone conveying both understanding and resignation. “I know you’re busy. I didn’t expect you to drop everything.”

Jungkook swallowed, feeling the weight of her words press against his chest. “I… I meant to come earlier,” he admitted, his eyes lowering for a moment before he looked back up at her. “Work just… I lost track of time.”

Arin nodded, though her eyes drifted slightly, as if she was absorbing his words but not really surprised by them. “I understand,” she said quietly, pulling a small envelope from her bag and holding it out to him. “Here,” she continued, offering him the ultrasound photo. “This is… our baby.”

There was a softness in her voice as she spoke, a mixture of pride and vulnerability. She glanced down at the envelope for a moment before meeting his eyes. “I asked Dr. Lee to print an extra one. Thought you might want to have it too.”

Jungkook took the envelope from her, his fingers brushing lightly against hers. He stared at the photo, taking in the blurry, grayscale image that was somehow both familiar and foreign. He was silent, his thumb absently tracing the edges of the photo, a lump forming in his throat as he tried to process the reality of it all.

Arin took a small breath, hesitating before speaking again. “I also… recorded the heartbeat,” she said, her tone gentle but with a hint of uncertainty. “I thought you might want to hear it, but only if you’re interested. I can send it to you later if… if you want.”

Jungkook looked up, catching the subtle apprehension in her gaze. She was giving him a chance, offering him a part of the experience he’d missed. “Yes… that would be good. I’d like that,” he replied quietly, his voice steadier than he felt. “Thank you… for thinking of me.”

Arin gave a slight nod, a small flicker of relief crossing her face. She shifted the weight of her bag on her shoulder, and there was a pause, a moment where they both seemed to stand on the edge of words left unsaid.

Clearing his throat, Jungkook spoke again, his tone softer this time. “Arin, I… I know I can't be here as much as you deserve. And I know… it’s not easy, especially with—”

Arin lifted a hand gently, interrupting him. “It’s okay, Jungkook,” she said softly, her voice filled with a quiet acceptance. “I understand your work, and I know you’re doing the best you can. This isn’t just your responsibility, it’s mine too. I’ll manage, and I’ll be okay.”

Her words were gentle, but there was an underlying firmness to them, a strength that told him she wasn’t expecting anything more from him than he was willing to give. She was creating a space for him, yet letting him know she wouldn’t ask for more than he was ready to offer.

She hesitated, glancing toward the door. “The driver is waiting for me,” she murmured, almost as if she was excusing herself. “Your mother… she wanted me to spend the afternoon at the mansion.”

Jungkook felt his chest tighten, knowing that she was pulling away, leaving him with the realization that he had created this distance himself. He watched as she turned to leave, each step she took seeming to stretch the space between them further, making it feel heavier, harder to bridge.

He clutched the photo tightly in his hand, a mix of gratitude and regret swirling inside him as he watched her walk away, a fleeting image of what could have been slipping further and further from his reach.

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

Author’s Note 🌸✨

Hello, lovely readers! So… what do you all think about Jungkook’s decision? Did he make the right choice focusing on his work, or should he be more present for Arin? 🤔 Let me know if you agree with his approach or if you’re rooting for him to realize what’s really important! 🌹

And, please don’t be a silent reader! It means the world to see your reactions and thoughts, so show this story some love by voting, commenting, and sharing! 💕 Your support keeps this journey alive and makes it even more exciting. Can’t wait to hear from you!

What do you think will happen next? 👀