Author's POV.

Spring, March 2021

Seoul, South Korea

"Does anyone here know what is the definition of Sustainable Water?" a tall man stood in front of the class, he was wearing a simple formal attire; gray pants, a white shirt, and a suit. His gesture signified that he was confident with himself while giving a lecture to the class as today he was asked by his friend to be the guest lecturer in her class.

The class filled with around 25 students; it was their 3rd year of college. Jang Kiyong was never thought that he would be able to give lectures, yet Lee Seyoung, his old classmates in bachelor's degree invited him to join the class as her guest. Kiyong was trying his best to lecture about the subject, meanwhile, the lady was sitting at the corner of the class.

The class was silent for a second before a student raised her hand. Kiyong sighed in relief and let the student spoke.

"Yes, what's your name?" Kiyong asked the girl and she shyly mentioned her name. Her trembled voice gained laughter from her classmates. The girl just lowered her head and smiled awkwardly.

"Ssaem, you're so handsome!" one of the girls at the back shouted.

Kiyong couldn't help a smile. He tried to hide his smile by massaging his temples. "Okay, thank you," he said. He could feel his face blushed by the way Seyoung laughed at him. "Enough, guys. Let your friend answer the question," he was trying to control the class and everyone finally calmed down.

Kiyong then let the girl talked and she seemed still at lost, "What's your question again, Ssaem? I'm sorry I forgot," her response wasn't helping the situation either as the laughter that filled the entire class now was getting louder.

Kiyong chuckled as the others couldn't stop teasing the poor girl. He then stepped forward and stood beside the girl's seat and gestured the others to quiet.

"Tell me your definition of Sustainable Water," Kiyong told her slowly and the girl nervously answered his question.

She cleared her throat and proceeded, "It means that the water sustainability, includes energy neutrality by coupling traditional water treatment technologies with renewable energies,"

The girl finished her sentence and Kiyong muttered a low thank you to the girl. He walked back to the front of the class and gave another chance to any different opinion, "Anything else? Or does anyone want to add?" the class remained silent. Kiyong nodded and he pressed the next button on the pointer.

The slideshow presented an explanation about the Sustainable Water topic. "Sustainable water means that a nation can be water self-sufficient, which is ensuring there's enough water to meet multiple needs; from agricultural to municipal and industrial. The water supply will remain consistent, despite climate change impacts such as a lack of rainfall and drought, or too much rain and being flood resilient," Kiyong continued to explain the subject for about 45 minutes.

He enjoyed the atmosphere, he liked how every student paid attention to what he explained, and he never had the thought that lecturing could be this fun. He surprisingly got excited whenever the students raised their hand and asked further about the topic, or when they responded to his question.

His time was almost up, Kiyong glanced at his watch and told the students that his class was about to end.

"No..." everyone exclaimed, regretting how fast two hours had passed. Kiyong smiled meaningfully and before he ended the class, he prepared a break quiz. The response was pretty well, the students enthusiastically participated in his class.

He walked to Seyoung who already stood by the doorway, the class had just emptied after the last student walked out of the room.

"You did great," Seyoung patted on the latter shoulder lightly, they walked together along the hallway to the cafeteria. "You can be a lecturer if you want to, do you want me to talk to the Professor?"

Kiyong backed off slightly and shook his head quickly. "No, I'm fine, thank you," the guy laughed. "I'm still not confident enough to be a lecturer,"

"But you did great though, the students seemed more excited in your class than mine, just think about it," she encouraged, but Kiyong remained silent. Seyoung had invited him a few times already, but he turned her offer down because he got no time back then.

But Kiyong ran out of excuses as now he didn't really have much to do lately. He thought why not giving it a try and accepted the invitation. It had been a few months already since he spent most of his time with work, drowned himself with all the tasks and projects. He was distracting himself from unnecessary thoughts.

After half a year, he finally got better and he started to think that finding a new activity could help him escape from his boring routine. Seyoung was one of his best partners at college back then. They could talk about anything and had the same taste of humor. But they never were more than friends.

She knew that Kiyong needed time and space for himself alone, and she witnessed how the guy withdrew from their circle these past few months. So, she thought, it was time for him to get out of his comfort zone and tried new things. She felt relieved that he did great and he seemed to have gotten better.

They entered the cafeteria and chose the menu before took a seat at the corner of the cafeteria, near the windows.

"How are you doing lately?" Seyoung started the conversation when they started eating their meal.

Kiyong didn't answer her right away, he cut the beef and took a slice, "Great, nothing's special, but still doing good," he answered.

Seyoung stared at the man and contemplated for a second before went on, "do you want me to set a blind date for you?" Kiyong stopped chopping the beef and was stunned upon hearing what Seyoung said. The woman smiled meaningfully and continued savoring her lunch calmly, "There's a friend of mine. One of the lecturers here," she knew that Kiyong was dumbfounded in front of her but she ignored it and proceeded, "she's pretty, kind, smart, and very sweet. Do you want to meet her?"

The guy just laughed awkwardly and took a sip of his water nervously. "Who?" he responded with courtesy. Didn't want to disrespect his friend and her good intentions. "Do I know her?" he tried to stay calm as possible.

Seyoung was debating for a few seconds but then shook her head lightly. "I don't think you know her, she's not an engineer. She's from the medical department,"

Kiyong seemed surprised, "what? A doctor?"

She laughed to see how Kiyong didn't seem to expect that, "yes, an anesthetist and a lecturer,"

"Oh, wow," Kiyong was amazed at how Seyoung's friend was able to manage her time doing all those.

"So? What do you think? Are you interested? I'll ask her if she's willing to meet you for a blind date," Seyoung smirked widely, she was teasing him and Kiyong couldn't help a smile.

He sighed and just shrugged. "Do whatever you want," he said nonchalantly and Seyoung got excited.

"Okay, will do. But make sure you'll attend when I set the date, don't you dare be a coward," she threatened.

* * *

Raleigh, North Carolina, US

The sound of a water faucet filled the entire kitchen. It was already 8 PM and the sky was getting darker outside. He would be home soon and Hyeyoon was preparing the dinner. She breathed out heavily as she was already 36 weeks pregnant and her belly grew really big. Rowoon had already told her to lessen her activity, yet she still insisted to cook him dinner.

Hyeyoon couldn't stand laying on the bed all day. The more she stayed in bed, her body felt heavier. She decided to cook him a simple dinner as she couldn't move her body as much as she wanted. She suddenly felt kicks at her lower belly and smiled. She was stirring the bulgogi while rubbing the spot.

"Are you hungry, too?" she whispered to the baby and there was another kick. "Wait for daddy home and we'll have dinner soon," she glanced at her vibrated phone and read the message from Rowoon that he was in the basement.

Hyeyoon finished her cooking and served the dinner on the dining table when a sound of passcode tone was heard. She turned around to look at the front door and Rowoon came in.

He saw his beloved wife was preparing the dinner and smiled was flashed widely in his tired face. "I'm home," he greeted, walking toward her after dropping his bag on the couch.

"Welcome home," she sweetly replied as he walked to her to give a peck on her forehead.

"I'm hungry," he whispered. Hyeyoon giggled when he hugged her from behind while rubbing her swollen belly. He felt the baby was kicking and amazed. "Wow, you're so active in there?"

"The baby is hungry, too," she told him and gave a light peck on his cheek, "go change first then we'll have dinner," she told him.

Six months after the marriage, Hyeyoon still hardly believe that they were going to have a baby soon. Rowoon brought them to the US a week after their marriage when he started his new job in Raleigh, North Carolina. They finally started a family with Hyeyoon stayed full-time at home. Rowoon didn't allow her to work during pregnancy.

"You're going to be really busy when the baby is born, honey," he said one night before going to bed when Hyeyoon told him that she was bored and asked for his permission to find a job after the baby was born. But he still banned her to work. "Let me do the earning, love. I will try my best to provide all your and our baby's needs," he knew that his response won't make his wife satisfied so he kissed her forehead and lips when cuddled her to sleep.

But Rowoon would prefer Hyeyoon to stay at home, or at least if she really wanted to work, she could work from home.

"Please, baby. I'm so freaking bored, you have no idea how stressful I was staying all day all night at home, doing anything. I feel like not being productive and it was so frustrating," Hyeyoon still refused to give up and Rowoon sighed while staring at his beautiful wife.

He was debating silently and after a few moments had passed, he still shook his head weakly. "No," he was firm and Hyeyoon immediately shut her mouth. She sighed and gave up. One of the strangest things that occurred during pregnancy was the mood swings. Hyeyoon could feel how disappointed she was with Rowoon as she felt tears started to stream in her eyes.

Hyeyoon then turned around and back facing him, didn't want him to see her was tearing. It was embarrassing yet Hyeyoon couldn't help it. She was trying hard to hide her sobs, yet Rowoon knew that his wife was sulking.

Rowoon moved closer and hug her tiny body from behind. He could feel how big her belly had grown and his heart melted as he could feel the soft kick in his palm. "I love you," he whispered to her ear softly.

Hyeyoon smiled silently upon recalling the moments. When she just pouted at him and ignored him all night for still not granting her wish. Rowoon knew she was mad and he just serenaded her to sleep while rubbing her belly gently.

A few minutes later, Rowoon walked out of their room as he had changed. He took a quick shower, Hyeyoon could smell the scent of his soap when he stood behind her, he helped her serving the dinner while rubbing his hand on her hips lightly.

"Hey," she warned him, the latter chuckled.

"What? You're just so irresistible," he muttered then took a seat next to her.

"Are you still find me irresistible even when I look this round?" Hyeyoon showed him how big her belly was and he rubbed it.

"Yes," he said. "You look sexy and still beautiful Hyeyoon,"

Hyeyoon just smirked lightly, didn't bother to be affected by his sweet talk. Rowoon then remembered something. He excused himself for a moment then back again to the dining room.

"What?" Hyeyoon was confused when she saw a large box inside a paper bag was placed on the table in front of her.

Rowoon smiled proudly and said, "for you,"

Still didn't understand the situation, Hyeyoon raised an eyebrow while took the paper bag and pulled out the box from the inside. She slowly opened the box and gasped.

"What?" she didn't expect anything when opened the box but after she saw what's inside, Hyeyoon was stunned but then frowned in the next second. "Why did you buy me a laptop? I already have mine," Hyeyoon took out the MacBook Air.

"Yes, your laptop was too heavy and big. This one is lighter and you can take this with you easily," he reasoned, he got the point. Her old laptop was 15.6 inches with graphics. Her previous works required her to use a laptop with high specifications.

Hyeyoon still looked confused. She didn't get why Rowoon was thinking that she would need a new laptop when she didn't even work. "What do you want me to do with this?" she asked her husband. She thought that her previous laptop was still working fine, so why would she need another one?

Rowoon smiled. "You can continue your writing with this one, as I told you, this one is lightweight and you can bring this wherever you want," he said. "I can't stand seeing you struggling to bring your 15.6 inches laptop and put it on your lap while typing. So, use that when you work on your writing,"

Hyeyoon was still dumbfounded, but she just put the MacBook aside and continued eating her dinner, "Thank you," she then realized something, "but, how did you know I was writing?" she asked.

Rowoon smiled while chewing the meat. Instead of answering the question, he flashed a smirk and Hyeyoon started to feel nervous.

"Did you read it?" she asked and Rowoon chuckled.

"Read what? Your novel?" he couldn't help to laugh when he saw how embarrassed Hyeyoon was in front of him. "Well, you know reading a novel isn't really my hobby, so, yeah just a little peek and that's it,"

Hyeyoon smiled nervously, "don't read, I'll set a password after this,"

"Hey," Rowoon uttered a protest. "Why can't I?"

Hyeyoon tried to avoid his gaze by focusing her eyes on the food. "Just don't"

"Because I was the main lead?" just after he said those words, Rowoon laughed out loud when he witnessed how Hyeyoon eyes got bigger and her face turned red.

"How far did you read the story?!" Hyeyoon was ready to throw him a punch when there were a short sting and pain in her lower abdomen. Hyeyoon frowned and gripped to the edge of the table, her hand automatically rubbed the spot. Hyeyoon shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the pain to subside.

Rowoon caught her facial expression and quickly put down the chopstick. "What's wrong? What happened?" his voice concerned. Hyeyoon couldn't speak, just after a few seconds, the pain slowly disappeared.

"Nothing, it's fine. Just got a mild cramp," she reassured after she could no longer feel any pain.

"Are you sure?" Rowoon started to sound panic. "Are you sure it wasn't a contraction?"

Hyeyoon frowned and responded, "it was, but a fake one, don't worry. It happened sometimes. It's fine unless it followed by another one and gradually got severe afterward,"

Rowoon wasn't convinced at all by the explanation, he stopped eating his dinner and watched for Hyeyoon carefully. Just in case she showed another sign of labor.

"Alright, do you still want to eat? Don't do anything and just lay on the bed after this, I'll do the cleaning,"

Hyeyoon chuckled at how panic Rowoon was but then another pain hit her hard. This time Hyeyoon couldn't help but grunt painfully and she quickly grabbed Rowoon's hand. Rowoon could see how Hyeyoon was in pain and he had a feeling about this.

He ignored the dishes and went to his wife as she started to scream in pain. Both of them looked at each other and Rowoon got the sign. It wasn't a fake contraction. Their baby was on their way to see the world.

* * *

Hyeyoon's POV.

"Your baby is so beautiful," the nurse had done transferring me to the patient room. Rowoon was now sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me holding our baby in my arms. He couldn't help his emotion and for the first time, I saw him being so panicked and emotional.

"Thank you," I said to the nurse and she nodded before leaving us alone.

Rowoon was still amazed by all the process. It was 4 in the morning when the baby was born and the process was quick. We reached the hospital when I was already 4 centimeters dilated. The baby was born healthy and everything was fine.

"Stop crying," I teased him when I still could see the trace of tears on his handsome face.

"I can't see you in pain like that again, Hyeyoon," he said lowly.

I smiled. "So, you're giving up now? One child is enough?" I teased him again and he chuckled.

"No, who said I'm giving up? I was planning to produce a lot of kids with you, bear with it," he retorted fiercely.

I shocked, "Cruel,"

We laughed together and the baby twisted in her sleep. Rowoon caressed the baby's cheek and the baby miraculously got calmed and slept peacefully.

"Want to hold her?" I gave the baby to Rowoon and the baby looked so tiny in his arms.

My eyes glistened with happiness upon seeing the view in front of me. My heart melted and Rowoon serenaded the baby to sleep as to how he always did to me.

Welcome to the world, my baby girl...
Your mom and dad may not be the best parents in the world,
But we are blessed with your presence
Thank you for coming to us
Thank you for that because you're here,
mom and dad could find our way back
You're the one who put us together

We grow stronger because of you
Our love grows stronger for you
Our little princess...
Mom and dad love you so much...

================================================================================~THE END~
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A/N :

Dear everyone,

I'm so sorry for making you wait this long for the epilog.

Again, my work issue and stuff.

Finally, be able to finish writing the epilogue tonight and post it right away

Dear Readers...

I'm so happy that my story could get all the support and love from all of you.

I'll finally put this story as Complete

I'm so happy to have all the great readers here. I'm so thankful for all the support and comments from the beginning I've started writing this story.

I'm still not sure if I'm ready with a new plot for now, but I'll try to make a comeback with another story when the plot is ready.

Last but not least, I would like to apologize for all the lacking in the story, all the mistakes, (I might try to edit the story later if I have more time to do that), I know that I still have a lot more space to grow and to be better.

*bows deeply*

Thank you so much...

Hope to see you again in another story...

Much of love~

Irene Ethrin

P.S: For the extra chapter, I might put it when I have free time. I'm still not sure for now, but yeah, who knows I might surprise you with an update for an extra/bonus chapter in the future. Hehehe...

See you again when I see you~