The Breakup Between You and Me - Side Story 14. Epilogue 7

Epilogue 7

The cicadas buzzed in unison, creating a loud chorus. The weather was perfect for enjoying an ice cream cone. Despite the sweat glistening on her forehead, her recent month’s tests had all come back normal, so she was in good health.

Concerned about her frequent indulgence in sweets, she opted to forgo the ice cream. The residential area we were in boasted gardens around most houses, with numerous trees creating a lush green scenery from a distance.

Trees have a calming effect, and she felt at ease. Contemplating calling him, as he had apologized for not being able to accompany her to the hospital that day, she decided to send a text instead, considering he might be occupied. Purposefully asking the driver to stop in front of an alley,she planned to walk home for some exercise.

In her final month, she noticed a gradual increase in her weight every day. Despite the physical changes, her self-esteem soared, living with a man who found her cute even as she wobbled with each step.

Enveloped in his love, she felt a newfound strength and comfort. Her hand glided over her growing belly, and she paused, gently pressing against it.

“It’s firm,”she remarked.

“But you should exercise, so when the baby arrives, it’s less painful.”

She’s  apprehensive about childbirth, and they discuss it a lot, but every time she express her fears, he reassures her that she can handle it.

She retrieved a handkerchief from her bag to wipe away the sweat.

“We’re almost there; let’s keep going.”

Despite feeling the weight of her body and tiredness setting in, she pressed on, knowing the finish line was just a few minutes away. He encouraged her to walk a little further, so she pushed herself.

As she walked, thinking about rewarding herself with ice cream once she got home, she observed someone standing in the distance. She moved closer and closer, and it became evident who it was.

“…….”

It was Si-hyuk’s younger sister. She was dazed for a moment, unsure if it was from the heat or the surprise.

“I need to talk to you for a second,” she murmured, forcing her to reflexively throw her arms about her stomach, despite the fact that there was nothing to be afraid of.

“If you don’t want to discuss it at home, how about in a coffee shop?”

“I don’t have anything to say,” she said.

His sister’s disclosure had still affected her. The grief lingered, especially the reminder that she couldn’t have children and that she was the one who broke up with him.

“It’s too hot to talk here.” Sooyin remained silent.

“It’s tough on your body. Let’s go inside and talk.”

She had no words to speak and no willingness to listen. She stood there, waiting for her to say anything. Her concern was geared towards her despite the fact that she was drenched in sweat from standing in the sun for so long. His sister appeared to be on the edge of passing out.

“Let’s go home and talk.” she agreed, thanking her.

For his sister, the stroll to the coffee shop appeared perilous. She could see her following her, plainly struggling, as she moved ahead.

She cleaned her hands, took a pitcher of ice water, and extended it to his sister, who was sitting on the couch.

“Water first.”

She turned on the air conditioner, and the room immediately became cooler. She drank the water and exhaled heavily as if it had rejuvenated her.

“How long were you standing out there?” she said, taking a seat across from her and eating a scoop of ice cream the size of her hand. While morning sickness had been a problem for her in the first trimester, she had acquired a yearning for food that was difficult to resist.

She couldn’t stop herself from eating ice cream in front of his sister even today.

She released a sigh. “I’m sorry; can I just have ice cream and talk.”

“Okay. Take your time.”

“Would you like more water?”

“No, thank you.”

She had an idea about what his sister might say, so she cut all contact with her. Her mother apologized for everything, even when it wasn’t her fault, blaming herself for maybe raising her daughter poorly.

Maybe she’d stop talking to his sister if she understood she was. She is powerless to refuse.

Her head is foggy, so she eats some ice cream. The sweetness seems to calm her.

“How long have you been in Korea?”

“A few days.”

“Tell me about it.”

He buys her a small ice cream cone, which she consumes in a few bits, but she restricts herself to no more than two a day. She set down her spoon and stared at the empty tub of ice cream.

“……I must have been crazy back then.”

“…….” 

was exactly as expected.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong.” She stared at her flushed face and lowered her eyes.

“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

She knows she’s not serious. Maybe she was under financial pressure, or maybe her mother said something, but it didn’t make her feel awful. She didn’t want an apology in the first place.

There was no reason to be concerned about seeing someone you didn’t want to see, yet she came to apologize for whatever reason, and she did.

“… It’s Okay.”

“Really? Really?”

“Yeah.”

She exhaled a sigh of relaxation and smiled.

The fact that she is his sister is the main reason she forgave her. Anyway, she doesn’t want them to end their relationship because of her. She’s already out of the country, so she might only see her once a year.”

“Thank you.”

“No.”

His sister told her that she looked tired and advised her to get some rest after a casual talk about how she was doing and when she was expected to give birth.

She woke up and took a shower because she was sweating profusely and felt like she had forgotten something. What exactly was it? She had the sensation that she was boiling while bathing.

She fell asleep after getting out and drying her hair. She went to bed because she needed to sleep for a while. She couldn’t lie straight because she was too far along, so she slept on her side with a pillow between her legs.

She had to go to the bathroom frequently, so she didn’t get much sleep, but she’s delighted now that her baby is inside her. She is excited to meet her child. Her eyelids were droopy. She closed her eyes tight and fell asleep.

“…….”

Her hair was being brushed by someone. Her mouth dropped open as a result of a touch that made her feel so important. She believes she recognizes him without opening her eyes, but why is he at home? Her eyes popped open.

She notices him perched on the edge of the bed, looking agitated.

“Why are you here?”

“…Didn’t you answer your phone because you were sleeping?”

“Oh! yes,” she said, pointing her tongue out at herself for forgetting once more.

“Your in the hospital and you are not answering your phone. The driver said she dropped you off and came to the office. I was so worried.”

She reached out to him, impressed that he didn’t lose his cool in this situation. She grabs his cheek and presses her lips to his as he leans in.

“I’m sorry. And….”

“your sister.”

“She was here.”

“My sister?” he murmured, his gaze fixed on her. His brow creased.

“Why? When? How?.”

“She apologized.”

“…Don’t accept her apology.”

When she met Han Si-hyuk, who had been so frigid for so long, her heart skipped a beat.

“Are you angry?”

She was worried since he never got angry.

“Si-hyuk, do you hate me?” she asks after accepting his apologies, and he shakes his head.

“No, I don’t.”

Her heart is racing in her chest, but she manages to say it clearly. He opens his arms and she sits up stiffly, the corners of her eyes drooping.

He pulls her into his arms and says, “Come here.” It’s a powerful, warm embrace she’d rather not leave.

“I think I hurt your feelings by showing up. You’re mad at your sister, that’s what I told her.”

“….”

“I think my mother made her do it. She told me if she didn’t apologize to you, she wasn’t allowed to come home.”

So it was your mother and not her. She put her face on his chest.

“If anything like that happens in the future, don’t talk about it later, call me right away.”

“Okay. I’ll call you right away.”

He giggles wildly as she presses her lips to his jaw. She enjoys hearing him laugh; she enjoys seeing him happy, and she enjoys it even more when that happiness is shared with her.

“…Ugh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“My stomach… No. It just hurt for a second.”

The doctors repeated in her mind, telling her to come to the hospital if she went into labor at any time because she was beyond 37 weeks and her baby weighed more than 10 pounds. Ugh. She didn’t do it.

When asked to lie down, he slid onto her side and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Ugh…ugh?” Her stomach hurt, not just a little, but a lot.

“Did the ice cream upset my stomach?” she asked.

She went to the bathroom, but nothing came out except her bowels. “Yuck.” She began to break out in a cold sweat. Her hands are drenched with sweat.

“Si-hyuk,” she said as she emerged from the bathroom. He rushed over, uncomfortably, and wrapped his arm around her.

It was horrible. “I think I need to go to the hospital.”

It wasn’t labor, and it surely wasn’t a bathroom problem. Her contractions were also becoming increasingly brief.

She gritted her teeth and informed him, and he took his pre-packed bag and called someone. He sounded like he was calling the driver from what she could tell.    

“Let’s go. Walk carefully.”

“…I’m sick. Si-hyuk, I’m in pain.”

She had only just begun to have contractions, but she was already in pain and afraid.