The week passed faster than Kyrah expected.
Between work, meetings, revisions, and trying to keep up with the demands of the Haneul Technologies project, she had barely noticed how quickly Saturday had arrived.
There was, however, one thing she had been deliberately avoiding.
Her antenatal appointment.
Kyrah sat at her desk after work, staring at the reminder on her phone. The appointment wasn't a regular checkup. The hospital had scheduled a special prenatal session that included light pregnancy exercises, breathing techniques, and lessons on childbirth. The final portion was designed specifically for expectant couples, where partners were taught how to support the mother before, during, and after delivery.
That was exactly why Kyrah didn't want to go.
She picked up her handbag and stood.
"Maybe I'll just skip this one."
"Skip what?"
Kyrah turned.
Seo Jun was standing a few steps away, one hand tucked into his trouser pocket.
She smiled. "You scared me."
"Sorry." He glanced at the phone in her hand. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
He gave her a look.
Kyrah sighed. "Fine. I have an antenatal appointment tomorrow."
"That doesn't sound like something you'd want to miss."
"I don't."
"Then why are you thinking about skipping it?"
Kyrah hesitated.
"Because it's one of those sessions for couples."
Seo Jun didn't respond immediately.
Kyrah looked down at her phone.
"They're going to teach the partners what to do during delivery and things like that. Everyone is going to have someone sitting beside them."
She shrugged, pretending it didn't matter.
"I'm a single mom. I don't think I belong there."
Seo Jun remained silent.
For some reason, his silence made her look up.
He wasn't pitying her. He wasn't trying to say something comforting just for the sake of it.
He simply looked thoughtful.
"Well," he finally said, "you don't have to decide tonight."
Kyrah smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
"Go home and think about it."
"I will."
They said their goodbyes, and Seo Jun walked away.
Kyrah watched him for a moment before shaking her head.
She didn't know why she had told him so much.
The next morning, she changed her mind.
She stood in front of her mirror, dressed comfortably for the appointment, and stared at herself.
"So what if everyone else has a partner?"
She placed a hand over her stomach.
"You're still my baby."
She smiled.
"I've come this far. I'm not going to hide now."
Her phone rang.
It was Seo Jun.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Tripper."
"Good morning."
"Are you ready for your appointment?"
Kyrah smiled. "Actually, yes."
"That's good."
"I won't be able to meet you for coffee today, though."
"Why?"
"I told you about the antenatal session. I'm going."
There was a brief pause.
"Good."
Kyrah laughed softly. "That's all you're going to say?"
"What else should I say?"
"I don't know. Something dramatic."
Seo Jun chuckled.
"Go, Tripper. Don't worry about being a single mom. There's nothing shameful about it."
Kyrah's smile softened.
"You're right."
"You're a strong mom. Don't let a room full of couples make you forget that."
"Thank you."
"Now go before you're late."
"Yes, boss."
She ended the call smiling.
The hospital was already busy when Kyrah arrived.
Several expectant couples were seated around the prenatal education room. Some were talking, some were laughing, while others were nervously listening as the midwife explained what the session would involve.
Kyrah found a seat toward the side.
The first part focused on breathing techniques.
"During labor, panic can make it harder to control your breathing," the midwife explained. "The goal isn't to eliminate discomfort. It's to help you remain in control of your body."
Kyrah followed the instructions carefully.
They moved on to pregnancy stretches, pelvic exercises, and different positions that could help during labor.
Kyrah was beginning to relax.
Maybe coming hadn't been such a bad idea after all.
Then the midwife smiled.
"Now we'll move on to the partner session."
Kyrah's smile disappeared.
Of course.
The couples around her shifted closer together.
She looked down at her hands.
She had known this part was coming.
Then she heard footsteps behind her.
"Excuse me."
Kyrah looked up.
And froze.
Seo Jun stood at the entrance.
He was wearing a crisp white button-down shirt tucked neatly into black trousers. The shirt fit comfortably across his broad shoulders, but the strength of his build made the fabric sit more firmly against his chest than it probably would on anyone else. His sleeves were rolled to his forearms, revealing strong hands and faint veins along his wrists.
He looked completely out of place in a room full of expectant couples.
And somehow, he looked ridiculously good.
Kyrah stared.
Why does he look like that?
Seo Jun spotted her and smiled.
He walked toward her, casually adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.
Kyrah's eyes followed the movement.
She quickly looked away.
Get yourself together.
The midwife noticed him.
"Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?"
Seo Jun stopped.
"I'm here with Miss Kyrah."
The midwife looked at Kyrah.
"You're her partner?"
Kyrah's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Seo Jun answered calmly.
"I'm here to support her through the session."
Something about those words made Kyrah's chest tighten.
Not I'm her boyfriend.
Not I'm her husband.
Not even a complicated explanation.
Just—
I'm here to support her.
The midwife smiled.
"Well, that's wonderful. Please take a seat beside her."
Seo Jun sat down.
Kyrah leaned toward him and whispered, "What are you doing here?"
"You said you were going alone."
"Yes."
"So I came."
"You didn't even tell me!"
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
Kyrah stared at him.
"You're unbelievable."
"I've been told that before."
The midwife began explaining the partner exercises.
"Partners, your role isn't to take control. Your job is to support the mother. During labor, she may become frightened, exhausted, or overwhelmed. Your voice can help ground her."
Seo Jun listened carefully.
Kyrah glanced at him.
He wasn't treating the session like a joke.
He was genuinely paying attention.
The midwife demonstrated breathing techniques.
"Partners can help by breathing alongside her. Don't tell her to calm down. Help her find her rhythm."
Seo Jun leaned slightly toward Kyrah.
"Got it?"
She nodded.
"Good."
They practiced together.
At first, Kyrah felt ridiculous.
Then Seo Jun quietly said, "You're doing well."
She looked at him.
His expression was reassuring.
For the first time that morning, she wasn't thinking about being the only single mother in the room.
She was simply Kyrah.
A woman preparing to bring her child into the world.
The session continued with demonstrations of supportive positions, massage techniques for lower-back discomfort, and instructions on what partners could do during different stages of labor.
Kyrah listened carefully.
Seo Jun asked a few questions.
The midwife smiled.
"You're very attentive."
"He has a habit of overthinking everything," Kyrah whispered.
"I heard that."
She laughed.
By the time the session ended, Kyrah felt surprisingly lighter.
As they walked outside, Seo Jun reached for her bags before she could protest.
"I can carry them."
"I know."
He took them anyway.
He opened the car door for her.
Kyrah slipped inside and looked at him.
The moment he got into the driver's seat, she turned toward him.
"What was that?"
Seo Jun started the engine.
"What was what?"
"You surprised me."
"That was the point."
Kyrah shook her head, but she was smiling.
"You could have told me."
"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise."
She stared at him.
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
She was touched.
More than she wanted to admit.
And that was precisely what frightened her.
Because somewhere between the hospital and the car, she had started seeing Seo Jun differently.
Not because he was handsome.
Not because he was successful.
Not because he was wealthy.
But because of the way he cared.
He made her feel like she didn't have to carry everything alone.
Kyrah looked out the window.
Don't do this.
She couldn't start thinking of him as her baby's father.
That wasn't fair.
He hadn't asked for that responsibility.
He was simply her friend.
Her very kind, very handsome, very considerate friend.
Seo Jun glanced at her.
"Are you hungry?"
"A little."
"Then let's get something to eat."
Kyrah nodded.
He drove for a few minutes before casually asking,
"After that, should we go baby shopping?"
Kyrah turned sharply.
"Baby shopping?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Seo Jun looked genuinely confused.
"Because we're having a baby."
Kyrah stared at him.
He corrected himself immediately.
"I mean—you are having a baby."
She laughed.
"Nice recovery."
"I've really wanted to go baby shopping."
Kyrah watched him speak with genuine excitement.
A baby that wasn't his.
Yet he was excited.
She smiled.
"You're so weird, Seo Jun."
"You're the weird one."
"Me?"
"Yes. Who isn't excited about baby shopping?"
Kyrah laughed again.
"Fine."
She looked at him.
"If that makes you so happy, let's go."
Seo Jun smiled.
"Deal."
And as the car moved through the city, Kyrah rested one hand gently over her stomach. The thought of preparing for her baby's arrival didn't feel like something she had to do alone.
She didn't know what that meant yet.
And she wasn't ready to find out.
she allowed herself to enjoy it just for now.