Kyrah had begun to enjoy her mornings.
Not every morning.
Some days, her back hurt so much that she wanted to remain in bed.
Some days, Peppa seemed determined to practice gymnastics before sunrise.
And some days, she woke up hungry enough to eat breakfast twice.
But lately, she had discovered something she hadn't experienced in a long time.
She could take her time.
She no longer had to rush through her morning routine.
She could sit by the window with a cup of warm water and watch the city wake up.
She could eat breakfast without checking her email between bites.
She could spend an hour organizing Peppa's clothes and then take a nap without feeling guilty.
It was strange.
For so long, she had believed that resting meant falling behind.
Now, she was beginning to understand that some things were worth slowing down for.
That morning, she sat on the sofa, folding a tiny blanket.
Peppa moved.
She smiled.
"Good morning to you too."
Her phone rang.
Seojun.
She answered.
"Good morning."
"Good morning. How are you feeling?"
Kyrah glanced at her stomach.
"Your favorite question."
"That doesn't answer it."
She laughed.
"I'm fine."
"Did you eat?"
"Yes."
"What did you eat?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you checking up on me?"
"Yes."
"At least you're honest."
He chuckled.
"So?"
"Eggs, toast, and fruit."
"Good."
She smiled.
"You're very pleased with yourself."
"I like knowing you're taking care of yourself."
Kyrah looked down at the blanket.
Something warm settled in her chest.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
A brief pause followed.
Then Seojun asked,
"Do you need anything today?"
Kyrah glanced around the apartment.
The nursery was almost complete.
The clothes were organized.
The supplies were arranged.
There were still a few things she needed to buy, but nothing urgent.
"No. I think I'm finally getting everything together."
"Good."
She smiled.
"How's HANEUL HOME?"
"Running."
"That sounds reassuring."
"Xiumin nearly broke a testing device yesterday."
Kyrah sat up.
"What?"
"Relax. It was a minor issue."
"Seojun!"
"He fixed it."
She pressed a hand against her chest.
"You can't tell me things like that when I'm trying to rest."
He laughed.
"Sorry."
She shook her head.
"How is Youning?"
"Complaining about Xiumin."
"That sounds normal."
"And Flora says you need to stop worrying about us."
Kyrah smiled.
"Flora is right."
"Then listen to her."
She laughed.
"You're all ganging up on me."
"Only because we care."
The words settled between them.
Kyrah looked toward the nursery.
"I miss you all."
Seojun's voice softened.
"We miss you too."
She smiled.
"But I'm enjoying this."
"I'm glad."
"I think I needed it."
"I know."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Seojun said,
"Get some rest, Kyrah."
She smiled.
"You too."
"I'm at work."
"Then work."
He laughed.
"Goodbye."
"Bye."
The call ended.
Kyrah looked at her phone for a moment.
Then she returned to folding the blanket.
She had become accustomed to Seojun's calls.
His messages.
His small reminders.
The way he checked in without making her feel as though she owed him anything.
And she was beginning to understand how much she had come to depend on that feeling.
Not because she couldn't manage without him.
But because having him around made life feel a little less heavy.
Later that morning, Kyrah decided to go downstairs.
She wanted some fresh air.
The weather was pleasant, and the garden surrounding the residence had become one of her favorite places to walk.
She put on a loose dress and comfortable shoes.
Then she picked up a small bag.
Before leaving, she checked the nursery one more time.
The tiny blue shoes were still sitting on the shelf.
She smiled.
"Your father is going to laugh when you outgrow those."
She paused.
Then shook her head.
"Not your father."
She sighed.
"Your biological father."
The words felt strange.
She knew Jinyoung was Peppa's father.
She wasn't trying to erase that truth.
But she was also learning that biology didn't automatically create a relationship.
A father was someone who showed up.
Someone who cared.
Someone who took responsibility.
And whatever happened in the future, she wanted Peppa to grow up understanding that love was not something he had to earn.
She closed the nursery door.
Then headed downstairs.
Across the street, Jinyoung stood beside a parked car.
He had been there for nearly forty minutes.
Every time the entrance opened, his heart jumped.
Every time someone walked out, he looked up.
And every time it wasn't Kyrah, disappointment settled over him.
He checked his phone.
No messages.
He looked at the building again.
Perhaps he should leave.
Perhaps he had made a mistake coming here.
He rubbed his palms together.
Then the entrance opened.
A woman stepped outside.
Jinyoung froze.
Kyrah.
For a moment, he couldn't breathe.
She was wearing a loose dress that fell gently over her stomach.
Her hair was pulled back.
One hand rested on her belly.
She looked different.
Her movements were slower.
She paused at the entrance, adjusting the strap of her bag.
Then she smiled at someone beside her.
Jinyoung's heart stopped.
Seojun.
He was standing next to her.
His sleeves were rolled up, and he was holding a small shopping bag.
He said something.
Kyrah laughed.
Jinyoung stared.
He had imagined seeing her again so many times.
He had imagined her looking at him.
He had imagined the shock in her eyes.
The anger.
The tears.
He had imagined himself apologizing.
But she wasn't looking at him.
She was looking at Seojun.
And she was smiling.
Seojun glanced at the bag in Kyrah's hand.
"Give me that."
Kyrah frowned.
"It's not heavy."
"I didn't ask if it was heavy."
She laughed.
"Seojun, I'm perfectly capable of carrying a bag."
"I know."
"Then why are you taking it?"
"Because I can carry it."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're impossible."
He smiled and gently took the bag from her.
"There."
Kyrah shook her head.
"You realize you're becoming very annoying."
"So I've been told."
She laughed again.
Jinyoung stood frozen.
The sound reached him.
It was the same laugh he remembered.
The same warmth.
The same brightness.
But there was something different about it now.
She looked comfortable.
At ease.
As if she didn't have to think about whether she was allowed to be happy.
Seojun said something else.
Kyrah lightly nudged his arm.
He laughed.
Then he adjusted the bag in his hand and began walking beside her.
Jinyoung watched them move down the pavement.
He couldn't look away.
Kyrah had been telling Seojun about the nursery.
"The crib is finally in place."
"Good."
"And I organized all the clothes."
"All of them?"
"Almost."
He glanced at her.
"How many clothes does one baby need?"
She laughed.
"Don't ask me. Apparently, I bought enough for an entire football team."
Seojun smiled.
"Then Peppa will be well dressed."
"He'd better be."
They continued walking.
Kyrah paused briefly to adjust her dress.
Seojun slowed immediately.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"Do you need to sit down?"
She gave him a look.
"Seojun."
"What?"
"I'm walking."
"I noticed."
She laughed.
"Then let me walk."
He smiled.
"All right."
They continued.
From across the street, Jinyoung watched the exchange.
He saw the way Seojun adjusted his pace to match hers.
The way he paid attention without making her feel incapable.
The way Kyrah spoke to him without hesitation.
There was no awkwardness between them.
No tension.
No fear.
Just familiarity.
A closeness that had been built over time.
Jinyoung's chest tightened.
He had once imagined himself walking beside Kyrah like that.
He had imagined taking her hand.
Helping her when she was tired.
Being there when she needed him.
He had imagined holding their child.
But he had walked away.
And someone else had been there to do the things he had once promised to do.
Kyrah stopped near a small shop.
"Wait."
Seojun turned.
"What?"
She pointed toward the window.
"Look at that."
He followed her gaze.
A display of baby clothes sat behind the glass.
Kyrah smiled.
"Those little socks are adorable."
Seojun glanced at them.
"Didn't you already buy enough socks?"
She gasped.
"How dare you?"
He laughed.
"I'm just asking."
"Babies need socks."
"Apparently."
She shook her head.
Then turned back toward him.
"You're lucky you're handsome."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Seojun froze.
Kyrah froze too.
For one terrible second, they simply stared at each other.
Then Kyrah's cheeks warmed.
"I mean..."
Seojun's mouth curved into a smile.
"Am I?"
She looked away.
"Don't."
He laughed softly.
"All right."
She covered her face.
"I can't believe I said that."
"Neither can I."
"Seojun!"
He smiled.
"Come on. Let's get you home."
Kyrah shook her head, laughing.
Jinyoung watched from across the street.
He couldn't hear their words.
But he saw the way she looked at Seojun.
The way she laughed.
The way her face softened.
And something inside him finally gave way.
She was happy.
Not pretending.
Not trying to convince anyone.
Happy.
He looked down.
His hands had begun to tremble.
He pressed them into his pockets.
For months, he had told himself that Kyrah needed him.
That she was alone.
That she might be waiting for him to return.
That if he could just explain himself, she might understand.
But standing there, watching her walk beside Seojun, he realized how wrong he had been.
Kyrah had not been waiting for him.
She had been living.
She had built a life.
She had found people who cared for her.
She had become stronger.
And she had done it without him.
Seojun glanced at Kyrah.
"You're smiling."
She looked at him.
"Am I not allowed?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Nothing."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're staring."
He smiled.
"Maybe."
Kyrah shook her head.
"You're impossible."
He laughed.
They continued walking.
And Jinyoung watched until they disappeared around the corner.
For a long time, he remained where he was.
The city moved around him.
People walked past.
Cars passed.
The sun shifted across the buildings.
But he couldn't move.
He had come to Hong Kong believing that he would find Kyrah and somehow make things right.
Instead, he had found the truth.
She didn't need him to rescue her.
She didn't need him to explain her own life to her.
She didn't need him to come back and tell her that he was sorry.
She had already survived him.
And she had built something beautiful from the pieces he had left behind.
Jinyoung looked toward the corner where she had disappeared.
His eyes burned.
He pressed his lips together.
For the first time, he understood that regret could not make him the hero of someone else's story.
Sometimes, it only meant accepting that you had hurt someone so deeply that they had to build a new life without you.
And Kyrah had done exactly that.
Jinyoung finally walked away.
He didn't know where he was going.
He simply walked.
His phone buzzed in his pocket.
He ignored it.
He crossed the street.
Then stopped beside a row of trees.
He leaned against one of them and closed his eyes.
The image of Kyrah laughing with Seojun remained in his mind.
He had wanted to see her.
Now he wished he hadn't.
Not because she was happy.
But because seeing her happiness had forced him to confront the truth he had been avoiding.
She was no longer his.
Not because someone had taken her away.
Not because Seojun had stolen her.
Because Jinyoung had made choices that had driven her out of his life.
And she had every right to move on.
He opened his eyes.
The city was bright.
Beautiful.
Alive.
And for the first time since arriving, he felt completely alone.
He had come to Hong Kong searching for a second chance.
Instead, he had found the life Kyrah had built without him.
And he knew, with a certainty that made his chest ache, that he could never ask her to give it up for him.