[6:00 PM / Company Headquarters]
The doors of the meeting room opened.
Taekyun stepped out first.
Behind him, department heads and managers followed, bowing respectfully.
"Good evening, sir."
"Thank you, sir."
He gave small nods in return and walked down the hallway toward the elevators.
The elevator doors were closed.
He stood in front of them, hands resting lightly at his sides.
Behind him, several employees gathered at a respectful distance.
No one dared step ahead of him.
The hallway was quiet except for the faint hum of office lights.
Taekyun's gaze remained forward.
But he wasn't seeing the corridor.
He was seeing Haneul.
Last night.
The warmth beneath his palm.
If he was pregnant then
Then what?
A light tap landed carefully on his shoulder.
Taekyun turned his head slowly.
A manager stood there, visibly nervous.
"Sir…. the elevator."
Taekyun blinked once and turned back.
The elevator doors were open.
He had been standing there while it waited.
"Oh."
A small nod.
He stepped inside.
Several employees followed quietly, lining the walls of the elevator.
No one spoke.
The mirrored walls reflected his composed face.
But his jaw was tighter.
His fingers flexed once at his side.
The elevator descended.
Floor by floor.
With each passing second, the possibility felt heavier.
The doors opened in the lobby.
Taekyun stepped out first.
His secretary hurried toward him with a tablet in hand.
"Sir, Mr. Jackson called regarding tonight's dinner.
You have a reservation at 7 PM."
She glanced at her screen.
"And"
"I'll be going home,"
Taekyun interrupted.
Her voice halted.
"Cancel everything for now."
She looked up slightly and bowed.
"Yes, sir."
He walked past her without another word.
The doors slid open.
Just as he stepped outside
Lihan appeared near the entrance.
Taekyun stopped.
Lihan approached slowly and gave a subtle nod.
"Sir"
Taekyun's eyes shifted briefly to the employees still exiting the building.
"In the car."
His tone was low.
Lihan understood immediately.
"Yes, sir."
The car pulled up.
"I'll drive, sir,"
Lihan said.
The driver stepped aside and handed him the keys.
Taekyun entered the back seat.
The door shut.
Lihan got into the driver's seat.
The car began moving through the evening traffic.
Taekyun leaned slightly back but didn't relax.
His fingers rested against his thigh, unmoving.
After a few moments, he inhaled slowly.
"The doctor has left?"
"Yes, sir,"
Lihan replied carefully.
"Everything was done."
A pause.
"And the test results are as we expected."
Taekyun's eyes shifted slightly.
"He's pregnant."
Lihan nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"And.... it's already the second month."
Taekyun's gaze sharpened.
"Second month?"
"Yes, sir."
Taekyun turned his head toward the window.
City lights blurred past in streaks of gold and white.
How did I not notice?
The symptoms had only seemed obvious recently.
Or had he ignored them?
The nausea.
A dull ache began forming at his temples.
He lifted his hand slightly and pressed his fingers against his forehead.
Two months.
That meant the child was already forming. Already alive.
He leaned his head back against the seat slowly.
Closed his eyes for a second.
In a long time
Taekyun felt unprepared.
And he didn't know which thought unsettled him more
The pregnancy.
Or the fact that he wanted to go home immediately.
To see Haneul.
The car slowed and stopped in front of the residence.
For a second, Taekyun didn't move.
He opened the door and stepped out.
His heart was beating faster than it should.
He didn't understand it.
This wasn't the first time.
He had faced situations like this with Harin before.
But why did this feel different?
Why did it feel so heavy?
He stood there for a moment, staring at the entrance of the house.
How was he supposed to face Haneul now?
What was he supposed to say?
Lihan stepped out from the driver's seat.
"Sir, should I stay?"
Taekyun turned slightly.
"You can leave."
Lihan nodded immediately.
"Yes, sir."
He got back into the car and drove away.
Taekyun walked toward the entrance.
The staff lined up automatically and bowed.
"Welcome back, sir."
He acknowledged them with a faint nod and stepped inside.
He walked toward the staircase.
And just as he reached thefirst step
Bora was coming downstairs.
Haru was beside her.
Bora saw him and immediately bowed.
"Sir."
Taekyun nodded.
Haru slipped her hand from Bora's and walked straight toward him.
She stopped in front of him and looked up.
Her eyes searched his face.
Taekyun looked down at her.
"Have you eaten?"
Bora answered softly,
"I was just taking her to eat."
Taekyun stepped closer to Haru.
Then unexpectedly
He bent down.
And pulled her into his arms.
Bora froze.
Her eyes widened slightly.
He held her firmly.
As if grounding himself.
He pressed a soft kiss against her cheek.
"Go eat first,"
he said quietly.
"Then we'll talk."
Haru nodded slowly.
She looked at him carefully.
"Umma.… hurt."
Taekyun slowly stood up.
"He's fine,"
he replied calmly.
"Don't be worried."
Bora hesitated.
"Sir, actually…. after the checkup
Haneul, he's"
Taekyun looked at her.
"I'll check myself."
Bora lowered her head immediately.
"Yes, sir."
Taekyun gave Haru a small nod.
Bora gently reached for Haru's hand.
"Let's go, Haru-ah. Eat first."
Haru didn't argue.
She turned and walked away quietly beside Bora.
The sadness was visible.
Taekyun noticed her.
Then he turned toward the stairs.
[UPSTAIRS /Haneul's room]
Taekyun stood outside the door for a second before entering.
Then he pushed it open.
The door closed softly behind him.
Haneul was curled beneath the blanket, his body turned slightly to one side.
His face was half-buried in the pillow, trying to hide from his own thoughts.
When he heard the door close.
He slowly lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
Taekyun didn't speak.
He just looked at him.
Haneul immediately pushed himself up into a sitting position.
The blanket slipped slightly from his shoulders.
He lowered his legs to the side of the bed.
His gaze dropped to the floor.
His cheeks were flushed a deep red.
He couldn't look at Taekyun directly.
Did he know?
Of course he knew.
Lihan had told him.
Which meant....
Haneul stood up slowly.
Almost unsure of how to move now.
Haneul took one hesitant step toward Taekyun.
Taekyun looked down into Haneul's eyes.
Haneul's fingers tightened around the sleeves of his shirt.
His head lowered again.
He didn't know what to say or how to start.
He didn't even know what he was feeling.
Shock or embarrassment?
Everything was mixed together.
Taekyun's expression softened slightly.
Then he stepped forward.
And pulled Haneul into his arms.
It wasn't rushed or hesitant.
It was firm and secure.
Haneul gasped softly in surprise as Taekyun lifted him almost completely off his feet.
Instinctively, his arms wrapped around Taekyun's neck.
His heart began pounding wildly.
Taekyun carried him to the bed and sat down, keeping Haneul in his lap.
He didn't let go.
For several long seconds, neither of them moved.
Taekyun lowered his head slowly and rested his forehead against Haneul's shoulder.
His hand supported Haneul's back.
His voice came out low.
"Are you okay with that?"
The question was simple.
But it carried weight.
Haneul's breath trembled slightly.
His heart was racing so loudly he felt it in his ears.
He felt a strange flutter low in his stomach
He swallowed.
"Hm….."
he hummed faintly.
But words refused to come.
Because the truth was
He hadn't processed it fully.
When the doctor told him, his mind had gone blank.
He hadn't even understood at first.
It was only when Bora explained slowly
That realization hit him.
Pregnant.
A child.
Since then he had just lain there on the bed.
Still, staring at nothing.
Waiting for Taekyun.
Now, sitting in his arms
Feeling his steady breathing against his shoulder.
Haneul realized something.
He had been more afraid of Taekyun's silence.
Than the pregnancy itself.
And right now.
Taekyun wasn't silent.
He was holding him.
After a While,
Taekyun slowly lifted his head from Haneul's shoulder and looked at him.
Haneul was still sitting on his lap, his body warm against Taekyun's chest.
Slowly, shyly, he turned his face away.
His cheeks were flushed a deep pink.
His fingers twisted slightly in the fabric of Taekyun's shirt.
"I was…. really embarrassed,"
Haneul said.
Taekyun's brows shifted just a little, a faint glimmer of something almost like a smile in his eyes.
"Embarrassed?"
he asked quietly.
Haneul nodded.
"When..… the doctor touched my belly."
The words came out small, almost fragile.
Taekyun looked at him for a long moment.
Then, calmly he said,
"Sorry. I couldn't make it."
Haneul eyes widened in disbelief.
An apology from Taekyun.
Never not once had he heard Taekyun apologize to anyone.
Especially not to him.
"It's…... it's not that,"
Haneul stammered.
"I didn't mean...."
"You didn't feel embarrassed
when I touched you last night."
Taekyun's voice was low.
Not teasing.
Haneul's breath caught.l
His gaze dropped immediately.
"I was…. asleep."
Taekyun studied him.
"Look at me."
Haneul shook his head slightly.
"Let me.… sit properly,"
he whispered, trying to shift off Taekyun's lap.
"Look."
This time the word was firmer.
Slowly, hesitantly, Haneul lifted his eyes.
Their gazes locked.
His heart was pounding so loudly he felt dizzy.
"If now Haru"
Haneul began nervously.
He didn't get to finish.
Taekyun closed the distance in one smooth movement and pressed his lips firmly against Haneul's.
Haneul's eyes widened in shock as Taekyun kissed him while looking straight into his eyes.
There was no doubt in Taekyun's gaze.
No confusion.
After a few steady seconds, Taekyun slowly pulled back.
His thumb brushed lightly across Haneul's lower lip, wiping gently.
"It's going to be okay,"
he said quietly.
The words were simple.
But they carried weight.
Haneul stared at him.
Since the beginning, Taekyun had never spoken like this.
He never reassured like this.
Yet tonight he apologized.
He held him.
He kissed him without hesitation.
And he promised.
Haneul felt something shift deep inside his chest.
The fear that had been tightening around him all afternoon began to loosen.
Because for the first time
Taekyun wasn't just handling the situation.
He was standing with him in it.
And that.
Meant more than Haneul could put into words.