116 - And Then There Were Three
TL/Editor: looloo
Status: ongoing
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The year of retaking the college entrance exam was over, and my grades were good, so I spent my days collecting information about regular admissions at Seoyeon University—not exactly a frenzy of activity.
I spent all my time next to Heena. Of course, even if she hadn't kept me close, I wouldn't have gone out and left her alone.
As time passed, like other pregnant women, Heena experienced frequent condition changes and emotional swings. However, she mostly revealed these to me and hardly ever to her family.
"Yeonho, wake up..."
"Uh, what? Is something wrong?"
"No... just hug me...""Yawn~ Okay."
She would wake me up in the middle of the night, asking for a hug.
"I want strawberries."
"Really? Should I get some?"
"No. Stay with me."
"Don't go?"
"But I want strawberries..."
"Wait a bit. I'll summon strawberries."
[ Han Yeonho : Hyung!! ]
[ Han Yeonho : Ahhhhhhhhhh!! ]
[ Han Yeonho : Hyung!!!!!!! Emergency!! ]
[ Heeseong hyung : What, what, what the hell is it? Did something happen? ]
[ Han Yeonho : Please buy strawberries; Heena wants to eat them. ]
[ Heeseong hyung : ...... ]
She would randomly crave something, and then insist I stay by her side, a contradictory demand.
"When you go to OT, you'll drink with other girls, right...?"
"I'm not going. That's around your due date. I wouldn't go."
"They'll call you oppa and pour you drinks... and you'll happily drink..."
"We're just classmates, why would they call me oppa?"
"You'll get drunk, lie next to them, and become close... Hiccup..."
"I'm not going! Calm down!"
"Sniff..."
"Heena, I'm here! I'm not going anywhere! I'll stay by your side!"
She would cry, imagining impossible scenarios.
Because of that, I couldn't leave her side even for a step, always stuck next to her. Once, my in-laws felt sorry for me and tried to take Heena away for a bit.
"No!! Don't go!!"
"It's just a short outing~ A quick walk around the neighborhood would only take about 30 minutes."
"I'll go too!!"
"Sigh... Sorry, son-in-law."
"It's okay. Heena, come here. I'll hold you."
"You won't leave me, right...?"
"I'm not going anywhere. Come, I'll hold you."
"Okay..."
Whenever I tried to leave, she would cry, so I gave up. When she calmed down, she apologized for her unreasonable demands.
"Sorry for being stubborn earlier... It must be frustrating to stay by my side all the time..."
"Frustrating? Not at all. Are you feeling better? Want me to bring some water?"
"Yes, please."
I spent most of my time with her, and even inside the house, she frequently called for me. I ordered a wireless pager online and gave it to Heena.
If she needed my help or wanted to see me, she could press the button, and the signal would alert me. It worked perfectly in the house, and Heena found it very useful.
For example, when Heena was lying down to rest, and I was playing a game with Heeseong Hyung.
"Hey! Hey! Dodge! This is the last pattern! If we mess up, we have to start over!"
"Got it! Hyung, keep the aggro..."
-Beep beep beep
"Don't go. Seriously, you can go a bit later... Hey! Where are you going!! Damn it!!!"
"Heena! What's wrong?!"
When the sound went off, I could run to Heena without a second thought.
"Just wanted to see your face. What were you doing?"
"...Nothing? I wasn't doing anything?"
"Han Yeonho!!!!!!"
"Really? What's wrong with oppa?"
"Who knows, maybe he has a vitamin C deficiency."
Of course, she didn't only call for me when it was important.
After the college entrance exam ended and the year-end passed, every day felt like this. It didn't matter if it was day or night, and honestly, it was a bit tiring. However, the fact that I could do something for Heena brought me greater joy.
I wanted to do my best as her boyfriend and as the father of our child, especially after receiving so much help myself.
Days passed like this, and a month went by, and as the year turned.
Around the time I heard the news that I had been accepted to Seoyeon University.
The day for Sarang's birth approached.
As the due date drew near, and judging there wouldn't be any major deviations, Heena was admitted to the hospital a few days in advance. I stayed with her and took care of her. Since she didn't want to go anywhere without me, I had no choice but to stay with her.
For those few days, although she was comfortable, Heena would struggle with regular labor pains and false contractions. Seeing her in pain made me feel like crying too.
And finally.
The real labor began. As the date approached, Heena mentioned before going to bed that she felt Sarang might come today.
Sure enough, the contractions started in the early morning, and we immediately headed to the delivery room. As previously discussed, I put on a gown and went in with her.
Heena had strongly requested family delivery. Although it’s often said that witnessing childbirth can be traumatic for the husband, and it's a sight you might not want to see, if Heena wanted it, I had no right to refuse. What she wanted was what I wanted.
From then on, a long labor began. I held Heena's hand tightly, talking to her endlessly.
"Yeonho... you're there, right?"
"Yes, I'm here. I'm holding your hand tightly."
"Stay with me, always..."
"I won't go anywhere. I promise."
"Aah...!!"
Heena called for me, crying, and we continued our fragmented conversation. Even as she groaned in pain, I couldn't hold back my own tears.
I wished I could take her pain away, that I could bear it for her. Holding Heena's slender hand tightly with both of mine, I kept talking to keep her calm.
"Later, let's visit all the places we went on dates with Sarang. The three of us together."
"Or maybe we could bring Heeseong hyung or Yunjung noona along too, they might feel left out."
"Sometimes, I think they want to see Sarang more than we do. Right?"
"A hot spring trip would be nice too. But maybe it would be too hot for Sarang?"
"I'll be by your side. Always, for the rest of our lives."
"Just a little more, hang in there, Heena."
"I love you."
Listening to the nurse say we were doing well, I whispered to Heena for hours.
Holding Heena's hand, praying, crying together, losing track of time.
"Waaah!!"
Sarang's cries filled the room.
"A healthy daughter! Let's check her hands and feet."
The doctor's words confirmed that the delivery was finally over. Although I realized it, it was still hard to grasp what had just happened. Having been by Heena's side for so long, crying and talking, I was overwhelmed.
Both Heena and I were crying, but through her tears, Heena was smiling softly at me.
"Our... Sarang, did she come out okay?"
"Yes... she's very healthy. How about you? Are you in more pain anywhere?"
"I'm fine... sob, Sarang... I want to see our Sarang..."
Tears quickly filled Heena's eyes again as she asked for Sarang. The nurse, who had already finished the initial care, gently showed Sarang to Heena.
We both cried as we looked at our wrinkly, but incredibly adorable, Sarang.
"She's so, so beautiful... hiccup... Sarang, she's so beautiful... Yeonho, she looks just like you..."
"She looks just like you."
"Sob... no, she doesn't..."
"Yes, she does."
As we admired our small and fragile baby, too scared to even touch her, the nurse placed Sarang on Heena's belly.
This was something we had been briefed about earlier. It was called kangaroo care, where the baby and mother have skin-to-skin contact to provide emotional stability.
Amazingly, as soon as Sarang touched Heena, she stopped crying, almost as if she recognized her mother.
That magical sight.
The heartwarming scene of mother and daughter.
It moved me deeply.
And so, we became three instead of two.
Me, Heena, and Sarang.
As a family of three.
Afterwards, Sarang was moved to the neonatal room, and Heena was also transferred for postpartum care. During this time, I met the family gathered outside the delivery room.
I had called them before going in, and every single family member had shown up.
Among them, my mother-in-law was the first to rush to me with disheveled hair as soon as I stepped out.
"How are Heena and Sarang? Are they healthy?"
"Yes, they are both healthy. The nurses are helping Heena wash up, and Sarang is in the neonatal room."
"Thank goodness... sob... thank you. Thank you so much, Yeonho... my dear son-in-law... you worked so hard."
"It was nothing... it’s us who caused all the trouble for our families. Thank you so much."
It was true. Because of our reckless actions, we became parents at such an early age. In the end, it was thanks to our families that we safely welcomed Sarang.
"Jeongwoo's mom, we need to get Yeonho something to eat."
"Look how thin he is. Sunhoo, get the stuff we bought at the convenience store!"
"Here it is~"
"I'm so moved... sob, Yeonho and Heena, you both worked so hard... I'm about to cry..."
"You're already crying. Yeonho, eat something first."
"Is that enough? Wait a bit. Should I get a catering service... but can they come here?"
"Good idea, Heeseong. He must be exhausted, let's make sure he eats well."
I silently thanked my family, who were so relieved and happy that the nurse had to come out and remind them to be quieter.
I was truly happy to have these people as my family.
From the bottom of my heart.
I wanted to be this kind of family for Heena and Sarang.
Always grateful and loving.
That kind of family.
Author's Note:
Dear readers!! Don't worry!!
According to your wishes! 'My Girlfriend is Very Good to Me' will continue up to 20,000 chapters!!
See you tomorrow with Heena's part. Thank you for always reading!
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