Kyrah sank into the couch with a long, exhausted sigh.
The shopping bags were scattered around her feet, some still filled with neatly folded clothes, while others contained tiny baby items she had bought earlier that day. She stared at them for a moment before a smile slowly spread across her face.
It was a smile of satisfaction.
Of relief.
For the first time in a while, she felt genuinely happy.
Her mind drifted back to the day she had spent with Seojun.
He had been so funny.
She could still hear his teasing voice in her head, still remember the ridiculous things he had said while they went from one store to another. Somehow, being around him had made everything feel lighter.
Kyrah touched one of the tiny outfits in the nearest bag and smiled again.
"Peppa is going to have so many clothes," she murmured.
She shook her head, amused at herself.
She had never imagined herself getting this excited over baby clothes.
For a few peaceful minutes, there was nothing else.
No past.
No painful memories.
No Jinyoung.
Just her, her baby, and the small life she was slowly building in Hong Kong.
But thousands of miles away, someone else was thinking about her.
---
Korea
Linda stood at the bus stop, checking her phone impatiently as she waited.
It was getting colder, and she pulled her coat tighter around herself.
She was just about to check the bus schedule again when a black SUV slowly pulled up beside the curb.
Linda barely paid attention at first.
Then the passenger window began to lower.
She froze.
Her eyes widened.
The face staring back at her was one she knew far too well.
Jinyoung.
For a second, she simply stood there in disbelief.
Of all the people she expected to see in Korea that day, he was the last.
She had seen pictures of him countless times. She and Kyrah had cursed him out more times than she could count after what he had done to Kyrah.
And now he was sitting in a car in front of her.
Linda's expression hardened.
"You?"
Jinyoung swallowed.
"Linda, please. It's not what you think. Just let me explain."
"No."
"Please."
"I said no."
Linda took a step back.
"I know who you are. And honestly, I don't understand why you're even talking to me."
Jinyoung looked uncomfortable.
"Because I want to talk to Kyrah."
Linda stared at him.
"How do you even know me?"
"I—" He hesitated. "I kind of... looked through Kyrah's social media."
Linda's eyebrows shot up.
"You stalked her?"
"I wouldn't call it stalking."
"I would."
"I just wanted to know how she was doing."
"And you thought stalking her socials was the way to find out?"
Jinyoung sighed.
"I noticed you were the only person who seemed really close to her. I figured if anyone could help me reach her, it would be you."
Linda folded her arms.
"You've got some nerve."
"I know."
"No, you don't."
"Linda, please. I just want her number."
Linda laughed bitterly.
"You want her number?"
"Yes."
"You know she changed it after she left Korea, right?"
"I know."
"And yet you still came looking for me."
"I just want to talk to her."
"You already had your chance."
Jinyoung lowered his gaze.
"I know."
Linda's anger only grew.
"You had her. She loved you. She trusted you. And you destroyed her."
"I know."
"You humiliated her."
"I know."
"You told her the baby wasn't yours."
Jinyoung's face tightened.
"That was a mistake."
"A mistake?"
Linda's voice rose.
"You don't get to call that a mistake. You broke her."
"I know."
"And now you're married."
Jinyoung was silent.
Linda shook her head.
"So what exactly do you want from her?"
"I don't want anything from her."
"Then leave her alone."
"I just want to know if she's okay."
"She is."
"And the baby?"
"She is fine."
Jinyoung looked up sharply.
"She's... fine?"
Linda realized what she had just said and corrected herself.
"They're fine."
Jinyoung's voice softened.
"My child."
Linda's expression changed immediately.
"Don't."
"But Kyrah is carrying my child."
"If you knew that, why did you treat her like that?"
Jinyoung had no answer.
Linda stepped closer to the car.
"Even if you didn't love her, why did you have to abandon her so cruelly? Why did you look her in the face and tell her that child wasn't yours?"
His jaw tightened.
"I was confused."
"You were cruel."
"I know."
"You don't get to suddenly care now because you're feeling guilty."
"I don't want to hurt her again."
"Then don't contact her."
"Linda, please."
"No."
"Just give me her number."
"No."
"I won't ask you for anything else."
"No."
"I promise."
Linda shook her head.
"You're wasting your time."
"I just want to hear her voice."
"And what happens after that?"
"Nothing."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Yes."
Linda stared at him for a long moment.
Jinyoung's expression was desperate now.
"I won't tell her anything. I won't interfere with her life. I won't ask her to come back. I won't ask her to forgive me. I won't even bring up our past."
"Then why call?"
"Because I need to know she's okay."
Linda scoffed.
"You don't need to know anything. She has moved on."
"I know."
"And you need to do the same."
"I know."
"Then leave her alone."
Jinyoung lowered his head.
"Please, Linda."
She remained silent.
"Just one call."
Linda sighed.
"One call?"
"One."
"And then what?"
"I'll never call her again."
"You swear?"
"I swear."
Linda studied his face, still unconvinced.
"Fine."
Jinyoung looked up.
"Really?"
"One call," Linda repeated firmly. "And if you hurt her again, I will personally make sure you regret it."
He nodded.
"I understand."
Linda hesitated before finally giving him the number.
Jinyoung quickly saved it.
"Thank you."
"This doesn't mean I forgive you."
"I know."
"And it doesn't mean Kyrah will forgive you either."
"I know."
Linda turned away.
"Good. Then we're clear."
As she walked toward the arriving bus, Jinyoung stared at the number on his phone.
Kyrah.
For the first time in months, he had a way to reach her.
But he had no idea what would happen when he did.
---
Hong Kong
A few days later, Sunday morning arrived quietly.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains of Kyrah's bedroom as she stood in front of the wardrobe, carefully arranging the things she and Seojun had bought.
She held up another tiny outfit.
"Oh, this is so cute."
She smiled before carefully folding it.
The little wardrobe was slowly filling with baby clothes.
Every time she looked at them, her heart warmed.
She was putting away the last of the shopping bags when her phone suddenly rang.
Kyrah frowned.
She glanced at the screen.
Unknown Number.
The number was international.
She hesitated.
Who would be calling her from an international number on a Sunday morning?
Curious, she answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then—
"Hi, Kyrah."
Her entire body froze.
That voice.
She knew that voice.
A voice she hadn't heard in so long, yet recognized instantly.
A chill ran down her spine.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"Jinyoung?"
There was a pause.
"It's me."
Kyrah's heart began pounding.
"How did you get my number?"
Before he could answer, realization struck her.
"Oh my God."
Her voice hardened.
"Linda."
"No, no—"
"It was Linda, wasn't it?"
"Kyrah, please—"
"I can't believe she gave you my number."
"Please don't hang up."
"Why are you calling me?"
"I just wanted to know how you're doing."
Kyrah let out a bitter laugh.
"Why?"
Jinyoung fell silent.
"Why would you want to know how I'm doing?"
"Kyrah—"
"We have nothing to do with each other."
Her voice trembled.
"We're strangers."
"That isn't true."
"It is."
"You're carrying my child."
The words hit her like a slap.
Kyrah's chest tightened.
"Don't."
"I just wanted to know if you and the baby are okay."
"Why do you care?"
"I do care."
"You didn't care when it mattered."
Silence.
Kyrah's eyes began to burn.
The memory was still fresh.
The day he chose Mireille over her.
The humiliation.
The rejection.
The way he had looked at her and denied that the baby was his.
It still felt like yesterday.
The wound hadn't disappeared.
She had simply learned how to live around it.
"I don't even want to hear what you have to say," she whispered.
"Kyrah, please—"
"I don't know why I'm even still on this call because there's no point."
Her voice broke.
"Don't call this number again, Jinyoung."
"Kyrah—"
"Enjoy your marriage."
She wiped away a tear.
"And live your life."
Then she hung up.
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
Kyrah stared at her phone as tears slipped down her cheeks.
Then, without thinking, she immediately called Linda.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Linda answered.
"Kyrah—"
"I know what you're going to say."
"Kyrah, let me explain—"
"I know exactly what you're going to say."
Linda sighed.
"No matter what, I know I shouldn't have given him your number."
"You shouldn't have."
"I know."
"He had no right to call me."
"I know."
"And you had no right to give him access to me."
"I know."
Linda paused.
"But you and I both know he's still the father of your child."
Kyrah's eyes filled with tears again.
"That doesn't give him the right to come back into my life."
"I know. But I thought maybe you could at least let him explain."
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because I stopped him before he could even say anything."
Linda sighed.
"Kyrah—"
"I don't care what he has to say."
Her voice trembled.
"Sometimes I remember the day he humiliated me like it was yesterday."
Linda went quiet.
"I remember everything."
Kyrah wiped her cheeks.
"I have absolutely nothing to say to him."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm angry with you too, Linda."
"I know."
"You promised you'd never do anything like this."
"I know."
Linda's voice softened.
"I'm really sorry."
There was a brief silence.
Then Linda said, "Okay. I'm not going to talk about him anymore."
Kyrah sniffed.
"Good."
"And I'm never doing something like that again."
"Good."
"Now…"
Linda's voice suddenly became playful.
"Please smile for me."
Kyrah frowned.
"What?"
"Let's have a video call."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I'm angry."
"I know."
"And I'm not in the mood."
"I know."
Linda paused dramatically.
"But I have good news."
Kyrah wiped her eyes.
"What good news?"
"I may be visiting you soon."
Kyrah's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Maybe."
"Linda!"
She laughed.
"Don't joke with me."
"I'm not joking."
"Seriously?"
"I may be coming to Hong Kong to see you."
Kyrah's entire mood changed.
"You're serious?"
"I'm serious."
"Oh my God!"
She laughed through the tears.
"Linda, really?"
"Yes!"
"When?"
"Probably next weekend."
Kyrah practically jumped off the couch.
"Next weekend?"
"Yes."
"Oh my God! I can't wait!"
She suddenly looked around the room.
"I have so much to show you."
"Like what?"
"The baby's things!"
Linda gasped.
"Wait."
Kyrah smiled.
"I can't wait to show you all the baby gifts Seojun and I got for Peppa."
There was silence on the other end.
"Hold on."
Kyrah laughed.
"Who is Peppa?"
Kyrah covered her mouth.
"Oh…"
"You named the baby and didn't tell me?"
"It's just the baby's fetal nickname."
"The baby's WHAT?"
"Fetal nickname! You know, the little name we use before the baby is born."
Linda screamed.
"Oh my God! I'm supposed to be the godmother of this child and I didn't even know the baby's nickname!"
Kyrah burst out laughing.
"I didn't know I had been promoted to godmother."
"You've always been the godmother."
"Then why am I finding out about everything from you mentioning it casually?"
Kyrah laughed harder.
"I didn't think it was a big deal."
"And what exactly is this Seojun situation?"
Kyrah immediately knew where the conversation was going.
"Linda…"
"You and Seojun went shopping together, named the baby together…"
"Stop it."
"You're getting very close."
"Linda!"
Linda laughed.
"I don't believe he's your best friend."
Kyrah rolled her eyes.
"Stop making it weird."
"I'm just saying."
"He's my friend."
"Your very handsome friend?"
"Linda!"
They both burst into laughter.
For the first time since the phone call with Jinyoung, the heaviness in Kyrah's chest began to lift.
"I really can't wait for you to be here," she said softly.
"I can't wait either."
"I miss you so much."
"I miss you too."
Kyrah smiled.
"It feels like it's been forever."
"It has been forever."
"I think I'm going to be excited all through work tomorrow."
Linda laughed.
"You'll be at work physically, but your mind will already be in Hong Kong."
"Exactly!"
Kyrah grinned.
"When are you coming again?"
"Probably next weekend."
Kyrah smiled brightly.
"Ah. Perfect."
"What?"
"The perfect reward after surviving another week of work."
Linda laughed.
"Then you'd better survive it."
"I will."
Kyrah looked around her room, already imagining Linda standing beside her, touching the tiny baby clothes and teasing her about Seojun.
For the first time that morning, the pain Jinyoung had awakened inside her wasn't the only thing she could feel.
There was excitement too.
And anticipation.
And something she hadn't felt in a long time.
Anticipation.