Seo-yeon's mom was the first to come out of her shock.
"Are we going to the hospital?" she asked suddenly. "Have you had your ultrasound yet?"
"No, Mom," Seo-yeon said. "I've been in a daze ever since I found out."
"Then you have to go. We need to know how the baby is doing."
"Darling," her dad said, "we're not done talking yet."
"What else is there to talk about?" her mom said. "My baby just told me she's pregnant. I'm going to be a grandmother. I should be happy! Or do you want me to sit here crying with her? Do you know how bad stress is for her right now? Do you want to hurt her and the baby?"
"No, that's not what I..." her dad stammered, not knowing how to finish his words.
"Forget him," her mom said, waving her hand at him. "He doesn't know what he's doing. Seo-yeon, we're going to the hospital tomorrow morning. I'll book the appointment now." She picked up her phone, then looked up again. "Are you hungry? You must be. My grandbaby must be hungry too. What do you want to eat? I'll cook for you."
Seo-yeon thought about it. "Tteokbokki," she said. "The really spicy kind. And fried chicken. And a bowl of cold noodles." She hesitated. "And strawberries, Mom. With a lot of cream."
"Of course." Her mom stood up with a smile. "I'll make all of it. Rest here."
She left for the kitchen, and the living room went quiet.
---
Seo-yeon and her dad sat across from each other. He kept looking at her and then looking away. She tried to make small talk.
"Daddy, how's work?"
He snorted and looked at the wall.
"Daddy, are you really going to ignore me?"
Silence.
"Don't do this to me, Daddy." Her eyes started to fill with tears, and her lip trembled.
"Stop, stop, stop!" her dad said. "You're doing it again. You know I can't stand seeing you cry. Are you trying to blackmail me?"
She gave him a sweet, coaxing smile. Then she got up, walked over and hugged him tightly.
He sighed and patted her back. "You're going to be a mom now," he said gently. "Be careful with your movements. Don't run around like you used to."
"I will, Daddy."
"And don't think I'm not still upset," he added. "I'm your father. I'm allowed to be upset."
"I know."
"But I'm more worried than upset." He cleared his throat and looked away. "Are you eating properly at your apartment? You look thin."
"I'm eating, Daddy."
"Instant noodles don't count."
She laughed, and he almost smiled before he caught himself and frowned again.
---
Her mom came back with a full table of food. There was spicy tteokbokki with fish cakes, golden fried chicken, a bowl of cold noodles with ice floating in the broth, and a plate of fresh strawberries with whipped cream on the side. The housekeeper set out extra plates and bowls of rice, and the whole table smelled of garlic and chili.
Seo-yeon sat down, and her mom filled her plate immediately.
"Eat, eat. Don't be shy."
"Mom, I'm not shy. I'm starving."
She started with the tteokbokki. It was hot, sweet and spicy, exactly the way she'd wanted it. She ate three pieces of chicken, finished the noodles, and was already reaching for the strawberries when her dad spoke.
"Slow down," he said. "No one is taking it from you."
"But it's so good, Daddy."
"I know. Your mother has been cooking this since you were small." He pushed the plate of chicken toward her. "Here. Have more."
Her mom raised an eyebrow. "You said you weren't hungry."
"I'm not," her dad said. He picked up a piece of chicken and took a bite anyway.
Her mom shook her head with a smile, and Seo-yeon laughed so hard she almost choked on a strawberry.
"Careful!" both her parents said at once.
"I'm fine, I'm fine."
"This is why we have to take care of you now," her mom said. "You're not just eating for yourself anymore."
Seo-yeon looked down at her plate. For the first time in two days, she felt safe. She hadn't expected it. She had come here terrified, and they hadn't thrown her out. They had fed her.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "Both of you."
"Eat," her dad said gruffly, looking at his plate. "Your food is getting cold."
---
After the meal, her mom led her upstairs. Her old room was exactly as she had left it, with the same light-yellow walls, the same bookshelf, and the same stuffed rabbit on the pillow.
"I'll run you a bath," her mom said. "Not too hot. Hot water isn't good for the baby."
"Mom, I can do it."
"Let me do it. Just let me take care of you tonight."
Seo-yeon sat on the bed while her mom went into the bathroom. She could hear the water running. A few minutes later, her mom came out and handed her a clean towel and a soft cotton nightgown.
"It's ready. Take your time."
The bathroom smelled of lavender. The bathtub was filled with warm water, and a little steam rose from it. Seo-yeon slid in slowly and leaned her head back against the edge. The water came up to her shoulders.
She put her hand on her stomach. It was still flat. There was nothing to feel yet, but she knew something was there.
Two lines, she thought. A baby.
She closed her eyes. She thought about Daehyun and Yerin for a moment, and then she let the thought go. She thought about Min Yoongi, and her chest felt tight. She didn't know if she would ever see him again, or if she would ever tell him.
When the water started to cool, she got out, dried herself and put on the nightgown. Then she crawled into her old bed, pulled the blanket up to her chin and fell asleep almost at once.
---
"Baby, are you awake?"
Her mom was sitting on the edge of the bed, shaking her shoulder gently. Sunlight came through the curtains.
"It's time for your appointment."
They got into the car, and her mom held her hand the whole way. At the hospital, they sat in the waiting room. Seo-yeon bounced her leg nervously. Her mom kept patting her knee. Her dad had come too and sat stiffly in the corner, pretending to read a magazine.
"Han Seo-yeon?" a nurse called out.
"That's me."
The three of them went into the examination room. The doctor, a calm woman in her forties, smiled at them.
"Please lie down, Miss Han. This early in the pregnancy, I'll use a small probe so we can see more clearly. It might feel a little cold."
Seo-yeon lay back on the table. Her mom stood by her side and held her hand. Her dad stayed near the door.
The doctor moved the probe gently. A gray image appeared on the screen. For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then Seo-yeon heard it. A fast, steady sound, like tiny wings beating.
Her eyes filled with tears. "Oh my God," she whispered. "It's so beautiful."
"Oh my God, my princess," her mom said, squeezing her hand. Her own eyes were wet. Even her dad had stepped closer to the screen, his arms hanging at his sides.
"That's the heartbeat," the doctor said, smiling. "Strong and healthy." Then she stopped. "Wait a minute."
She leaned closer and moved the probe slightly.
"I think there's something here." She pointed at the screen. "As you can see, there are two."
"Two what?" Seo-yeon asked.
"Two babies," the doctor said. "You're having twins."