"Congratulations! You're five weeks pregnant."
Pregnant...sure, that's what I said.
"Are you pregnant?"
"Yes. Can you see the small white dot here? This is the baby. The gestational sac is clean and well established."
I've been feeling sleepy lately, been late to work, feeling tired, and my period has missed...and it's all because of this baby.
"It's still in the early stages, so please take care of yourself. Next time you come to the clinic, please think of a name for the baby (fetal name). It's okay if you bring your husband with you."
"Umm... sensei..."
Should I get an abortion? Should I get some medication? I'm only 27 years old and completely unprepared for child-rearing.
"Is there anything I should be particularly careful about?"
But the words that came out of my mouth were different from what I had intended.
…
It all started a month ago, at a bar I went to with a friend. If only I hadn't gone there then—or rather, if only I hadn't followed that man—never would have happened.
"I'll be back as soon as I've had a drink."
"Eh, don't say that, let's play together~"
"It's fine, you go."
I really should have gone home then. Then I would never have heard that voice.
The cocktail wasn't very strong, but I'm not good at drinking alcohol, so I got drunk quickly.
"One glass of whiskey please."
"picture…"
That man was looking at me, drinking whiskey from his glass with an expressionless face.
"Is there a problem?"
"Isn't that...high in alcohol?"
"You mean the alcohol content?"
"Yes... that... it hurts when I drink it..."
"Aren't you drunk?"
"No... I'm fine..."
So, I sat next to the man and we started talking. His name was Jeon Jung-kook, 30 years old, and he worked at AJ Group. He said he'd been severely scolded by his boss and had come down to drink to drown his sorrows.
"That's awful...it wasn't that big of a deal."
"I was planning to drink quietly by myself..."
"Oh... I'm sorry... I..."
"If you don't mind, would you like to come out with me?"
.
.
.
"Uhh..."
I woke up holding my head.
"Huh... why underwear..."
There's no one next to me. My underwear from yesterday is on the floor... which means...
"Don't tell me... I... fell asleep?!"
This place seemed to be a hotel. I checked my smartphone and saw 29 calls and 23 messages.
"Yeoju, where are you?"
"Are you back?"
"You said you didn't want to go, so there's no way you'd go back."
"Answer the phone."
"Hey, where are you?"
"Yojuu!"
"Wow...that's the worst..."
"What should I do..."
Clutching the maternal and child health handbook and ultrasound photos I had received from the hospital, I paced back and forth in the living room, worried. The only person I could think of who I was with a month ago was that man. All I knew was his age, his name, the company he worked for...
"The company!"
Anyway, I decided to go to work. I wondered if I should say it, but then... I thought...
"Welcome. How can I help you?"
The receptionist spoke to me politely. This is what makes big companies different.
"Umm... there's someone I'd like to meet..."
"May I have your name?"
"This is Jeon Jungkook..."
"Do you have a reservation?"
"Um, uh... no, can I meet you without making a reservation...?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you in unless I speak to the managing director first."
"Managing Director?!"
Mom...what should I do...so...am I with the managing director of a conglomerate...?
"Is something wrong?"
When he saw me he looked a little surprised. I was the one who was surprised!
"He said he wanted to meet the managing director. Do you know him?"
"Um, um... hello. There's something I wanted to tell you..."
"Yes. It seems you are my guest. Please come this way."
Managing Director... I thought he was just an ordinary employee or section chief...
.
.
.
"What did you want? You went to someone else's company without even contacting them. Were you planning on standing there forever if I didn't come and pick you up?"
"I didn't know your phone number to contact you... but there's something I really want to tell you..."
"What is it?"
So I took out a piece of paper from my bag. There was a small white dot on a black background...Ultrasound photo.
"...What do you want me to do by showing this to you?"
"Take responsibility. He's your child."