00

In the last stall of the deserted restroom. Yeonho’s face, crouched on the closed toilet, is crumpled miserably like used tissue.

A desperate voice that can be felt even through text. A tone as if begging. What expression did he have when he wrote the word ‘please’…?

His conscience, left behind in his mother’s womb since birth, is stinging at the face that flickers before his eyes.

But the problem, the thing that’s driving him crazy, wasn’t the texts that had piled up over the past few days, nor the conscience that had suddenly appeared.

“Fuck. Looks like I’m the one who has something to say…”

Thud.

As if all the gravity in the world was concentrated on his head, Yeonho, who slammed his forehead against the hard tile wall, muttered a dazed curse. In his hand, he held a stick that he couldn’t let go of.

15cm long, 2cm wide. A Pregnancy test with two clear red lines….

After the curse, a hollow laugh surged up from his gut. Of course, he knew all too well about his trait that made pregnancy possible. That his life could be ruined with one wrong move.

Still, he didn’t think it would be today….

‘Didn’t we almost always use condoms? No, even aside from that, that guy’s a normal person, right? What are the chances of natural Conception between him and me?’

He couldn’t tell even if he touched his stomach instead of tearing at his hair, and no matter how he looked at it, the red lines were still there. The expression “the sky is yellow” was for times like this.

A trait was just a trait, he thought pregnancy would be permanently absent from his life. Conception of all times, at a timing like this.

‘I have to… tell him, right? But… what do I say? What’s the point of telling him if I’m not going to give birth? It’ll only tie that guy down, right?’

He wanted to shout at anything, but each time, only teeth marks were left on his tightly bitten lips.

A new text message arrived again.

What does he know, and what is he letting me do as I please? The message, as if reading his thoughts, was in a completely different mood than before.

Forgetting how hesitant he had been until now, Yeonho’s fingers, without him realizing it, frantically searched for the call button.

In that instant. Drrr, drrr, this time the phone started ringing.

The hasty heart, devoid of order, quickly cooled down after confirming the caller. It wasn’t the name he had expected.

Well, he wouldn’t call after saying he understood.

Not knowing whether it was relief or disappointment, he reluctantly answered the phone. A voice, unaware of his situation, rang out.

“Have you arrived?”

It was his sister. He aimlessly scanned the restroom stall, still blocked on all sides, and crouched back down on the toilet.

“…Almost.”

“What is it? You said you left earlier, haven’t you arrived yet?”

“I’m almost there.”

“Don’t be late on purpose. I’ve said it many times, but first impressions are everything. Even if there’s something you don’t like, don’t act according to your temper, and be as gentle as possible….”

“I’ll take care of it. Hang up if you’re just going to nag!”

Ignoring her voice calling out, he hung up the phone in less than a few seconds. He was already out of his mind, so he didn’t need to hear more nagging.

His gaze turned back to the Pregnancy test.

Does he really have to go this far? Is this really the only way?

He had thought about it dozens of times, not only when he was ending things, but also every time he received those desperate texts from someone afterward.

But if he can’t even use that method now… is this misfortune or fortune?

He doesn’t know. He doesn’t know, but… one thing for sure is that he can’t just cancel today’s scheduled meeting now.

Even if it’s a ‘Blind date’ with someone else’s baby in his belly.

“Fuck. Whatever will be, will be.”

After a long deliberation, Yeonho, who threw the tightly held test into the trash can, left the restroom with a heavy step, now for two.

***

A restaurant in Seoul, known for its private setting.

The corners of his mouth, which had been constantly drinking water while sitting alone in the empty room, finally twisted. 1:50 PM. The time is now close to two o’clock.

‘What the hell is this guy doing?’

Compared to the time he spent agonizing in the restroom, Yeonho had kept the appointment time properly anyway. But the other party hadn’t shown up at the meeting place for almost an hour.

It was a schedule he had checked so thoroughly that he couldn’t have mistaken the time. At this point, it wasn’t his first impression that was the problem.

‘That guy never did this before….’

Someone’s face overlapped with the rising annoyance.

The way he would always come out and wait first, and the way he would smile faintly and wave when he found him.

They say the fish you miss always seems bigger… his mouth felt bitter and his stomach was throbbing for no reason.

Feeling the limits of his patience in many ways, Yeonho simply started glaring at the clock.

Finally, exactly 2 o’clock.

The moment the long hand reached 12, he stood up from his seat without further delay. He had waited a full hour, which was enough. The cause of the broken appointment was obviously on the other party.

Yeah. Maybe it’s a good thing. He stood someone up like this, so he’ll at least feel sorry. Guilt is always the most advantageous position for negotiation, right?

He felt rather relieved as he took a step forward under that excuse. He wanted to go back home as it is, throw away all the complicated problems, and just sleep. It was with that thought that he forcefully opened the closed room door.

Suddenly, a shadow fell before his eyes.

As if he had been waiting for him to come out, a large body, showing no signs of surprise, blocked the door like a wall.

Stumbling at the unexpected situation, he raised his head. From his chest to his neck, then from his neck to his face. And the moment their gazes naturally intertwined… his body froze.

“Excuse me. I’m a bit late.”

The shameless way he glossed over being an hour late with just ‘a bit’, the arrogant gaze looking down on him. It was only a formality, and there was no hint of apology.

Nevertheless, there was no room to argue. The man’s overly neat face, his rich voice, were too familiar.

‘Why…?’

With question marks swirling in his head without order, his feet, which had been frozen as if someone had grabbed them, involuntarily moved backward.

On the other hand, the man, bringing his body inside, closed the door with a bang! As if blocking the escape route.

As if his thoughts were correct, the man tilted his head towards Yeonho, who was looking back at the door.

“Why? Were you thinking of leaving?”

“…….”

“If not, let’s sit down. It’s already quite late.”

His eyes shook once more at the unfamiliar words, which were both brazen and indifferent. Meanwhile, the man took a seat. His eyes, glancing at the empty water glass, were indifferent.

“I should order something to drink first.”

He agreed. He had drunk so much water so far, but he was more thirsty than ever. Yeonho, who had cleared his dry lips several times, barely swallowed.

“You….”

“…….”

“Why are you here….”

He couldn’t finish, but the meaning was clear. A thin smile passed over the man’s eyes for the first time. To be exact, it was a sneering laugh.

After a few seconds, a large hand was extended forward as if to show off.

“I’m late with the introduction. I’m Marteo Abertone, whom you were supposed to meet today.”

Thud!

The sound of a corner of his heart sinking rang out like lightning. Still, he had hoped it wasn’t true, that there might be some mistake….

Marteo Abertone.

He was definitely the Blind date he was supposed to meet today. But the man Yeonho knew was not just a Blind date.

Until last week, he was the Sponsor he had, a sex partner, and a short-term lover…. The man he had just described as a missed fish….

Now there was one more name to add to that.

The fact that he was the biological father of the child in his belly.

Ah… A sigh finally broke out from Yeonho’s mouth.

Fuck. He said whatever will be, will be, but it’s really… fucked up…….