For the past few days, Kyrah had barely thought about anything other than the Haneul project.
Every waking moment had been consumed by reports, presentations, revisions, meetings, deadlines, and trying to prove that she deserved the opportunity she had been given.
She had wanted to show everyone that hiring her had not been a mistake.
She wanted to prove that she could stand among some of the best developers and AI specialists in Hong Kong.
And somewhere along the way, she had forgotten something far more important.
Her baby.
Kyrah stared at the prenatal vitamins sitting beside her computer.
She hadn't been taking them as regularly as she should.
She had been so caught up with work that some mornings she had rushed out without eating properly, and some nights she had returned home too exhausted to remember anything except falling into bed.
Now, sitting in front of her computer, she suddenly felt dizzy.
She blinked several times.
The words on the screen seemed to blur before slowly coming back into focus.
Kyrah placed one hand over her stomach.
"Are you okay, little one?" she whispered. "I just hope you're okay."
Her fingers remained against her stomach for a moment.
She had spent so much time worrying about her career, her future, and proving herself that she hadn't stopped to ask how her baby was doing.
Guilt settled heavily in her chest.
She looked back at her computer.
The Haneul project had officially been approved by the executives.
It was a huge accomplishment.
But the approval wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.
There was still a long road ahead before they could sit across from the difficult people at Haneul Technologies and convince them that Jun Chao Group was the right company for the job.
Kyrah glanced at the clock beside her computer.
6:00 p.m.
"Six already?"
She sighed.
She needed to get home.
But there were still a few documents she wanted to organize before leaving.
Just a few.
That was what she had told herself every evening for the past few days.
Kyrah saved her work and began gathering the files she needed.
She pushed her chair back and stood.
The moment she did, the room seemed to tilt.
Her knees weakened.
"Whoa—"
She reached for the edge of her desk, but her hand missed.
She was about to fall when an arm quickly caught her.
A familiar hand steadied her.
Kyrah looked up.
Seo Jun.
Their eyes met.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
"I'm fine," Kyrah quickly said, straightening herself.
Seo Jun didn't look convinced.
"Are you sure?"
She gave him a small smile.
"Yes. Just stood up too quickly."
She didn't want anyone around them to notice anything unusual between them.
So she simply nodded politely.
"Thank you."
Her tone was deliberately professional.
Enough gratitude to make the situation normal.
Nothing more.
She looked at him and blinked twice, almost silently telling him, I'm okay.
Seo Jun studied her face for another second before finally letting go.
"Okay."
He walked away.
Kyrah watched him disappear around the corner before looking down at her phone.
A message had arrived.
Seo Jun: Kyrah, meet me at the parking lot.
She frowned.
Why?
She didn't bother asking.
Instead, she quickly packed her laptop and handbag.
Flora was also preparing to leave.
"Kyrah, you're leaving too?"
"Yes. Finally."
Flora laughed. "You deserve the rest. You've practically lived in that office."
"I know."
Kyrah waved.
"See you tomorrow."
"See you!"
Kyrah stepped into the elevator.
The doors closed.
The moment she was alone, she leaned against the wall.
The dizziness was still there.
She closed her eyes briefly.
I really have overdone it.
The Haneul project had taken everything out of her over the past few days.
She had barely slept.
She hadn't been eating properly.
And her prenatal vitamins had become something she remembered only when she happened to see the bottle.
She placed her hand over her stomach again.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
When the elevator reached the parking level, Kyrah stepped out.
She immediately spotted Seo Jun.
He was standing beside his car, one hand holding the door open.
Kyrah walked toward him.
Before she could say anything, he reached for her laptop bag and handbag.
"I can carry those."
"I know."
He took both anyway.
Kyrah frowned.
"Seo Jun, what's going on?"
"We're going to the hospital."
"What?"
"Immediately."
Her eyes widened.
"I'm fine."
"You nearly fell."
"I just stood up too quickly."
"And you're still dizzy."
Kyrah opened her mouth to argue.
Seo Jun simply looked at her.
That look.
The one that told her he had already made up his mind.
She sighed.
"Fine."
He opened the passenger door for her.
Kyrah got in.
Seo Jun placed her bags in the back before coming around to the driver's seat.
He helped her with the seat belt, then gently placed the back of his hand against her forehead.
His expression changed.
"You're burning up."
Kyrah touched her own forehead.
"I am?"
"Yes."
Seo Jun started the car.
"We're going to Linfao University Hospital."
Kyrah leaned back against the seat.
For once, she didn't argue.
She was too tired.
Linfao University Hospital
As soon as they arrived, Seo Jun rushed around to her side of the car.
He opened the door.
"Careful."
Kyrah placed one foot on the ground.
Then the dizziness hit her again.
Her vision blurred.
She missed the step.
Seo Jun caught her before she could fall.
"Kyrah!"
"I'm okay."
"No, you're not."
Before she could protest, Seo Jun bent down and lifted her into his arms.
Kyrah's eyes widened.
"Seo Jun!"
He started walking.
"Put me down!"
"No."
"People are looking!"
"I don't care."
"This is embarrassing!"
Seo Jun looked down at her.
"No one cares about being embarrassed right now."
His voice softened.
"The health of both of you matters more to me."
Kyrah froze.
Both of you.
Those words struck somewhere deep inside her.
She stared at him.
No one had cared for her like this in a very long time.
Not without expecting something in return.
Not without making her feel like she owed them.
Seo Jun simply cared.
He carried her through the hospital doors and straight to the front desk.
"She's pregnant and she's been dizzy and feverish," he told the receptionist.
Kyrah wanted to disappear.
But she was too exhausted to complain anymore.
Within minutes, she was checked in and examined by a doctor.
The doctor asked several questions about her symptoms, her eating habits, her workload, and her prenatal vitamins.
Kyrah answered honestly.
"I haven't been taking them regularly."
The doctor frowned slightly.
"And you've been working long hours?"
"Yes."
"Have you been sleeping?"
Kyrah hesitated.
"Not enough."
The doctor sighed.
"You've pushed yourself too hard. We need to check both you and the baby."
Kyrah's heart began pounding.
"Is something wrong?"
"We don't know yet. That's why we're checking."
An IV was started, and Kyrah sat on the hospital bed with the drip connected to her hand.
Eventually, she was told she needed an ultrasound.
Her stomach twisted.
What if something happened to my baby?
She stared at the floor.
She had already lost so much.
She couldn't lose her baby too.
Seo Jun noticed the fear on her face.
Without saying anything, he reached over and took her hand.
His fingers closed firmly around hers.
Kyrah looked at him.
He didn't say Don't worry.
He didn't tell her everything would magically be fine.
He simply held her hand.
I'm here.
That was what his eyes seemed to say.
I'm not going anywhere.
When the nurse called her name, Kyrah stood.
Seo Jun followed her into the scan room.
The nurse smiled warmly at them.
"Wow, you two make such a beautiful couple."
Kyrah immediately opened her mouth.
"Oh, we're not—"
"Yes," Seo Jun said.
Kyrah turned to him.
He smiled innocently.
"Yes?"
"It's our first."
The nurse smiled.
"Congratulations!"
Kyrah couldn't help but smile.
She didn't correct him.
For some reason, she didn't want to.
The nurse helped Kyrah onto the examination bed.
She lifted her shirt slightly and applied the gel to her stomach before placing the ultrasound probe against her skin.
Kyrah stared at the monitor.
Her heartbeat seemed to grow louder with every passing second.
She couldn't understand everything on the screen.
But she knew that tiny movements represented the life growing inside her.
Her baby.
Her little one.
"Is everything okay?" she asked nervously.
The nurse studied the screen.
"Your baby is doing well."
Kyrah released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Really?"
"Yes. The heartbeat is a little weaker than we'd ideally like, but there's no immediate cause for alarm. You need rest. Proper meals. Plenty of fluids. And you need to take your prenatal vitamins as prescribed."
Kyrah nodded quickly.
"I will."
"Your baby is growing well."
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
"Thank you."
The nurse smiled.
"Have you been told the gender yet?"
Kyrah shook her head.
"No. It wasn't time."
"Would you like to find out now?"
Kyrah's entire body stiffened.
The question suddenly made everything feel real.
She knew she was pregnant.
She knew there was a baby growing inside her.
But knowing whether that baby was a boy or a girl was different.
It meant putting a face to the future.
It meant imagining tiny clothes.
Tiny hands.
A tiny voice calling her Mom.
Her hands began shaking.
Seo Jun tightened his hold on her hand.
Kyrah looked at him.
He gave her an encouraging smile.
She looked back at the nurse.
"Yes."
Her voice trembled.
"I'd like to find out."
The nurse adjusted the screen.
A few moments passed.
Then she smiled.
"You're having a baby boy."
Kyrah froze.
A tear rolled down the side of her face.
Then another.
She turned her head toward Seo Jun.
"I'm having a boy."
Her voice broke into a laugh.
"I'm having a little boy."
Seo Jun smiled.
"Yes."
He looked at the screen, then back at her.
"And we can't wait to meet him."
Kyrah laughed through her tears.
Her heart felt so full that it almost hurt.
A little boy.
Her little boy.
She placed one hand over her stomach.
"Hi, baby."
She laughed again as more tears escaped.
"Mommy's going to do better. I promise."
Seo Jun looked at her with an expression she couldn't quite understand.
But Kyrah didn't question it.
She was too overwhelmed.
Just a few months ago, Seo Jun had been a complete stranger.
Now he was sitting beside her in a hospital room, holding her hand while she discovered the gender of her baby.
He had helped her when she was struggling.
He had encouraged her when she doubted herself.
He had never demanded anything from her.
And somehow, without even trying, he had become one of the most important people in her life.
My best friend.
That's what she told herself.
Her best friend.
Nothing more.
She had learned not to assume.
She had learned that hoping too much could leave you with nothing but disappointment.
So she would keep Seo Jun safely in that little place in her heart labeled friend.
At least for now.
The examination eventually ended.
The nurse handed Kyrah some papers and instructions.
"You can go home once your IV is finished. Make sure you rest. And please don't overwork yourself."
"I won't."
Seo Jun took the papers.
"I'll make sure she doesn't."
Kyrah looked at him.
"I can speak for myself."
The nurse laughed.
"Good. I like that."
Kyrah smiled.
After leaving the scan room, Seo Jun disappeared for a few minutes.
Kyrah assumed he had gone to get water.
When he returned, he was carrying the medication the doctor had prescribed.
"You went to get my drugs?"
"Yes."
Kyrah looked at him.
"And you paid?"
Seo Jun shrugged.
"I already did."
She sighed.
"Thanks, Seo Jun."
"You're welcome."
She looked down at the medication.
"I promise I'll pay you back as soon as my first paycheck comes in."
He smiled.
"Ah, you don't need to."
"I want to."
"I know."
He chuckled.
"But I also know you'll never listen."
"Exactly."
They looked at each other.
Both smiled.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
There was something comforting about the silence between them.
Not awkward.
Not forced.
Just familiar.
Eventually, Kyrah's IV finished.
Seo Jun drove her home.
When they reached her apartment, he walked her all the way to the door.
He handed her bags over.
"Good night, Kyrah."
"Good night."
He looked at her seriously.
"Rest."
She nodded.
"And stop trying to prove something every second of the day."
Kyrah rolled her eyes.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I am not."
He smiled.
"You've done your best with the Haneul project. And honestly..."
He paused.
"I was pretty impressed."
Kyrah smiled.
"Pretty impressed?"
"No."
He shook his head.
"Very impressed."
Her smile grew.
"And I'm sure Haneul Technologies, no matter how difficult they can be, will recognize good talent when they see it."
Kyrah looked at him.
"Thank you."
Seo Jun nodded.
"Good night, Kyrah."
"Good night, Seo Jun."
He turned and walked away.
Kyrah stood at her doorway, one hand resting protectively over her stomach.
A little boy.
She was going to have a little boy.
For the first time in days, the Haneul project wasn't the first thing on her mind.
Her baby was.
And somehow, that made everything else seem a little less frightening.
She smiled softly.
"Mommy's got you."
Then she stepped inside and closed the door.