I’m Pregnant with My Friend’s Child - Chapter 3.3

“I was trying to gauge if he’s serious about promoting you.”
Her heart ached at his words. Woo-jae had no idea what was really going on inside her mind.

As they walked toward her home, she thought about how soon she would have to say goodbye to his kindness, like him offering to help replace the sensor light in her house.

“If I go abroad, all of this—us spending time together—will end. You know that, right?”

“You’re that eager to push me away?”

Woo-jae asked the question calmly. Lee Jin tried to respond with the same calmness, though her emotions were anything but. It felt like her heart was being scratched by a sharp needle.

“Realistically, yes. If I go to the U.S., I’ll be there for at least two years. I might even end up settling down there.”

Woo-jae stopped walking and gently placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Lee Jin.”

“Yeah?”

“You don’t have to feel any romantic feelings for me. We don’t have to date. It’s okay.”

“……”

Lee Jin couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. Staring at his perfectly shaped lips, she did her best to hide the trembling in her own.

But I do have feelings for you. Deep down, I want to be more than friends…

“If you can’t see me that way, then let’s just stay like this. Friends forever.”

In the end, Lee Jin lowered her head, unable to look him in the eye.

“Just don’t act like you’re planning to never see me again.”
Woo-jae, sensing the shift in Lee Jin’s mood, spoke as though he already knew what was on her mind.

“If it weren’t for my selfishness, you wouldn’t be acting this way.”

Even though it happened under the influence of alcohol, that night with Woo-jae was unforgettable. And ever since, Lee Jin couldn’t see him as just a friend. Whenever they crossed paths, her heart would skip a beat, and at random moments during work, Woo-jae would pop into her thoughts, leaving her feeling flustered.

If it wasn’t for the unexpected complication of her pregnancy, maybe she would have eventually accepted her feelings and ended up in a relationship with him.

“I’m such an idiot.”

“I’m sorry, Woo-jae.”

Misinterpreting her apology, Woo-jae’s face darkened with sadness, which only made Lee Jin feel more guilty.

I’m sorry. I’m such a coward. Too afraid to tell you the truth, too scared to be honest.

The two of them walked on in silence, their steps slow and deliberate.

As the quiet between them grew heavier, Lee Jin’s phone buzzed. Her heart sank when she saw the name “Ha-jin Unnie” on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Jin. Did you change your door code?”

It seemed like her sister, Ha-jin, had shown up unexpectedly.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I changed it. Are you at my place?”

“Yeah, I’m trying to drop off some food, but the door won’t open. What’s the new code?”

“Oh, the code is… 352263…”

Lee Jin trailed off, unable to remember the rest. She glanced at Woo-jae.

“619547,” he supplied effortlessly.

“Right, it’s 352263619547,” Lee Jin repeated.

“Why’d you make it so complicated? Trying to lock me out or something?”

Lee Jin frowned slightly.

“No, it’s just that with all the break-ins happening lately, I thought it’d be safer.”

“Well, change it back. There’s no way I’m going to remember that.”

Her sister complained, her voice filled with mild irritation, but Lee Jin knew Ha-jin was only teasing. Despite being busy raising her kids, Ha-jin still made time to cook and bring food over, which warmed Lee Jin’s heart. It was nice to see her sister getting out more, even if just to run errands.

“I’m on my way home now. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

“Okay, I’ll leave the food on the table. I’ve got the kids with me, and they’re a handful today.”

“Got it. Maybe I’ll catch you before you go…”

Ha-jin hung up before Lee Jin could finish.

“Ha-jin noona’s here?”

“Yeah, she brought some food. The kids are with her.”

“Haven’t seen the little ones in a while.”

“She said she’s just dropping the food off and leaving. Seems like the kids are wearing her out.”

As they passed through the apartment security gate, Woo-jae stopped.

“I’ll grab a ladder from the management office. You go ahead upstairs,” he said, handing her the lightbulb he was going to replace.

Lee Jin took the bulb and headed inside. She could rush to see her sister and nephews, but something inside held her back. Facing Ha-jin, knowing she was now carrying a child of her own, felt overwhelming. But avoiding her wasn’t an option either, not when Ha-jin had made the effort to come all the way.
Lee Jin struggled with the door code twice before finally getting it right and stepping inside.

“Unnie, you’re still here?”

She stepped into the kitchen and found Ha-jin sitting at the table, her head in her hands, looking frustrated.

“I can’t believe it. I made your favorite spicy stir-fried squid, and I left it at home.”

“It’s okay. Just seeing you is better than anything else.”
“I don’t have the energy to go back home anyway. The kids have worn me out.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just feed them. I’m fine.”

“I can’t believe it. I used to be so sharp, but ever since having kids, it’s like my brain is mush.”

At Ha-jin’s self-deprecating words, a shadow crossed Lee Jin’s face. She sat beside her sister and gently patted her back. They were more like best friends than sisters, only a year apart, but at some point, Ha-jin had grown into an adult, much too fast. She’d become someone burdened with responsibilities, like a tree that hadn’t had a chance to take root before being battered by the wind.

“That’s just how it is. Once the kids start school, you’ll get some time back.”

“You should wait as long as you can to have kids. Actually, don’t have any at all.”

Ha-jin’s words, though said in a lighthearted tone, didn’t feel like a joke. Raising kids while juggling a demanding job—it seemed like too much for anyone.

“Auntie!”

“The best auntie in the world!”

At that moment, Ha-jin’s twin boys, Down and Ro-un, burst into the room, shouting excitedly as they ran toward Lee Jin.
“Auntie!”

“Auntie!”

Ha-jin laughed, and the serious look on Lee Jin’s face disappeared as she smiled at the sight of her nephews.
“How are my Down and Ro-un? Did you miss me?”

“Why haven’t you come to see us?”

“Do you not like us anymore?”

Their big eyes welled up with tears, and Lee Jin kissed their foreheads.

“What are you talking about? I love you both more than anything.”

“Then why haven’t you visited?”

“I’m sorry. Auntie’s been busy with work.”

“I hate work! Dad goes, and now Auntie does too!”

Down’s tears spilled first, quickly followed by Ro-un’s, as both boys sobbed uncontrollably.

“I love you, Auntie! You’re the best!”

Lee Jin hugged them tightly, her heart melting even as a lump formed in her throat. They were so sweet and innocent. How could she ever consider not having her own child?

I can’t believe I was even thinking about it. These kids are so full of life, and I was actually considering not keeping mine. What kind of person am I?

“I hate you, Auntie!”

“You’re the worst!”
Their love for her flipped instantly, but the tears in her own eyes matched theirs.

Yes, I am terrible. I love these boys so much, yet I was considering not having my own child. And the baby’s father is Woo-jae.

I can’t go through with it. If I did, I’d never be able to look Woo-jae or these kids in the eyes again. Every time I saw them, I’d think of the child I chose not to keep.

I’m sorry, little one. I’m so sorry I even thought about it.
“Why are you crying now?” Ha-jin said, shaking her head as she watched Lee Jin tear up. “Are you all having some kind of emotional reunion? Get a grip.”

The front door opened, and Woo-jae walked in, carrying a ladder. He froze, confused, at the sight of Lee Jin and the boys crying.

“Down, Ro-un. You’re here?”

“Uncle!”

“Uncle!”

The boys quickly ran to Woo-jae, their tears forgotten.
Lee Jin wiped her tears and, without thinking, placed a hand on her stomach. She knew her sister would strongly oppose it, but it was because of Ha-jin that she realized she couldn’t go through with ending the pregnancy.

“Did you make Auntie cry?”

“No!”

“Then what did you do?”

“I was building a train in Auntie’s room!”

“I made a dinosaur!”

As Woo-jae expertly handled the boys, Ha-jin exchanged a glance with Lee Jin. Her expression was curious, as though she suspected something.

*
After an hour, Ha-jin and the kids left, leaving the house in complete disarray. Lee Jin tidied up the living room while Woo-jae cleaned the waterlogged bathroom.

If it weren’t for Woo-jae’s help, she would’ve spent the rest of her precious weekend cleaning up the mess, already exhausted from her nausea and lack of appetite.
As she collapsed onto the sofa, Woo-jae walked over, looking pale.

“Are you pregnant?”

The question hit her like a shock, and Lee Jin sat up, stunned. Had she just heard him right? Was she imagining things?

“What?”

“This.” Woo-jae held up a pregnancy test. “You’re pregnant, right?”

This wasn’t how she had wanted to tell him.

Woo-jae stood over her, holding the test, waiting for her answer.

The troublemaking nephews must have turned Lee Jin’s room upside down and found the pregnancy test she had carefully hidden in the drawer.

Her mind had already started leaning toward keeping the baby, but this wasn’t how she had wanted Woo-jae to find out.

“Woo-jae, I need some time alone.”

Too exhausted to get up, she rested her hand on her forehead. Woo-jae knelt in front of her, gently holding her hands as she sat on the couch.

The words wouldn’t come out. How could she possibly explain that she had been planning to end the pregnancy, but her feelings had changed? That she now wanted to raise the baby?

She didn’t even fully understand Woo-jae’s feelings, and she had only just begun to understand her own.

“My poor Jin, you must’ve been struggling so much.”

Woo-jae’s first words weren’t questions like “Whose baby is it?” or “Is it mine?” or “Are you going to keep it?”
Tears streamed down Lee Jin’s face as she saw his eyes fill with emotion.
“You must have been dealing with so much on your own.”
His gentle voice comforted her weary heart, and all the feelings she had held back finally burst through.

The past few days had been incredibly hard.

She had convinced herself that she couldn’t stay friends with Woo-jae anymore, that she didn’t want to harbor lifelong resentment for an unplanned child, so she had considered ending the pregnancy.

But in the end, she couldn’t do it. Despite the unexpected circumstances, she couldn’t let go of the precious life growing inside her. After seeing her nephews’ innocent faces, it felt like she had already met her own child, and she couldn’t bring herself to make that choice.

She hadn’t figured out how to balance her career, studying abroad, getting promoted, or raising a child. If she was going to have this baby, she wanted to provide the best life possible. But how? She didn’t know where to start.
What if I end up like my sister, torn between resentment and love, feeling guilty for unfulfilled dreams? Will I waste my youth in regret? How would that affect my child? How unfair would that be? And what about my own life?

But I can’t. I can’t do it. After seeing my nephews, it’s like I’ve already met my baby. I can’t make that terrible decision.

“Ugh, Woo-jae…”

Woo-jae pulled her into a hug as she sobbed. His warmth felt comforting. He was the only one in the world who understood her pain.

“Jin, I can’t stand seeing you suffer alone like this anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Woo-jae. I should’ve told you earlier, but I wasn’t sure myself.”

“Whether we’re just friends or more than that, I’ll always be by your side. Please, stop carrying all of this on your own.”
Woo-jae, you fool. Even knowing she was carrying his child, all he cared about was how much pain she had been through.
“Woo-jae, I was going to end the pregnancy this morning. But now, I’ve changed my mind.”

Lee Jin slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze. Woo-jae’s eyes were red, and tears streamed down his face.
She had never seen him cry before. It broke her heart, and more tears spilled from her eyes.

“I was going to end it without telling you. I thought I’d leave for the U.S. and never see you again…”

More tears fell from Woo-jae’s eyes, and Lee Jin gently wiped them away.

“But now, I’m going to keep the baby.”

“Jin…”

“I’ll raise the baby and still be successful. I can do both. If my career doesn’t work out, I’ll raise my child well, and that’ll be enough. Today, seeing my sister’s kids, I realized she’s the real success. Her kids are beautiful… I won’t resent this baby. If I can just love them, that’s success in itself, right?”
Woo-jae’s eyes softened, and he gently cupped her face. His warm touch calmed her restless heart.

“Whether I’m your friend, your partner, your husband, or the father of our child, I won’t leave your side. I’ll be there to help you raise this baby so you never have to regret your choice.”

Woo-jae held her tightly, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead as he whispered, “Just don’t talk about leaving me.”

“Woo-jae…”

Lee Jin buried her face in his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart as she finally confessed.
“Woo-jae, let’s try dating. I don’t want us to rush into marriage just because of this baby, but… I’ve always wanted to be with you.”

Hot tears from Woo-jae’s eyes fell onto her hair.

“If things don’t work out, we can go back to being friends. If even that doesn’t work, we’ll be parents. And if it all works out… maybe we’ll get married.”

Woo-jae didn’t respond. Was mentioning marriage too much?
When Lee Jin looked up, she saw him silently crying, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Wow, I never knew you were such a crybaby, Woo-jae.”

She laughed softly as she wiped his tears. She had always thought Woo-jae was strong and confident, but now she was discovering a much more tender side of him after knowing him for over ten years.

“How could I not cry? You’ve moved me this much.”

“Are you crying because you’re shocked about the baby or because you’re happy?”

Woo-jae shook his head.

“Neither.”

Lee Jin’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Then why?”

“Because it means I’ll never have to say goodbye to you.”

Once again, tears welled up in Lee Jin’s eyes.

That’s right.

I thought this baby meant the end for us. But now, it means we’ll never have to say goodbye.

Whether we’re friends, partners, parents, or whatever else—we’re in this together now.