By Zephyria “I will eat well.”
“Yes. It’s not much, but please eat plenty.”
“No, it’s not. There are so many side dishes, I don’t know where to start.”
“Then try the tuna first.”
Yumin’s mother gently pushed the tuna sashimi plate towards Tae-jun. Serving sashimi, which was hard to come by in the mountains, was the highest form of hospitality. Yumin also gazed at the neatly arranged sashimi with sparkling eyes. Tae-jun bowed repeatedly to his parents and ate the sashimi with relish. Of course, he offered a piece to Yumin first.
“It’s delicious.”
“Eat this too.”
Tae-jun naturally offered the cold chicken salad to Yumin. Yumin stuffed his mouth full of chicken and smiled sulkily. With his favorite foods prepared, Yumin’s appetite was whetted, and he ate two bowls of rice. But in Tae-jun’s eyes, that wasn’t enough.
“Eat more, Yumin.”
“I’m full… Should I have just one more bowl?”
“Yes.”
Filling Yumin’s stomach was the path to Tae-jun’s happiness. Tae-jun barely ate his own rice, busy placing side dishes onto Yumin’s spoon. Yet, he felt no regret.
“You two look so good together. He’s a top-tier prospective husband.”
“You flatter me.”
“With you, we can trust Yumin to you. By the way, you’re both still students… When will you have the wedding, and what about school?”
His father asked.
“I believe the sooner the wedding, the better. My family is also eagerly awaiting it. More than anything, I can’t wait myself….”
“Ahem.”
Yumin nudged Tae-jun, who was being too forward.
“And I plan to take a leave of absence.”
“A leave of absence? Is there really a need?”
“I believe we should take a leave of absence together, naturally.”
“Why?”
His parents seemed unable to understand Tae-jun’s statement about taking a leave of absence. In that moment, Yumin realized his mistake. Come to think of it, his parents had no idea about Yumin’s pregnancy. He had hesitated, wondering whether to tell Tae-jun first about the babies or his parents first, and missed the timing.
“Uh, um! Mom, Dad, I need to take a leave of absence.”
“What are you talking about? What does a leave of absence have to do with getting married?”
“Because I need to recover after childbirth.”
“What? D-Don’t tell me, is Groom Beom pregnant?”
“Groom Beom… You, you’re pregnant? My goodness. Yumin, you’ve done a great thing.”
His mother and father shot up from their seats. The table shook, and spoons and chopsticks clattered to the floor. Facing his parents’ expectant gazes, Tae-jun sighed softly.
“…I’m sorry. It’s not me, but Yumin who is pregnant.”
“What?!”
“As I said, I am also a special Beastman, so I can impregnate males. So… yes. It happened.”
His father clutched the back of his neck and let out a groan. It was understandable to be taken aback by such an unexpected turn of events.
“…Sorry. I meant to tell you, but I kept missing the timing.”
Yumin scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Embarrassed, he leaned against Tae-jun’s back as if to hide.
“We’re continuing the family line, so please praise us, Tae-jun and me.”
“Haa… Yes, you are continuing the family line. Thanks to you two, a baby will be born into our wildcat family for the first time in a long while.”
In his father’s eyes, Yumin was still a child. The thought of Yumin being pregnant now naturally brought him worry. While he was proud of Yumin’s growth, whom he had always seen as a baby wildcat, his heart was uneasy. He was still too immature to become a parent. He worried if Yumin could do it.
However, he felt reassured knowing Tae-jun would be by Yumin’s side. Though young, Tae-jun was very mature. He would undoubtedly be a strong support for the unborn child and Yumin. With that sentiment, his father squeezed Tae-jun’s hand tightly.
“Groom Beom. I’m counting on you from now on. For Yumin, and for my grandchild.”
“Don’t worry.”
Yumin’s father patted Tae-jun’s shoulder and said.
“But Dad. It’s not one grandchild, it’s grandchildren.”
“……What do you mean now?”
“I’m having twins!”
Yumin proudly declared, pushing out his belly. It was the greatest celebration in the history of Yanggo Village.
“Go safely.”
“I’ll come again.”
Yumin said, hugging his mother. He felt a pang of regret leaving his hometown, which he had visited after a long time, to return to Seoul after just one day. But it was unavoidable due to the many things he had to handle in Seoul.
“Let’s come again next time.”
Tae-jun said to Yumin as he started the car. Yumin nodded in response.
“Yeah. It was so much fun.”
“Really? What did you like best?”
“The congratulatory performance. It was my first time seeing it from the front row.”
“I’m a little disappointed.”
Tae-jun said playfully, and a flustered Yumin quickly added.
“No, but of course, getting engaged to you was the best part.”
“Is that all?”
“W-Well, then?”
“Was last night not good?”
A few seconds later, Yumin’s face turned bright red as he understood Tae-jun’s implication. Tae-jun was talking about their sex from the previous night.
“It, it was good.”
“Just that much?”
“No, then what should I say?”
Tae-jun burst out laughing at Yumin’s flustered appearance, finding it cute and amusing. Yumin glanced at him from the passenger seat, watching him nervously.
Come to think of it, he had experienced extreme pleasure and fallen asleep exhausted, but he hadn’t done anything for Tae-jun.
‘Did I enjoy it too much? I should have done something…’
Regret washed over him belatedly. Though he hadn’t thought about it at the time, caught up in the heat of the moment in bed, it wasn’t just Yumin who had pent-up desire. Tae-jun must have been quite frustrated too. And wasn’t he approaching his Heat Cycle soon? Even if he didn’t know the specifics of special Beastmen, logically, Tae-jun must be experiencing sexual frustration.
“What should I do?”
“What is it?”
Tae-jun glanced at Yumin and asked. As he pondered, he realized he had spoken his thoughts aloud and became flustered.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“Really?”
Saying that, Yumin subtly glanced at the waistband of Tae-jun’s pants. He imagined the large, impressive penis, which couldn’t be contained no matter how well it was tucked away, and his waist tingled. It felt so good just with his hands, so how much better would it be if that penis entered his body and thrust inside him relentlessly?
As they say, the memory of a taste you know makes you crave it even more. The memory of pleasure, which he already knew well, sent a shiver down Yumin’s spine.
‘Should I just pull over and ask him to do it… No, that would make me seem too eager.’
While Yumin was lost in serious contemplation, Tae-jun spoke.
“Let’s get something to eat when we get to the rest stop. And get some fresh air.”
“Uh, huh? Yeah. Okay.”
Yumin replied hesitantly at Tae-jun’s sudden remark. It was unlikely, but he felt strangely embarrassed, as if his thoughts had been read.
As they drove on, a languid feeling washed over him, making it impossible to even lift a finger. His heavy eyelids closed on their own, and he vaguely felt Tae-jun adjusting his clothes. Yumin drifted off to sleep.
In his dream, Yumin was deep in the mountains. The sky was dark, and the wind was cold.
‘Haaak.’
Startled by the sound of a young beast’s panting somewhere, Yumin looked around. It was a sharp yet pitiful cry.
‘Kya-ok-.’
Another sound followed. It was like the whimper of a sick baby wildcat. The young beasts must be crying somewhere nearby. Yumin pushed through the darkness, searching various parts of the forest.
Soon, he saw two shapes beneath the bushes. One was black, the other yellow. A baby wildcat and a baby tiger, curled up small, were trembling violently, clinging to each other with soft cries. Yumin was startled and approached the baby beasts.
‘Little ones!’
Just then, the car stopped. Yumin gasped and woke up from his dream. Tae-jun engaged the parking brake and looked at Yumin.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Wait a minute, where are the babies?”
“Babies? Did you have a dream?”
“Dream… Ah, it was a dream…”
Yumin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, barely regaining his senses. The pitiful sight of the baby beasts was so vivid that he had thought it was real. He could still hear the whimpering cries of the young ones in his ears.
“You must have had a bad dream.”
“Uh…”
“What kind of dream made you look so pale?”
“Well…”
Yumin hesitated and closed his mouth. What he saw in his dream was undoubtedly the twins in his belly. He felt that if he told them the babies were trembling and in pain, it might become a reality. He also worried about upsetting Tae-jun, and Yumin felt the same. There was no point in dwelling on a bad omen. He decided to dismiss it as just a dream.
“I had a dream I was starving.”
“Ah, I see. I was just about to wake you up as we’re almost at the rest stop, so it’s good timing.”
“Mmm.”
The air was refreshing when they stepped outside. Yumin stretched refreshingly and headed towards the convenience store.
Tae-jun browsed the instant snack section and bought plenty of things Yumin would like. The bags in his hands alone weighed several kilograms.
But something was strange. Once they sat at the table, he had no appetite. The butter-grilled baby potatoes looked magnificent, but they didn’t appeal to him. The tteokbokki that Yumin loved so much was the same.
“Why aren’t you eating? These are your favorites.”
“I think I ate too much yesterday. And I had breakfast.”
“Your stomach must not be empty yet.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Yumin replied casually. Yet, a corner of his heart felt a slight pang. No matter how full he was, Yumin would always purr at his favorite foods. But to have no reaction to delicious snacks was unlike him, who boasted an enormous appetite and eating capacity despite his slender build.
However, he didn’t want to think too deeply about it. He was naturally optimistic, and he was experiencing various bodily changes since becoming pregnant. He decided it was just a temporary loss of appetite, nothing serious. Yumin decided to look at everything positively.
After that, Yumin’s food intake gradually decreased. His belly hadn’t started showing yet, but his appetite remained low.
Still, he was confident that the babies in his belly were growing well. His condition was good, and he was satisfied with the intimacy he shared with Tae-jun every night, both verbally and physically.
Since it was vacation, Yumin had no need to go out. He spent almost all his time indoors, enjoying a life where Tae-jun bathed him, took care of him, and fed him.
That day was no different. Tae-jun brought him his favorite snacks from the morning, Yumin tasted a bite of each, and then took a long nap. When he woke up, a refreshing juice was presented to him. Lying in bed, sipping the drink through a straw, Yumin suddenly felt like a happy Beastman.
Although many things had changed from his initial expectations, he had met a wonderful partner in Tae-jun and was blessed with lovely babies. Once the children were a little older, he might be able to enroll in school again after entrusting them to someone. Or, depending on the situation, he had the option of dedicating himself to childcare. Either way, Tae-jun would undoubtedly support and cheer him on.
“I feel good.”
“Is it delicious?”
“Yes, it’s really delicious.”
Tae-jun’s face lit up with a smile of joy, mistaking it for praise for the juice. In fact, the juice Yumin was mindlessly gulping down while lying down was not a commercial product. Tae-jun had purchased it through family connections, costing tens of thousands of won per glass. It contained all sorts of beneficial ingredients. It was packed with components that promoted fetal brain development, as well as ancient and modern remedies that invigorated a pregnant body.
A mere few tens of thousands of won was nothing to Tae-jun. He wanted to give Yumin anything if it meant he could be happy and comfortable. And he didn’t want to make a fuss about it. Seeing Yumin smile was reward enough.
“Do you want to eat?”
“Already?”
“You have to eat well.”
“That’s true, but…”
Yumin trailed off. There was something that had been bothering him lately. Snacks and juice were fine, but when it came to eating a proper meal, he felt a sense of rejection from his stomach. Still, thinking of Tae-jun’s efforts, he tried to eat it all, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
“Okay, let’s eat.”
As he said that, he tried to sit up in bed. A sharp pain shot through Yumin’s lower abdomen.
“Ack!”
“Yumin! What’s wrong!”
“I, I… Ugh.”
In severe pain, Yumin couldn’t even speak properly. As he doubled over, tears welling up in his eyes, Tae-jun quickly held Yumin’s body.
“Are you in pain? Why are you suddenly like this?”
“My, my stomach hurts.”
“What?”
Hearing that, Tae-jun’s face turned pale. Tae-jun helped Yumin lie down comfortably. It seemed difficult even to do that, as Yumin groaned. Though they managed to get him onto the bed, Yumin continued to feel pain, clutching his stomach and curling up. Tae-jun watched him with a worried gaze and urgently made a phone call.
“Doctor, it’s Tae-jun. It’s urgent. Please come to my apartment as quickly as possible. Right now.”
Throughout the call, Tae-jun held Yumin’s hand tightly. The small, white hand was cold. Tae-jun’s heart pounded ominously.
Dr. Kim, the family physician for the Tae-jun household, arrived at the apartment sooner than expected. After performing a few examinations, Dr. Kim quietly called Tae-jun outside.
“What is going on, Doctor?”
“Well… I’m not a specialist in this area, so it’s difficult to say for sure, but…”
“What is it?”
As if unaware of Tae-jun’s anxious state, Dr. Kim sighed once and spoke slowly.
“It seems there’s a problem with the fetus. For an accurate diagnosis, you’ll need to get examined at a specialized Beastman obstetrics and gynecology clinic.”
“There’s a problem with the baby?”
“That’s the only way I can explain it. I’ll connect you with a specialist I know.”
“Haa…”
Tae-jun let out a sigh. His calm and peaceful daily life was flowing by. He envisioned a future of getting married to Yumin, their children being born, and living together. It was an undoubtedly happy future.
But in an instant, it all shattered. Yumin was still suffering from pain, and he could do nothing by his side. Tae-jun felt a sense of helplessness for the first time in his life.
The specialized hospital Dr. Kim mentioned was inaccessible without a referral. Due to the nature of Beastmen living apart from ordinary people, it operated in secrecy, handling not only the illnesses of Beastmen like Yumin but also those of special Beastmen like Tae-jun.
Tae-jun was familiar with the place, having accompanied his parents since he was young. Although he would normally have to book an appointment months in advance, thanks to Dr. Kim’s referral, he was able to meet the obstetrics and gynecology specialist immediately.
After undergoing several detailed examinations, Yumin was moved to a hospital room. He had fallen asleep, exhausted from the tests. Tae-jun thought it was fortunate that he was no longer feeling pain thanks to the painkillers.
While waiting for the test results, Tae-jun was on the verge of going mad with anxiety. He worried about the babies in the womb, but more than anything, it was agonizing to see Yumin in pain. Praying that it wasn’t a serious illness, he stayed by Yumin’s side. Then, the specialist entered and quietly called Tae-jun out.
“What happened?”
“The results just came out. If you’re okay with it, let’s move to a private room to discuss it.”
Yumin was sleeping deeply. Tae-jun gave his forehead a light kiss and left the room. A sense of foreboding settled in.
And that premonition proved true. The doctor delivered shocking news to Tae-jun, who sat opposite him.