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Tony

Are you really going to end it like this?

I still have something to say. It’s important.

So please answer the phone. Please… I’m begging you.

The last stall in a deserted bathroom. Yeon-ho’s face, squatting on the covered toilet, is crumpled like a used tissue.

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

His face, which flickers before his eyes, makes even the conscience he left in his mother’s womb at birth prickle.

But the problem, the thing that’s driving him crazy, isn’t the pile of texts that have accumulated in the past few days, or the conscience that suddenly appeared.

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

Thud.

As if all the gravity in the world is concentrated on his head, Yeon-ho, who has slammed his forehead against the hard tile wall, mutters a dazed curse. In his hand, he holds a stick that he hasn’t been able to let go of for a while.

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

After the curse, a hollow laugh soared from his gut. Of course, he knows enough about his special trait that makes pregnancy possible. He also knows that his life can be ruined if he’s not careful.

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’s the probability of natural pregnancy between him and me?’

He doesn’t know even if he touches his stomach instead of tearing at his hair, and no matter how he looks at it, the red lines are still two. The usage of the phrase ‘the sky is yellow’ is just for times like this.

A special trait is just a characteristic, and he thought pregnancy would be permanently absent from his life. And to think he’s conceived at this timing.

‘Should I… tell him? But… what? 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 every time, only teeth marks were left on his tightly closed lips.

A new text message arrived again.

Tony

Okay. If that’s what you want, do as you please.

What does he know, and what does he mean by doing as I please? The message, which seemed to read his mind, was in a completely different mood than before.

Forgetting how hesitant he had been, Yeon-ho’s fingers, without him realizing it, frantically searched for the call button.

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

The mind that had been recklessly hasty quickly cooled down after confirming the caller. It wasn’t the name he was expecting.

Well, he wouldn’t call after saying okay.

Not knowing whether it was relief or disappointment, he reluctantly answered the phone. A voice that didn’t know anything about his situation rang out.

“Have you arrived?”

It was his sister. He listlessly scanned the bathroom stall, still blocked on all sides, and squatted back on the toilet.

“…Almost.”

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

“I’m almost there.”

“Don’t be late on purpose. I’ve said it many times, first impressions are half the battle. 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. I’m hanging up if you’re going to nag!”

Ignoring the sound of her calling him, he hung up the phone in less than a few seconds. He was already out of his mind, so there was no way he’d welcome the nagging he’d heard so many times.

His gaze turned back to the pregnancy test.

Do I really have to go this far? Is this really the only way?

He’s thought about it dozens of times, not only when he decided to end it, but also every time he received desperate texts from someone afterward.

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

He doesn’t know. He doesn’t know, but… one thing is certain, he can’t just cancel today’s 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, Yeon-ho, who threw the tightly held test into the trash can, left the bathroom with heavy steps, now carrying two people’s weight.

♥ ♥ ♥

A restaurant in Seoul, known for its private location.

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 bathroom, Yeon-ho kept the appointment time properly anyway. But the other party hadn’t shown up at the meeting place for almost an hour.

It’s an itinerary he checked so meticulously that it’s too much to say he mixed up the time. At this rate, his first impression wasn’t the problem.

‘That guy never did this before….’

Someone’s face overlapped with the rising annoyance.

The way he always came out and waited first when they met, the way he smiled faintly and waved his hand when he found him.

They say the fish you miss always feels bigger… his appetite was bitter, and his stomach ached for no reason.

Feeling the limit of his patience in many ways, Yeon-ho started glaring at the clock.

Finally, exactly 2 o’clock.

The moment the long hand reached 12, he stood up from his seat without delay. He waited a full hour, so he did as much as he could. The cause of the broken appointment was obviously on the other party.

Yeah. Maybe it’s a good thing. He made someone wait like this, so he’ll at least feel sorry. Originally, there’s no better high ground for negotiation than guilt, right?

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

Suddenly, a shadow fell in front of him.

As if he had been waiting for him to come out, a large body, without a hint of surprise, blocked the door like a wall.

Stumbling at the unexpected situation, he raised his head. From chest to neck, and from neck to face. And the moment their eyes naturally tangled… his body froze as it was.

“Excuse me. I’m a little late.”

The shameless way of glossing over being an hour late with just ‘a little’, the arrogant gaze looking down at the other person. It was just a formality, and there wasn’t a bit of apology in it.

Nevertheless, he didn’t have the leeway to argue. The man’s excessively neat face, that rich voice, was too familiar.

‘Why…?’

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

On the other hand, the man brought his body inside and closed the door with a thud! As if blocking the retreat.

As if his thoughts were not wrong, the man tilted his head towards Yeon-ho, who turned towards the door.

“Why. Were you thinking of leaving?”

“…….”

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

His pupils shook violently once more at the unfamiliar words, which were shameless yet calm. 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 until now, but he was more thirsty than ever. Yeon-ho, who had moistened 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 cynical sneer.

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

“I’m late with the introduction. I’m ‘Marteo Avvertoné’, who I was supposed to meet today.”

Thud!

The sound of a corner of his heart sinking rang out like lightning. Still, he thought it couldn’t be, he wondered if there was some kind of mistake….

Marteo Avvertoné.

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

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

Now, there is one more name to be added to it.

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

Ah… A sigh finally breaks out from Yeon-ho’s mouth.

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