I Became a Father
“I became a dad!”
My voice echoed down the hospital corridor.
Fortunately, the hospital had locked doors, so there were no other patients.
No. That wasn’t the important thing right now.
99.99 percent.
The doctor had definitely said that.
The possibility of a parent-child relationship.
99.99 percent.
“Are you sure the test is wrong?” I asked, grabbing the doctor.
“Could you redo it?”
“Mr. Kim Minjae.”
“Just one more time and it might come out differently.”
“I’ve double-checked the test.”
“What if I do it three times?”
“The results are likely to be the same.”
“Minjae.”
Seoyun grabbed my sleeve.
“Stop it.”
“How can you be so calm!”
“I’ve been calling you ‘my baby’ since earlier.”
“You weren’t sure it was because of the pants, right!”
“Now you are sure, huh.”
“Why does the conclusion come out like that!”
Seoyun ignored my protest and asked the doctor.
“Is the baby okay?”
Suddenly, I shut my mouth.
Seoyun’s expression, which had been playful just moments ago, had changed.
“You said the cell division is fast.”
“In the currently confirmed range, there are no special abnormalities.”
“Really?”
“Yes. However, there are parts different from a normal pregnancy, so it’s necessary to observe steadily.”
Seoyun’s expression softened a bit.
Seeing that, my chest felt strangely tight.
I still didn’t feel like all this was real.
But Seoyun was already worrying about the baby.
Park Manager hadn’t said a word until then.
After the doctor went back to the consultation room,
he stood there quietly holding documents.
“Manager?”
Seoyun called.
No answer.
“Manager?”
“Just a moment.”
Park Manager raised his palm.
“Think about it.”
“What?”
“What I need to report to the CEO right now.”
Park Manager pressed his temple with his fingers.
“CEO. Congratulations. The most successful idol in our company is pregnant.”
“…….”
“But it’s not because of a boyfriend, but because she slept in a guy friend’s pants.”
“…….”
“And even after a DNA test, it’s definitely that guy’s child.”
Silence.
Park Manager looked up at the ceiling.
“I’m going crazy.”
For the first time, it felt sincere.
“What should I explain?”
The Park Manager looked at me.
“Don’t explain.”
“Huh?”
“To anyone.”
His voice changed.
The playful tone completely disappeared.
“Today’s events. The hospital. Test results. Pregnancy.”
Park Manager looked back and forth between Seoyun and me.
“None of it can be told to the outside world.”
“I have no intention of telling anyone.”
“To friends either.”
“Yes.”
“To family either.”
“Family too?”
“For now.”
Seoyun interjected.
“My mom?”
“You can’t tell her either.”
“Why?”
“It takes less than ten minutes for a story that leaves your mom’s mouth to reach the family group chat.”
Seoyun quietly nodded.
Since she couldn’t refute it, it was probably true.
Park Manager took out his phone.
“First, I have to report to the CEO.”
“If the CEO knows, it’ll be a mess.”
“You can’t hide it forever.”
Park Manager looked at Seoyun.
“Let’s discuss what we’re going to do first.”
Seoyun’s expression hardened a bit.
“What do you mean ‘what’?”
“How to adjust activities.”
“I’ll keep working.”
“Han Seoyun.”
“You have a music broadcast next week and a fan meeting next month.”
“I have to check your body condition first.”
“I’m fine now.”
“Right now.”
Park Manager’s voice was firm.
“What if you collapse on stage?”
Seoyun shut her mouth.
“And.”
Park Manager’s gaze turned to me.
It was ominous.
“Mr. Kim Minjae has a problem too.”
“Why me?”
“Because you’re the child’s father.”
“That’s just biological.”
“That’s the most important thing.”
“I didn’t do anything!”
I was genuinely aggrieved.
I hadn’t been in a relationship with Seoyun, hadn’t kissed her.
But suddenly, I became a father.
“Am I not a victim too?”
The Park Manager narrowed his eyes at my words.
“Victim?”
“No.”
Seoyun shook her head from the side.
“You’re the perpetrator.”
“What did I do!”
“It’s your pants.”
“You wore them on your own!”
“Didn’t I explain properly not to wear them?”
“How am I supposed to explain that!”
Park Manager slammed the desk with his palm.
“Both of you, stop!”
We both shut our mouths at the same time.
“It’s not a situation to be arguing about whose fault it is right now.”
“I think I should be the one to argue.”
“Mr. Kim Minjae.”
“Yes.”
“Quietly.”
“Yes.”
It was strong.
Seoyun smirked.
I said with my mouth.
“Don’t laugh.”
Seoyun stuck out her tongue a little.
Park Manager checked his phone screen.
“Let’s get out of here before the company people find us.”
“To the dorm?”
Seoyun asked.
Park Manager thought for a moment.
Then looked at me.
Why me.
Park Manager’s gaze slowly fixed on my face.
Ah.
No way.
“Mr. Kim Minjae.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You haven’t said anything yet, right?”
“I had that conversation earlier too.”
“You’re quick on the uptake.”
“No way.”
“What?”
Seoyun asked.
“You.”
I pointed at Seoyun.
“Coming to my house.”
“Why?”
“Why? Living together is a different story!”
Park Manager nodded.
“Seoyun, staying at Mr. Kim Minjae’s house for now is the safest.”
“What about my opinion?”
“I heard it. But I won’t reflect it.”
“......”
He was a devil.
Seoyun immediately clung to my arm like she’d already decided.
“Please take care of me.”
“Get off.”
“You can’t push a pregnant woman.”
“I didn’t push!”
“You were trying to push!”
“I didn’t think about it!”
Park Manager sighed.
“And Mr. Kim Minjae.”
“What now?”
“If possible, refrain from outings.”
“Why me?”
“To prepare for any unforeseen situations, Seoyun needs to be by your side.”
“You think it’s fine because I’m unemployed?”
Park Manager didn’t say anything.
“True.”
Seoyun patted my shoulder.
“Great. You got a job.”
“What job?”
“My guardian.”
“Are you paying a salary?”
Seoyun looked at Park Manager.
Park Manager said.
“That’s something to discuss with the company.”
“Will you really pay?”
“Why are you suddenly so proactive?”
Money was important.
The shock of becoming a father could be set aside for a moment in front of the salary.
“Then.”
I cleared my throat.
“Let’s decide on the salary later for sure.”
“You’re already thinking about receiving it.”
Seoyun laughed as if it was unbelievable.
“Of course. Why would I take care of you for free.”
“Friends are too much.”
“A friend suddenly getting pregnant and moving into our house isn’t too much?”
“That’s an accident.”
Park Manager sighed again.
“You two really have known each other for a long time, huh.”
“Fifteen years.”
“How did you not fight for that long time?”
“We’ve been fighting the whole time.”
“Ah.”
Park Manager nodded.
“I understand.”
I don’t know what he understood.
I stood up from my seat and asked.
“Then, I guess I just need to go to my house?”
“Yes. I’ll send the necessary items separately.”
“Wait.”
A bad word came out.
“How many necessary items are there?”
Seoyun folded her fingers one by one.
“Clothes, cosmetics, charger, laptop, game console, pillow—”
“Is this moving?”
“I’m buying them for now.”
“Bring just one suitcase!”
Park Manager looked at us and let out a small sigh.
“Anyway.”
She looked at me.
“Mr. Kim Minjae.”
“Yes.”
“Please take care of me only until I find a safe place for Seoyun to live in the future.”
Unlike the forceful pressure just now, this time the tone was serious.
“We’ll find out as soon as possible at the company. A place with minimal external exposure and possible security.”
“How long will it take?”
“I can’t promise that.”
“That’s the scariest answer.”
Park Manager smiled apologetically.
“I won’t make you stay too long, though.”
I looked at Seoyun next to me.
Seoyun was searching something on her phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Household items.”
“Why?”
“To buy things that aren’t in your house.”
“What’s missing?”
“A humidifier.”
“Not needed.”
“A purifier.”
“Not needed.”
“A body pillow for pregnant women.”
“Not needed!”
Seoyun said without taking her eyes off the screen.
“I have to think about the baby.”
“It’s been a month now!”
“From now on, prepare.”
Park Manager watched the scene and smirked.
“You seem to be doing well.”
“What are you looking at?”
“When you’re fighting.”
“Is this doing well?”
“Seoyun is the only one who acts like that easily.”
At those words, my mouth was momentarily shut.
Seoyun casually pulled my sleeve.
“Minjae.”
“Why.”
“Let’s eat tteokbokki on the way home.”
“You wanted to eat potato chips earlier.”
“I couldn’t eat them.”
“So?”
“Compensation.”
“What compensation.”
“Pregnant woman stress management.”
It started again.
I sighed.
Probably, while finding a safe house,
my house might not be safe first.