Chapter 475: Gymnastics
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 475: Gymnastics
“Mmm.”
Late at night.
Waking up in the darkness, I slowly made my way toward the bathroom.
Usually, the only time I’d be awake at this hour was for night guard duty. Waking up like this at home felt strange.
I’d slept here often while on leave, so why did it feel so much more special now that I was officially discharged?
Muttering to myself, I finished my business and stepped out, only to find Choi I-seo sitting blankly at the dining table.
“Whoa, jeez! You scared me.”
My heart jumped. For a second, I thought she was a ghost, but I-seo just gave me a little smirk.
“Did I wake you up?”
I wondered if she’d heard me tossing and turning since we were sleeping right next to each other, but I-seo shook her head.
“No, I was already awake.”
“You were?”
“I just had my eyes closed. I couldn't really fall asleep.”
“You should’ve woken me up. Why sit here all bored by yourself?”
I sat down across from her with a smile. She pushed a glass of water toward me. Knowing my mouth would be dry since I’d just woken up, she’d poured it in advance—a classic display of her thoughtfulness.
“Why can’t you sleep? Is your heart racing because your boyfriend finally got out of the military?”
“Well, there’s that.”
“And?”
“And it still hasn't quite sunk in that I’m actually going to be a mother.”
“...Me neither.”
It was the same emotion I’d felt back when the girls had lied about being pregnant as a prank. But now that it was real, the weight of it made my mind a whirlwind of complexity. It wasn't that I disliked the idea, but rather a nagging worry about whether I could actually do a good job.
“But we’ll be great parents.”
I gently took I-seo’s hand and gave her a warm grin.
“Our family has plenty of money, after all.”
“...Usually, isn't this the part where you say you’ll do your best?”
“Well, there’s that, too.”
Small smiles broke out on both our faces. After all, we both knew all too well what a blessing it was to live a life without financial strain.
“Where should we go for our honeymoon?”
“Honeymoon? What honeymoon? We’re still college students.”
I-seo let out a sigh after saying that.
“We all have to take a leave of absence next semester. This is going to get so messy.”
She frowned, clearly troubled by the logistics.
Come to think of it, the girls were all in the second semester of their junior year, meaning they’d have to take their leave right when they should be starting their senior year.
“You can just go to school with me then.”
I was set to return as a first-semester junior next year. That meant I’d attend school alone for a year, and then we could all finish our senior year together.
In reality, seniors are barely on campus anyway, but the fact that our schedules would naturally align without us even trying felt like a good omen.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
We naturally drifted into talking about this and that.
Starting from when we first met, to the festival, Gold One, the start of sophomore year, and so on.
There were so many stories to tell that, at some point, we both let out a yawn at the exact same time.
“Should we go back to sleep?”
The two of us stood up.
When we reached the bed, we saw Yoo Ah-rin fast asleep, buried in Seo Ye-rin’s chest and squirming in her slumber.
“Was she dreaming of having those for herself?”
As I slid into my spot, I-seo lay down as well, snuggling into my arms.
I’d thought I’d have some idle time now, but it looked like I’d be busy again starting tomorrow.
Among my many plans, I settled on one top priority before drifting off.
I’ll have to snatch one of Father’s villas.
* * *
The next morning.
The four of them were gathered around the table for breakfast.
For the record, Kim Woo-jin had cooked.
He’d whipped something up using the skills he’d honed while living alone. Even though it had been a while, he thought it turned out quite well.
“S-So, how is it?”
Kim Woo-jin asked, watching the girls’ reactions nervously.
“Yeah, it’s delicious.”
Choi I-seo gave him a bright smile and a kind word. The other two, however, were a different story.
“Ugh, it’s so salty. Why is this rolled omelet so salty?”
“It’s salty?”
“Salty! Salty! Ugh, salt city!”
What was that? Was she trying to be funny?
Regardless, Kim Woo-jin slowly stood up and asked, “Should I make it again?”
“Make it again? What for? Are you trying to make me look like a bad mom in front of our baby?”
“Hey! No! Not at all!”
“That’s right. You have to tell our baby to always listen to their mommy.”
“Of course they should listen to their mom. That’s only right. Daddy is a dummy.”
“...”
Choi I-seo looked back and forth between Yoo Ah-rin and Kim Woo-jin, seemingly unable to follow the flow of the conversation.
On the other hand, Yoo Ah-rin just smirked and shrugged.
“What? Shouldn't we enjoy this while we can?”
“Woo-jina, water.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Kim Woo-jin immediately brought over some water. Seo Ye-rin gulped it down, then slammed the cup onto the table with a thud.
“What is this?! It’s cold water! What if our baby gets cold?!”
“Ah, you’re right! I wasn't thinking!”
“Hurry up and hug me to keep us warm!”
“Got it!”
He immediately knelt in front of Seo Ye-rin and wrapped both hands around her stomach. Seo Ye-rin grinned as she stroked Kim Woo-jin’s hair.
“There we go. Our baby will be nice and warm thanks to Daddy.”
“Right?”
“Sigh.”
Unable to take it anymore, Choi I-seo let out a long sigh and put down her chopsticks.
“Guys, it’s only been about two or three weeks. The baby hasn't even taken shape yet. It’s basically at the tadpole stage.”
“Choi I-seo, be quiet! Our baby can hear you! Don’t worry, my little one, she wasn't talking to you, okay?”
At Seo Ye-rin’s fussing, I-seo finally gave up and went back to her food. Yoo Ah-rin chuckled as she continued her meal.
Once breakfast was over, Kim Woo-jin moved to do the dishes, but I-seo stood beside him.
“I’ll do it. You just got discharged yesterday, you should rest.”
“What are you talking about?! Go rest! Why would a pregnant woman do the dishes?”
“...I told you, it’s only been two weeks.”
“Uh-uh!”
At Kim Woo-jin’s stern rebuff, I-seo trudged back to the living room.
She glanced back to see Kim Woo-jin scrubbing away at the dishes. It made her feel good, but she also felt a bit guilty.
When she got to the living room, Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin were doing exercises while watching Neutube.
Looking at the video title, it was ‘Gentle Stretching Exercises for Pregnant Women.’
“It’s not even time for that yet—sigh, whatever. Do what you want.”
Having completely given up, I-seo sat on the sofa.
“One, two! One, two!”
“Hup! Hup!”
Watching the two of them exercise so diligently, she’d initially thought they were overreacting, but as she kept watching, she started feeling like she should be doing it too.
“Ahem.”
I-seo quietly stood up next to them. Then, she joined in.
“What the? You’re doing it too?”
“Heave-ho! Heave-ho!”
“You guys are doing it, so I felt like I was doing something wrong by just sitting there.”
As they exercised together, natural banter began.
“But hey, don’t they say your breasts get bigger when you’re pregnant?”
“There are symptoms, yeah. But it’s not like they grow as if you got plastic surgery.”
“Is that so?”
“Ah-rin, the ‘big chest’ positions are already full. Just walk your own path.”
“Fuck, I guess so.”
“Uh-uh! No swearing!”
“Ah, right. I shouldn't swear.”
The three of them moved on to a stretching motion.
“Nnnngh! But it’ll be so convenient.”
“Haaah! What will?”
“Inhale! Ah, I shouldn't have done this right after eating, damn... Whoops, almost swore.”
“I mean, when we’re breastfeeding. We can just nurse each other’s babies.”
“Ye-rin.”
“Wow, she’s really something.”
“I was just saying.”
— Now, move both hands back and forth while lifting your knees.
“...Ah, damn it. I actually imagined it because of what Seo Ye-rin just said.”
“Hehehe! I imagined Woo-jini sucking along right next to them.”
“Good grief.”
— Now, march in place.
“Guys, I know it’s fun to boss him around, but you know Woo-jin just got discharged yesterday, right? Let’s be a little considerate.”
“Eh?”
“Hmm?”
While marching in place, both of them looked at I-seo simultaneously.
She wondered if she’d said something strange, but the two of them just smirked as if they’d realized something.
“Wow, Choi I-seo actually missed this?”
“And here she was acting like she knows Woo-jin best! How embarrassing!”
“...”
I-seo felt strangely annoyed. It piqued her that they’d noticed something about Kim Woo-jin that she hadn't.
“Honestly. Her problem is that she thinks too much about being considerate of him.”
“Hahaha! Right now, being idle is probably harder for Woo-jini.”
“...Huh?”
“He’s a father-to-be now. He’s itching to do anything and everything for us. If we don’t give him something to do, he might try to do something way too big, so we’re just giving him simple tasks.”
“You only thought about how tired he’d be, and didn't think about what state of mind he’s in!”
“Ah...”
I-seo’s face flushed red.
They were right.
Because he’d just finished his military service, she only thought about his fatigue and wanted him to rest. But since they’d given him the news of the pregnancy, Kim Woo-jin was likely desperate to be helpful.
“You’re right. You guys are right.”
What he needed right now was to be given tasks. And to be told ‘thank you so much’ and ‘you’re going to be a great dad.’
“What’s this? Are you guys exercising?”
Just then, Kim Woo-jin finished the dishes and came into the living room.
He looked around, wondering what to do, looking as restless as a dog with its tail on fire.
“Is there, uh, anything I can help with?”
Having understood what the girls meant on a visceral level, I-seo spoke with a small smile.
“I want some fruit juice. Could you go to the convenience store and get some?”
“I want an ionic drink!”
“Chocolate milk for me.”
Upon hearing their requests, Kim Woo-jin’s face lit up. He grabbed his wallet immediately.
“I’ll be right back!”
Watching him dash out, the three women burst into laughter at the same time.