Chapter 122: Wrapped In Warmth

When he faintly opened his eyes, the first thing that assaulted him was the searing pain burning at the surgical scar in his lower abdomen.

The knife-like pain made him frown, and at the same time, a familiar warmth gently wrapped around his hand.

“Han-geon… you’re awake?

It’s me.

Does it hurt a lot?

Should I ask for more painkillers first?”

It was a tender, affectionate voice.

The moment he heard it, Han-geon let out a small sigh of relief without realizing it and barely managed to answer, “Mm.”

It sounded almost like a groan.

Through his half-open vision, he saw Eun-gyeol hurriedly press some kind of button.

It was probably the painless injection device they had explained before the surgery.

At Eun-gyeol’s call, a nurse soon rushed in and administered additional painkillers.

About ten minutes later, as the sensation eased considerably, Han-geon blinked slowly.

With the pain dulled, the heavy wave of drowsiness became hard to resist.

Eun-gyeol, who had been steadily holding his hand the entire time, explained in a soft, gentle voice.

“The surgery went well.

Our Podo is really, really healthy.

I checked—ten fingers, ten toes, everything’s there.”

“…Mm.

That’s a relief….”

“You did so well, Han-geon.

You really did.

You worked so hard….”

Eun-gyeol’s voice carried both tenderness and affection.

With gentle hands, he wiped the cold sweat from Han-geon’s forehead.

After smoothing his hair and tucking the blanket properly around him, Eun-gyeol carefully patted his chest to soothe him.

“…I’m so sleepy.”

Seeing Han-geon mumble, Eun-gyeol smiled slightly, as if finding him cute.

“Go to sleep.

Sleep a lot.

Don’t worry about anything….”

As he softly stroked the back of Han-geon’s hand, Eun-gyeol whispered in a low voice.

“You’ve been through so much, so rest well now… Han-geon.”

His honey-sweet voice and the calming comfort of his pheromones were like a lullaby in themselves.

Han-geon’s eyelids slid shut again without resistance.

At the same time, he fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

“His eyes are completely Han-geon’s.

But I think his nose and mouth look like Eun-gyeol’s.”

“Oh my goodness… look at those little chick-like fingers.”

When Han-geon opened his eyes again, the hospital room was bustling.

He could see his mother and father, and the back of Eun-gyeol’s father as well.

They all seemed to be holding themselves back so as not to wake him, but the excitement in their voices couldn’t be hidden.

A small smile spread across Han-geon’s lips.

With his eyes half open, he happily recalled what Eun-gyeol had told him earlier.

Podo was healthy, with nothing wrong at all.

Just knowing that made his heart settle completely.

“How can he be this pretty.

How can he be….”

He heard his mother’s trembling voice, thick with emotion, as she held the baby.

Eun-gyeol’s father, who had been sniffling nonstop, and Han-geon’s father soothing him were there too.

He wanted to hold the baby, and he wanted to talk to his parents, but the drowsiness was stronger than all of that.

Just then, the baby let out a small “waah” and began to cry, and the three adults hurriedly focused their attention on the baby all at once.

With no energy to call out to them in that situation, Han-geon gently closed his eyes again.

How much time passed after that.

What stirred his hazy consciousness once more was Eun-gyeol’s careful touch.

From the bedside, he saw Eun-gyeol cover him with the blanket and turn away.

Through Eun-gyeol, he noticed the large glass window and realized it was already night.

The room, which had been noisy just a while ago, was now quiet.

It seemed to be just the three of them—Eun-gyeol, himself, and the baby.

Unaware that Han-geon was awake, Eun-gyeol carefully crossed the room toward the baby’s crib.

They had been told in advance that if the baby’s condition was good, he could stay in the hospital room, and it seemed the baby had been there the entire time since their parents visited earlier.

Stopping in front of the crib, Eun-gyeol stared down at the baby’s face for a long time.

Han-geon forgot to speak and simply watched his profile in silence.

The gaze looking down at the tiny bundle trembled endlessly.

As if he had devoted his very soul to it, Eun-gyeol did nothing but stare at the baby for a long while.

At that moment, a small “waah—” came from the crib.

Eun-gyeol’s eyes flew wide open.

“Shh, shh.

You’ll wake Han-geon’s dad….”

He whispered softly, hesitated for a moment, and then lifted the baby into his arms.

The movements were clumsy, yet at the same time exceedingly careful.

Even so, Eun-gyeol glanced over this way.

The moment his gaze turned toward him, Han-geon instinctively closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

He wanted to keep watching Eun-gyeol holding the baby.

When he slowly opened his eyes again, he saw Eun-gyeol soothing the baby with his back turned.

Eun-gyeol moved with extreme caution.

His broad back swayed gently from side to side as he held the baby.

The motion was soft and careful, like a spring breeze lifting the curtains by the window.

Unable to tear his eyes away from that peaceful scene, Han-geon silently watched it for a long time.

“…Podo.”

A small, low voice slipped from Eun-gyeol’s lips.

“I’m… Eun-gyeol-dad.

I’m happy to meet you… and thank you.”

His voice was damp with emotion.

Forcing himself to suppress the heat rising inside, he gazed endlessly down at the baby’s face and continued speaking softly.

“I’m sorry I left you alone with Han-geon-dad all this time.

I’m sorry for making you and Han-geon-dad struggle….”

As Eun-gyeol shifted slightly, the baby’s small profile—awake and softly fussing—and Eun-gyeol’s profile looking down at him came together in a single frame.

Just as their parents had said, even from afar, the nose and mouth really did resemble his.

Looking at that picture-perfect scene, Han-geon felt a strange ache in his chest.

“I’ll do better from now on.

I’ll slowly repay all the hard times you and Han-geon-dad went through.

From now on, there will only be things to smile about.

I’ll make it that way.

I promise….”

As if he understood those murmured words like a spell, the baby soon stopped crying.

Then he fell asleep comfortably in Eun-gyeol’s arms.

Even after that, Eun-gyeol continued holding him for a long while before finally laying him back in the crib.

“…Oh.

Han-geon, you’re awake?”

Only then did Eun-gyeol’s eyes widen as he noticed him.

Han-geon gave him a faint smile.

“Yeah.

I… want to see the baby.”

“O-okay.

You haven’t really seen him properly yet.

I’ll bring him over.”

Eun-gyeol immediately and carefully wheeled the crib over.

So as not to wake the baby who had just fallen asleep, he moved it slowly, with utmost care, until it reached the bedside.

The moment Han-geon looked down into the crib now within his sight, he held his breath.

Up close, everything about the baby was tiny.

So small and delicate that it seemed he might fly away if one breathed too hard.

When he had been kicking Han-geon’s sides and ribs from inside, he had thought of him as strong and sturdy, like a soccer player, but the Podo who had come into the world was fragile beyond belief, like a baby chick.

So you were the one who supported me firmly for ten months.

You were the one who kept me from collapsing, even though you’re this small and precious……

He couldn’t stop the surge of emotion rising in his chest.

As if entranced, Han-geon placed a hand over his heart.

Clutching the hot knot lodged there, he quietly opened his mouth.

“…Podo.”

Even as he spoke the name, his voice was barely more than a whisper, afraid he might wake the baby sleeping peacefully with soft breaths.

Han-geon pressed down the overwhelming flood of emotions, compressing them tightly like a pressed flower.

Then he whispered to the baby.

“Thank you… for coming safely into this world.”

I’ll make sure you’re happy from now on.

I’ll make sure you always smile.

It’s a rough and difficult world, but I’ll do my best so you can feel safe in it……

So many vows he couldn’t possibly put into words were carefully packed into that single sentence.

Just as Eun-gyeol had done earlier while holding the baby, Han-geon too set the direction of his life while looking at his most precious being.

For this tiny existence, it felt like there was nothing he couldn’t do.

After watching the baby together for a long while, Eun-gyeol carefully asked, “Aren’t you thirsty?”

Only then did Han-geon realize how fiercely thirsty he was.

When he nodded, Eun-gyeol immediately brought over a tumbler with a straw and held it beneath Han-geon’s chin.

After even a single sip of water, his mind felt much clearer.

“How’s the surgical site?

Does it hurt a lot?

Should I ask for more painkillers?

Are you uncomfortable anywhere?

If you’re cold or hot, tell me.

I’ll take care of it right away—”

“Eun-gyeol.”

Han-geon gently cut off his endless stream of words.

Looking at the eyes filled entirely with worry and fixed on him, Han-geon smiled slightly.

He wanted to calm him down, even just a little.

“…I’m okay, so don’t worry and come sit next to me.”

At that single sentence, Eun-gyeol quickly sat down beside the bed like a well-trained large dog.

Even then, his eyes carefully scanned Han-geon’s condition.

He wiped the sweat on his forehead and straightened the rumpled blanket again.

“Have you… eaten?”

At Han-geon’s question, Eun-gyeol shook his head.

“You haven’t been able to eat either because you were giving birth… so why would I eat?”

“You and I aren’t the same.

I couldn’t eat because I had surgery.

You should go eat first.”

“No.

I’ll eat when you start eating porridge.”

Han-geon put on a stern expression at Eun-gyeol, who was being stubborn like a child.

“You were in the ICU a few weeks ago.

You’re still a patient.

You need to eat properly to recover.”

“…Still.”

“Are you going to keep being stubborn?”

Eun-gyeol surrendered immediately.

In the end, Han-geon only nodded after making him promise that once Han-geon fell asleep again, he would take the baby back to the nursery and make sure to eat.

For a moment, their gazes tangled together.

While quietly looking at Han-geon’s face, Eun-gyeol slowly reached out and caressed his cheek.

The touch was just as careful as the one he had used with the baby earlier.

“…Han-geon.”

His voice, breaking the silence, was equally gentle.

“I’m… so happy, being here like this with you and our baby.

So happy that I wonder if it’s really okay for me to be this happy….”

The hand softly stroking his face carried not only affection and consideration, but also hesitation and guilt.

“I keep wanting more.

It scares me how much…

You said you’d let me stay by your side when you gave birth, and I thought just that would make me unbelievably happy, but…

Now that I’m actually here with you and the baby, it feels so good that… I don’t want to leave.”

A shadow slowly fell over Eun-gyeol’s voice as he continued.

“I know it’s asking too much, but I want to stay by you and the baby.

At least until you recover…

Just like you did for me, I want to give you pheromones too.”

“…..”

“…So, um… would it be okay if I stayed here at least until you’re discharged?”

“…..”

“I won’t be a bother.

I’ll just release pheromones so you recover faster…

If you need anything, I’ll bring it.

I’ll just look at you and our baby like this… that’s all.”

Even while holding an earnestness too deep to measure, he hesitated and barely managed to speak.

After such a careful request, he waited for permission anxiously, like someone awaiting a verdict.

Han-geon looked down at him quietly, then fell silent for a moment.

It wasn’t rejection that filled his chest, but a heavy ache.

“…You said you’d repay me for all the hard times.”

Contrary to his feelings, a blunt tone slipped out.

“Would just those few days until discharge really be enough?”

“…Huh?”

Eun-gyeol, who had been bowing his head as if awaiting judgment, flinched and looked up.

“You know how much heartache I went through because of you.

Do you think that would be enough?”

“…Then….”

Like someone who had been lost and suddenly found treasure in an unexpected place, hope slowly lit his stunned eyes.

Those eyes, once always clouded with unsolved problems, were now transparently honest.

“Stay together until I’m discharged.

And.”

Eun-gyeol held his breath and listened to Han-geon’s calm voice.

“Once a week.

You can choose the day that’s most convenient for you.

Each time, come and be with me and the baby.

I… can’t open my heart all at once, so come closer slowly.

I’ll try too.

So you also….”

The words stopped there.

Eun-gyeol suddenly stood up, and in the next moment, his familiar warmth wrapped around Han-geon’s head and body.

Within his deep scent, Han-geon felt calm before he felt surprised.

“Han-geon.

That alone… even just that is more than enough.

Thank you.”

His voice, soaked with emotion, settled gently.

“You don’t have to try any harder than that.

Just giving me a chance is enough for me.

Opening your heart and coming closer—that part, I’ll do all of it.

Even if it takes a long time and is difficult, I’ll keep trying.

You just… stay where you are.

Like now, just allow me to come closer….”

His damp, trembling voice spoke from the depths of his sincerity.

Again and again, the voice filled with joy softly and sweetly tickled his ears.

Entrusting his head and body to those affectionate fingers, Han-geon closed his eyes.

The feelings that had been abandoned for so long without ever being returned were comforted so warmly in Eun-gyeol’s arms.

His feelings for him were no longer a lonely fever he had to endure and hide alone.

The love that had silently endured painful times and was only now beginning to bloom would, together with Eun-gyeol, finally unfold into something gentler and more beautiful.

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