[Moonsun] Motherhood

Ch.1

Covid hit hard, and everyone seemed to not dare to step a foot outside to prevent infection, let alone going to such a dangerous environment like the hospital. Maybe that was why few people could be seen on the corridors of Yonsei University Medical Center, especially in Obstetrics - Gynecology Outpatient Clinic. Only some mother-to-bes expecting to go into labor soon or having serious problems during pregnancy came alone or with their partner for a check-up.

A blonde girl of middle height stood out among the waiting patients. Looking from the outside, one could think she was very calm, which was understandable. If only they could hear how her heartbeat was blaring in her ears, making her almost deaf from nervousness. Her hands hidden in the pocket shook almost violently, and she made an effort to stop her legs from bouncing. 

"Miss Moon Byulyi?"

The voice of the nurse startled Byulyi. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and slowly walked into the room.

- Nice to see you again, Moonbyul. - Dr. Park Chaeyoung, her private obstetrician and quite a close friend with Byulyi since college, smiled warmly. - Are you ready for your third try?

Byulyi nodded.

- Also the last time. What if it failed again? It made me frustrated just by thinking about it. - She sighed, her hands kept fidgeting to reduce her bubbling worry. 

- Don't be so hopeless, I truly believe we can make this work. - Chaeyoung assured before instructing her to confirm the information. - Take a look at the sample and see if it's the same donor from the last time.

Byulyi complied and raised her thumb after examining the code printed on the container.

- Great, shall we start then?

After the process that she has now familiarized herself with, she was recommended to stay on the bed for a while to reduce the discomfort in her womanhood and to enhance the chance of success.

Byulyi's biggest dream was to have a child of her own, but she didn't want to pursue any romantic or even sexual relationship since forever. It had been a year since she clicked on the text "artificial insemination", and so far, things weren't working in her favor. Yet.

She paid for three samples of sperm equivalent to three cycles, and it would be a lie to say that she wasn't disappointed when her period still came regularly. Byulyi therefore didn't expect much this time, but she really, really hoped she would succeed.

Her donor's profile suddenly came to her mind. A man with excellent medical history and great health thanks to regular exercising, suitable blood type, almost 35 years of age and no intention to start a family. He had a bright face and described himself as "caring, optimistic, lively and having potential to be a leader." From the given photo to the description in the profile, they all reminded her of a certain important person who had always been by her side through thick and thin. Byulyi couldn't help grinning at the mere thought of her future baby having similar features to her.

Her phone rang loudly, pulling her out of the trance. She sluggishly took out her phone, panicking when seeing the name of the caller, also the one who she had been thinking about.

- Damn it! - She quickly got up and walked out of her room with her tote bag. Byulyi put on her airpods and answered the call.

- Annyeong unnie*! - She slightly raised her hand and wave at her. - Have you done with the conference? How is it going?

- Just finished the second day. Dead tired. Everything else is fine though, the talk today was interesting enough. - The chubby face of a woman looking as young as Byulyi appeared on the screen as she turned the camera on. - Outside?

- Uhm... yeah... - Byulyi stuttered. - I-I'm... going out on a leisure trip.

- Leisure trip?

- Ah, ah no... I mean v-visiting a sick friend of mine.

- At the hospital? During this pandemic? - The brunette didn't look so convinced but seemed to let it slide. - Go home as soon as possible, don't forget to sterilize your hands.

- Okay, doctor Kim Yongsun. - Byulyi smiled. - I probably shouldn't disturb you more, your formal clothes are still on so I am guessing you just got back to the hotel. Change to something comfortable and treat yourself a proper meal. Stay safe.

- As if you haven't texted hundreds of messages with the same thing, mom. - Yongsun rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. - Oh, is your friend pregnant? Why are you standing at the obstetrics department?

Byulyi hung her mouth agape as she found herself standing right before the neon sign that said "Obstetrics and Gynecology Department". Without hesitation, she dashed right out of the hospital. 

- Oh uhm-uh... the c-connection here is really b-bad... - She purposedly stuttered so as to increase the realness of her act. - I gotta go, talk to you later.

She didn't get to catch her breath in relief before widened her eyes in horror, as she remembered the very sensitive and gravity-defiant procedure she just went through minutes ago and how she ran like a marathon athlete to the parking lot. Byulyi silently prayed that what she had just done didn't affect the chance of success. And that her best friend wouldn't think anything about it.

Hint: Yongsun really didn't think anything about it.

______

*Annyeong: Hello in Korean. || Unnie: equivalent to older sister, how a girl calls another girl older than her.

I chose to write Moonbyul as the baby carrier because there's almost no story writing about this. Almost always Solar will be the one to be pregnant among those two. So yeah I want to create something rather different.