𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 | (𝐆)𝐈-𝐃𝐋𝐄

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡

The city of Seoul never really slept, and neither did Miyeon these days.

She sat in the passenger seat of her younger sister’s car, absently tapping her fingertips against her belly, which was now unmistakably showing beneath her sunflower-patterned maternity dress. The car was parked across the street from a towering glass building. Her gaze, unwavering, was fixed on a tall woman with dark hair braided neatly down her back, dressed in a sleek gray suit and spotless white sneakers—oddly casual for someone so intimidating.

"Sis," Eunbi finally broke the silence, glancing from the steering wheel to Miyeon. "Can you tell me what we’re actually doing here? We’ve been tailing this woman for an hour like a pair of amateurs."

Miyeon didn’t look away. “She’s the one I had a one-night stand with.”

Eunbi blinked. “What?”

Still no reaction. Miyeon’s voice remained calm. “Five months ago. At that rooftop club near Itaewon.”

“But... she’s a woman,” Eunbi said, baffled. “Miyeon, you’re pregnant.”

Miyeon sighed, finally looking at her sister. “She’s intersex. I didn’t know until that night. And I didn’t ask questions. I didn’t think I’d need to.”

Eunbi’s lips parted, a slew of thoughts visibly forming behind her eyes. “Wait, so... you’re saying she could actually be the father?”

Miyeon nodded slowly. “Yes.”

Eunbi sat back, stunned. “You can’t just walk up to her and be like, ‘Surprise! You're a parent now.’”

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“And how, exactly?”

“I... don’t know yet.”

“That’s reassuring,” Eunbi muttered, shaking her head. “You sure you don’t want me to come with you? Just in case she freaks out or something?”

Miyeon placed her hand on the door handle. “I need to do this alone.”

“Alright. But if she so much as breathes wrong, you call me. I’m serious.”

Miyeon gave her a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, Bibi.”

With a deep breath, she stepped out of the car and crossed the street, her nerves buzzing under her skin. She smoothed her dress down instinctively as she approached the woman—Minnie, if she remembered the name right—who was still on the phone, pacing slightly.

Miyeon waited until the call ended before gently clearing her throat.

“Excuse me?”

The woman turned. Her gaze was sharp, but not unkind.

“Yes?” she said, straightening to her full height.

Miyeon extended a hand, her heart pounding. “Hi. I’m Miyeon.”

Minnie looked at her, eyes narrowing slightly. Then—confusion.

“Do I... know you?”

“We met once,” Miyeon replied. “At a club. Rooftop bar, four months ago.”

A flicker of recognition.

“Oh.” Minnie’s lips parted. “Wait. That night—did we...?”

Miyeon nodded. “We slept together.”

Minnie blinked, stunned. “I... thought I dreamt that. You left before I woke up.”

“I had to catch the last train,” Miyeon said softly. Then, after a breath: “I didn’t know I’d be carrying something with me when I left.”

Minnie’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

Miyeon glanced down, then gently placed her hand on her rounded belly.

Minnie’s eyes followed—and widened.

“You’re... pregnant?”

Miyeon nodded. “Five months.”

A beat.

Minnie took a half step back, struggling for composure. “You’re saying... I’m the father?”

“I’m not saying anything for certain until the test,” Miyeon replied, her tone soft but firm. “But you’re the only person it could be. I haven’t been with anyone else.”

There was a long pause.

“I know it’s a lot,” Miyeon added, her voice trembling now. “I didn’t want to believe it either, at first. But I’ve done the math. And I didn’t want to keep this from you, even if I wasn’t sure how you’d react.”

Minnie rubbed her temple. “I... I just need a second.”

Miyeon nodded. “Take all the time you need. I’m not here to demand anything from you. I just thought you deserved to know.”

After a long silence, Minnie looked at her again—really looked. And then she did something Miyeon didn’t expect.

“Come with me to my office,” she said, gesturing toward the building. “If we’re doing this, we might as well talk in private.”

The office building Minnie brought her to was sleek and imposing, with mirrored walls and a marble lobby. Miyeon couldn’t help but whisper, “Wow.”

Minnie glanced back with a faint smile. “It’s mine. Well, technically the company’s—but close enough.”

“You’re the CEO?”

“Unfortunately.”

Their banter was light, but underneath it all was tension—quiet, uncertain, but not hostile. There was something about Minnie’s presence that felt grounding, even if Miyeon hadn’t expected kindness.

Inside the elevator, silence filled the small space. The soft hum of the lift was the only sound until Minnie spoke again.

“I’ll take a paternity test. Whatever we need. I want to know the truth too.”

Miyeon turned her head slightly. “Even if it is yours... would you want to be involved?”

Minnie looked down at her hands, then up at Miyeon’s reflection in the mirrored doors.

“I don’t know yet,” she admitted. “But I don’t want to run away from it either.”

When they reached the top floor, Minnie opened the door to her office and gestured inside. It was all sleek lines and expensive furniture—but on the corner of her desk was a tiny potted cactus and a half-drunk coffee. Human touches.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Minnie said as she helped Miyeon to a leather couch near the windows.

Miyeon sat carefully, her hand instinctively resting on her belly.

“You’re not what I expected,” she said softly.

Minnie raised an eyebrow. “That I’d be an asshole?”

“I mean... yeah.”

Minnie chuckled, but there was no bitterness in it. “I’ve been one. I probably still am, most days. But I’m trying.”

Miyeon smiled faintly. “I think we both are.”