Whispers of the Underworld (SunSun)

chapter 5

For over two months, I had found a semblance of peace, a tranquility that felt almost too good to be true after the storm of the past weeks. Receiving the divorce papers had been a pivotal moment, the heavy shackles of my marriage to Kim Jinyun finally broken. I could breathe freely for the first time in what felt like forever.

Returning to my late parents' home had been both a comfort and a bittersweet reminder of better times. Nestled on the outskirts of the city, the house was surrounded by the lush garden my mother had lovingly tended. It had been years since I had lived there, but stepping through the front door felt like coming home. The walls still held the faint scent of lavender, and the worn wooden floors creaked in the familiar way they always had.

I spent my days redecorating the house, trying to infuse it with the warmth and love that had been missing from my life for so long. Mornings were spent tending to the garden, just as my mother used to do, while afternoons found me curled up by the large windows with a book. The house became my sanctuary, a place where I could finally begin to heal.

Jake visited frequently, bringing groceries and checking in on me with that familiar gummy smile. Our conversations were a mix of reminiscing and planning for the future, and his presence was a comforting constant. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was regaining control of my life. The scars left by Jinyun were still there, but they were gradually fading, replaced by a burgeoning sense of hope.

However, as days passed, I began to notice changes in my body. It started with a persistent fatigue that no amount of rest seemed to alleviate. I dismissed it initially, thinking it was just a result of the emotional rollercoaster I had been through. But then came the nausea, hitting me unexpectedly and leaving me clutching my stomach in distress.

I tried to ignore it, convincing myself that it was merely stress or perhaps a stomach bug. I didn’t want to worry Jake, who had already been so concerned for me. Yet, as the symptoms persisted, a nagging thought began to creep into my mind—one I desperately wanted to dismiss.

Jake, ever observant, noticed the changes. “Sunny, you don’t look well. Let me bring a doctor,” he urged, his eyes filled with worry.

I waved him off with a weak smile. “I’m fine, hyung. Just a little under the weather. I’ll be okay in a few days.”

But days turned into weeks, and the symptoms only worsened. I became increasingly pale, my energy levels dwindling, and the nausea became a daily struggle. My clothes started feeling tighter around my waist, though my appetite had all but disappeared.

Jake’s concern was relentless, but I stubbornly refused to see a doctor. The lingering thought that something more serious was happening terrified me, and I wasn’t ready to face it yet.

One day, as I was arranging flowers in a vase, the world suddenly tilted, and everything went black.

When I woke up, I found myself lying in bed, Jake’s worried face hovering above me.

“Sunoo, you fainted! I’ve already called the doctor,” Jake said, his voice shaky with concern.

I tried to protest, but I was too weak. The doctor arrived shortly after, and I underwent a series of examinations that left me anxious and fearful. I had tried so hard to avoid this moment, but it was inevitable.

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor sat down beside me, his expression gentle but serious.

“Sunoo, you’re not sick. You’re pregnant. Approximately 15 weeks along.”

The words hit me like a freight train. Pregnant? It didn’t seem possible, and yet deep down, I had known. The signs had been there, but I had been too afraid to acknowledge them.