Our Love | Jeongcheol

six

Jeonghan hadn't slept well.

He lay awake, mind racing over every what-if that he hadn't had the courage to ask out loud.

After days of avoiding it, he and Seungcheol had finally come to an unspoken agreement that they needed to see a doctor. They couldn't keep stumbling through this, unsure of what was happening with his body or what it meant for their future. Make pregnancies weren't a usual thing after all.

The ride to the clinic was quiet, the usually bustling roads seeming strangely still as Seungcheol's hand rested on Jeonghan's, a silent anchor grounding them.

He squeezed it gently when they walked into the hospital, his own expression equally tense, though he tried to mask it with a calm act for Jeonghan's sake.

Once inside the exam room, the doctor greeted them with a warm smile, sensing the tension.

"Good morning. Jeonghan and Seungcheol?" she asked and the couple nodded.

She started asking a few questions, easing them into the appointment with a gentle tone that made Jeonghan relax just a bit.

"How far along are you, Jeonghan?" the doctor asked as she typed on her computer screen all the information she got. "Two months and one week"

The doctor smiled reassuringly and gestured for Jeonghan to lie on the examination bed for the ultrasound.

But suddenly both Jeonghan and Seungcheol perked up, questions tumbling out faster than they could process.

"Are the risks higher because it's a male pregnancy?" Seungcheol asked first, his voice laced with an anxiety he was struggling to contain. He kept his eyes on Jeonghan, as though making sure he caught every word. "What should we be looking out for?"

"Are there any things we should avoid?" Jeonghan added, looking up at the doctor, his fingers nervously twisting the hem of his shirt. "Would certain foods or activities affect...it?"

The doctor held up a reassuring hand, chuckling softly. "It's normal to be worried as new parents," she said, her gaze warm and understanding.

"There's a lot to consider, but it's all completely manageable! Male pregnancies can be a bit more complicated, but with regular check-ups and proper care, the risks are really low. Don't worry"

Despite feeling a bit reassured but the doctor's words, the couple couldn't help but keep asking questions.

The questions came one after another. Seungcheol focuses on Jeonghan's health. He told the doctor about Jeonghan's symptoms of fatigue, nausea, and more while Jeonghan asked about the baby's growth in the future months, his voice tinged with an almost hesitant wonder.

The doctor answered each question with careful detail, and the couple was grateful for her patience.

"Cold gel coming through" the doctor warned with a smile and Jeonghan winced slightly, his body tense.

She guided the ultrasound probe over Jeonghan's abdomen. The image on the screen was faint at first, but then the sound of a small heartbeat filled the room—steady, pulsing, like the smallest drum echoing in the silence.

"What a strong heartbeat. Very healthy" the doctor said, voice filled with adoration as she continued looking at the screen.

Seungcheol's hand tightened on Jeonghan's. He stared at the screen, eyes wide, almost unable to process it. The steady rhythm of his heart began to waver, gently overwhelmed by a warmth that enveloped him in a way he hadn't anticipated.

A quiet tear slipped down his cheek as he realized: this was their baby.

Jeonghan's gaze softened, his hand shifting to hold Seungcheol's, squeezing it lightly. "That's...it?" he whispered, his voice wavering as he looked between Seungcheol and the doctor.