Arrange Marriage

CHAP 37

Chapter 37: The Waiting Game
The nursery was ready. The hospital bag was packed. Every conceivable preparation had been made weeks ago. And yet, the baby seemed to have no intention of making her grand entrance.
Mingyu was miserable.
He lay sprawled out on the couch, his legs draped over the armrest as he glared at Wonwoo, who was sitting at the edge of the coffee table, looking equally restless.
"This is all your fault," Mingyu grumbled, his voice laced with frustration.
Wonwoo blinked, confused. "What did I do?"
"You," Mingyu huffed, pointing accusingly at him, "are the reason I'm in this situation! If you hadn’t been so—so charming—I wouldn’t be carrying around this stubborn little bean who doesn’t want to come out!"
Wonwoo’s lips twitched, fighting back a smile. “Gyu, you’re not mad at me. You’re mad at the baby.”
“Oh, don’t you dare,” Mingyu snapped, narrowing his eyes. “Don’t make it sound like I’m a bad parent already!”
Despite his frustrations, Wonwoo could see the exhaustion and discomfort etched into Mingyu’s face. He tried to console him, gently reaching for his hand. “I know you’re tired, love. But the baby will come when they’re ready. It’s not much longer now.”
“Not much longer?” Mingyu scoffed, pulling his hand away dramatically. “I’ve been carrying this baby for forty-two weeks, Jeon Wonwoo! Do you know how swollen my feet are? How much my back hurts? I can’t even eat without heartburn trying to kill me!”
Wonwoo sighed, leaning forward to press a kiss to Mingyu’s forehead. “I know it’s hard, Gyu. If I could take even a fraction of your pain, I would.”
Mingyu sniffed, looking less angry and more teary-eyed now. “And another thing—I can’t even see my own feet anymore. How ridiculous is that?!”
As the hours stretched into days, Mingyu’s mood swung between frustration and emotional outbursts. Wonwoo, while maintaining a calm exterior, was no better. He spent his nights pacing the house, unable to sleep, constantly checking on Mingyu, and muttering under his breath about how he was going to have a talk with their baby once they arrived.
One evening, Wonwoo sat beside Mingyu in the nursery, staring at the empty crib. “Do you think they’re okay in there?” he asked softly, his hand resting on Mingyu’s belly.
“They’re fine,” Mingyu replied, though his tone was weary. “Probably just too comfortable to bother coming out.”
Wonwoo chuckled. “That’s my fault, then. I’ve been keeping the house too warm and cozy for them.”
Mingyu smirked, leaning into Wonwoo’s side. “You’d better hope they don’t inherit your stubbornness, or we’ll never hear the end of this once they’re old enough to talk.”
Wonwoo’s hand brushed soothing circles over Mingyu’s belly. “Let’s just hope they get your charm. Otherwise, I’m in trouble.”
One night, Mingyu jolted awake from a nap on the couch, startling Wonwoo, who had been quietly reading beside him.
“What is it? Are you okay?” Wonwoo asked, his voice laced with concern.
Mingyu grimaced, holding his belly. “I think… I think they heard us.”
Wonwoo’s eyes widened as realization dawned on him. “You mean—”
“Yes, Wonwoo,” Mingyu snapped, though his tone lacked real bite. “Your stubborn baby finally decided to make their move!”
Wonwoo shot to his feet, scrambling to grab the hospital bag and his phone. His heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves, his earlier impatience melting into focused determination.
As Mingyu squeezed his hand tightly on the way to the hospital, Wonwoo couldn’t help but smile despite the chaos. The wait was finally over, and he was moments away from meeting the tiny miracle that had changed their lives already.