SWEETHEART

Chapter-57

HI

Next morning, Taehyung rested in the hospital bed, head tucked into Jeongguk’s shoulder.

Chang‑wook and si-woo stood guard just outside.

After a moment, Jeongguk braced himself and stepped out... phone in hand and called Hyun-bin. His voice voice still shaky.

“Appa… I have news.”

Hyun‑bin's warm voice echoed from the other side. “How is he?”

Jeongguk smiled through tears.
“He’s okay. And….Appa.."

"Son, he's going to be fine. Our tae is strong and you stay there for a few days. I'll-"

"I'm going to be a father, appa. There's another heartbeat inside him. He’s…pregnant appa.."

Silence. But then a tremble in Hyun‑bin’s voice could be heard.

Hyun‑bin choked with happiness,
“That is our heartbeat…” He paused, voice thick. “I’m… I’m crying.”

Jeongguk pressed the phone against his ear. He could almost see his father wiping tears.

Jeongguk choked,
“I… I saw the flickering heart on the ultrasound screen...just once. It felt like the first time I heard our child breathe.”

Hyun‑bin’s voice cracked with emotion,
“Our family is growing. You’ll be an amazing father.”

Jeongguk swallowed hard, pride swelling.

“He’s so brave… I’ve never seen him weaker and stronger at once.” Jeongguk wiped his own tears.

This weak moment between the father and the son is going to be a secret for the rest of the world. They have never been happier.

Hyun‑bin voice was full of pride too.
“Your heartbeat… he gave you your heart, and now together you create new life."

Jeongguk nodded even though Hyun-bin can't see him.

"Come home, son. Your eomma has heard you too. You know..you know gguk..she stirred when you told our family was growing."

"She'll play with her grandchild soon, appa. I know. Eomma will wake up soon."

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The late afternoon sun softened through the clinic window.

Jeongguk, dressed in his sharply tailored suit, settled opposite Taehyung’s internship head doctor Professor Ricci, a gentle yet observant man.

Taehyung rested on a chair nearby, wrapped in a blanket, his color returned. The mood was hushed, intimate but tense.

Jeongguk’s voice was calm yet unyielding.

“Professor, As you know he’s only six months into a year-long internship here in Florence...but he’s pregnant. I need to bring him back to Korea. Can he pause and resume later?”

His gaze never left Taehyung’s face who gave a smile and held out his hand for Jeongguk to take. The elder took two long steps and held his sweetheart's hand in a crisp grip.

Professor Ricci walked forward, thoughtful.

“The program here is comprehensive, but under exceptional circumstances like pregnancy it is possible to transfer clinical experiences elsewhere. You’d need documentation and approval from both institutions.”

He added softly, “I can assist...live Skype evaluations, written assignments, even local clinical modules in Korea.”

He paused, then firmly said, “Yes, he can continue his internship in Korea. And one more thing, I know a leading obstetrician in Seoul, Dr. Park Ji-young. She’s reputed for high-risk pregnancies and since Taehyung’s body is weak and he needs more assistant I think you should visit her."