Annyeongz One-shots

49. Homebound

Yujin had never known fear like this.

It sat heavy in his chest, tight and suffocating, every second stretching longer than the last as he paced back and forth outside the labour room. His suit jacket had long been shrugged off, sleeves rolled up, hair a mess from how many times his fingers had dragged through it. He stopped, turned, walked again-unable to stay still, unable to sit, unable to think straight.

Behind him, both families waited. His parents, her parents, siblings, a few close relatives-everyone trying to stay calm, whispering prayers, watching him with worried eyes. But Yujin barely noticed them. His eyes were glued to the closed doors of the labour room as if staring hard enough might somehow protect her.

"I should be in there," he muttered for the tenth time, voice tight.

Earlier, something had gone wrong-nothing catastrophic, the doctors had said, but enough that they needed space, enough that they had asked him to wait outside. Protocol. Sterility. Safety. Words he understood, yet hated.

Inside that room was his wife.

Wonyoung.

The woman he loved more than his own life, now in pain, exhausted, bringing their child into the world-and he couldn't even hold her hand.

His mother gently touched his arm. "Yujin... sit for a moment."

He shook his head immediately. "I can't. I really can't."

His leg bounced uncontrollably. Every sound made him flinch. Every nurse that passed made his heart leap into his throat.

Then-suddenly-

A cry.

Sharp. Small. Alive.

The hallway seemed to freeze.

Yujin's head snapped up, breath hitching as the sound echoed again-stronger this time. A baby crying.

His vision blurred instantly. "I-did you hear that?" he whispered, voice breaking.

Wonyoung's mother covered her mouth, tears spilling as she nodded. His father exhaled shakily. Someone sobbed softly behind him.

"That's... that's our baby," Yujin said, disbelief and awe tangled together.

A doctor stepped out moments later, smiling tiredly. "Congratulations. Mother and baby are safe."

Relief crashed over him so hard his knees almost gave out.

"We'll prepare the VIP room," the doctor continued. "Please wait there."

Everyone began to move-but Yujin stepped forward, stopping them.

"No," he said firmly.

They all looked at him.

"You all go ahead. Please. Be with the baby," he said, swallowing thickly. "I'll stay here. I'll wait for her."

His mother hesitated. "Yujin-"

"She shouldn't wake up and not see me," he said quietly. "I'll be right here."

No one argued after that.

So he waited.

Minutes later, the labour room doors opened again. Nurses pushed a bed out slowly, careful and quiet. Wonyoung lay on it, pale, exhausted, hair damp with sweat-but awake.

Yujin broke.

Tears spilled freely as he rushed to her side, dropping to walk beside the bed. His hands shook as he reached for hers, wrapping both of his around her smaller one like he was afraid she might disappear.