Annyeongz One-shots

100. Wall ( 4 )

The tension still lingered faintly in the room, like the echo of a storm that had just passed. Wonyoung was calmer now, but her fingers still rested protectively over the baby, as if afraid someone might suddenly try to take this peace away again.

Yujin noticed it.

He cleared his throat softly.

“Okay…” he said, looking around at everyone with an awkward half-smile. “I think the baby just witnessed her first dramatic entrance scene.”

Wonyoung blinked at him.

Her father frowned slightly. “Dramatic entrance?”

Yujin nodded seriously. “Yeah. First day in the world and already there’s flowers, shouting, emotional speeches… If she grows up loving drama, we’ll know why.”

There was a pause.

Then Wonyoung’s mother let out a small laugh.

It was soft at first, but it broke the heaviness in the air like sunlight slipping through clouds.

Even Wonyoung couldn’t stop the tiny smile forming on her lips. “You’re so ridiculous,” she muttered, though her voice was gentler now.

Yujin leaned closer to the bassinet, peeking at the baby with exaggerated seriousness. “Hey,” he whispered dramatically. “Next time someone shows up with flowers, you cry loudly, okay? That’s our signal.”

Wonyoung actually let out a real laugh this time — tired, but genuine.

The baby shifted slightly, making a tiny noise, and Yujin gasped. “See? She agrees with me.”

Her father shook his head, trying to hide a smile. “You’re unbelievable.”

Yujin straightened up, pretending to look proud. “I’m just making sure she grows up with a good sense of humor. Very important life skill.”

He glanced at Wonyoung again, this time softer.

“You did really well today,” he added quietly, just for her.

She looked at him — really looked at him — and something warm settled between them. Not intense, not rushed. Just steady.

“Thank you… for staying,” she said.

He shrugged lightly, pretending it was nothing. “Where else would I go?”

He then gently tapped the side of the bassinet. “Also, I think she looks like she’s judging all of us already.”

Wonyoung leaned slightly to look closer. “She does not.”

“She does,” Yujin insisted. “That face says, ‘Why are you all so loud? I just got here.’”

Her mother laughed again, wiping at her eyes. Even her father’s posture relaxed fully now.

The room felt lighter.

Safer.

Yujin pulled a chair closer and sat beside Wonyoung’s bed, resting his arms casually on the edge near her hand. Not possessive. Not dramatic. Just there.

He lowered his voice playfully. “You know… since I survived labor as the emotional support assistant, I think I deserve at least hospital cafeteria coffee.”

Wonyoung raised a brow. “You were the one panicking.”

“I was not panicking,” he defended immediately.

“You were sweating more than me.”

“That was strategic sweating.”

She shook her head, smiling in disbelief.