Annyeongz One-shots

124. Back to You

The call came in the middle of the night, when the cold silence of the barracks felt heavier than usual.

Yujin had just returned from another brutal day of special force training. His body ached in places he didn’t even know existed, his knuckles still raw, his uniform soaked with sweat that had long dried into stiffness. He barely had time to sit before his phone vibrated.

He wasn’t supposed to use it often. Calls were rare.

So when he saw his father’s name, something in his chest tightened.

He answered immediately, voice low and controlled.

“Appa”

There was a pause on the other end. Not the usual firm, composed tone his father always carried. This one felt different. Softer. Careful.

“Yujin… are you alone”

Yujin straightened instinctively, even though no one could see him.

“Yes”

Another pause. Then his mother’s voice slipped in, unable to hold back.

“Wonyoung… she’s pregnant”

For a moment, the world went completely silent.

Yujin didn’t speak. Didn’t breathe.

His mind tried to process it, but it lagged behind the weight of the words. Pregnant.

Wonyoung.

His wife.

The last time he saw her, she was standing at the station, forcing a smile even as her eyes betrayed her. He still remembered the way her fingers clung to his sleeve just a second longer before letting go.

He swallowed hard.

“How… how long”

“Three months now” his father answered quietly. “She just found out recently. She didn’t want to tell you until we insisted”

Three months.

That meant it happened just before he left.

A shaky breath escaped him, one he tried to suppress.

“Is she okay”

“She’s fine. But she misses you”

That was the moment his composure cracked, just slightly.

Yujin pressed his lips together, eyes stinging as he stared at the cold floor of the barracks.

“I’ll finish this” he said, voice firm but quieter than before. “I’ll come back”

After the call ended, he sat there in silence, his heart racing in a way no training had ever caused.

For the first time since he entered special force training, Yujin felt something stronger than exhaustion.

He felt urgency.

From that night on, every run, every drill, every punishment carried a different meaning.

It wasn’t just about surviving anymore.

It was about going back to them.

Months passed like a blur of sweat, blood, and relentless discipline. Yujin endured everything thrown at him, pushing his limits without hesitation.

Whenever his body screamed for rest, he thought of Wonyoung.

Whenever his mind felt like breaking, he thought of the child he hadn’t even seen yet.