Just A Few Numbers Away

Chapter 141

The Quiet Countdown

​The final three days in the Seychelles passed in a blur of soft light and deepening serenity.

The frantic edges of their initial arrival-the heat, the uncertainty, the rush of the wedding aftermath-had all smoothed over, replaced by a steady, humming joy that followed them everywhere.

​They were no longer just two people on an island; they were a triad, bonded by the secret of their future that they carried together.

​The villa, once a place of discovery, had become a true sanctuary.

They had spent these days in a blissful, low-key rhythm: long, slow mornings on the veranda, hydration schedules meticulously managed by Yoongi, and afternoons where they simply rested, letting the tropical sun pass them by.

Yoongi had become a master of the "nesting" phase, his movements around Aen now infused with a reverence that was as constant as the ocean tide.

Then came their final evening on the island, a quiet sunset before the long flight back to Seoul.

The private boat tour Yoongi had planned-the one he had been so worried about-was now waiting at the small pier.

​As they stepped onto the deck, the boat rocked gently, a cradle on the turquoise expanse.

Yoongi immediately moved to steady Aen, his hands firm at her waist.

​"Careful, Yeobo," he murmured, his focus sharp.

"The water is calm, but watch your step."

​Aen laughed, a sound that felt lighter than air.

"I'm fine, Yoon. See? I'm strong today."

​He smiled, a genuine, soft expression that reached his eyes.

He stayed close, though, his arm never leaving her back as they found a comfortable spot on the plush seating.

​As the boat pulled away from the shore, the island began to shrink, turning into a jagged emerald crown floating on a sheet of liquid gold.

The sunset was spectacular, painting the sky in violent streaks of violet, orange, and deep crimson.

​Aen leaned against Yoongi, feeling the cool ocean spray against her skin.

She reached into her bag, pulling out the folded ultrasound printout.

It was slightly worn at the edges now, a testament to how many times they had looked at it, studied it, and whispered to it in the privacy of their villa.

​"Do you think they'll be excited, Yeobo?" she asked, her voice carried away by the breeze.

"When we tell them?"

​Yoongi looked down at the paper, then at her, his expression turning solemn and profoundly happy.

​"They'll be over the moon," he said firmly.

"Especially Carly. She's been asking when she's going to have a little sibling to play with for the longest time."

​Aen blinked, her brow furrowing in genuine surprise as she pulled back slightly to look at him.

"What? Since when? I've never heard of this."

​Yoongi chuckled, a low, warm sound that vibrated against her.

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his eyes softening as he met her gaze.

"It started after I told her I wanted to be her real dad months ago," he admitted, his voice steady and earnest.

"After we got engaged, she kept whispering to me whenever she had the chance that she was excited to be a big sister and asking me to give her one."

​Aen felt a sudden, sharp intake of breath.

It hadn't fully registered until this moment-the idea that Carly had been dreaming of this and claiming her role as a big sister all on her own, long before Aen even knew this was a possibility.

The realization that their daughter had been paving the way for their family's future made the secret she was carrying feel even more precious, more inevitable.

​"She didn't tell me," Aen whispered, a smile finally tugging at the corners of her mouth as the surprise gave way to profound tenderness.

​"She wanted to keep it between us," Yoongi said with a small, proud shrug.

"She's been taking her 'big sister' training very seriously."

​Aen let out a soft, incredulous laugh, the sound bubbling up from her chest and catching in the evening breeze.

She pressed her hand to her mouth, her eyes shimmering with a mix of amusement and overwhelming love.

"Ohh... I see," she said, her voice bright and full of warmth.

"Well, I can imagine what her reaction would be when we finally tell her."

She could already picture Carly's eyes wide with wonder when they finally shared the news to her first.

They had decided they wouldn't do it over a screen-no pixelated announcements, no rushed phone calls.

She deserved the truth to be told in person, in the warmth of their own home, just as it was meant to be.

​Aen leaned back against Yoongi, the gentle rocking of the boat and the fading golden light of the Seychelles sunset signaling the end of their getaway.

"It feels like we're bringing home the best surprise in the world."

​Yoongi pulled her closer, tucking her head under his chin so they were facing the horizon together.

He watched the sun begin to dip below the horizon, the light reflecting in his eyes.

​"We are, Jagiya," he agreed, his voice thick with a new, quiet strength.

"We're bringing home everything."

For a long time, they sat in the silence of the boat, watching the light fade until the first stars began to pierce the twilight.

They didn't need to talk; the shared weight of their secret, the anticipation of the reveal, and the steady, rhythmic thump of the heartbeat they had recorded days ago were enough.

​"Everything starts the moment we land back in Korea," Aen said, her voice soft.

​Yoongi kissed her head, his lips lingering there.

"Everything starts now, Aen-ah. We're already living it."

​As the boat turned toward the secluded side of the island for their last private dinner on Seychelles, they didn't just feel like honeymooners returning from a trip to South Korea anymore.

They felt like travelers carrying a treasure, heading toward a home that was about to grow, change, and become exactly what they had always dreamed of.

The sunset continued to bleed across the horizon, casting a golden glow over them as they moved toward their last quiet meal together-a final moment of stillness before the joy of the reveal awaiting them in Seoul.

​They were ready—for the family, for the reveal, and for the life that was already beating in time with their own.