Just Like Now

The Loneliest Night

Sehun was in bed and dozing off when she returned late that night. After changing into her pajamas Namjoo sat at the edge of the bed watching him. She still wanted to believe that this marriage was blissful. That Sehun had a reason to marry her. They were having a baby after all. It had to mean something, didn't it? Weren't they very happy in the present?

Moving under the blanket Namjoo edged closer to Sehun. He was still here at least. That ring around his finger and he was still her entitled husband. Wrapping an arm around him she buried her head against his shoulder.

"What did the doctor say?" Sehun asked the next morning.

"Everything's good," Namjoo replied.

"Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

"It's not too bad," Namjoo smiled. "I might start to have weird cravings though."

"I'll get you anything you want."

"A lump of coal," Namjoo joked.

Sehun scoffed at her.

"I'll be home early today," Sehun said, "so don't cook anything. I'll make something good for you."

"If you say so."

"I say so," he smiled. Walking over he gave her a kiss and glanced into her eyes before bidding, "I'll see you later."

Like any other day, any other time Namjoo's heart skipped a beat. It was the first time he ever kissed her in the morning to say goodbye. That was all she thought about on her way to work. Good moods followed that evening because Sehun did make it home early for once. He cooked something delicious for her and they slept well.

§§§§§

Sehun hadn't realized it. Namjoo's belly had grown a little bigger over the several days. She was really reaching her fourth month of pregnancy. It was all happening so fast.

That Saturday when she'd gone out with her mother shopping Sehun paced the house. Namjoo's birthday was coming up that Wednesday. He didn't know what to get her. Maybe they could just spend time together decorating the extra rooms for guests. That seemed like a good thought until he went looking at the rooms to find that the second one already seemed occupied.

Pushing the door open all the way he stared at the crib Namjoo had left halfway completed. There was a drawer with tiny infant slippers atop, a super soft blanket roll, adorable teddy bears, and some cheery clothes for newborns lying about. In the corner sat a box with a floor bed for the baby Namjoo planned to put in their room. The walls had been plastered with tiny decorations all single-handedly done.

Namjoo had done all this by herself...without telling him anything.

Why?

A splurge of disappointment hit him head on. Did she want to do everything by herself without including him? Wasn't he the father of the baby? She should have said something.

When Namjoo walked in through the door with her mother he stared at her, watching her obliviousness.

"Sorry we took so long, Sehun," her mother apologized. "There was just so much to get. Oh, I bought some herbal medicine for you to keep you energized. Have you been working hard these days?"

"No, not much," he politely answered.

"I won't be long so don't mind me," she said pulling out oriental foods from the bags on the counter. "Your father's waiting for me at home, so I'll hurry along." Turning to Namjoo she instructed, "Don't forget to wash these well before cooking them."

"I know," Namjoo replied.

After walking her mother out Sehun went back to the kitchen and looked around at half the stuff still on the counter. "Why'd you two buy so much? There's only two of us here."