Gary shoved his phone into his back pocket as he quickened his pace towards the lift. Rye Il was following closely behind him.
Ge pressed the 'up' button several times while looking at the digital display panel. The lift had stopped at the 20th storey and it doesn't look like it was going to descend any time soon.
"Let's take the stairs." Rye Il suggested, pushing open the door to the emergency stairway.
They started climbing up to the 15th storey. By the 7th floor, their speed had slowed down. Even though they were exhausted, the adrenaline kept them going.
The key was already in his hand by the time they reached the front of his house. He wiped away the sweat on his forehead with his arm, and quickly inserted the key into the lock and turned it. He pushed open the door and called Jihyo's name, which Hye Won responded to from the bedroom.
The door swung opened. Hye Won looked up, relief to see them finally here.
Jihyo was leaning against the headboard, with one hand clutching the arc of her rounded belly and the other, holding onto Hye Won' s hand.
"I think her water broke," Hye Won said as she moved away for Gary to attend to her.
"How long has it been?" He asked, now sitting on the bed next to Jihyo.
"About ten minutes." Hye Won replied.
"Can you walk?" Gary asked Jihyo in a soft tone. The pain took over her voice, and she nodded her head in response instead.
He told Rye Il to grab the backpack from the cupboard in the playroom. They had already prepared the necessary baby items that they needed in case there was an emergency. Like now.
***
Jihyo was wheeled into the delivery room upon arriving at the hospital. The nurse attached her to an IV drip. Gary remained by her side while Rye Il and Hye Won went off after ensuring that they were well settled in the hospital. Gary promised to keep them posted on the delivery progress.
The doctor came in every five minutes to check on her contraction progress, and how far she had dilated. By the hour mark, she was given the approval to start pushing. Gary held her hand throughout the birth process. She was in so much pain, squeezing his hand so tightly but yet, she wasn't willing take an epidural. He wiped away her sweat, and whispered to her words of encouragement.
After several pushing, their first twin arrived into the world. The doctor announced that it was a baby girl. The nurse carried her to the weighing scale to weigh her weight.
Minutes later, there was another cry. The birth of their son. She had managed to deliver both babies safely. Gary pressed his lips against her forehead gently, and she closed her eyes, breathing out a huff of relief.
The babies were whisked away into the infant ward for further checks while Jihyo was wheeled to a private maternity ward to rest. It was a single bed ward, with a toilet attached to it. The lights in the room were dimmed intentionally to allow the patient to recuperate comfortably.
They were reunited with the babies fifteen minutes later. The nurse pushed two clear, plastic bassinets next to the bed and left shortly after to give them some private bonding time with their two new little members.
