“What did you say?”

Jiyong strained to hear what she whispered, struggling to figure out her meaning. Clearly, he didn’t hear her correctly the first time… right?

“I’m pregnant, Ji.” She repeated. She brought her watery gaze to his, eyes full of fear.

His hands began to shake. Unwilling to believe what he knew now, he ran his hands nervously through his hair.

This couldn’t be happening. He had everything planned out - detail to detail. And that… A baby?

A baby would ruin everything! His chest heaved up and down. All that he worked for… all their plans would turn into nothing. He wouldn’t… He could not allow that.

But- but it couldn’t be that big of a deal, right? He’ll take care of it. They have options.

“Hey,” he called out softly, trying to get the attention of the now sobbing love of his life. When he thought she didn’t hear him, he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her. She pressed her face into his chest and sobbed more. He felt his throat suddenly tighten, not able to say what he thought was the best thing to do.

But what the hell. They had to do this. It’s the right thing to do… right?

“Dara.” At the mention of his nickname for her, Sandara brought her face up toward him. He tried to smile. Tried. “It’s going to be taken care of.”

Hearing his words, Sandara pulled away from him and Jiyong felt he should regret the words he said. He saw how Sandara’s world crumble. And it was all because of him. He hated himself for that. He wanted to take back whatever he said, but no. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t. It’s the only thing that can save them both at this moment.

Sandara brought her hands to . “Are you hearing yourself, Jiyong?” She used his full name. Jiyong knew when she doesn’t use her nickname for him, she’s upset. And now, clearly, she is. She’s fuming. She looked at him incredulously. “I can’t believe you want me to do that!”

Now Jiyong was starting to get angry too. As much as he loved Sandara, sometimes he couldn’t understand why she saw things differently, like everything was made up of cotton candies and rainbows! Before, he found it endearing. Yes, Sandara has a good heart and her beliefs and principles made him fall in love for her deeper, but this time was different. They’d been thrown into a situation where both their aspired careers were in danger. It changed things. Jiyong was fully convinced this was the only way.

“Baby… you have to.”

Through her tears, Sandara shook her head, taking steps away from him.

“I’m keeping this baby, Jiyong.”

“Think about it, babe. Nobody would know. It will only be the two of us, no one else.” He rambled, trying to convince her, his words came out harsher than he had intended. Sandara flinched, but he was determined to let her see the consequences of what she wanted to do. His anger took its toll. “Look. You’ll be out of undergrad and you’ll be entering medical school soon, how do you expect to go through that with a ball inside you? And… And I just signed my contract, I can’t let that thing ruin that! Have you even thought about all these?”

She had to see how impossible having the baby was.

By the time he finished speaking, Sandara was already shaking her head vigorously. “No! We’ll… we’ll figure it out.”

Jiyong turned away and squeezed his eyes shut. She began to cry again. Why was Sandara so stubborn? Why couldn’t she understand? It’s easy! She couldn’t be this stupid, right? She was a medical student, for Christ’s sake! Clearly that requires high IQ… right? She should understand. She wasn’t stupid, but why was she being one now? This would only ruin their lives. This… This will break his dreams!

Suddenly, Jiyong found himself thinking of what would happen if Sandara keeps this stupidity up. Of what would happen to all things he worked hard for, of what he needed, of what he wanted, of what he dreamt of since he knew what dreams were. Suddenly, he didn’t see the girl he loved – the girl he had all the intentions of marrying one day and spending the rest of his life with. He only saw the girl who was between him and his ambitions. He only saw the girl standing in his way.

He turned back to her and look her in the eyes. This was it. Whatever this would make him, he made the decision. He unconsciously blurt hard, manipulative words that would either bring them together or the other way around. “It’s me or that ing baby, Dara. Choose. Now. You can’t have us both.”

More tears fell from her eyes and it was like she finally accepted she was defeated. She cried more and mourned. Not for herself, but for what she knew the both of them was about to lose.

Finally, for what felt like forever, Jiyong saw her nod. Sandara released a loud sigh and made an effort to give him a smile, which turned out into a pained one. And it was then… It was then Jiyong saw he wasn’t the choice she chose. For a moment, he wanted to beg her to change her decision. To beg her to stay with him. To beg her to forgive him and forget what stupid words came out of his stupid, stupid mouth. But it was only for a moment. Because he reminded himself of what was at stake of this decision, of what would happen if that hell of a baby stays. Because he knew, that if he wanted Sandara to stay, that baby would have to stay too.

And Jiyong didn’t want that damn baby. He didn’t want it. He didn’t need it.

What he wanted was his dreams to come true. What he needed was his dreams to come to life.

Jiyong felt the air sweep against him when Sandara pushed past him and walked toward the door. Turning the doorknob, she paused but didn’t look at him. With one last sigh, she said, “Goodbye, Jiyong.”

Just like that... Sandara was gone from Jiyong's life.