Tuesday couldn’t come any sooner for Joohyun and Yonghwa. It was another appointment with Dr. Kwon.

“Ah Yonghwa – I didn’t expect you.  No school today?” The doctor asked whe he saw the couple seated at his receiving room.

“Ah – well I want to be here with Joohyun for all her checkups.” Yonghwa explained.  He gently pulls Joohyun up from the sofa and they follow Dr. Kwon inside.

“How have you been young lady?” Dr. Kwon smiles at Joohyun as she sits on the examination table.

‘I’m fine Doctor Kwon – I’ve been steadily eating.  I haven’t thrown up and I take naps and sleep early.” Joohyun replies.

Her color was good and she definitely looked so much better.

“I get very good reports from Dr. Ha – she tells me you’re doing so much better. I gather your problem with your Appa is improving?”  He asks her as he takes her blood pressure.

“We’re getting there Sir.” Yonghwa answers for Joohyun.

“That’s good – I didn’t even need to ban anyone from your room.” Dr. Kwon gives a little laugh. “Well everything is in order.  I’ll have Bo Ah schedule you for a fetal Doppler before I finally discharge you this weekend.  How is that?” He sits at his desk and chuckles when Joohyun gives an excited little gasp.

“Thank you so much Chairman.” Yonghwa’s cheek bursting smile was in place.

“Good good – then I’ll just pass on my instructions to my medical staff.  Have a final session with Dr. Ha Ji Won before you leave and make sure you stay in contact with her for anything that may come up in the future.” Dr. Kwon stands up and shakes Yonghwa’s hand and pats Joohyun’s cheek. “I’ll see you next month young lady.”

“Hm – there was something we wanted to ask.” Yonghwa was blushing beet red by that time.  Dr. Kwon was the chairman of the hospital that was named after Yonghwa’s great grandfather.  Dr. Kwon had known Yonghwa since he was a boy and was a close friend of his parents.  So it took a lot for Yonghwa to muster up enough courage to ask Dr. Kwon about when he and Joohyun could have ual relations.

Dr. Kwon was a bit taken aback when Yonghwa was able to finally ask him the question. “Mian – I can’t help but still think of you as children although you are both going to become parents soon. Yes, it would be alright. Don’t worry I don’t think your parents will ever ask me about that. Joohyun is my patient after all so it goes under doctor-patient confidentiality.”

They watch the doctor walk away and could not help but give each other a brief hug. “All clear.” Joohyun smiles up at Yonghwa who laughs out loud.  

They happily held hands while walking towards the elevator.  Joohyun waves at one of the nurses that she sees passing by.  The nurse approaches them and inquires about Joohyun’s health.

“I’m getting better Sohee” Joohyun replies. “I’m going home soon.”

“We hope that you can play the piano for the children sometime before you go. Madame Min Sun tells us that you’re really very very good.” The nurse’s tone was hopeful.

“I will – as soon as I get permission.” Joohyun steals a look at Yonghwa. The nurse immediately understood and bid them a good day.

“Oppa can I do that?”  She looks up at him as they get in the private elevator.” I’d really like to play the piano for the children.  I haven’t had to play the piano since all of this started.”

“It isn’t that I don’t want you to play the piano for the children it’s just that I don’t want you in contact with sick people even if they are children.” Yonghwa answers her. “You understand me don’t you?”

Joohyun nods.  She could see his point of view. She sighs and leans against him. He gives her hand a squeeze and kisses her forehead.

“The parents will be here at 8 tonight for dinner.”He tells her.

“I hope everything goes well.” Joohyun murmurs.

They have lunch with Min Sun and Yonguk.  The head guard was on his day off and visited them.

“Ah- you are so nice to have visited me on your off day Yonguk-ssi” Joohyun tells him as they sit down for lunch.  As usual she had to sit at the other end of the table while Yonghwa, Min Sun and Yonguk sat at the other.  They were having seafood stew while Joohyun was having Ox Bone soup.

The head guard blushes a bit. “I haven’t really visited you properly Agassi. I hope you get discharged soon.”

“Ah – Yonguk how is the search going?” Yonghwa asks.

“We think we’ll find Dong Il soon Doryeonim.  Don’t worry Agassi – we’re doing all we can to trace him and his family.”

Joohyun nods.  It would be the best thing to find her Ahjussi again.  She misses him terribly and she wanted him to stay with her and Yonghwa.  Her mother had already furnished them with all the information about Ahjussi and his possible whereabouts.  She only had to continue to hope and pray that Ahjussi would come back.

Yonguk takes his leave after another hour and Joohyun tells Yonghwa that she would be taking a nap. She was still lightly dozing when she felt Yonghwa slide up next to her. Winding her arms sleeply around his neck – Joohyun murmurs that she loves him before sleeping again.  She wakes up an hour later and finds Yonghwa studying next to her.

“Oppa – sorry you missed school today.  You really didn’t have to. “She murmurs sleepily.

“I got permission from my professor.  I have 2 exams tomorrow.  The last make up exams – then I’ll be updated with all my subjects.” He leans over and kisses the top of her head.

“I miss school Oppa.” She sits up next to him.

“I know – I’m sorry sweetheart.” His mouth turns down and he looks apologetically at her.

“Oh – I didn’t mean it that way Oppa. Having our baby is more important than school.  I really just like studying.  I think after our baby’s born I’ll switch to another course – maybe like Yoona’s structural engineering.”

“You’re just saying that so you can stay with me in Suwon” He smiles mischievously at her.

“But I will stay with you in Suwon – I want to see you everyday.” She kisses him.

Min Sun comes to their room and tells them that Yonghwa’s parents have arrived.

“They’re early.  I’m still studying Yoo Moh.” Yonghwa tells Min Sun.

“That’s alright Oppa.  I’ll go outside to talk to them.”  Joohyun gets off the bed. “You can study in peace.”

“Thank you sweetheart.”  He smiles and kisses her hand.

Joohyun greets Yonghwa’s parents was soon as she steps out of the room.

“Oppa is still studying, he has 2 exams tomorrow.”  Joohyun takes a seat in front of them.

“That’s alright Joohyun.” Hwejangnim smiles at her. “How are you feeling? Didn’t you have your check up today?”

Joohyun was amazed that someone as busy as Hwejangnim would remember that she had a check up that day.

“Yes I did – Dr. Kwon was very happy with my progress.  And good news – I’ll be scheduled for a fetal Doppler before this week ends. Oppa and I would be hearing the baby’s heartbeat soon. “She claps her hands excitedly.

It was not very hard for Yonghwa’s parents to see just how much of a young girl she was – she looked about 12 in her soft blue pajamas and her bunny slippers with her hair held back by the pearl headband that they now knew was Yonghwa’s first gift to her.  The sunlight sparkled on the bracelet in her arm and they could see how delighted she was with her pregnancy and how much she loves their son.

“Yeobo you should ask Dr. Kwon to tell us the day – I want to be there too.” Hwejangnim tells his wife who nods in agreement.

“Ah – Joohyun before I forget – what’s this I hear that the nurses were asking you to play the piano at the children’s ward?” Samonim asks her.

“Deh – Samonim.” Joohyunn nods. “But-“

“Someone doesn’t want to give his permission.” Min Sun answers from the kitchen. “She might get sick being around sick children.”

 “That boy! How could she get sick when she can play at the raised dais? The children could just see and hear the piano from there.” Samonim clicks her tongue. “How about it Joohyun?  Want to have an impromptu concert? It’s still early for dinner.”

Yonghwa’s parents could see how much Joohyun wanted too but was hesitant because of their son. “Uhm – I would have to ask Oppa.” She murmurs as she stands up to go the bedroom.

“Sit down Joohyun - I’ll tell the little monster.” His mother gets up from the sofa eliciting laughter from her husband and Min Sun.

Yonghwa looks up as his mother enters the bedroom.  Looking at his mother’s determined face he knew that she was irritated about something.

“Yah – Jung Yonghwa – what’s this I hear that you don’t want Joohyun to play piano for the children?” She scowls at him from the foot of the bed.

“She might get sick.” He scowls right back. “Waeyo? Did Yoh Moh tell you?”

“No- the Head Nurse of the Children’s Ward did.  It seems that they’ve asked several times but Min Sun always declined.” Samonim replies. “Really! Those children are not infectious – everyone in this hospital knows who Joohyun is – do you think they’ll endanger her?”

“What did Joohyun say?” Yonghwa asks as he closes his books and gets up from the bed.

“She clearly wants to but she of course defers to you.” Samonim replies. “Min Sun hasn’t finished cooking yet – I can still tell the nurses downstairs that Joohyun will play while the children are eating. Appa and I will accompany her. You can continue to study.”

“Omma! She might get infected with something!” Yonghwa whined.”She and our baby might get sick!”

“She won’t!” His mother insisted.

“I’m only agreeing because I know she hasn’t played the piano in a while. I’m coming with you.” He scowls.

Joohyun was surprised when Yonghwa came out with his mother.  She knew from his scowling face that Samonim had insisted that she play the piano for the children. 

“Joohyun –he’s agreed.  Let’s go downstairs. Min Sun – call the Head Nurse tell her that Joohyun will play the piano while the children are eating their dinner.  Tell her to make sure to move the dais so that the children in the PICU hear and see her.”

 “Are you ready Joohyun?” Hwejangnim asks Joohyun. “Don’t be pressured to agreeing with my wife.”

“Oh – I would love to play for the children.” Joohyun replies and steals a look at her still scowling boyfriend. “As long as Oppa agrees.”

He grunts his agreement and takes the matching light blue wrap from the chair puts it on Joohyun. “Let’s go before I change my mind.” He takes her hand and leads her out of the suite with his parents following.

They were welcomed when they reach the children’s wing.  The Head Nurse warmly greeted Yonghwa’s parents, Yonghwa and Joohyun.

“Thank you so much for taking the time to play for the children.  We haven’t had anyone play for them in quite a while.” The Head Nurse warmly clasps Joohyun’s hands.  She leads them to the raised dais strategically placed in the middle of the intersecting walkway between the children’s wards.  A few of the children had been wheeled out by the nurses or their parents.