Part 6

DESTINY

After two weeks of recovering in the hospital, Kihyun is finally discharged today. As usual, Hoseok picks him up and brings him home. Now, that he is discharged, Kihyun thought he will finally be free from all the strict monitoring - which is wrong because the moment he entered his house - the group of doctors is in the middle of  'gathering' in the living room. Minhyuk immediately told him to go to his room to rest and Kihyun obediently follow the instruction. He sits on his bed while watching Hoseok walking back and forth in front of him. The muscular man is making sure everything is within his reach as he is still on bed rest, at least for another few weeks.

"You are making me dizzy," Kihyun said.

"I told you to lie down. Why are you still sitting up?" Hoseok immediately helps Kihyun to lie down. "Should I hire a temporary maid for you?" 

"I'm pregnant, not handicapped" Kihyun pouts. 

"I'm just worried," Hoseok replied as he joins Kihyun on the bed. Letting the man snuggle him. He stares at his friend's face while the latter is lost in his own thought. "What are you thinking?" he asked as he plays with Kihyun's hair. 

"What am I gonna do with this baby" Kihyun answered honestly. "I grow up as a man whole my life. I never accept the fact that I am an inters_ex even once in my life. I think this is life's way to remind me of who I truly am" 

"Do you plan to tell the baby's father?" Hoseok drops the multibillion-dollar question.

"No" 

"But...."

"He's married, Hoseok. I don't want to burden him with this"

Hoseok knows Kihyun is lying, but he chooses to not press the matter. 

"This pregnancy is making me a sleepyhead," Kihyun said as he yawned. 

"The baby just wants you to rest" Hoseok replied. 

When Kihyun is in deep sleep, Hoseok carefully leaves the bed. Hoseok walks out of the room after tucking Kihyun in properly. 

"Is he asleep?" Hyunwoo asks while offering the man a can of lime soda. 

"Yes," Hoseok join the man and his friend in the living room. "He didn't tell me anything about the baby's father. I don't think I fit for this task" he says to the group.

"I thought a lawyer is trained to ask the right question" Changkyun sound sarcastic way more than he intended to. 

"I'm a corporate lawyer. He's a criminal litigator. You know the difference?" Hoseok asked and everyone in the room shakes their head. "Asking questions is his job. Mine is to take orders from my client" 

"I can see the different" Hyungwon commented. "Kihyun had cross-examined me before, he makes me feel like I was the accused. Since then, I refuse to come if he's the opposing counsel" 

"Taking over his job must be hard for you" Minhyuk commented. 

"Honestly, he's the one who is doing everything. I'm merely representing him in court" Hoseok tell them the truth. 

"Your job?" Minhyuk asked. 

"I have our legal associate to back me up. Corporate matters are more on paperwork" Hoseok explains briefly. "By the way, what makes you so confident that Dr. Sohn is the father? Kihyun told me the baby's father is married" 

"He still wears his wedding ring" Hyungwon simply answered. "Kihyun specifically said to me that it happens after three days after their first met. I remember Hyunwoo told me that his housemate is throwing him a welcoming dinner, it was three days after he moves in. He was drunk too. The timeline fits" he added. 

"I remember he came to work with a bad headache the very next day. I ended up covering him up that day" Changkyun interrupted. 

"You do Neuro, he does Trauma. How does it work?" Hoseok suddenly becomes confused. 

"Before we choose our major, we are all trained in general surgery. We can cover each other up. No worries" Changkyun explains briefly. 

"Except for me" Hyungwon added. 

"Good to know that because you don't look like you are good at using a knife" Hoseok replied. 

"He's not good at using a knife but he's good at driving people crazy," Minhyuk said casually. 

"Which is why we are here today" Hyungwon suddenly stand up. "For me to drive you all crazy by reenacting that night" he continued excitedly. 

"I don't remember anything about that day. Not even the dinner. I don't think it's going to work" Hyunwoo said. "Why shouldn't we just conduct a paternity test? It is much simpler" he added. 

"The baby is still in Kihyun's body. You need Kihyun's permission to do that. I don't think he will consent to it" Minhyuk said. 

"Then, we should wait until the baby is born" Hyunwoo replied. 

"Some of the OB procedure requires both of the baby's guardian permission, I'm pretty sure Hoseok can fulfil the other parent's role just fine, but if the baby is actually yours like Hyungwon said...don't you think it's your right to make the decision for the baby?" Minhyuk explains. "I know you are scared of going under but I know Hyungwon will do his best to take care of you" 

"Sweet housemate couple" Changkyun whispered and Hyungwon just glare at him. 

"As I said before, Kihyun is very fragile right now. One little mistake will cost him the baby. I wish that didn't happen, but if it does...how do you think about how he will feel? His baby's father is living under the same roof as him, but he can't tell him how upset he is because the baby's father doesn't know" Minhyuk added. 

"You speak like the baby is actually mine" Hyunwoo sighed as he plays with his wedding ring. 

All four pairs of eyes are directed at him. Waiting for his decision. 

"How does it work?" Hyunwoo asks. 

"You will go to sleep and I will guide you to your unconscious mind. I will help you explore what is in there, and help you remember things that you don't even know existed. In other words, I'm opening Pandora's box for you" Hyungwon struggle to simplify the complicated process so it's easy to be understood.  

"Sound dangerous. What is the risk?"

"It's rarely happened, but some people wake up with mental confusion...." 

"Stop" Hyunwoo don't think he can handle the worst scenario that is yet to be mentioned.

"Hyunwoo... " Changkyun tone is different from his usual speaking tone.

Everyone knows that things are just about to get serious except for Hoseok. The corporate lawyer is yet to know the youngest of the group better.

"I know you are afraid. If you go under and turns out that Kihyun is really carrying your offspring, you feel like you are cheating on her. You feel like you are betraying her but you are not. She left, she's gone. It's impossible to betray someone who is no longer with us, Hyunwoo" Changkyun said. 

"But...." 

"Dasom was your world, I get that. She was mine too" Changkyun looks like he was on the verge of crying. "But, I choose to move on. You should too. We can't grief forever for her" 

Hyunwoo and Changkyun exchange a silent look between them. 

"I will do it," Hyunwoo said and Changkyun mouthed 'thank you' to him. 

While Hyungwon and Hyunwoo are in the living room proceeding with their session. Changkyun is quietly observing them from the kitchen door. 

"I think you owe me an explanation," Hoseok who is sitting on the kitchen counter said to Minhyuk who is sitting next to him.

Both of them are staring at Changkyun. His back view looks like a warrior who is ready to fight anyone who's going to hurt his king. 

"About what?" Minhyuk asks confused.

"Him" Hoseok gesturing to Changkyun using his mouth. 

"Ah..." Minhyuk moves closer to Hoseok and whispers "Hyunwoo's late wife is Changkyun step sister" 

Hoseok eyes went wide. 

"Their parents passed away when they are very young. They are not blood-related, but they care about each other a lot. Dasom sacrifices a lot for him. In return, he promises to study well to pay her. We are all roommates in med school. Hyunwoo is an orphan so every sem break, Changkyun will ask him to come home with him. That's how Hyunwoo meet Dasom" 

"Dr. Im looks like he doesn't really care about people but he actually did" 

"Changkyun may look cold from the outside, but he's actually a fluffy bunny inside. His cold look is the reason why Hyunwoo and I find it hard to be close to him at first. Hyungwon is another story. He clicked with him as if they have known each other for so long on their first meeting. I might have remembered it incorrectly though. So, don't simply believe what I am telling you" 

Hoseok frowned at Minhyuk.

"The side effect of being a psychiatrist housemate. Oftentimes, Hyungwon makes me realize that memory is such a scary thing. Our minds may change some details according to what we prefer to believe"

"I notice Dr. Im acting a bit different around Hyunwoo. I thought he had a crush on him or something" Hoseok try to not discuss further the memory alteration thing.

Minhyuk let out a small laugh. "Changkyun is the only one among us that has a stable relationship. His boyfriend is a ped surgeon in Seattle. They are together since they are 15"

Hoseok mentally told himself to not judge the book by its cover. 

"When Dasom passed away, Changkyun had a mental breakdown. Hyunwoo tries his best to fill in that vacancy. He keeps telling himself that he needs to do this and that for Dasom, for Changkyun's sake. Less than he knows, he's actually setting a trap for himself. Even after years of her passing, he is still stuck in the same place" 

"I find that he still wearing his wedding ring and keep telling people that he's married is amazing"

"Same. I wonder if I can ever have a pure love like that in this life"

Hoseok lets out a heavy breath. For some reason, he feels like he had a real slap on his face. As a corporate lawyer, his nature of work is revolving around profit and fame. He comes to notice today that the goal of life isn't about more money. The goal is to live your life on your own terms. 

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hazhatt #1
Chapter 98: male population is increasing thanks to hyunwoo and kihyun
yellowtulip123 #2
Chapter 98: aaaaa kinda sad when the baby was not a girl, but the last sentence really make it up haha. finally dasom is back. thank youuu for the update
Sunflower_Heart
#3
Chapter 98: Yeay!!? The baby is here!!!
hazhatt #4
Chapter 97: Thank you for the updates XD
Sunflower_Heart
#5
Chapter 97: I'm so happy while reading this chapter. Thank you so much for your update
Neny_haneul
#6
Chapter 96: thank you for the update!! another baby is coming yeayy 😁
yellowtulip123 #7
Chapter 96: omg omgg there's an update and is the baby girl's coming??? thank youuu so much for the update. really need to re-read again so i remember the feel haha anyway thank youu so much for coming backk
Grabila #8
Chapter 96: Can't believe it that there is an update in 2023! Welp yaye I missed it and very happy you're back
Sunflower_Heart
#9
Chapter 96: Yeay you're back with new update.

Yeay too for the new baby
Yha-mhine #10
So touching.. ❤