It had been three days since those two little plastic tests had confirmed the group’s suspicions. Dahyun had tried to return to normal life as best she could, but her nausea was a constant and endlessly stressful reminder that she was most definitely pregnant.

 

She hadn't gotten sick today—not yet at least—but she hadn't eaten either. The group had a radio show appearance scheduled, so the nine of them had piled into their van and headed to the radio station.

 

Since the managers were there driving them to their event—and were still ignorant of Dahyun’s current situation—they couldn't talk freely, but the eight other girls couldn’t help but notice as Dahyun went a somehow lighter shade of pale.

 

"You okay, unnie?" Chaeyoung asked, putting a hand on Dahyun's leg.

 

Dahyun was unable to speak, for fear of more than words coming out of , so she nodded slightly. She closed her eyes, taking in a few deep breaths and trying to focus on the gentle hum of the van’s heater rather than the acid in .

 

The girls all winced at every bump in the road that the van hit, watching Dahyun cautiously, like she was some morning sickness time bomb.

 

Once they parked, Dahyun was the first out of the van. She walked as fast as she could to the restroom at the back entrance of the building. Jihyo followed quickly behind her, trying not to draw attention to either of them.

 

Dahyun barely made it to the bathroom as she wretched over the trash can in the front of the room.

 

Jihyo didn't say a word, she simply took the hair tie out of her own hair and pulled back Dahyun's hair. She ran a comforting hand over the younger member's back as she continued to be sick.

 

"Sorry...unnie," Dahyun choked out between heaves, her head still buried in the garbage bin.

 

"Shh," Jihyo continued rubbing comforting circles across Dahyun’s back. "You don't have anything to apologize for."

 

After there was nothing left for her to expel, Dahyun stood up straight, eyes watery.

 

Jihyo grabbed a few paper towels from the dispenser, wet them in the sink, and handed them to Dahyun. "You okay now?"

 

“Yeah,” Dahyun nodded, wiping . "Just embarrassed."

 

A perplexed look crossed the older girls' face. "What are you talking about?'"

 

"I was trying so hard to not get sick today. I even skipped breakfast," Dahyun said, walking to the sink to rinse and freshen up. “I thought it would help. Guess not.” Dahyun chuckled sadly.

 

"Dahyunie, it's okay," Jihyo looked around cautiously before whispering. "You're pregnant. Being sick is nothing to be embarrassed about."

 

“Thanks, unnie,” a small smile reached the corner of Dahyun's lips as she looked herself over in the mirror. "I just hope I don't get sick on air."

 

"That's why I picked these up before we left," Jihyo opened her purse to reveal a small pack of saltine crackers and a small tin of ginger flavored hard candies. "They're supposed to help with nausea."

 

Dahyun happily reached in and grabbed the hard candies, popping two of them in . She closed her eyes, appreciating the warm, spiced ginger flavor. "I'm just ready for Friday to get here. To make sure everything is okay, you know?"

 

Jihyo nodded. "For what it's worth, from what I read online they say that nausea is a good sign. Means your hormones are doing their job and everyone"—Dahyun had yet to say the word "baby" so Jihyo chose her words cautiously—"is growing and healthy."

 

Dahyun nodded, reassured.

 

"Thanks unnie, for everything," Dahyun straightened her outfit and headed towards the door. "Now I guess we have a show to record."