"Go to my house, YoonA. The aircon is fine in my room."

My mom shakes her head, fanning herself with a huge piece of cardboard. The weather has become so cruel these days, especially to my mom who has entered the last trimester of her pregnancy. Under her overshize white T-shirt, I'm now a melon sized baby who kicks and moves restlessly in this extreme humidity.

"On today news, the political tension between the two countries of Goryeo Peninsula heats up as the north reportedly has started sending more soldiers and heavy artillery to the border. General Hwang, our respected army general, in another one of his fiercely delivered speech- "

My mom turns off the noisy tv, groaning. "How come the useless TV be okay but the aircon that practically support my life is broken?"

Seunggi grunts, tip-toeing on a chair so he can take a panel off the aircon on the wall. "Why are you so against TV news these days?"

"They don't give me real news." My mom huffs. Her hand slips under the shirt to rub a spot where I just elbowed real hard. "No words about soldiers in the border at all. My squad has been deployed for months and I have no idea if they are okay."

"Didn't you say no contact allowed in active mission? In this situation, doesn't no news mean good news? Your squad is still out there." Seungri reaches into the open aircon. "Ah, I need a smaller screwdriver."

"Which one?" My mom holds her hip with one hand, ready to stand up.

"No. No. No. Sit down." Seunggi hurriedly gets down from the chair. "It's here, in the toolbox." The man squats in front of the red toolbox by the couch, digging deep before sighing.

"It's the one you broke when you re-installed the pipeline this morning, isn't it?" My mom grins, standing up.

"Yep. We're doomed." Sitting dejectedly on the floor, Seunggi frowns at my mom."Where are you going?"

"Kwangsoo's apartment, borrowing a screwdriver."

"Meh. I bet the only thing he has in his toolbox is a can opener."

"Maybe, but his mom makes killer popsicles and I'm in dire need of some cool and refreshing fruity treat at the moment."

"Sit back on the couch, Im YoonA. I'll get the screwdriver and the popsicle."

"You sit back, Lee Seunggi." My mom sticks her tongue out at the good guy. "Waddling three doors down the corridor won't harm me."

"Not worried about you." The smile on Seunggi's face is full of tease. "Even a step out of that door in this kind of heat might affects the baby's health."

"Nah." My mom smooths a hand over her belly as she pulls at the doorknob. "This baby loves adventure."

"Oh, hi." Someone is already standing in front of the door. Someone very dapper, very tall, in a hesitant smile that betrays his twinkling eyes. "It's been a long time."

My mom gasps. The hand that holds the knob goes to as the door opens on its own slowly.

The man gasps too, eyes staring at my mom's midriff.

"It's my dear grandma, isn't it? Bringing us her signature cold noodles." Seunggi slips behind my mom.

"No." My mom shakes her head slowly. Her hands hug her stomach protectively. "It's Liutenant Ji Changwook."

The tall glass of ice tea my mom has served for the Lieutenant slowly becomes lukewarm as it sits untouched on the coffee table. My mom is alone with him now. Seunggi has excused himself a while ago, probably sensing the need for privacy. In the worn-out couch, both my mom and Changwook are now sitting so far apart while throwing nervous glances at each other.

"How are you?" The man finally opens his mouth. He takes a sip of the lukewarm tea, turning his head and lower his gaze at my mom's belly.

"Good."

"Is that..." He gulps. "Is that my baby?"

My mom sighs, shaking her head slowly.

"Math is never my virtue but I still can do simple numbers, YoonA."

"It's my baby." My mom looks away. "It needs no father. Not the one who's already married to someone else."

"YoonA, please. I can explain."

"No need to. I already know what I need to know."

"Please." Changwook turns his body to face my mom now, eyes begging while hand reaches out. "Let me explain."

"It must be convenient, huh? Bedding female soldiers on the field then come home to the general's daughter. You must have felt so superior."

"It wasn't like that at all, YoonA. You were the only one. You are still-"

"Oh, so I was your first catch? The one who was fool enough to trust your sweet words then fell into your trap? Lucky me. I hope I'm your one and only victim. Go back to your pretty wife."

"YoonA..."

"I'm not gonna report you. Not planning on telling your wife either. So leave. Be a decent Liutenant."

"Yoon