there was something about hanbin carrying the baby that she couldn’t rip her eyes from. never in a million years would she have thought to see a sight as such and if she was honest, it warmed her heart. a small warm smile etched on her lips as she momentarily tore her eyes away from the scene, taking out her stethoscope from the bag that she carried, placing it on the nearest surface before placing the eartips on, a hand smoothly gliding across the baby girl’s stomach. she put the bell lightly atop her little chest, listening intently to her heart beating, brows furrowed in focus.
“you’re doing great,” miyeon whispered, taking off the eartips and letting the medical instrument hang around her shoulders, almost out of impulse she placed her hand under his, adjusting it a little, glancing up at him with the softest smile. “it’s true then,” she chuckled, “she does like you.” maybe her hand was on his a little longer than intended, suddenly realizing it. her cheeks burned a bright crimson as she slowly withdrew her hand, shoving it into pockets, backing a little. she could feel her heart beat erratically; maybe it was her that needed to get her vitals checked and not baby jangmi. the female quickly turned around and took out the medicine boxes from the bag— a quick distraction and escape. “i took as much as i could,” she told out to the young mother. “it’s not much. i’m sorry but next time i’ll bring more.”
miyeon could imagine the struggle jangmi’s mother must be going through, taking care of her baby alone. she admired her strength and fighting spirit, her will to keep pushing just to keep her daughter alive. miyeon could wish that she would be half the woman that she was. “thank you for the tea,” she added as graciously accepted the cup with both hands, giving a small bow to show her gratitude; just the thing she needed to calm herself. “if you need anything please don’t hesitate to approach, okay?” glancing quickly at baby jangmi with a smile. “i wish i could stay long but jangmi looks like she’s tired. i’ll play with you next time, okay?” the female placed a small kiss on the baby’s forehead and turned to hanbin. “you ready to go?”
he wondered if time was standing still. with her standing so close to him, her eyebrows scrunched together that was too cute to ignore; it was as if he was trapped in a trance watching her---- shattered when he felt her hand upon his and he had to force himself to let a (slightly breathy) chuckle escaped his lips. “told you.” he replied, still keeping his eyes on her, the blush on her cheeks didn’t go unnoticed by him and he, once again, wondered if his cheeks were of the same color too.
looking away, he focused his attention on jangmi, trying his best to hide the disappointment from his face at miyeon moving away so quickly, suddenly feeling the empty space beside him. it didn’t help that he could still feel her touch lingering from his hands. he listened attentively to the conversation between the mother and miyeon while he cooed at the baby, her face lighting up immediately bringing a wide grin to his face.
marriage had been a sensitive topic to him these days, with his parents insisting he gets married with his fiance ---- who wasn’t even his choice for that matter ---- soon because ‘a nice lady like jihye will make you truly happy’ which was just a bunch of bullshit spouted by his father to rope him in into his plan of finally having good terms with jihye’s father who owns multimillionaire companies that could only rival the songs. it was, to put it simply, a business marriage; one that he can’t see himself harboring feelings anytime soon or having a child out of it either. there was no way he would bring a child into the world while being in a loveless marriage. he knew better than that.
yet looking at jangmi made his heart ache. for something he knew he couldn’t have. for something he knew wouldn’t be impossible but entirely improbable. for something he didn’t even think he wanted in the first place. “yeah.” he answered, all too happy at handing off the baby to her mother. hanbin couldn’t find it in himself to look at jangmi any longer though he caved in the end to utter a polite goodbye before leaving the apartment faster than he intended.
“should i walk you home?” he asked miyeon as soon as they stood in the hallway in his best lighthearted tone, keeping his previous thoughts at bay and hoping to god the female doesn’t notice his odd behavior during the last moments of the visit.