Two lines. I nearly drop the tester. This can’t be happening. Like, literally, physically, cannot be happening. I stare at the lines and hold back tears. There must be a mistake.
A few minutes later, I check the second test. Still two lines.
“Akari, are you ok?” Taehyung asks from outside the door.
“Yeah.” I reply quickly. I wash my hands and walk out of the bathroom with the test behind my back. “Sorry I took so long-”
“Were you crying?” He asks, interrupting me.
“No.” I look at the floor.
“Really?” He asks, unconvinced.
“I’m fine.” I assure him. I wasn’t lying. I was more than fine. I just wasn’t sure how to tell him.
“Ok.” He shrugs, still unsure whether I was lying or not. “Well, Sakura went with Namjoon to the store, so it’s just you, me, Yeontan and Kimchi.
“Oooo fun!” I put the test into my pocket.
“What’s that?” He reaches towards my pocket.
“It’s nothing.” I smack his hand out of the way.
“No. It was something. Just-”
“It was a tampon, ok? Just leave it alone.” I snap at him. Nice excuse.
“Oh.” His face flushes. “Sorry.”
“It’s ok.” I walk to the kitchen and see Yeontan and Kimchi suspiciously sitting near the fridge.
“What did you two do, huh?” I bent down and pet both of them. “You’re both just so stinking adorable.” I squealed.
“Jeez, calm down.” Taehyung laughed as I stood up. He hugged me. When I pulled away I accidentally knocked his phone from his hand.
“Sorry.” I bent down to pick it up but when I did, the tester fell from my pocket. He quickly picked it up before I could. I nervously bit my bottom lip and avoided eye contact with him as he figured out what it was.
“Akari…” he said slowly. “What’s this?” he asks, although I’m positive he knows the answer.
“It’s uhh it’s a covid test?” I lie, obviously.
“Just tell me the truth.”
“You know what it is.” I reply.
“So…you’re-”
“I don’t know.” I interrupt him. “I mean, it appears so, but it’s impossible, right?”
“I mean, I thought so, but this says otherwise.” He says. I lean against the counter.
“So what do you think? Do you think I should go to the doctor to check?”
“I do.” he smiles. “Because what if it’s accurate?”
“Then you won’t have to pretend like not having a child is ok.” I reply.
“How long have you known?” He asks.
“Well, I had a nauseating headache last week and yesterday so I went to grab two testers. They both came back positive.” I reply, smiling. I don’t believe that it’s accurate, but I’m still excited. What if it is?
“I think you should go.” Taehyung says. “I’ll stay here with the kids, ok?”
“Ok. But don’t be too disappointed if this is all a fluke.” I say.
“I won’t.” He kisses me. “I love you.
“I love you too.” I grab the keys from the counter and walk outside. I pulled up directions to the nearest doctor's office and drove. A few minutes later I arrived. I signed in and the receptionist told me to wait for my name to be called. They finally called my name and I walked with the nurse to the first room. She checked my blood pressure and asked me about my symptoms. I told her everything that I had been experiencing the past couple weeks and I told her about the tests I took. But I also told her about what the doctor told me a few years ago. She ran a few tests and told me that the doctor lied to me, which wasn’t surprising. She told me that it wasn’t hopeless for me to conceive. She said the tests were accurate and that I was pregnant.
About an hour later, I left the doctors office with one thought, ‘nothing is going to happen to this baby’. I smiled as I drove home. I can’t wait to tell Taehyung and Sakura. I pulled into the driveway, nearly in tears. I tried to keep it together, but when I walked inside and saw Taehyung, I burst into tears.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” He rushes over to me and hugs me. I bury my face into his neck.
“What’s wrong?” He cups my cheeks with his hands and wipes my face.
“I-I-I’m.”
“Calm down first.” He chuckles. I take a deep breath and steady myself.
“I’m pregnant.” I barely get out before bursting into tears again. He hugs me tightly.
“Akari,” He replies, voice cracking. “That’s..that’s amazing.” I pull away from him and see tears in his eyes.
“Akari, someone’s here to-“ Sakura stops mid sentence when she sees me crying.
“What’s wrong?” She asks.
“It’s nothing bad. I’m just happy because I’m-“ I freeze when I see the person standing behind Sakura. Father? I pull from Taehyung’s arms and take a step towards him.
“Father?” I ask with a tear stained face. I rush into his arms. “I missed you so much.” I go hysterical. “I-i thought y-you were dead.”
“Shh.” He says, stroking my head. “I know.” He holds me like he’s never going to let go, and I don’t want him to. My father sits me down on the couch.
“I know you’re going to need a second.” He chuckles as I grip onto his hand.
“I-i can’t believe you’re a-alive.” I say, sobbing.
“Akari, calm down.” He hugs me again. “It’s ok, shhhh.”
“Calm d-down? Father, you h-have no idea what I-i’ve been through.”
“And I intend to hear about it once you’re calm.”
“Akari, do you need water?” Sakura asks me. I nod, trying to calm myself. She comes back into the room with a glass of water. I take a sip and inhale sharply.
“Do you want to go first or me?” My father asks.
“You first.”
A few hours later, we had caught up on everything that had happened in the past two years. My father explained how Mr. Kim tortured him, trying to get information about the code to our vault. He told Father that if he didn’t give him the code, he would kill us. He succeeded with one of us. My father was heartbroken and filled with guilt. He said he never saw this coming, although he should have. I cried every now and then through his story. Especially when he showed me all his scars. I showed him my scar too.
“Akari, you and your sister have been through so much and I feel like it’s all my fault.” He says.
“It’s not. Although I thought the same thing many times.” I chuckle. “I was hopeless without you for the first year after I thought you died.”
“The only reason she coped was because of Taehyung and I.” Sakura said.
“Taehyung?” He looks at me quizzically.
“Yeah.” I bite my bottom lip. “I-i fell in love with him shortly after you ‘died’.”
“Wow. I thought you said you’d never love him.” He chuckles.
“I thought that too,” I glance at him. “But I did. We went through everything together. Everything that I experienced, he did too.”
“And he loves you?”
“Well yeah. Look.” I show him my ring finger.
“Wow. Ok.”
“And there’s one more thing.” I smile at Taehyung. “Sakura, you don’t know either.”
“What is it?”
“Remember how the doctor said I couldn’t have kids?”
“Yeah.” A small grin forms on her face. “Akari, are you…”
“Pregnant.” I finish her sentence. “Apparently the doctor lied to me. Not surprised though.”
“Oh my god, Akari.” She starts crying. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” I say, tears welling up in my own eyes. Taehyung came and sat next to me.
“So you’re happy now?” Father asks.
“Definitely.” I reply. “I couldn’t be happier, especially now that you’re here.”
“I’m glad you’re happy.” He smiles at me. “Now is there a guest room here? I’m tired from my long journey and all this information that I’ve just gained about your past two years.”
“Of course.” Sakura stands up. ”It’s this way.” She shows him the way. I sigh and lay back on the couch.
“I can’t believe he’s alive.” I say quietly.
“Me either. I did not know my father tortured him like that.” Taehyung replied, grabbing my hand. “I would have stopped him if I'd known. I’m really-”
“Taehyung, calm down. The past is past, ok? I’m not blaming you for any of this. I’m just shocked that he’s still alive. And how he managed to find us.” I reply. Then I gently kiss him. “Don’t worry about it, ok?”
“Ok.” He says. “Now, what are we going to do about this baby? I mean we can’t live in your sister's house forever.”
“Yeah, you’re right. But I don’t want to move far.” I reply. “I want to stay close to my sister.”
“Of course. And we don’t even have to move now. I was just saying that once you have the baby, we should look into moving.”
“I’m fine with that.” I smile. A few minutes later, Sakura walked back downstairs.
“Namjoon already went to bed.” She laughs.
“Classic him.” I tease.
“I can’t believe you’re pregnant.” She squeals, sitting next to me.
“Me either.” I reply, smiling widely.
“Taehyung, are you happy?” She asks him.
“Hell yeah I am.” He replies. She chuckles.
“I’m so happy for you, Akari. I know this is what you’ve always wanted.”
“Thank you.” I smile. “I’m going to head upstairs if you don’t mind. I need sleep.” I yawn.
“Of course.” She replies. “Good night.”
“Goodnight.” I say. Taehyung follows me upstairs. Kimchi and Yeontan are sleeping peacefully on the doggy bed next to the window. I grab some clothes and take them to the bathroom before showering. I close and lock the door behind me and turn on the steaming hot water. Then I hop into the shower and soak under the water, calming myself. So much has happened today. I’m just overwhelmed with joy. My father isn’t dead. I’m going to have a baby. Could this day get any better?
I hopped out of the shower, got dressed, and walked into the bedroom. Taehyung was laying on the bed on his phone. I climbed under the covers and snuggled next to him.
“Cuddle with me.” I said quietly. He turned off his phone and placed it on the nightstand. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. His arms wrapped protectively around me and he stroked my back. I took a deep breath and sighed. So much, too much, has happened today. Taehyung slid his hand under my shirt and gently caressed my side. Then he kissed me ear.
“I love you, Akari.” he whispered.
“I love you too.” I reply, closing my eyes. He continued to rub my back and hummed Singularity as I drifted to sleep.