Chapter 136: 괜찮아요 (Gonna Be Alright)

[Skye’s POV]

I had just had late lunch with Hae Rin, and I had to speed to the studios to pick up nuna. She needed to go somewhere today, but she didn’t say where. As I drove, my thoughts went back to this message I got from Yuk Hee the other day. I’d not seen her since we’d parted ways in Taipei, but I’ve gotten plenty of text messages and emails from her; all of which I’ve ignored because I didn’t want to upset Hae Rin if she found out.

Are we still friends?

She sent me this text message, and I really thought about it. Were we still friends? Knowing that she has some kinda crush on me makes our whole relationship feel awkward. I really don’t want to encourage Yuk Hee, and yet, I didn’t want to hurt her. Then again, in the end, I can only choose 1 course of action. I’m being cruel to be kind… and I can only hope some good will come from it.

“Has she been texting you again?” Hae Rin asked me today, and I forced myself to shake my head.

“Aniyo,” I said. “I guess she’s given up.”

“Good,” Hae Rin said. “I really don’t wanna see anyone hurt, and I don’t want to lose you,” she added, and she gave me a long, meaningful look.

“Pabo,” I said, affectionately, “you won’t lose me.”

“It’s hard to say,” she said. “When you’re dating a celebrity, anything can happen.”

“Are you referring to yourself?” I joked, and she made a face at me.

If I could reply Yuk Hee’s message, this is what I would say…

Yes, we are. If only you’d stop acting so weird.

Yea… I wish I could tell her that, but it would either hurt her, or rile her. So I guess in this situation, silence is golden.

It started pouring as I neared the street leading to the studio’s gates. When I got there, nuna was huddled near the entrance to keep out of the rain. She jumped into the car as fast as she could, and I tossed her the tissue box so that she could dry up before she caught a cold.

“So where are we going?” I asked her, and all she did was silently dab the water off her arms. “Nuna…” I said. “You need to tell me where we’re going. Or we’re just gonna sit here, in the car, forever.”

“I need to see the doctor,” she finally said.

“Okay… but what’s wrong with you?” I asked.

“Nothing. I’m just collecting a report.”

“A report? For what?” I prodded on, and she took the longest time to answer.

“A pregnancy report,” she finally said, and my mouth hung open for at least a minute.

[Sierra’s POV]

I reached out to close Skye’s jaw, and after I’d told him the address of the clinic, we drove off. He was silent for at least half the journey there.

“When did all this happen?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“When did you suspect you were pregnant? You must’ve told someone at least, and why didn’t I know about it?” he asked.

As I’d expected, he was a little hurt that he’d been kept in the dark up till now.

“I didn’t intentionally keep it from you. I hadn’t really planned on doing anything about it, until Jae Joong and Yun Ho pushed me into getting tested.”

“So how did Yun Ho hyung know?”

“I was talking to Jae Joong, and I got really upset cos I didn’t know what to do. So he asked me to get Yun Ho to accompany me to the doctor.”

“And… Shoei doesn’t know?”

“Shoei doesn’t know that I’ve decided to go to the doctor.”

“But he knows you’re pregnant…” he whined.

“I’m not pregnant… yet,” I said. “Nothing is confirmed.”

“But he knows about this whole thing,” he repeated.

“It’s not like I didn’t want to tell you,” I said.

“You thought I’d blab. Just admit it,” he complained.

“Don’t get worked up, Skye. I just wanted less people to know. I didn’t want to burden everyone.”

“Why do I always get left out of all the juicy gossip,” he grumbled.

“It’s not gossip, Skye. This is serious,” I sighed.

“Well… duh… I know it is. That’s why I’m so bummed that you guys have kept me out of it.”

“Aigoo… what am I gonna do with you? You’re such a freakin’ ajumma,” I said.

“Ne,” he smiled, then he reached over to pat my hand. “Don’t get worked up. You need to take care of the baby. I forgive you.”

“I’m not pregnant,” I protested.

“Yet…” he reminded me, and I began to feel a headache coming on.

[Shoei’s POV]

“Ye,” I nodded. “I’ll take care of her,” I added. “You have a safe flight.”

I hung up the phone and lay back in my seat. Yun Ho hyung had just called from the airport. He was flying off, and he wanted Skye and me to take care of nuna.

“She’s going to need lots of support if the report is positive. I just hope she doesn’t do anything stupid.”

“I don’t think she will,” I assured him. “She’s not crazy, just highly-strung,” I laughed.

“Well… it could get out of hand, since it’s a big deal for her. Just make sure she calls Jae Joong, whatever the outcome of the report.”

“I will. If she’s too emotional to make the call herself, we’ll be sure to call you.”

“Choa…” he said. “We’ll be waiting for the news; good or bad.”

“Right…”

“Take care of your nuna,” he said.

When nuna first told me about this, I felt sick. Perhaps it still hurts to be reminded of how close she and Jae Joong were, but to know that she may be pregnant with his child was like a kick in the gut. It sort of meant the end of all hopes for me; not that I still had any. Then again, who knows what would become of their relationship in the years to come, but a child would’ve cemented their attachment.

After much pondering, all I care now was that she was well, and if she was pregnant, I would support her still, knowing that she would want to keep the child. Who wouldn’t want to keep the child of Kim Jae Joong? The child would be beautiful.

I wished I had accompanied nuna and Skye to the clinic, but my schedule was a little tight today, so I was stuck where I was. I can only hope that Skye is doing a good job of taking care of her.

Jae Joong hyung must be ecstatic now. He’d been waiting for a chance like this to drag nuna to the altar. If the test report was positive, he’d probably fly back immediately and marry her on the spot. Nuna kept saying it would ruin the both of them, but I doubt it. It would probably just end up a big SM family celebration; a TVXQ and S-Cube union. Why nuna didn’t want to marry Jae Joong hyung was beyond me. I’ve always been puzzled with her stand on this whole marriage thing. She’s obviously stuck on him, and yet she doesn’t want to be his wife. Was she still feeling bad for Yun Ho hyung after all this time?

[Sierra’s POV]

We arrived at the clinic, and instead of finally ending my misery, it was prolonged.

“We’re very sorry Sierra-shi,” the nurse said. “There has been a mix-up with your tests. We’re going to need you to provide us with another sample.”

“Chogiyo,” Skye stepped in, “the last time I checked, this was an established medical practice. How can you mix-up someone’s test?”

“I’m sorry, sir. It was an unfortunate mistake. I assure you that this doesn’t happen often.”

“So you need my urine sample again?” I asked the nurse.

“Yes,” she replied and plunked a pee container on the counter.

“You know, nuna,” Skye whispered, “we can go to another clinic. This one’s obviously a quack.”

“I’m okay, Skye. I’ll just give them another tub of pee and wait another day,” I said, and gave him a fake smile.

“Sure…” he laughed. “Go ahead then.”

I picked up the container, sighed, and walked towards the toilet.

[Skye’s POV]

As soon as nuna went into the toilet, I called Jae Joong hyung.

“Skye?” hyung said, as soon as I got through.

“Ne,” I said.

“Are the results out?” he asked me.

“Nope,” I replied. “Nuna would’ve called you herself if it had.”

“Then why are you calling?”

“The results are going to be delayed,” I said.

“Why?”

“The quack clinic screwed-up her test results.”

“How did that happen?” he said in disbelief.

“You’ll need to ask the quack doctor,” I laughed. “No worries,” I said. “It’s just another day.”

“I can’t wait another day,” he said.

“You think we all can?”

“So we wait another day?” hyung asked me.

“Technically, we wait another 2 days since it’s Saturday tomorrow,” I reminded him.

“Damn…” he cursed.

“Yep… damn,” I laughed.

“How’s she taking it?” he asked me.

“She just shrugged and went off to pee in the container again,” I said.

“I can only imagine what’s going on in her head. I wish I could be there.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, hyung,” I consoled him. “You need to be in Japan. You can’t help it.”

Just then, nuna walked out of the toilet.

“Hey, hyung. I’ll catch up with you later. Nuna’s out with her tub of pee.”

“Araso,” he laughed. “Tell her I’ll call her later.”

“Okay,” I said, and hung up.

“Let’s go,” nuna said to me after putting the container on the counter.

“Make sure you don’t lose my nuna’s pee this time,” I said as I wagged a finger at the nurse.

“Yes, sir,” the nurse laughed at me.

I guess she thought I was being funny, even though I’d meant it.

[Sierra’s POV]

We left the clinic with a huge cloud hanging over our heads. All the way home, I could only look out of the window and sigh. Skye knew better than to ask me questions. He knew me long enough to know that even though I’d smiled and taken the test again, I was upset that I had to wait another day to know the truth.

When we got home, Shoei was waiting for us while watching the television.

“So?” he said.

“I had to do the test again,” I grumbled as I sat next to him.

“What?”

“They mixed up my urine sample,” I explained.

“Really?” he said.

“The doctor probably drank it, thinking it was tea,” Skye remarked, then snorted with laughter at his own joke.

Shoei and I just smiled indulgently.

“Or maybe they sold your pee,” Skye offered. “You’re famous… some sicko would buy your pee.”

“You’re crazy, Skye,” I said, and this time, I was smiling. “They’re an established medical practice. They don’t do stuff like that.”

“Fine… I still think they’re quacks,” Skye said.

“It’ll be fine,” Shoei said. “We’ll know soon enough.”

“Yea,” I said.

“I cannot imagine how an established medical practice can screw up a little pregnancy test,” Skye said as he sat on the couch, squashing me between the both of them.

“It’s just one of those unlucky situations,” Shoei said.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” I said, as I sat up.

I didn’t feel like talking about it, and I didn’t want to think about the whole fiasco at the moment.

I picked up my clothes and towel from my room and walked into the bathroom, and just when I thought my world was going to keep crumbling around me, God had answered my prayers…