LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 151 - (THE END)
Sashimi and spicy fish soup. With soju in front of us, the three of us sat like characters in a noir film, heavy with purpose, beginning our investigation to uncover the culprit.
“Is it me?”
“No, Jooji. You’re wrong. The culprit is me. It’s because I didn’t buy the buzzing thing Sanga likes.”
“Huh? You’re both wrong. It’s… it’s because I ate a seashell.”
“Wait, why did you even eat that?”
“I just… wanted to grind my teeth…”
“Wow.”
“Detective Jooji, the culprit seems to be Eumah.”
“I agree.”
“Whaaat? I-I’m sorryyy!”
After concluding that Eumah was the culprit, we headed back to the hotel.
On the way, we picked up snacks for Sanga and Myammi, and since we passed a chicken shop, we grabbed some fried chicken too.
Naminseo, holding the chicken:
“Excited cluck! Tonight’s dinner is chicken!”
“After eating sashimi, soju, and spicy fish soup, you’re eating again?”
“Because girls have, have two stomachs!”
“Does that even make biological sense?!”
Anyway, we made it back to the hotel!
When we knocked, Myammi opened the door from the inside.
I held up the snacks and chicken.
“I thought you might be hungry, so I brought these.”
“……”
“…I didn’t get any Churu, though.”
“……”
Huh. Why so silent?
She didn’t even flinch at the mention of Churu, so it clearly wasn’t about that. Ignoring the food we brought, Myammi turned and went back inside.
“Why is she suddenly acting like a grumpy cat?”
“Huuehh…”
“Just come in! Let’s rest for a bit!”
“Oh, sorry.”
We took off our shoes and stepped into the family room.
After putting everything down on the table, I went to look for Sanga.
She was curled up, asleep on the spacious bed, with Myammi loafing next to her like a piece of bread.
It was just a curled-up position, but Sanga really liked it. I don’t know how she managed to go without doing it at school.
Anyway, seeing those two together was suspicious. While Sanga and Myammi’s relationship had improved, I’d never seen Myammi take the initiative to get close to Sanga.
As I stared, Sanga slowly opened her eyes.
“…Jihyuk. You’re back?”
“Yeah. I brought some food. Did you take your meds?”
“Not yet.”
“Then when are you planning to take them?”
“I’m just tired.”
She seemed worse than just tired.
When I gave her a doubtful look, Sanga forced a smile, showing her sharp teeth, and gestured with her chin.
“Why don’t you take the others and check out the observation deck? I heard the view’s nice.”
“Huh? Then let’s go together.”
“No, thanks. I already went earlier with Myammi.”
But the way she said ‘I heard the view’s nice’ instead of ‘the view was nice’ made it clear she hadn’t gone.
‘How bad does she feel if she’s lying like this?’
As worried as I was, I knew she wouldn’t tell me, so I had no choice but to take Eumah and Naminseo to the observation deck.
“…The view’s actually amazing.”
Separate from Sanga’s condition, the scenery was breathtaking.
From the observation deck, we could see Gwangandaegyo Bridge straight ahead, hear the sound of waves crashing, and catch the buskers and roaring sports car engines below.
Joo Jihyuk, leaning on the railing, thought deeply.
“Guys, I’ve figured it out. I must have done something wrong to Sanga.”
Otherwise, she wouldn’t lie to me.
The culprit wasn’t Eumah—it was me!!
But Naminseo and Eumah shook their heads in unison.
“I don’t think so.”
“S-something’s fishy. There’s definitely something going on.”
“Then what is it? Why would she lie to me?!”
“That’s what we don’t know! But I’ve got a feeling. A woman’s intuition.”
“…W-when was Sanga’s last period, by the way?”
“Last period?”
At Eumah’s question, I paused to think.
Sanga’s period?
“She should’ve had it by now… wait… what?”
I hadn’t seen Sanga have her period this month.
‘Oh my god.’
When Naminseo mentioned “a woman’s intuition,” I almost retorted with “a shitty intuition,” but the moment I thought about her cycle, goosebumps ran up both arms.
As the realization hit, Sanga’s condition throughout the day replayed in my mind like a video tape, scenes winding quickly in reverse.
‘No way…?!’
I bolted down from the observation deck.
Naminseo followed close behind, but Eumah had already sprinted ahead. Damn, he’s fast!
A moment later, back in the family room, I passed Eumah, who had left the door open, and saw Myammi still loafing on the bed.
And next to her, Sanga was wiping tears from her face.
…What?
Sanga was crying?
“Hey, you damned cat! What did you do?!”
“J-Jihyuk, watch your words!”
“I said cat, not something worse!”
I quickly clarified to avoid any misunderstandings.
Sanga raised her head.
“Jihyuk, my head’s pounding. Can you keep it down?”
Her calm tone immediately shut me up.
Naminseo closed the door behind her, and I sat beside Sanga, taking her hand gently.
“Sanga… is it what we’re thinking?”
“…Ha.”
Sanga sighed heavily at my question and reached into her pocket.
“I thought I’d stay calm, but I guess it’s impossible not to freak out in this situation. Sorry for worrying you.”
“…!”
When she pulled out the item from her pocket, my eyes widened in shock.
It was a pregnancy test.
A used one.
With two distinct lines.
“I only went to buy some medicine, but I felt a bit off and bought this on a whim. And then… it showed two lines. I was trying to leave quickly, but Myammi walked in and saw me…”
Her voice started to fade from my hearing.
‘The only “two lines” in my life were supposed to be two rolls of kimbap. Two lines on a pregnancy test?’
My mind went blank.
Every 0.1 second, my emotions flipped—shock, calm, confusion, rinse, and repeat.
I knew this day would come, eventually. We hadn’t exactly been careful, apart from Eumah’s contraceptive pills.
Sanga’s financial stability made me naively think we’d be fine whenever it happened.
Still, the reality of “that day” being today hit like a truck.
It wasn’t just a concept anymore—it was here, right in front of me.
‘Sanga’s pregnant.’
Somehow, inside that seemingly unchanged flat stomach of hers, was our baby.
People say having a baby at twenty is “an accident,” but oddly, I didn’t feel that way.
Whether it was because of Sanga’s wealth or my optimism, I wasn’t sure. Maybe a mix of both.
But one thing was clear: the thought of our baby, now a part of our lives, brought tears to my eyes.
It felt like a little miracle had appeared in my otherwise miserable college life.
“Waaaahhhhhh!!!”
“Jihyuk, lower your volume.”
“Waaahhh…”
When the pregnant Sanga made the request, I immediately complied, which made her laugh brightly.
“Hahaha. Jihyuk, you’re crying because you’re happy, right? Not because you’re panicking?”
“Who do you think I am?! Waaaahhhhhh!!!”
“T-Toeehh…! When someone cries, it makes me want to cry tooooo… Toeeeeng!”
“Waaaahhhhhh!!!”
“Toeeeengggg!!!”
“Both of you, get out.”
Sanga’s sharp command made Eumah and me clam up instantly.
It was then that Myammi’s behavior finally made sense.
‘I thought she was just being attentive because Sanga wasn’t feeling well. But Myammi must’ve sensed Sanga’s pregnancy instinctively. That’s why she stuck to her like glue after we got back from the pharmacy.’
Our Myammi… what a clever little thing.
“Wait, Sanga. Are you already feeling morning sickness? Should we toss the chicken and bread?”
“Jihyuk, thanks for thinking of me, but morning sickness doesn’t start immediately.”
“Oh… then do you want to eat something?”
“Doesn’t mean I have much of an appetite either. Jihyuk.”
“Yes…?”
Sanga smiled at me, a smile so sharp it sent chills down my spine.
That kind of smile usually meant she had plans in motion. Could it be…?
“We’ll have the wedding after the others graduate. But the marriage certificate—we’re filing that as soon as we’re back in Seoul.”
Wait.
I thought she’d suggest having the wedding before the semester started, but just the marriage certificate?
That’s surprisingly… ordinary?
I blinked at her, confused.
“That’s okay?”
But Sanga’s chilling smile deepened.
“It’s not about whether it’s okay. It’s what we have to do. Otherwise, I think my dad might kill you.”
“…Huh?”
The image of Chairman Baekah’s fearsome face flashed through my mind, making my knees buckle.
Getting his only daughter, the heir to a massive corporation, pregnant without taking responsibility would lead to one outcome: me sleeping forever.
The terrifying thought made my teeth chatter, but a chuckle still escaped me.
Naminseo, watching my face, grimaced.
“What’s with you, Jooji? You look like an idiot.”
“Hueh. Jihyuk, I want to file a marriage certificate toooo.”
“…Me too.”
“Huh? Both of you? What about me? Why am I being left out?!”
What the heck?
It made sense for Sanga, but the other three?
Blinking at their unexpected reactions, I flopped back onto the bed, laughing softly.
Honestly, it was obvious.
I shouldn’t have even questioned it.
“Once school starts, we’ll probably be the first married students on campus.”
“Huehh. A family of five is nice! Oh, wait—make that six!”
“But seriously, why didn’t you buy Churu?”
“Wait. Does this mean no sex tonight? Is my new toy just going to collect dust?! Noooo!!!”
“Is your brain full of nothing but semen?”
“Sorry, Naminseo. That’s just how it is.”
Naminseo’s dramatic wail made everyone burst into laughter.
Life is a series of choices.
I’d thought I’d made nothing but terrible ones, leading me to this college.
But I was wrong.
This college was my best choice.
Because even if I could go back, my decision wouldn’t change.
No matter how many times I rewound, I would’ve made the same choices.
I would’ve accepted Naminseo’s bet, helped Eumah through his rut, bickered with Mommyammi, and ended up as Sanga’s lackey.
And eventually, I’d find myself here again, at this moment.
So, I’m sure of it now.
Today is the culmination of my best choices, leading to the perfect ending.
The End