A Night for the Future

This is a novel with a transgender protagonist. It takes place in Seoul, South Korea.

Good reading

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POV: Jaewon

It was supposed to be just another ordinary night. I was coming back from work, feeling exhausted. All I could think about was getting into the apartment and collapsing on the couch. But I also wanted to hug my beautiful Ji-a and shower her with kisses before asking her about her day.

It could be tiring at times because she complained about everything, but I still loved listening to her and did it for a long time. When I finally got home that night, the living room was empty, and I could hear only one voice coming from our bedroom.

"How do I explain this now? D*mn, you messed me up! You promised this would never happen, and look now? I'm lost! No, you're not telling anyone. Just... let's forget about it and let it go."

I opened the door slowly and found Ji-a pacing back and forth in our room.

"Are you really crying now? I should be the one feeling like this!"

My wife had her phone in one hand, while in the other, she held a small object. When her eyes focused on me, I smiled at the slight startle she had, and it was impossible not to find her adorable.

Her hand quickly dropped, and whoever was on the call with her heard only the beep indicating that the call had ended.

"Something happened?" I dared to ask. I sat on the edge of the bed, watching how her fair skin became even paler.

"Ji-a, is there a problem?" I frowned. I glanced at her hand and asked, "What is that?"

I saw her throat swallow. Ji-a seemed nervous.

Her hand closed around the object, but it only sparked my curiosity.

I stood up, loosening my tie, and smiled as I stood in front of her.

Ji-a is small, about twenty-five centimeters shorter than me. Her eyes lifted to mine, and I couldn't resist touching her beautiful face with my right hand.

"What happened, my love?"

Uncertain, Ji-a raised her hand.

Finally, I could see the small object, and I smiled, feeling my heart starting to race uncontrollably.

"This is..."

"A pregnancy test," my wife replied. Her brown eyes seemed sad, but she smiled as she continued, "We're pregnant, Jaewon."

"But..." I had to sit again. My persistent smile was almost painful, but I watched Ji-a walk slowly and sit beside me. "You're not pulling one of those silly videos to trick the fiancé, are you?"

"No, I'm not."

"Does that mean it worked? Ji-a, we've only been trying for a month; how can we have succeeded so quickly?"

"Sometimes it happens... and we've been trying for over a month, Jaewon."

"We have? I'm terrible with dates."

"Yes, we have... seven weeks, maybe."

"Seven? Impossible..." I thought, furrowing my brow. But Ji-a approached me, and I could see her even bigger smile.

"I'm sure this is the count, love."

"And how far along do you think you are?" I slid my hand to her belly and couldn't resist again. "My goodness, I'll be a father! Can you believe it? I could burst with happiness right now, Ji-a!"

"I think just over five weeks. We'll know for sure when we have an ultrasound. I'll schedule the exams as soon as possible."

I smiled and nodded. I embraced Ji-a, spinning her in the air. I just wanted to kiss her and kiss her, but we ended up lying on the bed, while I stared at her belly that still showed no difference.

"Hello? Can you hear me already?"

My wife's loud laughter made me laugh too.

"I'm Jaewon, you probably already know that I'm your father, right?"

"I guess she still can't hear."

"She? Do you think it's a girl?"

"I'm almost sure," she said, touching her belly, but her eyes looked strange, maybe tired.

"Need anything? You seem a little exhausted."

"I just want to sleep a bit."

"Did you have dinner?"

"Not yet..."

"Okay, let's have dinner. I can make that pasta you love. It'll be ready in ten minutes."

"Alright. You... can start, and I'll just take a painkiller. My head hurts a bit."

I nodded and left a kiss on the top of her straight hair. When I left the room, I could swear I didn't know if I was walking or bouncing; I had never felt so radiant.

Being a father? When could I believe it would happen so fast?

I went to the kitchen and put water to boil, separating the ingredients for my pasta. While waiting for the pasta to soften enough to prepare it with the sauces I had chosen, I felt my phone vibrate and smiled when I saw it was my best friend calling.

"Dude, you won't believe what happened!" I answered with a smile, even more excited to tell him the news.

"Hey, brother... how are you?"

"I'm really good."

"Good? Really? Dude, I thought that..." He paused, and I heard him sniff.

"Are you crying?" I furrowed my brow. "Namsoo, did something happen?"

"I broke up with SoHee. We're getting a divorce."

"What? Seriously?"

"She decided that."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's okay; everyone saw it coming. How are you and Ji-a?"

My smile returned instantly.

"Nam... you won't believe what I have to tell you, brother. Ji-a and I are pregnant; we're having a baby!"

A brief silence followed. I pulled the phone away from my ear, checking if the call had ended, but seconds later, I could hear the long sigh he let out.

"Namsoo?" I called, hearing him sniff again.

"Brother... I need to tell you the truth." I paid attention to what he would say and even sat at one of the dining table chairs. "Jaewon, I'm sorry..."

"What are you talking about? What truth?"

"I didn't want this to happen. I... I messed up, I know I messed up badly."

"Namsoo, you're worrying me. Are you really okay?"

Another sigh and more silence.

"I'm fine," he said, still in a low tone. "I just want to tell you."

"What do you want to say?"

"You and Ji-a..."

"Is it ready already?" Ji-a appeared in the kitchen, asking as she looked at the pot with the pasta. Namsoo fell silent. "Who is on the phone?" she asked, sitting on my thigh.

"It's Namsoo," I said, seeing her widen her eyes as I returned my attention to the phone, furrowing my brow. Namsoo's incomplete sentence made me curious. "What's going on between you and Ji-a?" I asked him.

Ji-a took the phone from my hand instantly. I looked at her without understanding, and I saw her answer the call.

"Have you been drinking again, Namsoo?" she asked while looking at me and shaking her head. "Please, not today. Go to sleep. Jaewon is tired too; he just got home from work and was celebrating with me. We're going to be parents."

I smiled at her, but I stood up. I touched her face but reached for the phone.

"Don't be so rude to Namsoo, love," I said, leaving a kiss on her lips, answering Namsoo again. "Forgive Ji-a; she's just tired."

"It's okay," Namsoo said, still in a low tone. "I don't want to bother you anymore. Congratulations on the baby, Jaewon."

"You never..." The call was ended. "...would bother." I moved the phone away and furrowed my brow.

"Hung up?"

"Yes. I think Namsoo isn't okay. I'll go to him."

"No way. You're not going there. It's late."

"Late, love? Namsoo lives in the building across the street. Last month, you went to see him when SoHee suspected he was cheating on her and left him alone, in tears at home, remember? I was at that company convention. It's not dangerous; you stayed with him until dawn."

"Don't remind me of that day... Namsoo couldn't stop crying."

"He was hurt, but he's like our brother; we've known each other since school. It's important to take care of each other."

Ji-a seemed indifferent, but I knew she wasn't like that.

I returned my attention to preparing the pasta and wanted to please my little pregnant lady. I watched her devour a whole portion and ask for more. Our conversation at that moment was about how we would plan the baby's room. When Ji-a finally fell asleep, with me again caressing her belly, I heard my phone ring again and hurried to answer, already grabbing my coat.

"Jaewon..." It was Namsoo, crying again.

"Don't worry, I'm coming to you."

I looked for a little piece of the notepad we usually used to leave notes on the refrigerator with reminders to buy things like eggs and milk, and left it next to Ji-a's bedside table. She was sleeping peacefully, so I didn't want to wake her to let her know I was going to a place that was exactly fifty meters away.

The night was cold and silent. I greeted the doorman as I finally descended and looked at the stars on my short walk to hyung's building. There, I greeted the doorman of that building and went up to the fifth floor.

Namsoo always left the door open when he was expecting us, so I just entered his dark apartment and saw some pieces of glass scattered on the floor. It was easy to deduce that they were from the picture frames he loved to collect with photos, but I thought it might be intentional from the divorce, but seeing that only his photos with me and Ji-a were on the floor, it worried me a lot.

''Hyung?'' I called, w