Growing up, she knew about the importance of sacrifice.

Her parents had given up their cosy jobs in South Korea to move to New Zealand and later Australia, to give the best life for their family. Years later, her father would take time off work so she could audition in another state.

Real love was sacrifice.

When she saw the two lines on the pregnancy test, she simply knew—her boyfriend was so close to debut, and it would be unfair to hold him back.

Everything was further solidified the minute he walked her home, she had a gut feeling that he'd break up with her. He did.

Park Chaeyoung is thankful for her girls.

On the night of the breakup, after closing the door with tears in her eyes, the other three girls waited in anticipation to hear about how their date went. She broke down there and then and told them that they had broken up, and more importantly—last night, she found out she was a month pregnant.

Even now, she recalls the complete anger in Jisoo Kim at the time who was swearing in all shades of Korean. Conversely, the other two girls simply hugged her, reassuring her that it'll be okay.

The group was meant to debut in six months and she knew, it wouldn't be possible with her weighing them down.

"I'll go to the agency tomorrow morning and resign," she tells them, "... thank you guys for everything, for taking care of me during my time in South—"

She doesn't even finish her sentence when Jennie Kim playfully hits the side of her arm, "... don't be silly, it won't be a debut without you."

"Agreed, waiting a year won't hurt," Lalisa Manoban, the girl closest to her age and who was practically her little sister agrees, "... and there's no way we're letting you give up your dream, you've worked too hard."

"Tomorrow morning, let's go to the YG together and speak to him softly," Jisoo Kim tells her, "... it's all or nothing, we'll debut together or we won't at all."

It was at that moment that Park Chaeyoung learned what true love and sacrifice is.

To her surprise, YG accepted a delayed debut. He also promised that after debut, he'd ensure the group didn't have too many activities, so that there could be more of a family life and work balance. It was a long talk, but eventually by the end of it, she feels more at peace.

When she first found out that she was pregnant, Park Chaeyoung thought the most difficult part would be telling her agency and her boyfriend.

She was wrong.

Her mother used to tell her stories about how she loved being pregnant, because her and her sister were such easy pregnancy.

But her pregnant life was difficult—morning sickness and constant spurs of nausea, fatigue, cravings, back pain, swollen legs and a weakened immune system. By the time she'd given birth to her son, she decides to give up alcohol even after she was allowed to consume it, because her body was no longer the same.

Her anxiety, only grew worse following the break up, the pregnancy and the pressure to maintain her pre-pregnancy body in time for debut and future comebacks.

-

Jeon Jungkook stands in front of the door for at least half an hour with a bouquet of flowers in his head. It was 7am in the morning and he hadn't slept at all since that fated phone call.

Should he knock?

How was he meant to greet her after not talking to her in five years?

Suddenly, the door opens revealing Alice Park, eyes wide open in surprise.

"Oh, Jungkook it's you," she was surprised, still clearly confused herself about how to address him, "... she just woke up so please be gentle, she doesn't know that you know. She'll be discharged tomorrow. They're just monitoring her today."

He nods, bowing politely, "... thank you, Alice, and for telling me too."

"Just so it's clear, I didn't tell you for your sake, but for hers," she tells him before giving him a lined smile, "... I'll be going now, I have work. But usually the girls come at 7:30am, so you should leave before then. I can assure you they'll commit murder if they know you're here."

Alice Park politely leaves, rushing out in what he assumes is her heading to work.

He takes a deep breath and opens the door.

"Al, I'm really fine you can go, the girls will be here anytime soo—oh, Jungkook? Wh—what are you going here?"

He stands frozen in time, watching as her face is completely pale as though she'd seen a ghost. In some respects, perhaps he was one.

Park Chaeyoung's hair was in a low messy bun, her arm hooked to an IV bag.

"Is it true?"

He doesn't disclose anything but he knows that she knows that he knows.

She sighs, biting her lip in an attempt to hold her tears, "... you don't get the right to be angry, Jungkook."

He's not.

Well—maybe a little.

But mainly, Jeon Jungkook feels guilty for leaving her behind all these years.

"I'm not," he whispers, "... but I have a right to know. You should've told me."

"You wanted to break up with me," she reminds him, "... I didn't want you to stay in a relationship that you didn't want to be in, just because of a child. You had your whole career ahead of you, Jungkook."

"I would've made it work," he tells her.

"And that's the problem. I wanted to make it work because you loved me, not because you had to," she tells him, "... you don't get to be angry when you're the one who chose to go."

Jeon Jungkook opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

"Can you leave? I'm feeling tired," she tells him, and he knows it's a lie.

Jeon Jungkook takes a few steps closer, putting the flowers on the bedside table.

"What happened? Are you sick?"

She shakes his head.

"Chae—I mean Chaeyoung, don't lie to me," he warns her.

"I developed asthma after getting pregnant, so after I got the virus even after I was negative, there were some symptoms that lingered. But I'm okay now, I'll be discharged tomorrow," she informs him, "... you don't have to worry about me."

How could he not?

"Will you let me meet him? Your son, our son," he clarifies.

"For what? You have schedules 98% of the time, there's no need for an absent father. I've told you this already, I'm really fine—I don't need you to play the father role, Dongsun and I are doing just fine," she speaks with certainty.

Suddenly the door opens, revealing three girls and one little boy.

His eyes widen, seeing the resemblance of him—he looked just as he did when he was a toddler, only it was clear that he had her nose.

"Mommyyyyyyyy," he rushes over to her, and she quickly leans down and picks him up effortlessly, "... auntie Jennie told me I could come visit if I ate all my breakfast. I missed you and I made this for you."

He holds out a small drawing which Jeon Jungkook can't make out from afar, but he can see the pure bliss in her face as she looks at it.

"Dongsun don't run," she tells him concerned, "... good morning my baby. You're as talented as an artist, aren't you."

He giggles.

In many ways, he already did resemble her a lot.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Jisoo Kim looks completely disgusted, seeing Jeon Jungkook a few metres away, "... why are you just standing there? Get out."

"Unnie..." Park Chaeyoung calms her, "... not in front of Dongsun."

"Dongsun, do you want to play a little bit in the playground before we meet your friends in pre-school?" Jennie Kim cooes, as the boy excitedly gets down from his mothers lap and rushes to her, "... I'll take him first then."

Park Chaeyoung brightly blows a few kisses to him, which he catches and pretends to store in his pockets.

"I love you mommy, I'll see you soon."

As soon as Jennie Kim and the door closes, Jisoo Kim takes a few steps towards him.

Slap.

Lalisa Manoban's mouth drops open as he flinches.

"Don't complain, that's the least you deserve," she mutters, "... you're lucky there's a lot of CCTV in the hallways or I could assure you I'd kill you."

Jisoo Kim was a frightening woman.

"So he knows?" Lalisa Manoban turns to her, and she simply nods, "... I see."

"Well, she has us now so you can leave," Jisoo Kim fakes a smile, "... since that's what you do best, right?"

"I'm sorry," he responds, and in his panic, he wonders whether it's even appropriate for him to be talking before he turns to Park Chaeyoung, "... but let me make things right. At least, let me be in his life as another uncle."

"Are you fucking serious? You must be joking," Jisoo Kim curses, "... you don't have a right! You aren't his father, you're a damn sperm giver—that's it. Chaeng pained away alone her entire pregnancy, and raised him alone and you think that you can just jump into her life whenever you like? She was willing to give up her entire career for you, dipshit! Would you have done the same?"

"Unnie... it's okay," Park Chaeyoung whispers.

She had always been a peace maker.

"No it's not, Chaeng," Lalisa Manoban chimes in, "... he should know."

"If that's what you want, I'm willing to give it all away," Jeon Jungkook responds, "... to make things right."

Jisoo Kim scoffs, "... well aren't you lucky that it's not a decision you have to make, because the woman who loved you made that decision for you, just so that you could shine and follow your dreams."

Park Chaeyoung sighs, "... guys let's not fight, it's a hospital."

"I'm really sorry," is all that he manages to say, "... I was stupid in the first place for letting you go, but— I want the chance to be part of his life too."