☁️☁️

i carefully read the track meet schedule again and over again. i knew it would turn out like this.

"mr. jeong, i think there's something wrong with the track meet schedule. i'm not listed for anything at all." i said to him.

"ah, the vice principal told me to remove you since, you know...yeah..." he said.

since i what? since i'm pregnant?

"i probably can't participate in something like jump roping, but i can referee." i retorted. i wanted to take part in something too.

it's not fun if i just sit on the sidelines and watch the kids playing.

"it's the vice principal's orders, so my hands are tied..." he laughed nervously, feeling guilty.

this isn't right...

"well, aren't you lucky, ms. park? you married up, and now you're exempt from doing all the hard work. thanks to you, the rest of us will have to work harder under the hot sun now." soo-young suddenly said.

i turned to look at her. her back was facing me.

"excuse me?" i said.

"ms. choi, why would you say that? she's pregnant. of course, she should be excused from all physical activities. what does her husband have to do with anything? are you sure you're an ethics teacher?" jisoo annoyingly asked, defending me.

jisoo moved closer to soo-young, leaving me behind.

"you think i don't know that? but she's been excused from refereeing, too. don't you think that happened because she's the wife of the chairman? am i wrong?" said soo-young.

"it's not like ms. park asked for this. if you're going to get upset, then get upset at the vice principal. he's the one who ordered it."

"who's to say he wasn't pressured into doing it?"

"regardless, she's still a pregnant woman!" jisoo shouted, luckily it's not too loud.

i stopped jisoo from whatever she's trying to do before things get worse, "ms. kim, it's fine..."

"maybe i'd be more understanding if you complained after helping out more with the track meet preparations, but you didn't, so i'm a bit dumbfounded right now. ms. choi, i'd be embarrassed to go around telling people i'm an ethics teacher if i were you. even i'm embarrassed to be an ethics teacher right now."

it's like jisoo has pressed a button on soo-young. she looked extremely shocked and angry.

ms. choi went away without saying anything, leaving both of us alone.

jisoo sighed, "so immature. why is she like that? would it kill her to be considerate?"

i have nothing to say.

-

i was waiting for jungkook at the dining table of our new home. the food was served and he should be right here any minute. he was in the kitchen, probably preparing something.

i sighed heavily.

it's getting harder and harder to be at school. it's weird between me and the other teachers, and i'm exhausted from morning sickness.

i rubbed my flat belly.

i thought about taking some time off, but i can't take maternity leave now. maybe i should just quit?

jungkook came and put a plate of frying egg on the table.

"is something wrong?" he asked, pulling the chair.

"no...nothing's wr-"

i quickly covered my nose and mouth, running towards the kitchen.

i feel nauseous.

"chae, are you-" jungkook called out.

ah, the egg!

-

☁️☁️

chaeyoung didn't come back even after she vomited everything out as soon as she saw the egg.

i know it's normal for a pregnant woman to feel nausea.

but something was off.

she looked extremely tired.

is it too much for her at school or is there anything else behind it? definitely not just because of that fried egg.

i tapped something on my phone.

since chaeyoung wouldn't open her mouth to tell me, i need to find out by myself.

-

☁️☁️

jungkook drove me to school like always.

even if it's hard, i can't quit. i'll stick it out a little while longer.

i am determined.

"what's with that look in your eyes?" jungkook suddenly asked, eyes on the road.

"i'm sorry?"

"you look like you're going off to war."

"really? good. i'm not going to let things slide this time."

"let what slide?"

"it's nothing." he shouldn't know about this. i don't want to worry him.

"so you don't plan on telling me?"

"it's just school stuff. it's so trivial that there's no need for you to know."

"so you say." he sounded very upset with my actions.

i'm sorry, jungkook. it just feels like i'm tattling if i talk to you about what happens at school.

-

☁️☁️

i parked the car in front of the school.

"have you put on sunblock?" i asked chaeyoung.

"yes, a lot of it."

"try not to run and take it easy."

"don't worry. thanks to you, i'm being forced to take it easy." she said, not looking at me.

she unbuckled the seat belt.

"is that such a bad thing?" i looked at her intently.

"well, no. but it does put me in an awkward spot..."

"really?"

"don't worry about me. you should head off to work. i'm sure secretary park is waiting for you."

why does she always tell me not to worry about her? she's my wife and i'm her husband. of course we should care for each other.

never mind. i have better plan.

i softly pulled her to turn towards me and quickly landed a sweet kiss on her lips.

i pulled away and smiled as soon as i saw her red face.

"are you craving for anything?" i asked. she definitely has a long list of foods she craves for.

"not yet, no." she said, shyly.

"oh? okay. well, think about it and let me know."

"i will. you should go."

she opened the car door and got out.

"chaeyoung." i called her, making she froze on her spot.

"do you have to dress like that?" i asked.

nothing serious. she just casually wears her blue team button-up shirts, a blue shorts and a pair of black leggings underneath.

so cute.

"why? do i look really weird? it's our class shirt." she said.

"no, nothing like that. but..."

"i have to wear it. i can't even participate with the kids, so i'm going to make sure to keep the class spirit up." she cut me. gosh, so damn cute.

"ah, that's right. go on in. i'll see you later." i waved her goodbye.

"yes, i'll see you after work." she waved back before shutting the door close and went away.

after making sure she had entered the school grounds, i glanced at the paper bag on the back seat.

yes, i should do this.

-

☁️☁️

the atmosphere in the field this morning was really lively and loud with the cheering of students and teachers.

"let's go!"

"fight!"

"win!"

dae-han high school track meet is one of the best day which we look forward to every year.

i blew the whistle as a signal to end the game, "good job, kids! class seven is the winner! everyone, head back to the stands now."

yes, i begged the vice principal to at least let me referee.

i wiped the sweat on my forehead and walked towards the canopy.

wow, it's hot!

"the weather is pretty hot for spring, isn't it?"

huh? what is choi soo-young doing here?

of course it was strange because she was the teacher of other class.

"can you please move, ms. choi? that's my seat." i tried to be polite. she would know that was my seat in the first place since all my stuff were there. so, why bother to sit here?

"oh! why, of course, you'd need to sit! i'm sooo sorry, ms. park. it must be nice being pregnant since everyone has to bend over backwards for you." she said, standing up.

geez, she's so annoying. why does she deliberately want to pick on me?

"if you're that jealous, why don't you get pregnant then?" i replied. i don't care if i sound rude or not. she's too much.

"how could you be so crass, ms. park? i'm going to be conventional and get married with the person i love first."

i gritted my teeth.

"well, sure. but do you have someone you love?" i sarcastically asked on purpose, knew very well she didn't have one.

okay, if she wants to play a game, let's play a game.

"i'm sure i'll find him soon."

"you think so? i feel like you might have a hard time with that personality." i said.

"what is that supposed to mean?"

"it's exactly as i said. you're cruel and unkind. and you also talk behind people's backs. saying things like how i only got married because i got pregnant or that i'll get kicked out after i give birth. if you're so concerned for me, why didn't you just come and talk to me directly?"

i still clearly remember what they said in the nurse's office the other day.

"all i'm saying is, they rushed into the marriage because she's pregnant."

"could you say the marriage is actually a real one?"

"yeah, she moved up the social ladder. but she could also be kicked out once the baby is born."

"ms. choi, why would you say something like that?"

"i'm just concerned about her. that's all."

i walked closer to her, leaving no gap at all.

"ms. choi, you should try to be nicer." i whispered to her. i know i sounds like i'm better than everyone, but i should teach her some lessons too.

she said nothing and went away, intentionally bumping my shoulder.

i gasped. i accidentally tripped over her feet and almost fell. luckily, there was a quick hand that caught me and kept me from falling.

i almost lost doo-jool.

"oh, thank y-" i looked up to see my saviour and it turns out that he is...

jungkook?

how is he here?

-

☁️☁️

over the past couple of days, chaeyoung has looked upset. i had asked her what was wrong several times, but each time, she'd say everything was fine.

it feels like every time i try to get closer to her, she stumbles back and keeps me at arm's length. it feels like there's an invisible barrier between us.

i already knew that she finds it hard to share her thoughts and struggle with other people, and i didn't want to force her to open up. but i don't want to just wait around and do nothing.

i'm already to the point where i can't imagine life without her.

that's why i decided i would find a way to break through that barrier in my own way.