A/N: Wow, I worked really hard to get this done today. Hopefully it was worth it.
shaeneice: I'm afraid not. And thanks!
AdmiralNguyenV: Thanks, I can totally imagine Jan Di's mum beating her up for getting preggo.
Abby: Thanks and hopefully, they will.
SweetGirlie14: Well, they're just not ready for parenthood. Either of them.
Jae Kyung and Jan Di stood outside the impressive though generic mansion, the former pressing the doorbell while the latter chewed on her nails uncomfortably. Jan Di looked mortified as they waited for someone to greet them.
A distinctly familiar woman opened the door. She was appeared to be a very pretty and meticulous woman in her mid to late twenties.
"Hello Unnie!" Jae Kyung greeted, giving the woman a hug. Jan Di noted that the two of them seemed very close; more than mere acquaintances.
"Jae Kyung-ah!" the woman exclaimed, hugging her back just as tightly. She then released her and focused her attention on the bewildered Jan Di. "Hello, I'm Jun Hui. You must be Geum Jan Di."
"Hello... Jun Hui-sshi?" Jan Di repeated, realising why the woman was so familiar. They'd met before quite a few times. "Gu Jun Hui-sshi?"
"Neh," Jun Hui confirmed. "I think I've seen you with the F4." Jan Di nodded in affirmation.
"Gomawo for having us over here," Jae Kyung said.
"Oh no. It's you who I should be thanking," Jun Hui countered, putting on a brilliant smile. "Come on in already..." She gracefully led them into her home, silently beckoning a maid over. "Can I take your coats?"
"Sure," Jan Di replied rather informally, taking off her hooded pullover and thrusting it into the maid's arms. The young girl took in the sight around her while Jun Hui quietly gave her maid an order.
After hanging Jan Di's hoodie up, the maid sprinted upstairs. A few seconds later, a classy looking attractive guy in his early thirties made his way to the bottom of the staircase and stopped next to Jun Hui. He glances sheepishly at the woman next to him for some unknown reason before nodding at Jae Kyung.
"How are you, Hyeongbu?" the eighteen year old asked cheerfully.
"I'm great," he responded nonchalantly. "How are you?" The air seemed to become serious, Jan Di realised, as if there was something more to that question. Jun Hui gave him a look before smiling at Jae Kyung.
"I'm..." Jae Kyung started, pausing to look down. She then looked back up at him and spoke, "I'm fine."
The guy nodded before finally looking at Jan Di. "Jwesonghaeyo, you've been standing there for a while. I'm Kang Hyeon Woo, Jun Hui-sshi's husband."
Hyeon Woo and Jun Hui ushered Jan Di and Jae Kyung into the austere, spacious living room. A woman in a business suit, probably in her forties, was sitting on a sofa with a briefcase in her lap.
"This is our attorney, Park Jeong Hee-sshi," Hyeon Woo introduced.
"Nice to see you again, Jae Kyung-sshi," Attorney Park said, standing up when she saw said girl.
"Attorney Park, nice to see you again," Jae Kyung replied respectfully before turning to gesture towards the girl next to her. "This is my hoobae and friend, Geum Jan Di." Jan Di bowed her head politely at the older woman.
"Now that that's done, let's sit down and get to know each other a bit," Hyeon Woo proposed awkwardly.
All five of them nodded and sat down, a maid bringing over some drinks. Jan Di looked on in astonishment as an assortment of about ten different drinks were placed on the coffee table.
"So, Jan Di-sshi. First off, how far along are you?" Attorney Park asked in a business like tone.
"I'm in my second year of high school," Jan Di replied, thinking it was a casual get-to-know-you question.
"No, I mean in your pregnancy," the attorney clarified. Jan Di chuckled nervously.
"Oh. Uh, I actually went to the doctors' yesterday and they said I was twelve weeks."
"Oh, that's marvellous. So you're entering your second trimester?" Jun Hui questioned, readjusting herself on the sofa.
"Uh yeah," Jan Di replied, laughing awkwardly. "Apparently I'm due on May the fourth."
"Great," Jun Hui commented. Everyone gave her a questioning look. "I mean, my friends always tell me the first couple of months are the hardest."
"Yeah but I hardly noticed it," Jan Di confessed, smiling. "I'm more concerned about how I'll fit into my school uniform."
"I think pregnancy is beautiful," Jun Hui stated, flashing a shiny white smile.
"Well, you're lucky it's not you..." Jan Di trailed off awkwardly, realising how that sounded a little too late. Jun Hui peered up at the ceiling, trying not to look too upset. "Jwesonghamnida," the pregnant teenager quickly apologised. Hyeon Woo took a look at his wife before he cleared his throat.
"So, let's discuss how we're going to do this."
"Well, I just have the baby and give it to you, right?" Jan Di asked.
"Hyeon Woo-sshi and Jun Hui-sshi are willing to negotiate an open adoption," Attorney Park spoke. Jan Di looked back at her blankly. Jae Kyung laughed before explaining it to her.
"It means they'd send annual updates, photos, let you know how the baby is doing as he or she grows up."
"Of course, Jan Di-sshi's legal rights would be terminated..." Attorney Park added, being cut off by Jan Di.
"Oh no," she protested, putting her hands up. "I don't want to see pictures. I don't need to be notified of anything. It should be like Moses in the reeds, plain and simple."
"Well, then we all agree that a traditional closed adoption would be best for all involved?" Attorney Park enquired. Jan Di nodded and Jae Kyung looked over to see that Jun Hui was clearly ecstatic at this prospect.
"Obviously, we'll compensate you for your medical expenses," Hyeon Woo stated.
"Are you looking for any other compensation?" Jun Hui implored, quite willing to pay as much as it took.
"Well, no...I don't want to sell the baby. I just," Jan Di paused, trying to find the right words. She thought about how Ji Hoo really didn't want anything to do with their baby and how he actually wanted to get rid of it. It was so out of character that she couldn't believe it. But then again, who would've thought that she, of all people, would get pregnant at 17? "I just want the baby to be with people who are going to love it and be good parents." Ji Hoo had the money but not the desire and she didn't have the money or the maturity and patience. "I'm in high school. I'm not ready."
"You're doing an amazing and selfless thing for us," Jun Hui told her, beaming radiantly. It was almost like she had the pregnancy glow instead of the pregnant one herself.
"Jun Hui-sshi has always wanted a baby ever since we got married," Hyeon Woo explained, nodding.
"I want to be an omeoni so badly!" Jun Hui confessed in a giddy tone.
"You don't say, Unnie," Jae Kyung teased sarcastically.
"Sometimes I feel like I was born to be a mother." Jae Kyung looked down, appearing to be a little guilty.
"Neh, I know," she said softly.
Jan Di didn't have time to think about Jae Kyung's strange behaviour. She was more concerned about Jun Hui's husband, Hyeon Woo. He'd barely said anything, sans the bit about expenses, and he didn't seem to be anywhere near as excited as his wife was.
"Hyeon Woo-sshi, are you looking forward to being an abeoji?" she asked, catching Hyeon Woo off guard.
"Yeah, of course; every guy wants to be a father," he replied a little too quickly. "You know, coach them and help them be the best heir that that they can be." Jun Hui's eyes darted between them and she immediately changed the subject.
"Well, shall we start looking over the paperwork?" she suggested just as Jan Di cast a subtle but dubious glance at Hyeon Woo. "Attorney Park has already drafted some preliminary documents."
"Absolutely. But can I use the toilet first?" Jan Di asked, a sheepish look on her face.
"Yes, both of the powder rooms down here are being re-tiled but you can use one of the ones upstairs. For the closest one, go up, then turn left and on your right..."
"It's fine, I'll find it," Jan Di interjected, sprinting up the stairs two at a time .
As Jan Di went up the stairs, she saw several posed photos of Hyeon Woo and Jun Hui in the stairwell. They seemed happy enough in the photos but it seemed too perfect. The fact that they called each other formally didn't escape her notice. How many people didn't just call their spouses yeobo or jagiya? Very few.
After a fair bit of exploring, Jan Di finally found one of the bathrooms. It was huge. She guessed this was the master bath but then again, there was a chance that it wasn't. She'd seen just how big the bathrooms in Ji Hoo's house were; bigger than the bedrooms in her own house.
Quickly using the toilet and flushing, Jan Di sauntered over to the double sink to wash her hands. Strangely curious - probably down to the hormones - she examined the expensive grooming items. Going through Jun Hui's toiletries, she dabbed a bit of face cream on and she sprayed some perfume on her dainty wrists.
Jan Di then opened the bathroom door and instantly bumped into Gu Jun Pyo.
"Mianhae," she apologised, not sorry at all.
"What are you doing here?" Jun Pyo demanded haughtily, crossing his arms.
"None of you business what I do in the toilet," Jan Di fired back, hands on her hips.
"I meant what are you doing in this house?" Jun Pyo clarified.
Jan Di's cheeks burnt as she tried to think of an excuse. She didn't exactly need Jun Pyo to spread that she was pregnant all over school. Well, it'd have to come out any day soon but still, she didn't want him finding out before he had to. Despite her reservations, she was surprised that Jun Hui hadn't told her younger brother everything. Surely he knew there was something important going on downstairs otherwise why had he been hanging around upstairs this whole time?
"What, your noona didn't tell you?" she taunted, raising an eyebrow. Jun Pyo rolled his eyes before noticing something. For one second, Jan Di actually thought her secret was out before the boy opened his mouth.
"Is that Noona's perfume?" he interrogated, twitching his nostrils. Jan Di didn't say anything, impressed that Jun Pyo knew the scent so well, while Jun Pyo narrowed his eyes at her. "You thief!"
"Jun Pyo-sshi?"
Jun Pyo and Jan Di turned around to see Hyeon Woo standing at the stop of the staircase, staring back at them. Jun Pyo glared at Jan Di before looking at his brother in law.
"Oh, Maehyeong," he started, walking towards him. Jan Di stayed behind, watching the interaction between the pair. "Is there something you want?"
"No," Hyeon Woo responded, shaking his head and then looking past Jun Pyo to see Jan Di. "Jan Di-sshi, we were wondering where you got to."
"Oh neh," Jan Di said, going over to join them. "Are the others here?
"My cheonam's friends?" Hyeon Woo asked and Jan Di nodded in confirmation. "No. They stayed over last night and left a couple of hours ago. Any reason?"
"No," Jan Di lied, thinking about Ji Hoo.
It had been a while since she saw him. Ever since the pregnancy thing came out it was just damn awkward between them. It was weird because after they had sex in the summer, everything was fine. Or at least it seemed that way to her. So why the sudden change?
"Wait, Maehyeong, who else is down there?" Jun Pyo queried, looking kind of anxious.
"Your future wife," Hyeon Woo answered. Jun Pyo's eyes widened and he looked pretty mortified. Jan Di raised an eyebrow. Jun Pyo and Jae Kyung engaged? Since when? "I'm joking. It's just Jae Kyung-sshi."
"Oh, I'll go and say hi," Jun Pyo stated, about to go downstairs when both Hyeon Woo and Jan Di stood in his way. Jun Pyo's eyes darted between them, searching for an explanation. "What?"
"Jae Kyung-sshi and your noona are discussing fashion," Hyeon Woo lied, impressing Jan Di.
Despite being pretty formal with the Gu siblings - adding the suffix sshi on the end of their names - Hyeon Woo seemed to know Jun Pyo a lot better than she expected. Her point was proven when Jun Pyo coughed awkwardly and escaped to the guest room he was staying in, clearly having believed every word his brother in law said to him.
Hyeon Woo and Jan Di exchanged victorious smiles before going downstairs to proceed with the paperwork.
A while later, Jan Di and Jae Kyung were putting their coats on. As Attorney Park handed Jan Di the all important documents, Jun Pyo finally came down. Jae Kyung instantly ran over to greet her best friend while Jan Di hung back with Jun Hui and Hyeon Woo.
"So, look those over with your parents and give me a call at my office if you have any questions," Attorney Park instructed and Jan Di nodded.
"Jan Di-sshi, we'd really appreciate it if you could keep us updated on any doctor's appointments, ultrasounds and any other things of that nature," Jun Hui informed the young girl.
"Oh. Sure. Of course you'd want to know how your baby is developing," Jan Di agreed, relieved to see that Jun Pyo was standing far away enough to be out of earshot.
The fact that she'd start showing soon worried her immensely. People like Jun Pyo would give her so much grief that she'd probably end up suicidal like the kid she saved. Ironically, that's what got her the scholarship for Shinhwa. How was she going to deal with it all?
"So, then, you really think you're going to go ahead with this?" Jun Hui asked, jarring Jan Di from her thoughts.
Jae Kyung was standing with them now, Jun Pyo having decided to go back upstairs. She stared at Jan Di gravely, concerning the younger girl. Anyway, first thing was first.
"Neh, I'm completely sure," she finally said, pleasing Jun Hui.
"How sure? Percentage-wise, would you say you're eighty percent sure, ninety percent sure?" she implored, her husband visibly embarrassed by her manic demeanour.
"I'd say I'm a hundred and four percent sure."
"Oh really?" Jun Hui enquired, uncertainty evident in her voice.
"Look, if I could give it to you now, I would. But I think we should wait until it gets cuter, you know?
"Umm, that's a great idea," Jae Kyung spoke up, grinning.
"That's wonderful?" Hyeon Woo concurred. "Well, drive safe Jae Kyung-sshi and Jan Di-sshi, I guess we'll hear from you soon, all right?
"Neh, take care," Jae Kyung responded before she and Jan Di left.
The door closed behind them as soon as they stepped out. As they climbed into the back of the car, Jan Di exhaled a long, deep breath.
"Home please," Jae Kyung told her chauffeur before turning to her friend. "What did you think of them?"
"I think they're nice," Jan Di replied, placing a hand on her abdomen. "I have a really good feeling about this."
A/N: I know there was no Ji Hoo but there was Jun Pyo. Better than nothing, right?