Work Text:
Kang Sol could not believe her eyes when her best friend and boyfriend, Han Joonhwi, kneeled in front of her, nervously looking at her with tears in his eyes, asking her the most important question in their lives, “Kang Sol, will you please marry me?”
Han Joonhwi, former second-judicial-exam passer, and now Seoul’s rising ‘celebrity’ prosecutor is shaking as he holds an opened box of a dainty diamond ring. His girlfriend of three years, Kang Sol, has been quietly looking at him ever since he popped the question.
Should I have prepared something grand? Did she want balloons and flowers? Should I have gotten a bigger stone? He shook his head, regretting not booking a restaurant and choosing the copy room instead for this proposal. He thought he knew his girlfriend well but he didn’t expect her to answer this slowly. What if she says no?
Kang Sol cleared her throat and called his name. “Ya! Han Joon Hwi! I’ve already said ‘yes’ twice. Aren’t you supposed to hug me now?” Joonhwi raised his head, snapping out of his thoughts, and stood up, his knees shaking. He quickly removed the ring from the box and carefully put it on his fiancee’s finger. Joonhwi kissed her hand, standing straight as he swept her fringe to the side. He pressed a kiss on her forehead, her cute little nose, and finally moved down to her lips. He kissed her delicately, unable to stop himself from crying. His lips kissed hers softly at first but once his lips touched hers, he found it difficult to stop. Kang Sol gently pushed him away and said, “Let’s continue this at home.”
---
Being with Sol made Joonhwi happy every day. Ever since she agreed to be his girlfriend on the night the Bar Exam Results were released, Han Joonhwi looked forward to mornings knowing that it’s a day closer to finally being together.
It took them a year to plan this wedding. Both of them were busy with their careers but they always found time on the weekend to plan it. The study group insisted on helping out but Sol B and Yeseul’s ideas were far too lavish for their taste. They decided to invite only their closest friends and families. They didn’t have a specific date in mind as they settled on a date they were both free. “Any day will be a special one,” Sol reassured him. And now, Joonhwi sat impatiently in his room, nervous and excited as they were finally hours away from exchanging ‘I Dos’. Jiho, Bokgi, Seungjae, and Yebeom entered his hotel room in their navy blue suits and styled hair. The four smiled at him as Bokgi ran toward him, aiming for a hug. “Chukhae , Hyung!” Seungjae patted his shoulder and warned him, “Don’t make Sol A cry, okay? She’s like a sister to me.” Yebeom laughed and said, “Hyung, you should be telling that to Sol A.” And Jiho, his roommate, stood near the door, his lips quivering slightly, “I’m happy for you, Hyung.”
Sol A tried to tie her shoelaces but found it difficult because of her white flowy gown. Yeseul shook her head as she sat down to tie it in her place. “Unnie, you should have worn the heels I got for you.”
Sol B, who stood behind her trying to keep her hair in place, said, “Just be thankful she wore this dress, Yeseul.” B swatted A’s hand as she attempted to scratch the itch behind her ear. “Unnie, stop touching your hair,” warned Sol B. Sol A just wanted the time to go faster and finally meet him at the aisle.
“Are you ready, Sol A?” Professor Yangcrates asked her as Sol exited the bridal room. She nodded, unable to speak as she was scared that the tears would ruin her makeup. She was beyond grateful when Professor Yang offered to walk her down the aisle. Professor Yang Jong Hoon, the prosecutor who saved her from being imprisoned for assault, the teacher who grilled her on the first day in law school, the same person who constantly pushed her to do well in her studies, and her father figure.
Their wedding is officiated by Professor Kim Eunsuk who practically volunteered to do it for them. They got married at a small garden cafe near Hankuk University. When they started working, they would drop by their alma mater every now and then to help out in the legal clinic and this cafe is where they spent the day after, relaxing and just talking about anything they could think of. Now, this cafe stands witness as they exchange vows and start their life as a married couple.
You may now kiss the bride.
As soon as they heard those words, Joonhwi and Sol exchanged shy smiles. They have never kissed in front of anyone, so this moment is really awkward for them. Joonhwi gave her a peck on the lips, as he whispered, “I’ll make it up to you later.” Sol felt her cheeks warm and made a face toward her husband. Their moment was broken when Yebeom shouted, “Boo! More!” Supported by the cheers of their closest friends and family, Joonhwi gave Sol his biggest smile as he dipped Sol and kissed her with all his heart.
---
Being married to a Prosecutor was tough as Joonhwi needed to work overtime for cases that needed immediate attention. Being married to a Defense Lawyer was no joke either as Sol would often go out of her way to make sure that her clients are properly defended and supported. Despite all the paperwork and overtime, Sol and Joonhwi managed to live happily and peacefully, until one day...
“Sol, listen to me!” Joonhwi called as he dodged to avoid the pillow his wife was throwing.
“Leave!” Sol screamed as she threw the other pillow.
“What are you so angry about? Let’s talk.”
“I saw a message from a certain Mina on your phone.”
“ Jagi, Mina is my new secretary. I told you about her over dinner two days ago, right?”
Sol continued sobbing. “You’re gonna leave me soon, I can feel it.”
“What are you talking about?” He slowly approached Sol. “That’s never gonna happen.”
Sol hid her face behind a blanket, “I gained 4 kilos...in two weeks. My skin is breaking out and I’m a mess.”
“Then you’re more huggable and Sol, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” He reassured, enveloping her in a hug.
“And I want to see you all the time but when I do, I want to punch your face,” she wailed.
Joonhwi chuckled. “Okay, then just punch me all you want but don’t push me away.”
Sol sighed. “I don’t understand what’s happening to me. I feel like I’ve changed. My body is sore, my emotions are uncontrollable, and I haven’t gotten my period for two…months.”
Joonhwi and Sol exchanged looks. After a few seconds, Sol asked, “Jagi, can you…”
He nodded without letting her finish. He grabbed his jacket and kissed his wife goodbye, “I’ll be right back.”
Joonhwi impatiently knocked on the bathroom door, trying to control his emotions and accept whatever the result may be. Sol slowly opened the door and showed him the pregnancy test with two clear red lines. Her voice shaking, she whispered, “You’re gonna be a Dad, Joonhwi-ah.” Joonhwi pulled his wife into a hug, eyes full of tears and unsure of the right words to say. Not even his wide range of vocabulary can describe how he feels. “Thank you,” he whispered as he kissed Sol’s forehead.
---
In their relationship, Sol has always been the noisy one. However, after her pregnancy, she didn’t expect her husband to be a nagger. He insists on spending his lunch breaks in her office, ensuring that she eats properly. Even Bokgi, who was already swamped with work, was tasked to look after Sol every day.
“She ate roast chicken and salad, Hyung,” Bokgi reported over the phone.
“Did she finish it?” Joonhwi asked.
Bokgi looked at Sol who was nodding in his direction, “Uhm, Well…”
Sol grabbed the phone and shouted, “Han Joonhwi-ssi, stop pestering Bokgi, I’m fine.”
Joonhwi sighed, “Jagi, you have to finish your food. It’s for Kongie .”
“Fine! Now focus on your work and I’ll see you home,” she said, sounding annoyed.
“I love you, Kongie Eomma ,” Joonhwi said sweetly.
“Me too.”
Sol returned the phone to Bokgi after apologizing.
“Noona, I didn’t know Hyung had this side of him,” Bokgi teased.
“I know. I’m starting to regret marrying him,” she teased back.
Whatever work Joonhwi had left for the day was immediately organized by his secretary. He stopped working overtime at the office and brought work home. This way, he could spend more time looking after Sol. Because of this, he earned a new nickname ”Daseotsi-Namja” at the Prosecution Office as he would immediately head home when the clock strikes five. Whenever he had trials, Yeseul and B would take turns to accompany Sol at home.
---
“Jagi, I want carrots…”
“Okay Jagi, we have carrots in the fridge.”
“But I want them on pizza,” Sol pouted.
Joonhwi dropped the documents he was reading and took off his spectacles to look at his wife. “Carrots on pizza?”
Sol nodded then smiled, “Yes, please?”
Joonhwi put down the files and immediately got his phone to search for a pizza place with such flavor. When he couldn’t find any, he stood up to boil the carrots and ordered a regular pepperoni pizza instead. After half an hour, the pizza arrived and Joonhwi delicately put the carrots on top, adding cheese and baking it again until the cheese melted. He sat beside Sol who was laughing while watching a rerun of Running Man. She scooted closer to Joonhwi, who kissed her hair.
“Here’s your pizza,” Joonhwi said, taking a slice and feeding it to Sol.
“It smells bad,” she said, pinching her nose in disgust.
“Come on, take a bite.”
“How about you eat it for me, Jagi?” Sol batted her eyelashes and showed a rare display of aegyo for her husband.
Joonhwi couldn’t help but chuckle at his wife’s antics and took a bite of the carrot pizza. He made a face as he quickly put the pizza away, saying, “Don’t eat this. It tastes horrible.”
“Finish it for me, please,” she cooed. Seeing her husband try hard to finish the pizza made Sol laugh until tears formed in her eyes, her favorite variety show forgotten.
---
In her seventh month, the couple agreed that Sol should start her maternity leave. She took this time to prepare for their child’s birth. She attended classes and yoga sessions. On the weekends, Joonhwi accompanied her, earning envious looks from her classmates.
“Your husband’s so handsome, Sol.”
“I wish my husband would come with me too.”
“You two look great together.”
Joonhwi politely bowed to their compliments and just focused on his wife whose belly is growing bigger and bigger every day.
“Jagi, I have a date with B and Yeseul today,” Sol reminded him after their yoga class.
“Can’t I come with you?” He asked, hopeful that Sol would say yes this time.
“This is our girls’ day out,” she refused. “Just drop me off at Lotte Mall.”
Joonhwi pouted, disappointed that he can’t spend this Saturday with his wife.
“Hello, Jiho?”
“Noona? You called.”
“Are you busy today? Can you hang out with Han Joonhwi?”
Jiho laughed as he asked, “Did you send him away again?”
Joonhwi shook his head and frowned.
“We’re on our way to Lotte Mall. I have a date with Yeseul and B,” Sol said. “Call him after 10 minutes. Thanks, Jiho-ya.”
Joonhwi dropped Sol at the mall entrance, refusing to leave until Yeseul arrived.
“Unnie,” Yeseul greeted, caressing Sol A’s bump. “Hello, aegi. Hello, Oppa .”
“Take care of Sol, okay?” Joonhwi told Yeseul. “And update me whenever you can, Jagi.”
Joonhwi kissed Sol’s forehead and waved goodbye as he answered an incoming call from Jiho.
Yeseul wrapped her arm on Sol’s and asked, “Where’s B?”
“She’s already inside.”
The girls agreed to go shopping to look for Yeseul’s wedding dress. They were also there to find baby stuff for Sol. After all, there are only less than two months before she gives birth.
“Unnie, don’t you really want to know the baby’s gender?” B asked as she was looking at the pink onesies in the department store.
“We decided not to find out,” Sol answered, putting white-colored ones in her pushcart.
“I wish it was a boy though,” quipped Yeseul, “and start a new breed of little Han Joonhwis.”
“More Kang Sols would benefit the world,” argued B. “I want Kongie to be a girl.”
“As long as the baby’s healthy,” Sol said, touching her belly and smiling at her friends.
---
“Hyung!” Yebeom shouted as he darted into Joonhwi's office. “ Noona’s water broke. She’s already at the hospital.”
Joonhwi dropped the files he was holding and rushed out of his office, grabbing his coat and bag. “Yebeom, I’ll call you when I’m in the car.”
“Seungjae-hyung is already waiting for you outside,” Yebeom shouted.
“Thank you, Hyung .” Joonhwi said as he settled at the passenger’s seat. “How is she?”
Seungjae started the car and smiled, “She is doing fine. Juyeong said she was calm and only asked for you.”
Joonhwi was sweating nervously, “She isn’t due for another three days, right?”
“It happens, Joonhwi. Don’t worry.”
He needed to distract himself and called Yebeom to instruct him about the case he left.
When they arrived at the hospital, Joonhwi hurriedly got out of the car and flew past everyone as he rushed to see his wife. Sol was already in the delivery room and he saw Byeol and his mother-in-law waiting patiently outside. He ran towards them and worriedly asked how Sol was. He wanted to be there inside to support Sol but couldn’t find anyone he could ask. After a few minutes, a doctor came out and asked for Sol’s husband.
“That’s me!” Joonhwi shouted, unable to control his emotions.
“Please come in and get ready for the delivery.”
Joonhwi went inside and saw his wife surrounded by doctors and nurses.
“Han Joonhwi,” she called weakly.
Seeing his wife covered in tears and sweat broke his heart.
“I’m sorry, Sol-ah,” he apologized as he held her hand. “I’m here now.” Smoothing Sol’s hair, he whispered, “I’m here.”
Their baby’s cries filled the room as Sol’s labor ended. She was tightly holding Joonhwi’s hand, which was already pale from Sol’s strong grip. He kissed her head and whispered, “I love you, Kang Sol.”
Han Joonhwi couldn’t contain his tears as he held their baby in his arms.
“Welcome to our lives, Han Eunji. We promise to love and protect you,” he whimpered as he stared at his daughter. Joonhwi moved closer to Sol to show her their baby. Sol cried with him as she felt her heart full of so much love and happiness.
---
Kang Sol and Han Joonhwi must have saved Korea in their past lives as Han Eunji is the most behaved baby in the world. Other than the occasional cries in the wee hours when she is hungry or when her diapers needed change, she slept peacefully and without interruption. Joonhwi filed a paternity leave, which was frowned upon by his co-workers. His wife and baby needed him and that will always be his priority.
Their house never ran out of visitors as their friends took turns to visit in their spare time. Kang Sol’s mom always dropped by to bring food and side dishes for them. Byeol, who was already a junior high school student, would stay for the weekends, allowing Sol to sleep longer.
Three months have gone by and Eunji continues to be a living angel. It was almost eleven o’clock when Sol decided to take a bath. She was soaking in the warm bath when Joonhwi entered and joined her. It has been three months since they had alone time so they took advantage of that peaceful moment and reminded themselves of how good it feels to have their bodies intertwined.
“Are you really okay now?” Joonhwi asked as he started touching Sol.
“Don’t worry, I heal pretty quickly,” she reassured Joonhwi as she started kissing his neck.
He quickly dried her and carried her to their bedroom, continuing the dance they started. The night passed as the couple basked in the comfort of each others’ warmth. Their bodies met each other after a while, every movement a celebration of being husband and wife.
---
Han Joonhwi and Kang Sol were back to work as Eunji celebrated her sixth month. Sol’s mom was more than happy to look after her grandchild and Byeol went straight to their house after school to help take care of her niece.
Sol didn’t know what good she has done to deserve so much love and happiness and she’s grateful for it. However, for the past few weeks, she wasn’t feeling good.
“It must be post-partum depression,” she reassured herself as she read about this while preparing for Eunji’s birth. She was waiting outside for Han Joonhwi who promised to pick her up after work. When she saw their familiar black car, she felt annoyed to see his face. She was frowning at him as he got out of the car to open her car door.
“I’m not late, aren’t I?” Joonhwi teased. “Why the long face?”
“Nothing,” Sol responded. “I just didn’t want to see you.”
“Why, Sol-ah? Did I do something wrong?” He asked, worried.
“Let’s just go home. I want to see Eunji.”
Sol was quiet all throughout the drive home. Joonhwi kept on stealing glances at her, worried that work had made her too tired. When they arrived home, Sol immediately went into their house first leaving Joonhwi in the car. She thanked her mom and sister for looking after Eunji and went into her daughter’s room. She smiled seeing Eunji asleep, fighting the urge to wake her up just to see her face.
She felt Joonhwi’s arms envelop her with a hug and she softly apologized for her behavior. Joonhwi hugged her and whispered, “It’s okay, Sol-ah. Remember what I told you? You can punch me all you want but please don’t push me away.”
---
“Ya! Han Joonhwi!”
Joonhwi was awakened by Sol’s screams at 8 o’clock on a Saturday morning just as he felt something soft hitting him. When he opened his eyes, he saw Sol beating him up with a pillow. He jumped out of the bed and asked, “What’s wrong, Jagi ? Did something happen?” Sol threw a pregnancy test at him which he easily caught. He saw two lines, similar to the first one he saw. Now that he was fully awake, Joonhwi looked at Sol’s face and asked, “Are you pregnant?”
“I” Sol screamed as he hit Joonhwi with the pillow, “told you to use protection” hitting him after every word.
“But Seungjae- hyung said it’s still safe.”
“Eunji isn’t even one yet.”
“Sol, don’t you want the baby?” Joonhwi asked, softening his gaze. “I’ll fully understand if you aren’t prepared for another one.”
Sol met her husband’s eyes and answered, “Of course I want this. I’m just worried about how we’ll manage two babies.”
“I’ll always be here to support you, Sol.”
“You better be, Mr. Sharp Shooter,” she teased as she finally began to smile.
“It’s your fault for being so irresistible, Kang Sol,” replied Joonhwi as he kissed his wife.
They heard Eunji cry in the room so Joonhwi rushed to get her, closely followed by Sol. “You’re going to be a big sister, Han Eunji,” Joonhwi said as he carried her in his arms.