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it’s easy to forget the basic functions of the female body when you’re so busy with other matters, youngwoo supposes. she often forgets, seeing as she doesn’t get her menstruation regularly, but it still brings about warning signs she’d dismissed as she’d been so immersed in work. she’d been wondering why she’d felt so peckish as of lately, why her lower back had felt achy all of a sudden, why she would be getting headaches at all hours of the day. and her answer lies before her: a smudge of carmine on her underwear.
it made sense, considering she’d felt particularly nauseous during lunch. she’d thought it could be due to her lack of sleep the previous night, considering the tremendous amount of paperwork she’d had to stay at the office to review. it had been a long night filled with caffeine and eye drops; her fingers aching as she got to the last stack of documents. the subject of the case didn’t help at all either, seeing as it was a dispute over contract breachment between two reputed companies. it had reminded her of the stress she’d gone through with the atm case and she’d been determined to avoid any mistakes, vigorously reading through each and every word.
it’s only until she realizes she hadn’t brought her messenger bag along with her that she panics, realizing there’s now way of getting a pad. the stain was light, not having trespassed onto her skirt, but it would still be risky to run off to the office without one. but even if she did manage to make her way back to her office, she wasn’t sure she was carrying any pads. she never really thought to prepare for such a situation at the office, given that her menstruation was so irregular, but now as she sits inside the bathroom stall she realizes it’s been a huge mistake.
and so she goes with the easiest option, wrapping toilet paper on her underwear. she figures it should last enough for her to run to suyeon’s office and see if she has a pad she could give her, or run to the nearest convenience store and purchase some before her skirt is stained. she’d unfortunately chosen to wear her tan ensemble instead of her black skirt, meaning that any accident would be completely visible to the office. the thought of it sent waves of anxiety running through her body; her steps quickening as she makes her way to choi suyeon’s office.
luck must really not be on her side, she mentally thinks as she finds the office is dark with no sign of life inside. her back aches more and more with each step she takes; the throbbing becoming more severe by the minute. she wants to lie down in bed and cover herself with blankets up to her chin, feel herself fall asleep before the pain becomes paralyzingly strong. she can feel her skin dampening as she breaks out into cold sweats, a sudden cramp causing her to almost double over in pain.
“attorney woo?” she hears lee junho ask behind her, “is everything alright?”
oh god. youngwoo can’t help but scrunch her face up as she turns to look at junho, who stands a couple steps behind her with a concerned expression on his face. the office is practically empty except for the two of them; the light on his desk the only one brightening up the room with an amber glow. she doesn’t want to face him right now as she feels nausea creeping up throughout her body, doesn’t want to explain to him what’s going on. although she knows it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, she doesn’t want her boyfriend to see her in such a bad state.
he takes a look about the room before turning to her, seemingly making sure no one is around. it’s only when he’s confirmed they’re completely alone that he takes a step towards her as he sees her face scrunching up in pain.
“you look pale, love,” he whispers as he reaches for her shoulders, “are you sick?”
youngwoo shakes her head, closing her eyes as another cramp rumbles deep inside her lower abdomen; the feeling so intense it causes her to slightly double over as her hand comes to rest on her belly.
“i,” she hesitates as she begins to answer, closing her eyes in defeat. there was truly nothing to be embarrassed about, was it? given how bad her aches have gotten in such a short time, surely there was no way she would be able to manage the walk down to the convenience store. she doubts junho would refuse to go to the convenience store for her, doubts he would refuse to buy her some pads and ibuprofen. he’s always been so kind and understanding, surely her request wouldn’t change that.
a pang of pain shoots up her lower abdomen and she’s holding on to his forearms, “i have period pain.”
junho’s eyes widen with understanding; his lips turning downwards in a frown. he continues to hold her shoulders, fingers massaging circles into her upper arms.
“how can i help?” he asks timidly; the look in his eye giving away the fact that his mind is trying to come up with suggestions, “do you need medication? any personal hygiene products? my noona would place these compresses on her belly whenever she had cramps, maybe i could run to the pharmacy and get some for you?”
youngwoo barely manages to nod; the lightheadedness becoming worse by the second. she needs to lie down somewhere before her legs end up giving out underneath her; her vision becoming cloudy by the second.
“i’ll go but let’s get you somewhere to lie down first, okay?” junho utters in concern. he gently steers her towards attorney jung’s office and onto a couch, setting a pillow for her to lay her head in before he allows her to lie down.
“wait here, love. i’ll be back as fast as i can,” youngwoo hears junho whisper before he darts out of the office.
she doesn’t know how many minutes go by before he’s back, focusing on breathing in and out as the throbs in her abdomen become full-blown stabs. she can feel drops of sweat running down the side of her cheek as she holds onto her belly, her hands quivering in pain on top. eyes squeezed shut, she attempts to sit up as she hears junho return.
“i don’t know what kind of pads you use so i brought two,” junho says as he digs into a plastic bag, “i also brought ibuprofen and some warm compresses.”
youngwoo eyes set on his face amidst the dark room, mustering up the courage to stand to her feet and go change.
“thank you,” she murmurs as she makes her way out of the office and towards the bathroom once more; the plastic packaging containing the pads held securely in her hand. once she makes her way back, she takes multiple stops as she feels dizziness clouding her senses; is met with her boyfriend’s arms as she makes her way back inside attorney jung’s office. he leads her back to the couch, noticing the two pills sitting on top of a napkin and a cup with steam floating on top.
“i made you chamomile tea,” junho mentions as she eases herself down on the couch, “take the medication with it.”
youngwoo nods as she reaches for the pills, her hands trembling as she places them inside her mouth and rinses them down with the tea. she feels the warmth run down to her stomach, easing the sensation away slightly. she reaches for the compresses that sit next to her on the couch; her hands untucking her shirt before she reaches to open up a package. there’s crinkling filling the room as she tears it open and she leans over to unzip her skirt from the back.
she’s abruptly reminded of junho’s presence as she does, the clearing of her throat sending her eyes towards his form. his back is turned to her now; hands clasped behind him as he glares up at the ceiling. it causes a blush to run across youngwoo’s cheeks as she quickly presses the heat pad to her bare abdomen; the sensation so relieving that she lets out a content sigh. she zips her shirt up halfway before she leans back once more, letting her shirt drape over her midwaist.
“thank you for buying these,” youngwoo says as she lets her head rest back, “i didn’t know this was going to happen.”
junho turns once more hesitantly, studying the way her expression has become more relaxed. he joins her on the couch as he watches her rub on her belly, a smile tugging at his lips as he observes her.
“i like taking care of you,” she hears junho murmur, “but you know what already.”
youngwoo blushes, feeling her heart stutter inside her chest. the ache in her tummy has begun subsiding, only a few cramps shooting up her abdomen as she turns to look at him. she notices his hand lying on top of the couch, reaches out her hand to touch his fingers.
“i don’t like this part of being a woman,” she confesses as her fingers come in contact with his, “it’s annoying.”
she feels junho’s laughter vibrate through their touch, angles her face to study him. he looks as breathtakingly handsome as always, causing youngwoo to feel like she’s staring directly at the sun. it’s almost too much to bear sometimes, realizing the man sitting next to her is her no one but her boyfriend.
“well, if you don’t like it that much,” junho begins, biting over his lip as he tries not to giggle, “i can always help you get rid of that for a couple months.”
his words don’t register for a couple seconds; youngwoo’s brows furrowing as she tries to make sense of what he meant. it’s only until he raises his eyebrows at her and laughs that she understands the connotation of his words, biting down on her lip as she avoids his gaze in a mix of amusement and embarrassment. she’s reminded of the way his touch had felt across her naked skin; the way she’d wondered to herself how someone’s touch could engulf her in so much pleasure.
“i’m just joking, love,” junho says as he watches the array of expressions decorating her face, “you haven’t married me yet.”
youngwoo’s eyes widen in shock, “you want us to get married?”
a look of fake hurt crosses junho’s features, his lips pulling into a pout, “and you don’t?”
warmth spreads through her chest at the thought of calling junho her husband; the idea filling her with unimaginable joy. she’d thought about what it would be like every now and then, but had never thought it would actually cross junho’s mind at this stage of their relationship. they’d almost been dating for a year yet everything still felt so new, so much exploring left to be done.
“so i guess you don’t want to marry me. that’s a bit disappointing.”
“ ani ,” youngwoo blurts out, her voice slightly louder than usual, “i just hadn’t thought of that yet.”
junho nods, crossing his arms over his chest, “i want to. i want to marry you and have a family. maybe a cat too. we could live in jeju close to the beach…”
despite the initial surprise, youngwoo can picture it all too well. them, living in a small house with a garden big enough for an outdoor swing. it’d be wide enough for them to sit there together as they read, junho’s arms enclosed around her. or they could walk along the shores of the jeju beach in the afternoon, one of their child’s hands in each of theirs. youngwoo would teach them all about marine animals as junho gave them a piggyback ride, sporting his usual smile. and youngwoo would feel her heart swell inside her chest at the sight. yes, she could imagine it clearly.
“did i say too much?” junho asks, worry coloring his tone, “i don’t want you to feel pressured, i know it’s not something we have ever talked about–”
“i can imagine it,” youngwoo interrupts.
junho’s stance relaxes at the words and youngwoo scoots closer to him; a hand reaching for his shoulder as she steadies herself with eyes fixed on his lips. the pain in her belly has settled into a bearable dull ache; the urge to steal a kiss from him becoming more important.
“tell me more…” she whispers as she brushes her lips on his.