Chapter Text
Prosecutor Hwang Si-Mok can’t say ‘no’ to Lieutenant Han. No, that is not right. Prosecutor Hwang Si-Mok rarely says ‘no’ towards Lieutenant Han. For Investigator Kim and Assisting Officer Choi, this new ‘weakness’ of Prosecutor Hwang is something of a delightful discovery.
The realisation came late to them; after all, they rarely see them interact with each other. It was Investigator Kim Ho-Sub who discovered it first strange as it is. But once they did, they learn to ask favour from Prosecutor Hwang through Lieutenant Han. The prime example is when they were requesting for a team dinner. They might have known Prosecutor Hwang longer but never before he granted their silent and vocal request for team dinner. And when they finally got to have their team dinner as proposed by Lieutenant Han - of course after some strong hint from Investigator Kim Ho-Sub; their team dinner plan vanished with the threat of their team being disbanded.
Again, Lieutenant Han proposed the idea of a garden party, and they watch with marvel in their eyes when Prosecutor Hwang did not object to the idea.
And they are convinced with the silent power of Lieutenant Han.
The pain was excruciating, and he could feel his stomach rolling as his ears ring. Throughout all that, he could hear the desperate voice of Lieutenant Han and feel her arms wrapped around him. Warm hands gripped him, and he anchors himself to the sensation.
Her words came to him long after, when the pain finally subsides in ebb and flow instead of the sharp stabbing pain. “- I’m here, Si-Mok. We will be ok. Please be ok.” He heard her quiet sob as she cradles him close. “Just breathe.” So he did just that. Slowly she let go of his hand and loosen his tie. He almost protests when she proceeds with unbuttoning his shirt, but the protest falls short as she combed back his hair from his damp forehead.
He took in the way her eyes rimmed red, as she asked if he is alright. His throat hurts as he answered with an affirmative. Legs ache, he pushed himself up and made his way to the sofa. His muscle feels sore as he removed his coat and suit jacket. His shirt stuck to his back and armpit and he reminds himself to send both article to the dry cleaner when he realized how sweaty he got.
“Sit properly, here have some water.”
Looking up, he saw Lieutenant Han hands him a glass of water.
“Thank you.” It took him a moment before he could process the fact that she is here in his home. “How did you get in?”
Her eyebrows rose at the question silently asking “Do you even need to ask me that question?”
His lips quirk up. Seeing that, she sighed before her lips mirrored his. He registered that facial expression as a faint smile. Slowly she reached out her hand, his jaw cradle between her hands
Before he realized what he was doing, his lips meet hers.
And when she asked “Is this ok?” all he can say is “Yes.”
Dutifully, after being scolded for almost an hour, he pulled out his notebook and starts jotting down notes as directed by Mr Kang. Almost a reminiscence of his apology letter incident, he hunched over Mr Kang’s desk to write down the advice on things which he needs to prepare for the pregnancy and baby.
“Did you write down about the prenatal vitamins?”
“Yes.”
“Remember folic acid. It is important. She will need to take it every day. She is supposed to take it even one month before getting pregnant, but like a pair of teenagers you got pregnant without planning for it.” Again, Mr Kang got himself side-tracked as he continues to nag. “Folic acid is important. It prevents birth defect in the baby. What else? Baby car seat. Find a good one, it’s ok to spend a lot on it. If you are not sure which one to get, you can text me the brand later.”
They sat in silence for a moment as the sound of him scribbling down notes filled the room.
Looking at the young man slouching at the edge of his table, he sighed. “Si-Mok ah, marrying her will be good for her and the baby. Our society didn’t look kindly on a single mother, and she has a risky job. If anything happens to her, the baby will go into the system and be sent to the orphanage. You will have no legal right to the baby. Think about it, will you? I know you can’t say ‘no’ to her request, but lie to her. Just say that you care for her, you love her. It is kinder for her.”
Kang Won-Cheol watched the way Hwang Si-Mok purse his lips, the stubborn way he set of his jaws and knows he did not agree with his suggestion. Knowing a losing battle, when he saw it, he sighed and waved him away. “Just go, do whatever you think best Si-Mok.”
Hwang Si-Mok really don't know how to say 'no' to Han Yeo-Jin.
Taking in mind of Mr Kang’s advice, he stopped by the 24 hours pharmacy and bought two bottles of folic acid. As advised by the pharmacy, he bought an additional bottle of iron and omega-3 supplement.
As he climbed up to her house, he reminds himself to ask his tenant to vacate his apartment. In a few month time, she will have a difficulty of climbing up the stairs.
When she protested, for the first time in a long while, he said ‘no’ to her.
The investigation on the Prime Minister took him three months to solves with many invested parties butting in to protect their interest. When he is done with the investigation, Han Yeo-Jin is in her second trimester. He packed his belonging, checked that she still has plenty of prenatal vitamin with her, double-check on the next doctor’s appointment date.
The silent and constant ache in his chest is now back every time he looks at the calendar.
“Si-Mok ah, what else do you need to pack?” called Yeo-Jin from her bedroom.
Turning back, he sighed. “Please don’t carry anything heavy and I’ll pack your things for you.”
“It’s ok, it is not that heavy, and I already finished packing.”
“No. You can help me by taking your vitamin. You forgot to take it this morning.”
A loud sighed was his only reply.
And his lips quirk into a smile.
"Our child."
“If I say that I like the words ‘our child’, would it be a good enough reason for me to marry you?”
He looks down to see her looking at him with wide eyes.
Shock, his mind supplies him. She is shocked by his words.
“Why?”
He found himself unable to answer the question. The thing about Han Yeo-Jin is that she rarely pushed him for the answer, most of the time content with accepting his silent as it is. This time is no different. Somehow, she must have found her answer somewhere in his eyes because she gave out a low chuckled.
“Yes. I guess liking the words ‘our child’ is a good enough reason.”
Silent fills the small room. Thinking that she must have fallen asleep, he pulled up the duvet, tucking it around her frame. He pulled away when she suddenly open her eyes; even in the dark, he recognized the teasing look in her eyes, “But you know Si-Mok ah, the proposal could be better. You should bring me out for sushi before proposing.”
Automatically the reply tumbled out from his lips, “No. You can’t be having sushi.”
And she laughed.
That Monday he registered his marriage to Han Yeo-Jin in Seoul City Hall.