DASH-Chapter 127

The tone of her voice was so mundane that Ji Hong didn't even understand what Dr. Im was saying about him. He pondered absently that this was the case in ordinary cases, until at last he realized that he himself was this "ordinary case." Confused, he said:

"Uh, wait a minute. I mean, you mean... that I am pregnant now?

-Yes. Judging by the indicators, the implantation has just happened.

Ji Hong was speechless for a moment, not because he couldn't speak, but because there was literally no thought left in his head.

Only after a long time did he ask in a tense voice:

-Are you sure? Is there any possibility that such indicators could be caused by something else?

- For other reasons, there should be no such indicators. HCG is commonly referred to as the implantation hormone. Normally, its level is below 5 mIU/ml, but immediately after implantation, its production increases sharply. Probably, in a week, the analysis will show values of several hundred, and in another week - already in thousands.

Dr. Im spoke peremptorily. For a man who used to express himself in a streamlined way, using phrases like "there is such a possibility" or "one must take into account the possibility of such-and-such", such confidence meant that there could be no doubt.

And yet, Ji Hong, like a drowning man grasping at straws, grasped at his last hope.

- But I took contraceptives...

- The effectiveness of emergency contraception decreases over time.

Dr. Im, apparently out of sympathy, spoke in an emphatically dry tone:

- If you take the drug 40 hours after intercourse, the likelihood of getting pregnant is quite real.

- Yes, but the partner had previously taken GDRS (hormonal regulator of the reproductive system).

Dr. Im finally looked up from the monitor and looked at Ji Hun.

- Partner - alpha?

-I do...

Looking at Ji Hong's pale face, Dr. Im sighed softly. Taking off her glasses and putting them on the table, she rubbed her eyes and said:

- Although the effectiveness of the drug is high, 98% or 99% is still not 100%. In addition, if clutching occurs during estrus, the situation becomes even more ambiguous. The node is not formed during every heat, but only when a certain amount of seminal fluid is ejected. But this applies to ordinary men, that is, bet. In alphas, this volume is several times higher than the average indicators of ordinary men.

- ...

Finally understanding the essence of this long explanation, Ji Hong lowered his head and pressed his hand to his forehead. Dr. Im looked at him sympathetically and continued.

- No matter how much we reduce sperm motility, if their number is several times higher than normal, the probability of successful contraception decreases accordingly.

Ji Hong was silent, still holding his forehead. He did not know what to say or how. I wanted to ask something, but my thoughts were confused. My head was absolutely empty.

-Ha...

After a long time, a laugh like a sigh escaped through half-open lips. Well aware of the meaning of this sigh, Dr. Im tried to give Ji Heon the last thread of hope.

- Still, as a doctor, I must follow the protocol. Now the level of hCG is 23 mIU/ml. With such indicators, the antenatal clinic usually prescribes a second test in a week, since the boundary between pregnancy and its absence is considered to be 25 mIU/ml. Then you'll know for sure.

"At first glance, it seemed that {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} nothing was yet certain, but it was just a formal recommendation. Clean procedure. A second test in a week will not change anything, it is obvious that it will only confirm the pregnancy. And during this time, the fetus will only grow."

From this thought, everything suddenly became real, and a heaviness descended on my heart. Dr. Im began to explain the blood test results in detail, but Ji Hong didn't hear a word. He sat as if in a fog, until the phrase: "In general, be careful, and be sure to go for an examination in a week" - brought him back to reality.

"Oh, yes, all right," he muttered, getting up.

After leaving the hospital, Ji Hong immediately hailed a taxi. Still in shock, he said mechanically:

- To Yeoksam Station in Seoul, please.

And only then did he remember the meeting with his younger sister, hastily asking to change the route.

After the taxi turned around, Ji Hong decided not to think about what was happening to his body anymore. It was scary to think. I'd have to go to the hospital again in a week anyway, so until then I just wanted to pretend I hadn't heard anything. Since the implantation has just happened, it means that only about a week has passed, not months, so you can probably pretend that you don't know anything for a week. In a week, it will still be early enough to make a decision. Whatever it is.

"Yes, I think it's good that I found out about it early. And what did he find out alone, without Jae Kyung."

Having made this decision, he deliberately stared out the window, trying to drive away the obsessive thoughts. I tried to remember this hometown, which had changed a lot, but still remained familiar, signs that had not changed for more than ten years. But even these memories were overshadowed by the image of Kwon Jae Kyung as a schoolboy. Any memories of Ilsan inevitably led to swimming, and the pool was now only associated with young Jae Kyung. And then the thought of a new life born between that child and him naturally appeared.

"There was something strange about it. In the very idea of a child from him and Jae Kyung. Not good or bad, but strange. The more I thought, the less real it seemed, like some kind of fantasy story. When I first realized "I am pregnant", I felt only despair, fear and confusion, but as soon as I thought "this is a child from Jae Kyung and me", it no longer seemed so terrible. Even in the midst of all this stunning, there was some kind of enthusiasm. Although this did not diminish the fear and horror of the very fact of pregnancy."

While Ji Hong, having promised himself not to think, was again lost in thought and sighed heavily, the taxi arrived at its destination. Seeing through the window the sign of the sushi restaurant where the meeting was scheduled, he paid with a card and left.

-Thank you. Happy New Year!

As soon as he said goodbye to the driver and closed the door, he heard from behind:

"Oh, oppa!"

Turning around, he saw Ji Su's younger sister, who was also getting out of the taxi and happily waving her hand.

"Wow, we met right here!"

Ji Su, although surprised, did not approach her brother, but immediately rushed to the restaurant. Ji Hong, looking at his sister's back, which had always remained unchanged, also walked towards the building.

"Are you Jung Ji-so?" We will escort you to the office.

The employee, having checked the reservation, led them to a separate office. It didn't seem to be an expensive restaurant, just a good local place, but surprisingly - all the seats were in separate rooms.

"How did you find out about this place?" Ji Hong asked, taking off his coat.

- Oh, we had a corporate party here. Sashimi is ordinary, but instead of spicy fish soup, chiritan (traditional fish soup) is something incredible.

-Yes...

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Looking at his sister, who had acquired a more refined taste than him in her two years in the police force, Ji Hong muttered this, and Ji Su, pouring water into a glass, said:

"That's right, it's Kwon Jae Kyung's company.

As luck would have it, the name that I least wanted to think about now sounded. Ji Hong suppressed a sigh, hung up his coat and sat down.

"How do you know?"

- I saw an article about him, they mentioned "Spoin".

Ji Su handed her brother a glass of water.

"Oppa, have you seen him?"

Ji Hong wanted to lie that he wasn't, but he realized that the truth would come out anyway when the program "Side by Side with the Enemy" came out, so he answered honestly:

- I supervise it.

"Oh, really?!"

Ji Su's eyes widened in surprise. Ji Hong had expected her to ask about the photos together, but unexpectedly, her sister asked a completely different question.

"Is he really dating Cha Sung-hyun?"

Judging by what she had asked about Cha Sung-hyun first, it seemed that their affair was already considered a fait accompli in society. Ji Hong sighed and took the glass.

-No. They just know each other, and have not seen each other for several months.

-Thank God!

Ji Su laughed with relief.

- Why "thank God"?

"Because I can't stand Cha Sung-hyun.

"What's wrong with him?"

When Ji Hong took a sip of water and put down the glass, Ji Su, as if she was just waiting for it, immediately blurted out.

- Oh, mom every time he appears on TV, she says that he looks like you. She repeats it so often that now he really seems similar, and therefore infuriating.

- ...

"Just kidding," Ji Su smiled belatedly.

Although it looked like he wasn't joking, Ji Hong didn't elaborate. I had neither the strength nor the desire. I just wanted to end the conversation and go home.

As soon as all the dishes were served and the waiter left, he immediately got down to business:

"So where are you going?"

That was the purpose of today's brother and sister meeting six months later. For the New Year holidays, Ji-so was going on a trip with her parents. Ji Hong couldn't go, but agreed to help with money, and they met to discuss the budget.

- Ah, this year the holidays are short, so we won't go far. Mom has long wanted to visit Nha Trang, I think we will go there.

Ji Su took out her phone and showed her brother everything she had found out beforehand: hotels, routes, including the guide.

- The budget is about this...

Without letting her finish, Ji Hong suggested a pre-thought-out option:

"Then I'll pay for the hotel and airfare in full, and you'll cover the costs on the spot."

-A what? For real?

Ji Su's eyes widened, not expecting such a generous offer.

"I feel good, but isn't it too much for you?"

"Since I can't go, at least I'll help you with money."

Ji Su raised her eyebrows, put down her phone, and took a bottle of soju. Pleased with the quick solution to the problem, she generously poured herself into a glass and said:

- Let's go to Chuseok* together this year.

Note: Chuseok (추석) is one of the most important traditional Korean holidays, also known as Korean Thanksgiving. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, usually falling in September or early October according to the Gregorian calendar.

In modern Korea, it is a three-day holiday when Koreans traditionally return to their hometowns to their families, visit the graves of their ancestors, and spend time eating together.

- Chuseok this year... when? In September?

- Yes, in mid-September. By then, the Olympics will be over, so what will be calmer in your company? Moreover, you only have Kwon Jae Kyung participating.

- No, there are others...

Ji Hong muttered with a sigh. Of course, he did not sigh because his sister underestimated the scale of his company. As soon as I heard about September, I involuntarily thought:

"If I'm still pregnant then, it'll be just the ninth month... What a journey it is. There's nothing to think about."

Sighing again, he automatically reached for the chopsticks, but suddenly froze.

"Wait. In September, I... Will I definitely be in the ninth month? Or is this the estimated month of labor? Can you fly in August, during the Olympics? Are they allowed on international flights in the last month?"

Realizing the importance of the question, he put down his chopsticks and grabbed his phone. Going to the Internet, I was confused - I did not know what to look for, but then I remembered some terms and typed:

How to calculate the estimated date of delivery.

Of course, he was not going to give birth. But you had to know. Just to know.