---

I never saw her again after that night. That should’ve been the end of it—just another blurred memory soaked in whiskey and impulsive decisions. I didn’t even ask her name. She left before sunrise, and I let her. Easy. Clean. No strings.

Until now.

I’m sitting at my desk, head pounding from last night’s meeting, when my phone buzzes. Unknown number. I consider ignoring it, but something makes me swipe.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end is quiet. Hesitant.

"Baek Seunghyun... it's Kaori. I don’t know if you remember me. We met... a few months ago."

My hand stiffens around the phone. That name. That voice. The woman with those big blue eyes that stay with you. I remember.

"...Yeah. I remember."

She exhales like she wasn’t expecting me to.

"There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just... I’m pregnant. It’s yours."

Silence.

Pregnant.

Mine?

I lean back in the chair, staring at the ceiling like it’ll give me answers. I’m not the type to panic—but something about this throws me completely off balance. My mind races: a mistake? A trap? Or just fate being cruel?

I don’t say anything for a long moment.

"Where are you?" I ask finally.

Kaori sounds surprised. "Does that mean you’ll—"

"I didn’t say anything yet. Just tell me where you are."

---