I opened the door.
My mother stepped inside, took one look at the apartment, and smiled.
That smile meant she already knew something.
She set her bags down neatly, then looked past me.
Her eyes landed on Ha-rin.
She didn't gasp.She didn't shout.
She simply nodded once.
"So," she said calmly, "it's true."
Ha-rin stiffened.
Before she could speak, I stepped forward.
"Mother," I said. "Let me explain."
That made her pause.
She looked at me instead.
I rarely asked for the floor.
I didn't waste it.
"There was a medical error," I said. "At a clinic."
The room went quiet.
My father stopped breathing properly.
My mother's expression changed — not to anger, but focus.
"The responsibility is mine," I continued."Not hers. Not the agency. Not circumstance."
Ha-rin turned sharply toward me.
I didn't look at her.
"She did nothing wrong," I said evenly."And I will not allow anyone to suggest otherwise."
My mother studied my face for a long moment.
"…You're serious," she said.
"Yes."
"Completely?"
"Yes."
Silence stretched.
Then my mother exhaled.
"Sit," she said.
I sat.
She turned her attention to Ha-rin, her voice softer now.
"You don't have to explain anything," she said."My son already did."
Ha-rin blinked.
"…You're not angry?"
"Angry?" my mother repeated. "No."
She glanced at my father.
"If anything, I'm surprised it took this long for something unusual to happen in this family."
"That's not comforting," my father muttered.
My mother ignored him.
She faced Ha-rin fully now.
"You're carrying my grandchild," she said calmly."But you're also a young woman who didn't ask for this situation."
Ha-rin's ears turned red.
"I—"
"You don't have to," my mother said gently."I raised a quiet son. I know what responsibility looks like."
She glanced at me.
"You're handling this," she said. "Clumsily. But sincerely."
"I accept that assessment," I replied.
Ha-rin looked between us, overwhelmed.
"…You're really okay with this?"
My mother smiled.
"I'm not okay with the world finding out yet," she said."But inside this house? Yes."
She picked up her bags again.
"I'll stay," she added. "For now."
Ha-rin panicked.
"…Stay?"
"Yes," my mother said matter-of-factly."Someone needs to make sure you eat properly."
"I can eat on my own!"
"I'm sure," my mother replied. "You'll still eat better with supervision."
Ha-rin turned to me, eyes wide.
"…You planned this."
"I prepared for this," I corrected.
"…I hate that difference."
My mother smiled knowingly.
"You're flustered," she said to Ha-rin. "That's normal."
She paused, then added, kindly,
"And you're safe here."
Ha-rin froze.
Something in her expression softened.
"…Thank you," she muttered.
My mother nodded once, satisfied.
"Good," she said. "Then let's start with dinner."
She looked at me.
"You," she added, "are on dish duty."
"Yes."
Ha-rin stared.
"…Your family is terrifying."
"Yes," I said.
But for the first time—
She didn't look like she wanted to run.