She decided to make him react.
That was the goal.
Ha-rin leaned against the arm of the sofa, watching him scroll through his phone like nothing in the world could disturb him.
"…You're really annoying," she said.
"Yes."
"…I'm serious."
"Yes."
She clicked her tongue.
First attempt.
She stepped closer and leaned over his shoulder.
"…What are you looking at."
"News."
"…Anything interesting."
"No."
Nothing.
She straightened and crossed her arms.
Okay. That didn't work.
Second attempt.
She reached out and flicked his forehead.
"…Hey."
"That was unnecessary," he said.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
How is he still like this.
Third attempt.
She walked around and sat beside him—too close. Their shoulders touched.
"…You know," she said casually, "…normal people react when someone invades their personal space."
"I have adjusted," he replied.
"…You adjusted away?"
"No."
She glanced down.
Their shoulders were still touching.
Why is my heart beating faster and not his.
Fourth attempt.
She reached out and fixed his collar slowly. Very slowly.
"…You're crooked."
"I am not."
"Yes, you are."
She leaned in closer while fixing it.
"…Better."
"Thank you."
That was it.
Just "thank you."
She stared at him.
Unbelievable.
Final attempt.
She grabbed his wrist.
That finally made him look at her.
"…What are you doing," he asked.
"Last try," she muttered.
"What."
She didn't answer.
She pulled his hand toward her—
—and placed it against her stomach.
For half a second, her brain didn't catch up.
"…Look," she said lightly, forcing the words out, "…this is your father's hand."
Silence.
"…Our baby is growing well."
The words landed.
And immediately—
Why did I say that.
Her breath caught.
Why did I say it like that.Why did I say it at all.
She looked at his face.
His calm was gone.
His eyes were wide.His jaw tight.His ears—red.
Very red.
His hand twitched.
He didn't pull away.
He couldn't.
"…You—" he started, then stopped.
His breathing was uneven.
Oh no.
I broke him.
"…You're flustered," she whispered.
"…Yes," he said.
That single word made her heart drop.
He admitted it.
Her face burned.
I crossed a line.I crossed it and didn't even notice.
She suddenly realized—
His hand.Her stomach.How close they were.
Idiot.
She yanked his hand back.
"…I'm sorry!" she blurted. "…I was teasing— I didn't think— I just wanted you to react—"
He stood up too fast.
"…Don't," he said, turning away slightly. "You did nothing wrong."
"…I embarrassed you."
"Yes," he admitted. "But not in a bad way."
That somehow made it worse.
Her face felt like it was on fire.
I made him like this.I really did.
"…I'll never tease you again," she muttered.
"That is unlikely," he replied automatically.
She groaned.
"…This is a disaster."
A cough echoed from the hallway.
"…Am I interrupting," his father asked.
They both froze.
His parents stood there.
Watching.
My father looked at his son.
Then at Ha-rin.
Then at the distance between them.
"…Interesting," he said.
"…What's interesting," his mother asked.
"…The atmosphere."
Ha-rin stood straight instantly.
Act normal.Please act normal.
"…We were just talking," she said.
"…Talking," his mother repeated, smiling.
My father glanced at his son's face.
"…Why are you red."
"…It's warm," he replied.
"…Inside," his mother added.
Ha-rin wanted to disappear.
This is my fault.All of it.
"…I was teasing," she said quietly.
His mother nodded.
"…And?"
"…It went wrong."
My father smiled.
"…That usually means it worked."
That did not help.