I’m Pregnant with My Friend’s Child

Do-jun pushed on the door again, but Woo-jae remained firmly in place, blocking it as if on purpose.

“There’s no need for you to get out. Just stay in the car.”

Do-jun, trying to keep the situation light, forced a polite smile.

“Well, these things happen. I’ll just get the car repaired later. But could you please let me open the door…?”

“You might want to call a tow truck. This needs to be handled properly.”

“It’s really not necessary. It’s just a small scratch. I’ll take it to the shop tomorrow. But for now, could you just let me out…?”

“This is where I’m going.”

Even though Do-jun was three years older, Woo-jae spoke to him with a sharp, casual tone. Yi-jin couldn’t help but wonder if Woo-jae was acting so haughty because of his prestigious background as a former prosecutor. Seeing this raw and unfiltered side of him again after so long felt jarring.

“This is where you’re headed?” Do-jun asked, looking between Woo-jae and Yi-jin, clearly confused. Yi-jin, feeling her face grow warm, turned to Woo-jae and demanded, “Cha Woo-jae, what exactly are you doing here?”

With a smirk, Woo-jae replied, “It’s your birthday today, isn’t it, Yi-jin?”

His tone was gentle, but his eyes were as sharp as a tiger cub’s. He definitely suspected something. He was acting like an overprotective older brother who had seen her almost kiss Do-jun.

“Why are you here on my birthday? I was with Do-jun…”

“Were you on a date?”

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence spread through the parking lot. It was clear that Woo-jae had completely ruined the mood.

“Hajin noona invited me over, so I’m on my way. Should I turn around?”

“My sister? She’s home right now?”

Woo-jae gently touched Yi-jin’s chin, as if calming a puppy.

What’s with this sudden affection?

Uncomfortable under Do-jun’s watchful eyes, Yi-jin quickly slapped Woo-jae’s hand away.

“Why else would I come to your place on your birthday?”

Yi-jin swallowed hard, narrowing her eyes.

That was a close call. She had almost gotten caught dragging a guy she’d only been on one date with to her house on her birthday. Her sister, who was already anxious about everything, could have walked in on the whole scene.

Scratching her head, Yi-jin glanced at Do-jun.

“What do we do now, Do-jun?”

“Ah, well, I guess there’s nothing to be done.”

It seemed Do-jun wasn’t too eager to meet the family of a woman he’d only been on one date with either.

Woo-jae handed his business card to Do-jun, sizing him up from head to toe. It was as if the person who caused the accident was the one in control here.

“Send me the bill for the repairs.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Fine? Look at your face, you’re practically mourning. Don’t make me look like a jerk who doesn’t pay for damages.”

Even though the situation was awkward, Do-jun stayed quiet, not wanting to escalate things. Woo-jae, however, was determined. He shoved his business card into the passenger seat of Do-jun’s car, ignoring his protests.

“Alright, Yi-jin, I’ll be off now.”

“Yes, I’ll contact you later.”

Do-jun, visibly flustered, awkwardly maneuvered his way back to the driver’s seat, legs spread in an ungainly position as he climbed over from the passenger side. Watching him drive off in his car, now streaked with a white scratch, Yi-jin couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him.

Once Do-jun was gone, Woo-jae retrieved a cake and a shopping bag from his car. His own luxury black sedan now had a noticeable scratch on it too. From the looks of it, he had definitely come because her sister, Hajin, had invited him. But why had her sister suddenly planned this surprise? It seemed Yi-jin would be spending her 29th birthday single once again.

Yet something about Woo-jae’s mood felt off. Despite being the one who was angry, it was the way he walked ahead that sent a chill down her spine. Even from behind, she could sense his frustration, and Yi-jin had the sudden feeling that she needed to say something before things got worse.

“Woo-jae, don’t say anything to my sister. Okay?”

She hurried to catch up with him at the apartment entrance, grabbing his arm. The hard, muscular arm under his suit startled her, and she quickly pulled her hand back, as if she had touched something she shouldn’t have.

“What would I say? Did you do something wrong?” he asked, with a smirk.

“What do you mean by ‘wrong’? Don’t say it like that… Anyway, just keep this a secret, okay?”

“A secret? About what? That you went on a date with a client you barely know? That you almost kissed him? Or that you were planning to go all the way?”

“W-what…?”

“Damn it. If you want me to keep quiet, I need to know what the secret even is.”

“How did you even…?”

How does he know?

“Didn’t you say you were meeting Sun-hwa today?”

Ah, Sun-hwa must have told him. I’m screwed. What on earth did she blab to Woo-jae?

“And you even bought a new outfit. Showing off your chest—who’s that for? Why don’t you just walk around with your backside out too?”

Fine. I dressed up a little because I got asked out on a date. What’s the big deal?

I thought Woo-jae wasn’t the type to pay attention to women’s bodies. Turns out, he was watching all along, pretending not to notice.

“You told me you were spending a quiet evening with Sun-hwa. Just two girls catching up, right?”

Well, of course I said that. If I told you I was going on a date with a guy, you’d interrogate me endlessly. It was just a lighthearted date—there’s no need to report every detail to you, with your persistent nature.

We may have been best friends for ten years, knowing each other inside and out, but I didn’t want to show Woo-jae my casual dating life. Especially not if it somehow got back to my sister, who already worries too much and would pester me endlessly if she found out.

Yi-jin could barely move her lips, failing to come up with a defense against Woo-jae’s words. Even though he was her friend, she didn’t want to reveal everything about herself to him.

“It’s not like I’m in a relationship,” she muttered, preemptively confessing, knowing the interrogation that was about to follow.

“Really?”

Woo-jae raised an eyebrow.

“It was just a first date. Yeah, I got a little caught up in the moment. I’ll admit that. I know I shouldn’t be seeing a client, but turning 29 and still being single made me feel a bit restless.”

They stopped in front of the elevator, where Woo-jae tilted his head and asked, “Didn’t you say you were against marriage?”

It was something she’d told him repeatedly over the years.

“Yeah, I still am.”

“So, are you planning to get married now?”

“Who said anything about marriage? Why are you jumping so far ahead? Just because I don’t want to get married doesn’t mean I can’t date. I said I wasn’t getting married, not that I wasn’t going to date.”

“So… you’re dating now?”

“I said no!”

Woo-jae let out a long sigh, as if he finally understood. His Adam’s apple moved slightly as he exhaled, and Yi-jin, frowning, shook her head in frustration.

When they reached her floor, she punched in the door code and entered the apartment. But her sister, Hajin, who was supposed to have arrived first, was nowhere to be seen. In fact, the place was completely empty.

“What’s going on? Where’s Hajin? Is she running late because of the kids?”

Kicking off her shoes, Yi-jin scanned the apartment again. She had expected a surprise, but this wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. Well, it was surprising in its own way.

Feeling drained, she slumped onto the couch. Woo-jae placed the cake on the table.

“What’s with the candles?” Yi-jin grumbled through the quiet, her annoyance clear.

“Can’t you tell? I’m setting the mood.”

There was something off about Woo-jae’s voice—cold and uncharacteristically serious. Did he really think she’d be thankful for lighting the candles when he looked so angry?

“Why?”

“Should we skip the mood and just get to it?” he asked, his voice unsettlingly calm.

“What?”