Chapter 192: Defective Product
"What does it feel like to become a father?
Perhaps in a few hours, Yuki and I would undoubtedly become parents to a child. However, even then, the reality hadn't quite sunk in.
After receiving a call from Yuki's mother stating that Yuki had been taken in an ambulance, my mind was flooded with countless thoughts as we headed to the hospital.
December 24, 1994. 5:30 in the morning.
I tapped the steering wheel anxiously as I halted at the red traffic light.
Though the roads were quiet due to the early hour, every time I attempted to accelerate in haste, my mother's voice from our recent conversation echoed in my ears.
"Yuki has safely arrived at the hospital and entered the delivery room. Don't rush, take it slow. Drive carefully..."
Right. There's no need to act hastily; it could lead to trouble if an accident were to happen.
I waited patiently at the empty intersection until the traffic light turned green and then gently pressed on the accelerator.
A while later, as I reached the hospital, I hurriedly parked the car and dashed into the building.
Fortunately, a nurse on duty immediately escorted me to the delivery room, sparing me the need to navigate the hospital halls.
"Junhyuk, you're here?"
Yuki's father and mother, who had been pacing outside the delivery room, rushed over and grasped my hand as soon as they saw me.
"How is Yuki?"
"It's been about an hour now, and we're expecting news..."
Yuki's mother, in her haste, had slipped on her slippers and hurriedly rushed out. Though she had asked me to take it slow, it seemed like she was quite flustered herself.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't be by Yuki's side due to work..."
"Being a family means supporting each other in times like these."
Yuki's father patted my shoulder, trying hard to smile. Yet, even he, who always seemed cheerful, appeared tense at that moment. Perhaps my immediate arrival was some comfort to both of them.
Occasionally, amidst the sounds of Yuki's groans from the delivery room, Yuki's mother clasped her hands together, silently praying.
For a grandmother, though the baby was just that, Yuki's health was of utmost importance...
How much time had passed?
Even after my arrival, Yuki continued to groan for over an hour, puzzling us parents. Was it normal for a baby to take this long to arrive?
I never imagined that one hour could feel this long...
And then it happened. From inside the delivery room, we heard faint cries, and Yuki's groans subsided.
"Is it over...?"
The three of us anxiously stared towards the delivery room, with nothing else to do but swallow hard.
Moments later, a doctor in green scrubs and a mask emerged from the delivery room.
"Doc... How are the mother and baby?"
In response to Yuki's mother, the doctor, removing their mask, smiled faintly and nodded.
"You have a princess resembling her mother. Both mother and baby are healthy, so you can breathe a sigh of relief."
"Ah... Thank goodness."
Yuki's mother slumped into a chair in the waiting room, placing her hand on her forehead in a gesture of relief.
After a brief nod of acknowledgment towards us, the doctor vanished somewhere, and we continued to linger outside the delivery room until Yuki emerged.
Thanks to the doctor's words, both Yuki's father and mother seemed visibly brighter.
"Junhyuk, congratulations."
"Thank you, Father-in-law..."
"It's a daughter. Aren't you disappointed?"
"Not at all. I think having a daughter is even better than a son."
"If you think so, we're grateful... But why is it taking so long? Is something wrong?"
At that moment, just as Yuki's father voiced his concern, the door to the delivery room flung open, and nurses wheeled Yuki out on a gurney.
Drenched in sweat, she emerged from the delivery room, and I cautiously approached, holding Yuki's hand.
"You've been through a lot..."
Yuki, with sweat glistening on her forehead, weakly smiled while lying on the bed, looking at me.
"According to the doctor, our daughter resembles both you and me."
"I heard from the doctor. They said she looks more like you than me?"
"In my eyes, her eyes are just like yours. Haha... Ah... It's exhausting."
Even though she must have been exhausted, seeing her smiling weakly for us who had waited made her look incredibly endearing.
Perhaps sensing Yuki's feelings, her mother gently brushed her sweaty hair off her forehead and embraced her cheeks.
"Oh dear, our daughter has been through so much."
"Mom... How did you give birth to me? Honestly, I think having a second child might be tough... It was so hard..."
Yuki, touched by her mother's touch, spoke tearfully.
"It's okay. You did well, our daughter... Now that you're a mother, how about not crying like a child?"
"Yeah... But your hand is so warm, Mom..."
With tears in her eyes, Yuki held her mother's hand against her cheek.
Isn't this what maternal love is all about?
At that moment, Yuki's father, who stood beside me, grabbed my shoulder tightly and muttered.
"Sigh... At times like this, men like us don't know how to handle it, do we? Useless. Utterly useless..."
"That's true..."
&
A child was born.
And on Christmas Eve, the day the whole world celebrates joyously...
This child, born in the winter, had skin as pure and white as snow.
The most delicate and innocent being in the world...
Hence, I felt like dedicating my entire life to protect her.
The child was named Kang Seolhyun, taking after Yuki's name 'Seol' and my wish for her to become a wise child, adding 'Hyun' to create the name 'Kang Seolhyun.'
It might be a name somewhat difficult for Japanese people to pronounce, yet Yuki seemed to like the name. She chuckled as she gazed at the baby in the incubator through the glass wall.
"Solhyun... Ah, our little one. Look here, Mommy is here. Peek-a-boo~"
As expected, it seemed to be quite a difficult pronunciation for a Japanese person. Still, Yuki appeared to be making considerable efforts to correctly pronounce 'Seolhyun.'
Seeing Yuki gazing at Seolhyun through the glass, tapping gently, I realized that even she, who always seemed youthful, had now become a mother to a child.
Ring ring ring~ Ring ring ring~
Startled by the sudden phone ringing, I quickly moved away from Yuki's eyes and hurriedly answered the call.
"Director... No, Mr. Director~!! Is the baby born safely?"
Aside from Hayashi's voice over the phone, several other voices from the surrounding people were also audible.
It seemed that all the Pentagon staff were curious about Yuki and the baby's news.
"Uh, she was born at 6:52 in the morning."
"Ohh!! Is it a prince? Or a princess?"
"It's a daughter. Her name
is Kang Seolhyun."
"Kang Sol... What?"
"Seol...hyun."
"So...lun...?"
... It's not too late to change the name now, is it?
Hearing Hayashi's excitement through the receiver about Yuki's delivery, the jubilant cheers of the employees echoed as if happiness were overflowing.
Glancing at my wristwatch, I queried Hayashi, "Isn't it quite hectic now? How's the response to 'Gift from the Gods'?"
"Somewhat mixed. The prepared cartridges sold out entirely, and currently, only users utilizing terminal downloads remain. Yet, due to the desire to possess it, most are waiting for the secondary batch... "
"What...? It's barely 3 p.m., and the initial 1,500 units are already gone!?"
"It seems the free trial we distributed in October caught the attention of even those unfamiliar with gaming. Today alone, over 500 units of Laon's main console were sold exclusively at Pentagon Shop."
Typically, upon the release of an anticipated or somewhat renowned game series, it propels the corresponding hardware. However, 'Gift from the Gods' showcased record-breaking sales for a single IP.
From the moment the limited edition, exclusively reserved at Pentagon Shop, closed reservations in less than half a day, I sensed something exceptional. But this much? Unimaginable.
"Let's tidy up here first and then pay a visit to the hospital with the CEO."
"Huh...? No, no. Today, Yuki needs rest, so could we go later with the employees?"
"Ah, true, that's valid."
"Today, I'll just take solace in thoughts. Thank you. Everyone's worked hard, so leave early today."
"Yes. Understood. We'll visit soon then."
Concluding the conversation with Hayashi, I slipped my substantial cellphone into my waistband and returned to Yuki.
"From the company?"
"Yes. Hayashi sends his congratulations."
"Are the staff coming to the hospital right now? That's a surprise. I'm looking quite swollen, you know!?"
"Don't worry. They were asked to come later to avoid overwhelming you."
"Phew~ That's a relief."
"Well then, since we've seen Seolhyun too, let's go in and rest now. Okay?"
"I keep wanting to look at her more and more, what should I do..."
Yuki struggled to redirect her persistent steps, finally making her way back to the ward with me.
Since her father and mother had returned home to gather necessities for her hospitalization, besides Yuki and me, no one else was in the room.
Supporting Yuki's arm, I helped her settle on the bed, where the nurse had prepared porridge as a snack.
It was a specially arranged meal at the hospital for the mother who hadn't eaten anything since morning and had only taken naps.
Later on, as the nurse left after checking Yuki's health, leaving warm porridge on a makeshift table on the bed, Yuki remarked, "I was really hungry, this is great."
Seeing the porridge, she licked her lips and, looking at me, said, "Quickly feed me. My hands are weak because of Seolhyun. So, quickly aah~"
The sunset's glow outside the window...
Though it was not even 4 p.m., the winter's swift dusk painted the sky in golden hues, an uncommon occurrence due to the season.
With a slight parting of her lips, almost like a fledgling bird asking its mother for food, she closed her eyes, waiting, as if beckoning, and I leaned forward, touching my lips to hers.
Startled, she flinched for a moment, but then Yuki, aligning herself with my lead, gently embraced me.
"What are you doing in the hospital?"
"What's wrong... it's just kissing my girl."
"I haven't even brushed my teeth..."
Lightly caressing her slightly embarrassed cheek, I turned her face towards me and once again delicately sought her lips.
"Ah... Junhyuk."
As she called my name with a whispery voice, while I held her close and felt her warmth...
Suddenly...
The door to the ward swung open, and her parents stepped in.
"Oh my, our son-in-law. So impatient. Already planning for the second one?"
"Mom, knock... it's... embarrassing."
"Alright, alright. Let's challenge for a second child like this~!!"
Blushing furiously at her parents' teasing, Yuki and I lowered our heads in unison.
Of all times to come in... hahaha...
"Kang, go in now. You've probably been working till dawn and then rushed here. Go, take a shower and rest. I'll be here with Yuki."
"No, it's okay."
"What's okay about it? Your clothes are all crumpled up... go, change, have a good sleep, and come to the hospital tomorrow morning. You don't have to go to work tomorrow, right?"
"Ah, yes... that's fine."
"Then, go in and rest."
"You must be tired too, Mom..."
"I'll take care of Yuki here. Don't worry about me..."
Agreeing with her mother-in-law, Yuki smiled.
"Yeah. I have things to discuss with Mom today. You go in and rest first."
"Hmm... alright, I understand. But I'll come early tomorrow."
"Yes. Thank you for coming today. Take care."
"Yeah. Goodnight..."
&
A while later, returning home, I discarded my suit and slouched onto the couch.
Even Haru, the cat, was at my in-law's place, so the house, in my solitary presence, was exceptionally quiet.
"Was our house always this quiet...?"
Placing my phone on the table absentmindedly, I grew curious about the reactions of players who had tried 'Gift from the Gods.'
"Should I quickly log into the PC communication community?"
>
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