Good Night, Brother! - Chapter 9.11

“Yeah?”

“Stop spouting nonsense and get dressed. We’re going to be late for the hospital.”

“I told you, I’m not going to the hospital! Why doesn’t anyone listen to me?”

“You think I called the boys for nothing? Are you going to let them drag you there, or will you go on your own?”

In the end, he chose to walk to the hospital himself.

However, like a reluctant cow being led to slaughter, he balked at the entrance and had to be lightly pushed inside.

Even on a weekday, the university hospital was packed, and their father’s appointment was delayed by over an hour.

Watching their parents disappear into the consultation room, Eun Hyun and Yi Hyeon sat in the waiting area, silently hoping for good news.

A while later, their father emerged, laughing uncontrollably despite being smacked on the back by their exasperated mother.

Eun Hyun couldn’t tell if the results were good or if his father was laughing out of shock. Rising awkwardly, he broke his long silence to ask,

“Dad… what’s the verdict?”

“They said it’s not stomach cancer. It’s a gastric ulcer.”

Their mother, still scowling, added,

“A gastric ulcer? So it was a misdiagnosis?”

“Yeah. The doctor said ulcers can look similar to cancer under an endoscope.”

“How could they mistake it for stage 4 cancer and put us through all this stress?”

“They even showed me photos of advanced cancer to explain the similarities. But thank goodness it’s not cancer.”

“That’s true… So, what about the ulcer?”

“I just have to take the prescribed medication and go back in two months.”

As the family processed the news, Yi Hyeon approached his father.

“Dad, are you feeling okay now?”

His father’s laughter faded, replaced by a faint blush as he adjusted his glasses. Clearly embarrassed by his earlier dramatics, he cleared his throat and replied,

“Of course, I’m fine. Honestly, I knew deep down it wasn’t cancer. Our family’s got strong genes.”

At this, both Eun Hyun and his mother exchanged looks of exasperation.

To celebrate the good news, they stopped by a porridge shop for a late lunch. With each spoonful of pumpkin porridge, their father made exaggerated sounds of appreciation, earning glares from his wife.

As they finished, their father wiped his mouth with a tissue and began,

“By the way, you two…”

Sensing danger, Eun Hyun quickly interrupted.

“Dad, no take-backs on what you already agreed to.”

“…That’s not what I was going to say.”

“Then what is it?”

“Do you… have the confidence to become a dad?”

“Yes, I’m confident.”

“I don’t know.”

The two responses, carrying completely opposite meanings, intertwined in the air as though they were one.

“Jeong Eun Hyun, are you trying to be a dad without even being prepared?”

“…….”

Then what am I supposed to do? This wasn’t even a planned child. It took so much effort for me to accept this baby’s existence. Dad doesn’t even understand.

Jeong Eun Hyun, inwardly venting his frustrations, rolled his eyes and pouted his lips in displeasure. Seeing his son’s reaction, Jeong Chae Hyun confessed his true feelings.

“…Honestly, I wasn’t confident either.”

At the unexpected words, Jeong Eun Hyun’s eyes widened.

“No matter how much we planned… when your mom told me she was pregnant with you, I was happy, but it also felt like my entire world went dark.”

“No, I’m the one who went through the pain of giving birth, so why does your vision go dark?”

Hearing his wife’s scolding tone, as though she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, Jeong Chae Hyun drooped his eyebrows in disappointment.

“It’s scary, you know. Becoming a father and taking responsibility for a life…”

“Why do you have to think about it so seriously?” their mother interjected. “Kids, once you give birth, you just raise them. Don’t be so afraid. Life is all about trial and error.”

“Uh… Mom?”

At her words, which sounded like she had already accepted the baby as a reality, both Yi Hyeon and Jeong Eun Hyun turned their gazes to their mother. Neither of them expected her approval to come today.

“Mom, are you really okay with this? Is it… okay to have the baby?”

“I even had a dream about the baby for you, so how can you say not to have it?”

My mother sighed at the end of her words and looked away.

A dream about giving birth? Jeong Eun Hyun felt even dizzier as the overwhelming sense of reality hit harder than when they first discovered they were pregnant. Their father immediately began questioning their mother.

“What? Honey, you had a dream about the baby? And you didn’t tell me? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Should I tell the person who was making a fuss about dying from stomach cancer that I had a dream about giving birth?”

“Mom, what kind of dream did you have about me?”

In Yi Hyeon’s eyes, which had been quietly following the family’s conversation, a sudden spark of curiosity flickered. Their mother rolled her eyes upward, as if visualizing the dream, and began to recount it.

“I was strolling through an endless peach orchard. After walking for a while, I came across this enormous peach tree. I stood under it, and the wind blew fiercely, scattering peach blossom petals like snowflakes. It was so beautiful that I couldn’t look away. Then, suddenly, a huge peach fell into my skirt. I picked it up and handed it to Eun Hyun, and you smiled so happily, remember?”

Yi Hyeon covered his mouth with both hands in awe, while Eun Hyun, unable to handle the embarrassment, let out a groan.

“The peach was enormous, shining golden like a baby’s bottom. I wonder what kind of person this child will grow up to be…”

“Ah, Mom, stop it…”

“Why stop? I want to hear more, Mom,” Yi Hyeon interjected eagerly.

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