How to Have a Baby Secretly

The place the real estate agent led him to was a quiet neighborhood lined with houses. The agent guided Sunwoo all the way to the innermost part of the area.

The first thing that caught his eye was the glimmering blue sea beyond a low stone wall. Sunwoo’s steps naturally gravitated toward it.

“Wow…”

Beyond the wall, the waves rolled in a deep blue rhythm, and white foam crashed against the rocks. Sunwoo hadn’t expected the ocean to be this close, and he couldn’t hide his excitement.

The agent watched Sunwoo, who was mesmerized by the view, before starting the explanation.

“It’s an old house, built 70 years ago. But don’t worry—it’s been completely remodeled inside.”

Only then did Sunwoo shift his gaze to the house.

The single-story home already left an impression, with a roof painted a rich blue like the autumn sky and walls so clean they looked freshly washed. One side of the wall even had a mural of the Jeju sea.

“It’s beautiful…”

Sunwoo turned his attention to the yard, which he hadn’t noticed earlier.

The ground was covered with gray cement, but beneath the basalt stone wall was a small garden patch.

It was overgrown with summer flowers and weeds, yet that untamed look only added to its charm. Beside the garden was an outdoor faucet, and next to it, a white table with two chairs and a parasol. The scene was quaint and welcoming.

“Shall we go inside?”

“Oh, yes.”

Following the agent, Sunwoo stepped inside. As expected of an old house, the doorframe was low.

“Wow!”

But the interior was completely different. Sunwoo’s eyes widened as he took in the space.

“It’s even nicer than the pictures.”

“Right? This house doesn’t photograph well, for some reason.”

“No, even the photos were great. But this place is amazing.”

The cozy, warm atmosphere was something he wouldn’t have fully appreciated without seeing it in person. Sunwoo slowly looked around.

The house was divided into three main areas. The living room and kitchen were at the center, with a bedroom to the left and a bathroom to the right—an efficient, linear layout.

It wasn’t large, but that made it even more ideal for living alone.

“As you can see, it’s already fully furnished and equipped. The previous owners, a married couple, left everything behind when they moved abroad.”

“Does that mean I can use it as is?”

“Of course. If you’d like, you can use everything here—from the furniture to the decorations—without any additional costs.”

That was exactly the kind of answer Sunwoo had been hoping for.

“Perfect. I’d like to keep it as is.”

Noticing how pleased Sunwoo was, the agent’s eyes sparkled.

“You said the price wasn’t an issue, but this place is actually cheaper than others. Honestly, it’s hard to find something like this at this price in this area. The deposit is 10 million won, and the annual rent is 15 million won. Ah, do you know how Jeju contracts work? They’re usually made on a yearly basis, so instead of paying monthly rent, you pay for the whole year upfront.”

While listening to the agent’s thorough explanation, Sunwoo scanned the house again.

The previous owners clearly had great taste. They had arranged the cozy space in a way that didn’t feel cramped, and even the smallest decorations were thoughtfully placed.

The colorful patterns on the bedspread and the decorative fabrics draped here and there made it look like a scene out of an interior design magazine. Sunwoo didn’t feel the need to change a thing.

“No. Not that.”

Suddenly, Sunwoo spoke, cutting off the agent mid-sentence.

‘He seemed ready to decide, but maybe not?’

The agent tilted his head curiously as Sunwoo’s gaze lingered on the bedroom he liked the most.

Through the small window, the sunlight bathed the sea view in a bright glow. It looked more like a framed painting than a window view, and Sunwoo couldn’t take his eyes off it.

“Shall we go look at another house?”

The agent assumed Sunwoo wasn’t going to choose this place and suggested another option.

“It’s about five minutes away by car. It’s on a hill, so the view is even better. What do you think?”

“No. I’ll take this one. But instead of a one-year lease, I want to buy it outright.”

Sunwoo finally tore his eyes away from the window and turned around, smiling faintly.

Despite his refined and gentle features, Sunwoo usually had a blank expression. That slight smile completely transformed his face.

The agent, taken aback for a moment, cleared his throat and spoke again.

“Oh my, our client looks even better when he smiles. But… you want to buy the house?”

“Yes. I really like it. Would that be a problem?”

“Not at all! Actually, this used to be my daughter’s house. If you’re interested in buying it, that’s even better for me. Haha, you’re handsome and bold—I like that!”

The agent patted Sunwoo’s arm in a friendly manner, revealing an unexpected detail about the house’s history. What a coincidence. The very first house Sunwoo saw turned out to be the agent’s daughter’s former home.

Still, it worked out perfectly for Sunwoo, who could now purchase the house right away.

Sunwoo glanced at the agent, who was acting familiar by tapping his arm.

For some reason, this moment reminded him of Kang Jinwook’s strange gaze. He didn’t know why Jinwook’s expression popped into his mind now.

Shaking his head to dismiss the thought, Sunwoo looked around the house again.

“What do you think? Do you like it too?”

Sunwoo absentmindedly rubbed his flat stomach as if speaking to the baby inside.

The baby’s ears hadn’t developed enough to hear, but Sunwoo felt as if it liked the place as much as he did.

“Alright. Let’s make this our home.”

*****

Sunwoo and the agent returned to the real estate office, where they immediately began the paperwork for the contract.

“You made a great decision. Honestly, that house is a real gem. It’s been on the market for a while, and I was always a bit sad no one wanted to buy it.”

“Is that so?”

It was probably just something the agent said to make him feel good, but Sunwoo nodded along politely.

“Yes. People these days prefer new houses. Old homes like that one aren’t very popular. The ceilings are low, and the layout is linear…”

The agent went on and on. It was hard to tell if it was because she was excited about closing the deal or if she was just naturally talkative. Either way, Sunwoo quietly listened.

He usually had a sharp and assertive personality, but he tended to soften when dealing with middle-aged women. It reminded him of his mother. Though his mother had never been particularly chatty, something about this woman stirred that memory.

Because of that, Sunwoo let her ramble for quite some time.

“Anyway, my house isn’t far from yours. If you need anything, feel free to reach out anytime.”

“Thank you.”

Sunwoo gave a brief nod and gathered his luggage. The kind agent even offered him a ride and dropped him off right at his new home.

Dragging his suitcase into the yard, Sunwoo looked around again. The house was just as striking as before.

“You like it too, don’t you?”

He gently rubbed his stomach as he spoke. Then, he pulled the ultrasound photo from his pocket and held it up.

It was a silly gesture, as if he were showing the house to the baby, who was still no bigger than a bean.

“Pfft…”

Sunwoo chuckled at himself but then quickly sobered, his expression turning wistful.

‘Did my mom feel like this too?’

Sunwoo’s mother had been a single mom. No family, no relatives, and no father’s name or face to speak of.

She’d simply said she moved to Seoul to earn money after finding out she was pregnant with him.

Their home had been a tiny, dimly lit semi-basement where sunlight barely reached.

His mother was always busy, and it was rare to see her face. The image Sunwoo remembered most vividly was her exhausted, sleeping figure.

Still, Sunwoo had no doubts that his mother loved him. He’d felt it in the gentle way she stroked his hair while he slept.

Even if she couldn’t cook warm meals for him in the mornings like other moms or attend his school events, she never failed to call his teachers to check on him.

Sunwoo had loved her deeply.

As Sunwoo stepped inside, he found the house bright and airy, thanks to the large windows in the living room.

“Ah, it’s so nice.”

He parked his suitcase against the wall and took another look around. It was still perfect.

Was this what people meant by love at first sight? He wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to use that phrase for a house, but that’s exactly how he felt.

“Alright! Let’s clean up first. Can’t settle in without tidying up.”

Sunwoo went through the house, opening all the windows—the small one in the kitchen, the large one in the living room, the bedroom window, and even the one in the bathroom.

A breeze poured in from every direction, quickly refreshing the air inside.

Despite his earlier resolve to clean, Sunwoo found himself sitting in the spot where the wind felt best.

Doing absolutely nothing and just feeling the breeze somehow felt completely fine.

As he stared blankly out at the yard, it suddenly hit him—he hadn’t contacted Kang Jinwook yet.

He hadn’t even texted him at lunchtime, so it was probably about time he did.

“What a hassle…”

For someone who had never been in the habit of checking in with others, having to report his whereabouts every day—sometimes multiple times—was incredibly tedious.

Of course, he didn’t mind work-related calls, whether with editors, online bookstores, or platform managers. But personally?

He’d never been close enough to anyone to maintain that kind of communication.

To be honest, he wasn’t even close to Kang Jinwook. If anything, wouldn’t it be better for both of them to have no contact at all?

Yet, for some reason, Jinwook seemed oddly determined to stay in touch.

At that moment, Sunwoo’s phone buzzed on the living room table.

Bzzzz. Bzzzz.

He grabbed it and checked the screen.

It was Kang Jinwook.

“Ah.”

What the hell? Was he eavesdropping or monitoring him?

Glaring at the phone, Sunwoo finally sighed and answered.

“Hello?”

—Did you get there safely?

A low voice came through the speaker. Maybe it was just his imagination, but Jinwook’s tone seemed softer than usual.

Was this another side of him that Sunwoo had never noticed?

No way. He must’ve been imagining things.

“Yes…”

Sunwoo kept his response short, despite already having arrived hours ago, signed the contract, and even finished cleaning.