The ambulance doors closed, and the paramedics immediately began attending to Seo-yeon.
Yoongi sat beside her, holding her hand tightly.
"Please, I need you to breathe slowly," one of the paramedics instructed.
Seo-yeon squeezed Yoongi's hand as another contraction came.
"Yoongi!"
"I'm here, baby. I'm right here."
"It hurts."
His heart tightened.
"I know. Just hold on a little longer. We're almost at the hospital."
The paramedic checked her condition and spoke to his colleague.
"Her contractions are getting closer. We need to move quickly."
Yoongi looked at Seo-yeon.
"Did you hear that? We'll be there soon."
She nodded weakly, tears running down her cheeks.
He brushed them away with his thumb.
"You're doing well. Just keep looking at me."
He wanted to take her pain away. If there were any way he could exchange places with her, he would have done it without thinking.
But all he could do was hold her hand and pray that she and the babies would be safe.
---
When the ambulance arrived at the hospital, a medical team was already waiting.
The doors opened, and Seo-yeon was immediately transferred onto a hospital stretcher.
"Nine months pregnant, expecting twins. Her water has broken, and she's having contractions," one of the paramedics explained.
The doctors and nurses quickly wheeled her towards the maternity ward.
Yoongi followed closely.
"Sir, you'll have to wait here," a nurse told him when they reached the delivery area.
"But I need to be with her."
"We understand, but the medical team needs space to attend to her. We'll update you as soon as possible."
Seo-yeon reached out towards him.
"Yoongi..."
He quickly held her hand again.
"I'm here, sweetheart."
"Don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
A nurse gently encouraged him to let go so they could take her inside.
Yoongi reluctantly released her hand.
The doors closed.
And just like that, he was left standing outside.
He stared at the closed doors for several seconds before slowly lowering himself into one of the waiting chairs.
His hands were trembling.
He looked down at them, then covered his face.
---
It wasn't long before his parents arrived.
His mother rushed towards him.
"Yoongi!"
He lifted his head.
His father followed closely behind her.
"How is Seo-yeon? Have the babies arrived?"
Yoongi shook his head.
"They took her inside."
His mother sat beside him.
"Have the doctors said anything?"
"They haven't told me anything yet."
His voice sounded strangely distant.
His mother studied his face.
He was pale, almost as white as a sheet. His eyes were red, and his hair was dishevelled. His shirt was slightly wrinkled from the struggle at the warehouse, and his hands were still shaking.
She gently touched his cheek.
"Have you been sitting here all this time?"
Yoongi nodded.
His father placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"She is in good hands. The doctors will take care of her."
Yoongi lowered his head.
"I heard her screaming."
His mother's expression softened.
"When?"
"Before they took her inside. She was in so much pain, Mum."
His voice cracked.
"I wanted to do something. I wanted to help her, but I couldn't."
His mother pulled him into a hug.
"There's nothing you could have done, son. She's receiving the care she needs."
"I wish I could take the pain for her."
He rubbed his face.
"I wish I could be the one going through it instead."
His mother held him tighter.
"Don't think like that. She needs you to be strong for her."
Yoongi nodded, but he couldn't stop looking towards the delivery room.
---
A little later, Mr. and Mrs. Han arrived with the help of one of the hospital staff.
The moment Mrs. Han saw Yoongi, she hurried towards him.
"Yoongi! Where is my daughter?"
He stood up immediately.
"Mother, she's inside. The doctors are attending to her."
Mrs. Han looked towards the delivery room.
"How long has she been inside?"
"Not too long."
Mr. Han approached him.
"Have the doctors said anything about her condition?"
"They haven't given me an update yet."
Mr. Han nodded, although the worry on his face was obvious.
Mrs. Han sat down, holding her husband's hand.
"Please, God. Let my daughter be safe."
Yoongi stood beside them, unable to settle.
His mother noticed and gently guided him back to his seat.
"Sit down for a moment. You've been standing for too long."
"I can't sit, Mum."
"Yoongi..."
"What if something happens?"
His father looked at him.
"Nothing is going to happen. We have to trust the doctors."
Yoongi nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on the doors.
Every few minutes, a nurse passed by.
Each time, he stood up.
"Excuse me, how is she?"
"Is everything okay?"
"Has she started delivering?"
The nurse gave him the same reassuring response.
"The medical team is attending to her. Please be patient. We'll update you when we have more information."
He returned to his seat, only to stand again a few minutes later.
At one point, he approached the nurses' station.
"Please, can someone tell me what's happening inside?"
A nurse looked at him sympathetically.
"Sir, the doctors are with your girlfriend. They're monitoring her and the babies. Please try to remain calm."
"Are the babies okay?"
"They are being monitored. The doctors are doing everything necessary."
"Can I see her?"
"Not at the moment, sir."
He nodded and returned to the waiting area.
His mother watched him with concern.
"Yoongi, come and sit with us."
He sat beside her, but his attention never left the delivery room.
---
Inside the delivery room, Seo-yeon was going through the most difficult experience of her life.
The doctors and nurses were around her, monitoring her condition and guiding her through each contraction.
"Take a deep breath, Seo-yeon," one of the nurses instructed.
She tried to follow the instructions, but another contraction made her cry out.
"I can't! It hurts!"
"You're doing well. Keep breathing. We're right here with you."
Seo-yeon gripped the bedsheet.
"Yoongi..."
The nurse leaned closer.
"Your boyfriend is waiting outside. You can do this, Seo-yeon. Just focus on what we're telling you."
She cried as the pain intensified.
She thought about Yoongi's face when they had found her. She remembered how frightened he had looked when he held her hand in the ambulance.
She wanted him beside her.
She wanted to hear his voice.
"Please..." she whispered.
The nurse gently wiped her forehead.
"You're almost there. Keep going."
---
Outside, Yoongi was no longer able to remain seated.
He stood in front of the delivery room, rubbing his palms together.
Mrs. Han approached him.
"Yoongi, have you eaten anything?"
He shook his head.
"Not hungry, Mother."
"You need to take care of yourself too."
"I'll eat later."
She looked at him for a moment before placing a hand on his arm.
"Seo-yeon is strong. She's going to be okay."
Yoongi nodded.
He wanted to believe every word.
Suddenly, a loud cry came from behind the closed doors.
Yoongi froze.
Everyone turned towards the delivery room.
Another cry followed.
A baby's cry.
Yoongi's lips parted.
"Was that...?"
His mother immediately stood up.
"Was that the baby?"
Nobody answered because they were all waiting for confirmation.
Then another cry filled the corridor.
Yoongi's eyes widened.
There were two babies.
His hand moved to his mouth as his eyes filled with tears.
He couldn't stop staring at the doors.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
A nurse stepped outside, looking around.
"Min Yoongi?"
He immediately moved forward.
"Yes. That's me."
The nurse smiled.
"Congratulations, Dad. Your babies have arrived."
For a moment, Yoongi couldn't speak.
His mother grabbed his arm.
"They're here?"
The nurse nodded.
"Yes. Both babies have been delivered. The medical team is attending to their mother and checking the babies."
Yoongi blinked several times.
"Are they okay? Are all three of them okay?"
"They're receiving the necessary checks. The doctors will give you a proper update shortly."
He nodded quickly.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
His mother burst into tears of happiness and wrapped her arms around him.
"Congratulations, my son!"
His father smiled broadly and patted his shoulder.
"Congratulations, son. You're a father now."
Mrs. Han covered her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"My grandchildren..."
Mr. Han held her close.
"Thank God. Our daughter has delivered."
Yoongi stood quietly, tears falling down his cheeks.
He was a father.
He had two children.
Two little lives he had been waiting to meet.
His mother held his face between her palms.
"You're going to be a wonderful father."
He laughed softly through his tears.
"I just want to see them."
The nurse smiled.
"You'll have the opportunity to see them soon. Please give us a little more time."
Yoongi nodded.
He looked towards the delivery room again, his heart filled with a mixture of relief, excitement and worry.
"Thank you," he whispered.
And this time, when he heard the babies crying, he smiled.