I’m showing now.
It’s still subtle, a small bump under my clothes that could be mistaken for bloat from a big lunch if you weren’t looking closely.
…but it’s undeniably there. It’s my belly growing as the baby does inside me.
My body is changing in ways I can’t hide anymore, which means I’m forced to come clean to my colleagues at Suyeong Academy.
The reaction is overwhelmingly positive and celebratory.
The teachers—both Koreanandexpat—insist on throwing me a modest baby shower after one of our faculty meetings. Kelly spearheads the whole thing, decorating the faculty lounge with pastel streamers and a banner that reads “Baby Ross-Seo is Coming!” in glittery letters.
“I can’t believe you kept this from me for so long,” she says, pulling me into a tight hug while the other teachersgather around with gifts and well-wishes. “I thought we were basically best friends! Best friends tell each other these things!”
“I wanted to wait ’til I was out of the first trimester,” I explain, laughing. “You know, just in case.”
“Well, you’re out now, and I’m officially the self-appointed auntie. That baby is going to be so spoiled, Monroe. Sooo spoiled!”
The gifts are thoughtful and sweet—onesies and blankets and a beautiful hand-knitted hat from one of the Korean teachers who apparently crochets in her spare time.
But the one that surprises me most comes from Mr. Noh.
He approaches me near the end of the little celebration, a small, wrapped box in his hands.
“Miss Ross,” he says, offering it to me with a warm smile. “A small token from my wife and me. For the little one.”
I open it to find a delicate white rattle in the shape of a bunny rabbit that chimes when I shake it.
“Mr. Noh, this is beautiful. You didn’t have to?—”
“It’s my pleasure,” he says, waving off my thanks. “Children are a blessing. I hope this one brings you and your family much joy.”
I become grateful I have Jin’s driver to help me when I emerge from the small gathering with an armful of gifts.
But it’s more than just carrying the baby shower gifts that make me appreciate my new private driver.
My feet ache constantly, swollen and throbbing by the end of each school day. Standing for long periods is becoming more of a challenge. I’ve learned to conserve my energy for the hours I spend in the classroom rather than wasting it on commutes.
The driver Jin arranged is a quiet and prompt man named Sang-cheol. He picks me up each morning and delivers me home in the evening without complaint.
It’s a luxury I never thought I’d need, but pregnancy has a way of humbling you.
Jin has been trying his hardest to be present through all of it. He comes home on time most evenings, and we’ve fallen into a comfortable routine of takeout dinners and K-drama marathons on the couch.
We’re still making our way throughOops, Baby!So-yi has finally told Tae-woong about the pregnancy, and the fallout has been deliciously dramatic.
When I mention to Mom how difficult the pregnancy has been, experiencing symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and body aches, she releases a sympathetic sigh.
“I had a hard pregnancy with you too, Moni. I was swollen and had diabetes and was eventually put on bed rest,” she says over the phone. “Most of the women in our family do. It’s just how we’re built. But you’ll get through it. When you’re holding that little bundle of love in your arms, you won’t remember any of the hard parts.”
I’m choosing to believe her.
Next week, we find out the gender. I’m secretly hoping for a girl. I’ve always wanted a daughter I can dress up and whose hair I can put into cute little puffs.
Jin seems content with either, so long as the baby is healthy.
“Boy or girl,” he says neutrally, “it doesn’t matter. What matters is that they’re safe and healthy.”
I smile and rest my head on his shoulder.
