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Chapter 25: Eunho – May 1, 2025

“Myeong?”

“Hmm?”

“How would you feel about us naming our baby Eunho?”

He turned to look at her.  She was so nervous.  This was important to her, but she could completely understand if he didn’t want to name his son after her first husband.

“I think it’s completely appropriate.”

“What?”  She was shocked.

“I owe a great debt of gratitude to the man.  He is the reason I have you now.  If he had not given his life to save you, you would have died a horrid death the day that man tried to attack you.  Or if Eunho hadn’t told the paramedics to give you his heart, you would have died shortly thereafter.  But Eunho did save you.  For me, as it turned out. 

“Besides,” he grinned, “I named our daughter after my late wife, so it seems only fitting that we name our son after your late husband.  It’s almost poetic, don’t you think?”  That grin turned lopsided now.

She giggled.  “Oh, Myeong!  Speaking of poetic…where has my poetic husband gone to?  Or perhaps, I should say, where has the poetic man who was courting me gone?  I haven’t received nearly as many poems as a married lady as I expected to.  You are working on one for our son for his birthday, right?”

His eyebrows threatened the ceiling.  “I didn’t realize that was a requirement!”

“Oh, it is definitely a requirement.  I cannot think of a more auspicious occasion than the birth of our son, Myeong.  I’m going to expect something absolutely amazing from you.”

He chuckled.  “I guess I better get to work then.  I have only – what? – three months to perfect it?”

“You’re right.  You better start yesterday.”

He smiled at her.  “Come here, you.  I’m going to need a little inspiration.”  He snagged her around the waist and pulled her up against him as his mouth descended to meet her own.

––

Haewon took a deep breath.  “Bada, I want to discuss the baby’s name with you.”

The girl glanced up at her.

“How do you feel about us naming him?”

“Well, you’ve adopted him, so I figured you would name him.”

Haewon nodded.  “How do you feel about the name Eunho?”

Bada’s eyes flew wide open.  “You want to name him Eunho?” she asked breathlessly.

Haewon nodded.  “I do.  It was my late husband’s name.  The one who left me his heart.”

Bada burst into tears.  “Yes!  Please.  Name him Eunho.”

Haewon stared in consternation at her young friend.  “Sweetheart, why are you crying?”

“Because Eunho was my baby brother’s name.  He was born with a heart defect.  He didn’t live very long, but I loved him so much.”

Haewon gaped at her.  “What?” she gasped. 

How on earth?

“Thank you!” Bada burst out and jumped up to engulf Haewon in a hug.  “Thank you for adopting my baby and letting me be a part of his life.  And for naming him after my brother.  And your husband.”  She squeezed Haewon closer to her.

And Haewon remembered what it had felt like to be alone.  To be untouched.  For so long.  She had so many people in her life now that touched her.  Myeong.  Dahui.  Bada.  Nari.  Minha.  Aejeong.  The untouchable girl had been given a new heart.  And along with it, she’d received the ability to be held, cherished, touched. 

She had friends.  She had a family.  She had a husband.  And a daughter.  She did, in fact, have two girls who were like daughters to her.  Bada was in her heart now too.  And soon Haewon would hold a son in her arms.  Life had suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, become very sweet.