The obstetrics clinic in Seoul.
“Ms. Yoo, do you have any discomfort or pain anywhere?”
“No. I just feel a bit queasy sometimes, that’s all.”
“You may still have morning sickness. You’ll need about another month before you reach the stable period, so don’t overdo it. Walking is fine, but no strenuous exercise.”
“I understand.”
Yoo Sia, curious, asked quietly,
“By the way, you said this week we might be able to find out the gender?”
“It’s not certain. If it’s a boy and we’re lucky, we might see his… anatomy.”
He might show, or he might not.
“And even if it’s a boy, if his genital development is slow, it might not be visible.”
“And if it’s a girl?”
“Then nothing unusual will show.”
The doctor donned gloves and slid the chair back.
“Shall we do an ultrasound?”
Yoo Sia rolled up her top and lay down. Her once slim belly was now just the faintest round shape, like a tiny tadpole.
It was so lovely. Knowing my two children were growing inside made me smile without end.
“All right, let’s look at the first baby on the left.”
I steeled myself and watched the ultrasound screen.
Dizygotic twins form from two separate eggs and two separate sperm, so the embryos are completely distinct—genetically as different as any siblings or twin brother and sister. In other words, their genders are entirely independent.
“Have you chosen nicknames yet?”
“Yes. The first one is Saessaki.”
“Oh, yes. Saessaki looks to be doing well. Can you see the face here?”
“I can clearly make out the eyes, nose, and mouth.”
“Yes. At this stage, the nose and mouth separate, and the brain structure is forming. The internal organs have moved into the abdominal cavity and are practicing digestion.”
“This one is very active—see how it’s swimming around.”
Even that tiny life was breathtakingly beautiful.
“Our Saessaki is so adorable.”
“Oppa, they grow so fast, right?”
“They do…”
Even though we see the ultrasound every week, each time feels profoundly moving.
“Hmm, but I don’t see anything that looks like… you know.”
“No, nothing yet.”
The doctor swiveled the probe, but shook his head.
“Still, it’s not definitive. Shall we check the second baby?”
“Yes.”
Next was our Ssukssuki.
“The second one must be shy—won’t show its face.”
They swiveled around like with Saessaki.
“Hmm…?”
Something appeared between its legs. I urgently pointed with my hand.
“Could that be the anatomy?”
The doctor examined it closely, then smiled and shook his head.
“That’s its arm tucked between its legs. In a cramped womb, they often strike that pose and we mistakenly think it’s anatomy.”
“Ssukssuki must be bashful. Their personalities are totally different.”
“So…”
“For now, neither shows anatomy, but that doesn’t guarantee they’re not boys.”
Sadly, we still couldn’t determine the genders.
“At fifteen weeks, it will be certain?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Three more weeks until then—a thrilling wait.
“I’ll say it again: I’ll be happy whether it’s boys or girls.”
I squeezed Yoo Sia’s hand.
“I just hope they look like you, Sia.”
But despite my words,
“They’ll be boys anyway.”
Yoo Sia spoke as if it were already decided.
“No daughter could ever come of our family.”
I still thought it was fifty-fifty, but Yoo Sia seemed certain—her view was closed on this matter, though she was open-minded otherwise.
“But what if they’re girls?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I’d probably want to have a party.”
“…A party?”
“Yes. Grandfather said he wanted daughters.”
“That’s right… he said he wants twin daughters in his arms.”
Yoo Sia thought for a moment, then chuckled as if she could picture it.
“And if our family has a daughter, it’s a huge celebration.”
“Not loving a son?”
“In our Yoo clan, sons are a given.”
“But to carry on the name, you need a son.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
She spoke with conviction.
“There are already so many male heirs—our cousins and my nephews.”
“That’s true…”
“Grandfather has always been consistent—always talking about daughters.”
“Really…?”
I knew her family cherished her, but I hadn’t realized it was that much.
“If they’re daughters…” Yoo Sia spoke half-confidently,
“I think Grandfather will grant permission immediately.”
A field bursting with flowers. Beyond it, a stream flowed into a small waterfall.
“Grandfather!”
It was Yoo Sia. The twenty-four-year-old radiated pure, refreshing energy as she splashed through the water. She smiled brightly and waved to Yoo Jin-gap.
Entranced, he approached her. Normally he avoided water, but today he felt no resistance.
He stepped into the cool water—it was perfectly refreshing, and he couldn’t help but smile.
No other distractions—just grandfather and granddaughter on a joyful outing.
“Grandfather!”
Yoo Sia pointed at the waterfall.
Splash! Splash!
Then—clang!
A koi leapt several meters into the air above the water. Its beautiful, brocade-like scales gleamed as it soared, then whoosh whispered down into Chairman Yoo’s waiting arms.
That alone brought a bright smile to his face, but it wasn’t over.
“Grandfather, behind you!”
He turned to see a fawn—no horns yet, chubby and spotless—its shining eyes fixed on him. It bounded forward and flop! collapsed into his arms.
He felt happiness so immense he wanted to lie down right there in the water—until—
blink
“…?”
He woke to a familiar ceiling.
Of course—it was a dream.
“Ah…”
Strangely, though he’d awakened, the smile remained on his lips, and the dream’s joy lingered in his heart.
More importantly,
The dream was so vivid…
Usually dreams, no matter how intense, fade quickly upon waking.
But every scene, every moment, I remember clearly.
There was only one kind of dream like that.
Was it… a pregnancy dream?
Chairman Yoo often had pregnancy dreams—two of his grandsons dreamed them when their wives were expecting, and one of those three even dreamed for the twins.
Usually, such dreams followed a pattern: a dragon carp ascending to heaven, a tiger leaping into one’s arms, a horse running free. Energetic and symbolic.
But this time felt different.
A koi and a fawn.
It was nothing like the dreams for sons. And the happiness still swelled in his chest.
And twins…
Yoo Sia was the only one in the family expecting twins.
Even more significant—
A brocade koi and a fawn in a pregnancy dream…
Chairman Yoo’s eyes snapped open.
Could it be…
He swallowed and, without realizing it, whispered the word:
“…Twin daughters?”