Our First Night Together: A Secret Memory from Youth

During my university years, I experienced a night that brought me and my partner closer than ever. With the rush of school and part-time jobs, our bond had grown deeper, and one evening we spent the night together for the first time. Sometime later, I noticed changes in my body. Out of concern, I took a pregnancy test—and there it was: two faint lines. It was overwhelming. I cried from mixed emotions, unsure whether to feel fear or joy. The first person I told was my partner. After a brief silence, he, too, was in tears. "I love you," he said, "and I’ll be here with you." I couldn’t bring myself to tell my parents. I was afraid—afraid of disappointing them, of being misunderstood. So, we decided to keep it a secret for a while. I didn’t visit home during the holidays. Instead, I worked part-time as a waitress at a Korean restaurant and occasionally sold handmade items to make ends meet. Life doesn't always go according to plan, but sometimes unexpected events help us grow the most. What mattered most was staying strong and standing by each other.