Kwon Seon-Yul from Wonderful World

Inside a small workshop filled with the sound of clanking metal and the scent of oil, a man stood beside a car he was repairing. Kwon Seon-Yul, a skilled mechanic, was working hard despite his pregnancy reaching 35 weeks. His strong, masculine physique was now paired with his large, full belly—a rare sight in the world of mechanics.

His jumpsuit, usually worn neatly, was now unzipped and tied around his waist, leaving only his work pants, which sagged slightly due to his growing belly. The black T-shirt meant to cover his upper body was now completely lifted, revealing his perfectly round stomach, glistening with sweat. The dim workshop light cast a perfect glow, accentuating the fullness of his belly in an almost mesmerizing way.

With strong, muscular hands, Seon-Yul gripped a wrench, tightening a bolt under the car's hood. His movements were steady, but every now and then, he took a deep breath as if trying to endure occasional discomfort. His belly had grown so large that he had to be extra careful with every movement, but that didn’t stop him from working.

A bead of sweat trickled down his temple, trailing past his neck and rolling down his tense belly. He exhaled deeply, rubbing the small of his back, which had started to ache. The motion made his belly protrude even more, emphasizing how tight his skin had stretched to accommodate the life inside him. There was no trace of embarrassment on his face—only determination and pride.

In the corner of the workshop, a fan spun lazily, trying to push away the stifling heat. Seon-Yul wiped his neck, then lifted his belly slightly with both hands, attempting to ease the weight pressing on him. Though his job was exhausting, something in his expression showed that he enjoyed the process—both as a mechanic and as an expectant father.

Kwon Seon-Yul tightened the last bolt on the car he was working on. Just as he applied the final bit of force, a strong kick suddenly struck the side of his belly. He flinched slightly, startled by the small bump appearing beneath his skin—a tiny pair of feet pressing from the inside. A mix of pain and warmth spread through his chest. He grimaced, then instinctively released the wrench and placed his hands on the bulging spot, his thumb gently rubbing where his baby had kicked.

"Be patient, little one… we'll meet soon," he whispered softly, his voice trembling with exhaustion and affection. His fingers traced the surface of his massive, taut belly, trying to soothe the restless baby inside. Every movement within him felt more real now, stronger, as if signaling that the time for birth was approaching.

***

To prepare for the arrival of his child, Kwon Seon-Yul decided to take leave when his pregnancy reached 36 weeks. He applied for four weeks off, thinking it would be enough time for labor and postpartum recovery. He wanted to give himself a chance to rest, mentally prepare, and welcome his baby without rushing.

But reality had other plans. By the end of his leave, there were still no signs of labor. No contractions, no pain that signaled the baby was ready to come. His pregnancy continued, his belly grew even larger and fuller, yet his body remained steady.

When his leave ended, he had no choice but to return to work at the workshop. He felt like the four weeks had been wasted—he had taken time off to prepare for birth, but his baby still showed no sign of arriving. While his coworkers asked if he had given birth during his absence, he could only sigh and smile bitterly, explaining that his baby was still comfortable inside.

Now, with his belly far larger than before his leave, every step felt heavier. His body felt completely full, his swollen belly leaving no space unoccupied. His internal organs were pushed upward, making his chest swell under the pressure of his growing baby. He could feel every tiny movement pressing against his ribs, making it difficult to take deep breaths.

Despite the discomfort, he forced himself to continue working. With his jumpsuit still tied around his waist, he returned to his routine—tightening bolts, repairing engines, and enduring the ever-increasing weight of his pregnancy. All he could do was hope his baby would arrive soon, before his body reached its limit.

Day after day passed, and now Kwon Seon-Yul’s pregnancy had long exceeded its expected due date. It had been 42 weeks, longer than the doctors predicted or than he had hoped. Every morning, he woke up expecting that day to be the day, but still, there were no signs that his body was truly ready for labor.

If his baby didn’t arrive tonight, then by midnight, his pregnancy would reach 43 weeks. The thought haunted him, filling him with unease every time he felt his baby move restlessly inside. His belly had grown to an extraordinary size—heavy and full, as if there was no room left. He often struggled to breathe, his organs compressed tightly, his chest aching with every deep inhale.

Amid the uncertainty, he could only wish for labor to begin soon. Every night before bed, he gently rubbed his belly, speaking softly to his baby, hoping they would be born soon. Yet, as his belly continued to grow heavier and exhaustion set in, the days passed with no progress.

Until one cold, silent night, while on his night shift at the workshop, Kwon Seon-Yul finally felt it—this time, it was real.

For the past few days, he had felt uncomfortable, but tonight, the feeling was stronger, more pressing, more urgent.

"Huh… why does my stomach feel so tight tonight…?" he muttered under his breath, one hand cradling his massive belly, which now felt impossibly full and firm. Inside him, his baby moved wildly, as if restless and searching for the way out.

At that moment, he was crouched beside a car, gripping a wrench tightly as he fastened the final bolt. The night air was colder than usual, chilling his sweat-drenched skin. Beads of sweat dripped from his temple, trailing down his neck, soaking his chest and belly, which already glistened with heat.

For five days, he had been feeling off, but he hadn’t given it much thought. Small contractions came and went, but they had never been strong enough to convince him that labor had truly begun. But tonight, the pain was different—deeper, sharper, more intense.

After securing the last bolt, he attempted to stand and walk slowly. His body felt heavier than ever. One hand braced against the workshop wall for balance, while the other supported the underside of his belly, which felt unbearably tight and heavy. Every step was difficult, as though something was descending lower inside him.

Once he reached the workers' sleeping quarters, he sat on the old mattress with a long sigh. With some effort, he untied the jumpsuit around his waist, trying to relieve the pressure on his lower belly. He lay down carefully, one hand rubbing his restless belly, hoping to ease the discomfort that refused to subside.

Hours passed, and soon, midnight arrived. The pain that had started as pressure turned into sharp pangs in his back, stomach, and pelvis. The contractions came faster, stronger, impossible to ignore. He tried to remain calm, but his body had other plans—this time, there was no turning back. His baby was truly coming.

But after lying down too long, his back ached, struggling to support his massive belly. He attempted to roll over and sit up, but as he pushed himself upright—

A loud pop echoed from deep within his belly, followed by a sharp, overwhelming pain.

"Hhh… haa… ahhh…!"

His entire body tensed as a sudden gush of warm fluid rushed out of him. At the same moment, he felt something shift inside him—something moving downward, pressing intensely against his lower body. This was different. These weren’t just contractions anymore. This was deeper, heavier, unstoppable.

His breath hitched, his chest tightening as his trembling hands gripped his belly. He swayed slightly, one hand gripping the edge of the bed for support, feeling like his body was on the verge of collapse. Cold sweat drenched his skin, his heart pounding wildly, almost out of control. Every second stretched painfully long, and the pain surging through him was unbearable

There was nothing left to do.

Tonight, it was finally happening.