Seven candles were lit.

Seeing the flickering candlelight, Yu Min’s lips curved into a smile.

“Then let’s all count together, one, two, three, four.”

Jin Cheol started singing first.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Our beloved Yu Min, happy birthday to you!”

Seol Ah followed along in a small voice while Seung Jun just clapped along to the beat with a solemn expression. Only Yu Min and Jin Cheol sang loudly.

After finishing the song, Yu Min blew out the candles with a huff.

“Happy birthday, Yu Min.”

“Happy birthday, our little darling.”

Following Jin Cheol, Seol Ah spoke as she hugged Yu Min. As she gave him a peck on the cheek, Yu Min’s face shone even brighter.

“Congratulations.”

Seung Jun spoke in a curt tone and stared at the cake with dissatisfied eyes.

Why on earth did they have to celebrate the birthday with this cake? They should have just gone to the neighborhood bakery and bought a proper cake.

“Don’t eat it. I’ll buy you the same thing in three weeks.”

As soon as the celebration was over, Seung Jun quickly cleared away the candles and put the cake back in the box. Watching Seung Jun, Yu Min spoke.

“Thank you.”

Seung Jun turned his eyes to look at Yu Min.

“For many things.”

“Sure.”

Clearing his throat, Seung Jun stood up from his seat. It was time to head back now. Although the appointment was broken, he had a video conference at night. He was scheduled to meet with the overseas branch managers.

“The pasta made with our competitor’s sauce was delicious.”

At Seung Jun’s words to Seol Ah, she chuckled.

“And the celebration with the ruined cake was well done too.”

“Yes, it’s all a mess, isn’t it?”

Seung Jun smiled wryly and looked around the room.

Yes. It was clearly a mess. Nothing was done properly. However.

Somehow, Seung Jun felt like he understood what Yu Min had said a little while ago.

– I still like my house much better! It’s way, way better than mister’s house.

Sitting around a small table, bumping knees with each other, eating pasta in this crowded manner, and the crumpled cake that fit right in there – Seung Jun already found himself missing it.

“Are my things well kept?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Keep them well.”

Seung Jun said as he walked towards the door.

“The cake got ruined. We need to order a proper cake and do it again.”

Instead of saying he wanted to come again, Seung Jun used the cake as an excuse.

“It’s alright.”

“I’m not alright with it. Anyway, I have to go now so. I’ll get going then.”

Seung Jun patted Jin Cheol’s shoulder and pulled his wrist.

“Ah, um, elder brother?”

“Why are you here. You should see me off.”

“Pardon?”

“I have something to tell you so come out.”

No way were they going to stay as a group of three.

Seung Jun dragged Jin Cheol out of the house.

*

“Wow, Yu Min’s house is really nice.”

“Can’t you invite us again?”

On Monday, Yu Min had become a star after arriving at kindergarten.

Everyone looked at Yu Min with reverence, but his heart was uneasy.

“Actually, that house isn’t our hou…”

“What’s so good about that house?”

Just as Yu Min was about to tell the truth, Shin Young, who had just arrived, spoke while taking off his bag.

“My mom says Yu Min is a second, a second.”

“Second?”

The children who heard the word for the first time tilted their heads.

“It means the second one. What about it?”

Yu Min, who only knew the dictionary definition, asked. Shin Young also seemed to not know the specific meaning of the word as he touched the back of his head with one hand.

“That, that means. The second one. Not the first one.”

“What’s the first and what’s the second? Why am I second?”

When Yu Min, who didn’t understand Shin Young’s words, asked, Shin Young pressed his lips tightly together.

He actually didn’t fully understand his mother’s words either. He was just angry that the children were only praising Yu Min too much.

– Yu Min’s mother looks like a fox, and from what I see, she’s definitely a second. You know that man who came last time? The man who gave the ticket is the second. So that’s probably why she can’t even say that man is Yu Min’s father.

Shin Young’s mother was upset that Shin Young had failed the academy level test again by himself. But Shin Young didn’t even know and was making a fuss about how nice Yu Min’s house was, so she blurted it out without realizing it.

– That mister is Yu Min’s father? But Yu Min doesn’t have a father. Yu Min has never said he has a father.

– If he’s not the father, why would he suddenly appear and give such an expensive ticket? One that only members can go to at that. That father looked quite decent too. Yu Min’s mother is wearing things she probably picked up from some market floor.

Shin Young’s mother mumbled as she carelessly wiped her hands that were eating a peach on her clothes.

– She probably seduced some married man somewhere. That’s why she can’t even properly reveal he’s the father.

– But what’s a second?

– Oh, I don’t know. You absolutely must not say what you heard from me anywhere else. Got it?

Shin Young couldn’t fully understand the situation, but he could tell from the context that ‘second’ didn’t have a good meaning.

The problem was that none of the other children knew the meaning of ‘second’ either.

“Oh right, is it okay that I ripped your book? You have many other books anyway.”

Shin Young changed the subject since he had nothing to say. But upon hearing those words, Yu Min’s face instantly turned pale.

‘Oh no, the book!’

He had completely forgotten about it after putting it away somewhere else because it was ripped.

He had to tell mister. He should have told him when he brought the cake that time. He said he would come again, so maybe he could tell him then.

‘No, that’s not it.’

After mister went out of his way to turn his house into a kids cafe just because Yu Min wanted it, Yu Min’s conscience wouldn’t allow him to keep his mouth shut despite knowing the book was ripped.

“Let’s have snacks, everyone.”

The teacher arrived and the kindergarten schedule began. Forgetting that he had to tell the children the truth about his house, Yu Min was only immersed in worrying about how to contact Seung Jun.

*

“New employees for the food division? We already finished hiring and they’re starting training now.”

The HR team leader said with surprise at Seung Jun’s sudden visit.

“You already finished hiring?”

Seung Jun’s brows furrowed.

“And we properly contacted those who were rejected.”

“Yes, we did contact them. But we got an inquiry call today, as if there was an omission. We provided guidance again. But how did you know…”

The HR team leader looked flustered, wondering if the news had already reached Seung Jun. Seung Jun spoke with dissatisfied eyes.

“They were already rejected, but how would they feel having to call the company again to confirm? Please be thorough from now on to prevent such things from happening. Understood?”

“I apologize.”

The HR team leader stood up and bowed. Seung Jun shook his head.

“You should have apologized to the applicants, not me.”

“The person in charge probably apologized, but would it be better for me to apologize again?”

Was the person who called today Jin Cheol? Seung Jun rubbed his chin.

Knowing Jin Cheol’s exceptional sense of responsibility, he had thought it wouldn’t be bad to have someone like him in the company.

“Rather than doing it individually by phone, it would be better to send a message again. That would be better for the group image as well.”

“I understand. You pay attention to even these details. I have a lot to learn from you, Vice Chairman. I will do my utmost at work from now on.”

Seung Jun listened to the words spoken while bowing again with an uncomfortable feeling.

Now, even these praises felt like they were all pretense. They used to be words and background he heard as naturally as breathing, but.

“That’s enough. Oh right. What kind of applicants were there? How was the overall atmosphere? I’m not trying to interfere, I’m just asking out of curiosity so please answer comfortably.”

The HR team leader, who sat back down at Seung Jun’s words, blinked rapidly as if gathering his thoughts.

“Ah, yes. There were diverse applicants. There was an applicant who spoke 6 languages. I felt that there are truly many smart people these days. Although this might be prejudice.”

“6 languages?”

When Seung Jun spoke, the HR team leader replied with a smile.

“Yes, the applicant said they focused on language studies from a young age while attending an English kindergarten. Both parents were teachers, so they were passionate about education. During vacations, they always went abroad for training.”

“So their language skills must be outstanding.”

At Seung Jun’s reply, the HR team leader nodded.

“It seems so. As our overseas sales will increase in the future, having someone with language specialties will definitely be a big help. After all, it seems that talented individuals who received solid education from their parents also stand out during interviews.”

Seung Jun felt certain words constantly clattering in his heart.

From parents.

Having a father and mother, and talented individuals with a solid background built from them receive good evaluations and pass at the company as well.

But what about Jin Cheol?

When he briefly talked to him while taking care of Yu Min last time, he learned that Jin Cheol didn’t have a father since birth. The family circumstances weren’t good either. Forget English kindergarten, it must have been difficult to attend English academies while going to school.

‘Perhaps you too.’

It suddenly came to mind.

The particularly earnest-looking self-introduction letter.

Growing up as an orphanage child without much to his name, but promising to do his best at work. An honor student until high school but never even setting foot in college.

You, Yu Seol Ah.

“Did I perhaps make a mistake?”

The HR team leader asked, seeing Seung Jun’s rapidly darkening expression. Seung Jun shook his head with a smile.

“No. It’s not like that.”

If he hadn’t appeared, Yu Min might have been in a similar situation. Being teased by friends for not having a father. Not receiving the same private education that all his friends receive.

Living like that, always feeling a bit different from others.

– Were you happy to see that Yu Min chose your house as the location for his birthday party?

He now felt he understood Yu Seol Ah’s heart.

– If I had known about Yu Min’s situation earlier, even if it wasn’t at the house, I would have found a suitable place. It was something I could have sufficiently dealt with too!

Her heart that was angry at the mere fact that Seung Jun provided the house just for the purpose of a birthday party.

Your world and mine were very different. You must have always felt that, while I lived without feeling it.

“Were there no other applicants?”

At Seung Jun’s question, the HR team leader replied.

“Yes, that applicant was the most memorable one.”

Seung Jun smiled without a word.

After finishing the meeting with the HR team leader, Seung Jun realized his cell phone had been ringing for some time. Picking up his phone, Seung Jun looked surprised seeing the number on the caller ID.

It was a call from Yu Min.