A few days after Soo-ah's surprise arrival, the house had settled into its usual rhythm. Soo-ah was adjusting back to home life—unpacking her school bag, putting her uniform in the laundry, and already fighting with Eun-ji over who got to sit closest to Min-seok during meals.
One afternoon, Soo-ah walked into the living room holding up her phone with Eun-ji's blackmail photos of her drooling on Min-seok's shoulder.
"Unnie!" she shouted at Eun-ji, who was lounging on the couch. "You're so mean! I was asleep! Delete them!"
Eun-ji grinned, waving her phone. "Too late! These are gold. Proof that the great clingy queen can't even stay awake without hogging Oppa. Payback for stealing my lap spot."
Soo-ah huffed, crossing her arms. "You trained me to be clingy! You can't complain now that I'm better at it than you!"
Mi-Kyung, sitting nearby with a cup of tea, laughed softly. "You two are impossible."
Soo-min looked up from her sketchbook. "She's right, Eun-ji. You created this monster. Now live with it."
Hye-jin smiled from the corner. "I think it's cute. Soo-ah missed him so much she fell asleep on him like a baby koala."
Ji-yeon walked in carrying a tray of fruit. "She's home. That's all that matters."
Later that evening, while everyone was chatting in the living room, Soo-ah suddenly turned serious. She looked at Mi-Kyung, then at the others.
"So… how did unnie become family?" she asked curiously. "And… you're pregnant? With Oppa's baby?"
The room went quiet for a second, then warm.
Mi-Kyung smiled gently, hand on her belly. "Your oppa saved me… literally. A bad man tried to hurt me. Min-seok stopped him, protected me, stayed with me when I was scared.
After that… I fell in love with him. Slowly. Quietly. Eventually when I was sure I wanted him to be with me forever I asked him to marry me. And he said yes."
Soo-ah's eyes widened. "So… you're my aunt now? And… I'm going to have a cousin?"
Mi-Kyung nodded, eyes soft. "Yes, baby. I'm your aunt. And soon you'll have a little cousin to play with."
Soo-min reached over and squeezed Soo-ah's hand. "We were all surprised at first. But now… she's one of us. Completely."
Hye-jin smiled. "She fits right in. And the baby… we're all excited to see Oppa's baby."
Eun-ji grinned mischievously. "And the best part? Now we have even more reason to pamper unnie… so we can hog Oppa all for ourselves when she's resting!"
Ji-yeon laughed. "You girls are terrible."
Soo-ah giggled, then looked at Mi-Kyung seriously. "I'm happy for you, unnie. And for Oppa. And for the baby. I'll be the best cousin ever."
Mi-Kyung pulled her into a gentle hug. "I know you will."
From that day on, the pampering plan kicked in full force. Whenever Mi-Kyung sat down, someone was there with a pillow for her back, tea for her stomach, or a blanket for her lap.
The sisters took turns massaging her feet, bringing her snacks, asking if she needed anything—each one secretly hoping that by taking care of her, they'd take up Mi-Kyung's pampering time for themselves and earn as much extra time with Min-seok as they can.
Eun-ji whispered to Soo-min one afternoon, "If we pamper her really well, Oppa will feel like we are looking after her well and then we can demand him to give us more attention when she's napping."
Soo-min smirked. "You're evil. I like it."
Hye-jin just smiled quietly. "I'm doing it because I love her… but yes, extra Oppa time is a bonus I'll always welcome."
Ji-yeon shook her head fondly, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she looked at the younger girls.
"You're all hopeless," she said with a soft laugh. "Maybe I should just get him to put another baby in me too. Then I'd get pampered nonstop like Mi-Kyung."
The room froze for half a second—then exploded.
Eun-ji shot up straight, pointing accusingly. "CHEATING! That's straight-up cheating, Unnie! You can't just pull the pregnancy card twice! Oppa isn't going to get us pregnant anytime soon—he's busy with Mi-Kyung unnie's baby now!"
Soo-min crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes playfully. "Exactly. You and Mi-Kyung are teaming up to steal him from us. So unfair. You already have seniority and now you want to lock in pampering priority with another kid? That's cold-blooded strategy."
Hye-jin giggled behind her hand, cheeks pink. "It's true though… if Ji-yeon unnie gets pregnant too, the baby queue will be even longer. We'll be fighting for scraps of Oppa time. You two are playing dirty."
Soo-ah, who had been quietly listening while eating a macaron, suddenly lit up.
"Wait—another baby? I'd get a younger sibling?!" Her eyes sparkled with genuine excitement. "That would be so cute! I'd help take care of them! I'd be the best big sister!"
Eun-ji immediately leaned over, whispering dramatically in her ear like she was revealing a conspiracy.
"Hold on, Soo-ah-yah. Think carefully. If your mom gets pregnant too… Oppa's pampering time is going to get split even more. You won't be the baby anymore. No more special cuddles just for you. Your mom is planning to steal your pampering for herself. She's betraying you for extra cuddles!"
Soo-ah's face fell instantly. Her eyes widened in slow-motion horror. The macaron stopped halfway to her mouth.
"Wait… what?" she whispered. "No more piggyback rides? No more Oppa carrying me when I'm sleepy? But… but I'm still his little girl…"
Her lip wobbled dramatically. She looked between Ji-yeon and Mi-Kyung with betrayed puppy eyes.
"Mom… unnie… you're stealing my Oppa?!"
Ji-yeon and Mi-Kyung looked at each other—and burst out laughing at the exact same moment.
Ji-yeon covered her mouth, shoulders shaking. "Oh my god, Soo-ah-yah, your face!"
Mi-Kyung wiped tears from her eyes, giggling helplessly. "We're not stealing him! We're just… adding more people who love him. You'll still be his baby girl. Always."
Soo-ah pouted harder, crossing her arms. "But Eun-ji unnie said—"
Eun-ji cackled, hugging her from the side. "I'm just protecting your pampering rights, little sis! Don't let them fool you with 'adding more love' talk. They're hoarding Oppa!"
Soo-min snorted. "You started this war, Eun-ji. Now you're using Soo-ah as your soldier."
Hye-jin smiled softly. "It's okay, Soo-ah. Oppa has enough love for all of us. Even when the baby comes… and maybe another one someday… he'll still carry you on piggyback rides. He's Oppa. That's what he does."
Soo-ah sniffed, still pouting but already softening. "Promise?"
Ji-yeon reached over and pulled her daughter into a hug. "Promise. You'll always be his little girl. No baby changes that."
Mi-Kyung nodded, smiling. "And you'll be the best big sister ever. We'll need your help pampering the little one too."
Soo-ah thought about it for a second… then smiled shyly.
"Okay… but I still get first dibs on piggyback rides. Deal?"
Everyone laughed again.
"Deal," Min-seok said quietly from the center of it all, arms still open for whoever wanted them.
The teasing softened into warm chatter, the room full of love, laughter, and the comfortable chaos only family could create.
Min-seok watched it all with quiet amusement—and endless love.
Min-seok hadn't forgotten his promise to Ji-yeon.
Early one evening, he knocked on her door. She opened it, dressed in a simple cream sundress that fell to her knees—soft, elegant, the kind that made her feel feminine without trying too hard. Her hair was down, a light touch of makeup on her face. She looked nervous but hopeful.
"Ready?" he asked quietly, offering his hand.
She took it, fingers lacing with his. "Yes."
He smiled gently. "Close your eyes."
Ji-yeon blinked. "What?"
"Trust me," he said, pulling a soft silk scarf from his pocket. "It's a surprise."
She hesitated only a second, then closed her eyes. He tied the scarf carefully over them, making sure it was snug but comfortable.
"Can you see?" he asked.
"No," she whispered, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Good."
He guided her to the car, helping her in, buckling her seatbelt. The drive was peaceful—through quiet neighborhoods, soft music playing (her favorite old ballads), his hand resting on her thigh the whole way. She relaxed into the seat, listening to the city sounds fade, already feeling the tension of the week melt away.
Their first stop was a small orphanage on the outskirts of the city—one Ji-yeon had mentioned once in passing, saying she'd always wanted to volunteer but never had the time. Min-seok had called ahead.
When they arrived, he helped her out of the car, guiding her carefully by the arm.
"Step up," he murmured. "We're here."
He untied the blindfold slowly. Ji-yeon blinked against the evening light—and gasped.
They stood in front of a modest building with colorful murals on the walls, children's laughter drifting from inside. The director—a kind woman in her fifties named Mrs. Choi—greeted them warmly at the gate.
"Min-seok-ssi! And you must be Ji-yeon-ssi. We're so glad you came."
Ji-yeon looked at Min-seok, eyes wide. "You… remembered I said that?"
He smiled. "I remember everything you say."
Inside, the children—ages 4 to 12—gathered in the playroom. Min-seok knelt down immediately, smiling gently.
"Who wants to draw with me?" he asked.
The kids swarmed him—laughing, grabbing crayons, pulling him to the floor. Ji-yeon joined in, sitting cross-legged beside a shy 6-year-old girl who wanted to color a flower. She helped the child mix colors, praising every stroke.
"You're doing great," Ji-yeon whispered. "Look how pretty that pink is."
The girl beamed, hugging her arm shyly.
Min-seok played games with the boys—simple tag, then storytime where he made up tales about brave orphans who became heroes.
One little boy, about 5, climbed into his lap and refused to leave. Ji-yeon watched him—heart swelling at his natural gentleness, the way he made each child feel seen and safe.
One girl—tiny, new, only a week at the orphanage—sat alone in the far corner of the playroom. She was small for her age (maybe six or seven), knees drawn tight to her chest, arms wrapped around her shins like a shield. Her dark hair hung forward, hiding most of her face. She rocked slightly, back and forth, staring at the floor as if the rest of the room didn't exist.
Min-seok noticed her the moment he walked in.
He didn't approach right away. He played with the other children first—coloring with some, tossing a soft ball with others—until the energy in the room felt steady. Then, quietly, he picked up a few crayons and a blank sheet of paper and walked over.
He didn't sit too close.
He lowered himself to the floor a respectful meter away, cross-legged, facing the same direction she was so she wouldn't feel cornered. He started coloring a simple butterfly—bright blue wings, yellow spots—humming a soft, familiar lullaby under his breath. The same one he used to sing to Soo-ah when she was small.
For several long minutes, neither spoke.
Then, in the tiniest voice:
"…What are you drawing?"
He didn't look up right away—just kept coloring.
"A butterfly," he said gently. "She's flying to a flower that smells like strawberries. Want to help me pick the colors?"
Silence again.
Then a small shuffle. She scooted half a step closer.
He held out the blue crayon without looking at her.
She took it.
Her first stroke was hesitant—just a tiny line on the edge of the paper. Then another. Then she started filling in one wing.
Min-seok smiled to himself but didn't comment. He kept humming.
After a while, she whispered:
"My name is Eun-bi."
"Pretty name," he said, still coloring. "I'm Min-seok. Nice to meet you, Eun-bi."
She nodded once, barely.
They colored in silence for a few more minutes. Then—very quietly:
"…I don't want to be here."
He nodded slowly, like he understood.
"Can you tell me why?"
She didn't answer right away. Her crayon slowed.
"My mom and dad… they fight a lot. Yelling. Throwing things. One night they yelled at me too. Said I was the reason they're unhappy. Said they never wanted me. Said I shouldn't have been born."
Her voice cracked on the last word.
Min-seok's hand stilled for a second. Then he resumed coloring—calm, steady.
"That must have hurt a lot," he said quietly. "Hearing those words from the people who are supposed to love you most."
She nodded, tears starting to drip onto the paper, smudging the blue.
"They left me here. Said they couldn't take care of me anymore. Said I make everything worse. Maybe… maybe they're right. Maybe I really shouldn't have been born."
Min-seok set his crayon down. He turned to face her—slowly, carefully—and waited until she looked up at him through wet lashes.
"Eun-bi," he said gently, "can I tell you something important?"
She sniffed, nodded once.
He spoke slowly, every word clear and calm.
"You didn't make them fight. You didn't make them unhappy. Grown-ups sometimes have big problems inside themselves—problems that have nothing to do with you. And when they can't fix those problems, sometimes they blame others for their sufferings.
They say cruel things to the people closest to them. But those words… they aren't true. They're just angry words from hurting people. People that don't deserve sunshine like you. People that are too blind to know that you are a blessing from god, don't get worked up over those idiots."
He reached out slowly, palm up.
"May I hold your hand?"
She hesitated… then placed her small hand in his.
He held it gently.
"You were born because the world needed you here. Your smile, your drawings, your quiet voice—they matter. You matter. And if no one has told you that lately… let me be the first today: you are wanted. You are loved. And nothing that happened is your fault. Not one single thing. Don't blame yourself for it."
Tears spilled faster now. She hiccupped.
"But… but they said—"
"They were wrong," he said firmly but kindly. "They were very, very wrong. And I'm sorry they hurt you with those words. But here's the truth: you are enough. Just exactly as you are. And anyone who can't see that… that's their loss. Not yours. I'm glad you were born, so happy you held onto it even when it was very hard, I'm very proud of you."
She stared at him, eyes wide and searching.
"You… you really mean that?"
"With my whole heart," he said.
A sob broke free. She crawled forward and threw herself into his lap, burying her face in his chest. Her small body shook with hard, messy cries—the kind that comes from deep, long-held pain finally finding a safe place to fall.
Min-seok wrapped his arms around her gently, rocking her slowly, one hand stroking her back in steady circles.
"You're safe now," he whispered. "You're safe. I've got you. You can cry as long as you need. I'm not going anywhere. I'll not abandon you like them."
She cried until her sobs turned to hiccups, until her breathing slowed, until exhaustion took over. She fell asleep right there—curled against his chest, tear-streaked face pressed to his shirt, tiny hands clutching his collar.
Min-seok didn't move.
He stayed on the floor, holding her, humming that same lullaby until her breathing evened out completely.
The other children slowly wandered over—some sitting nearby, some watching quietly, sensing the moment was special, as they felt they would soon get a new friend to play with.
When Eun-bi finally stirred, Min-seok carried her to her bed in the dormitory, laid her down gently, and tucked the blanket around her shoulders.
She mumbled sleepily, "Will you… come back?"
He brushed her hair back. "I will. I promise." he said as he planted a sweet gentle forehead kiss as she felt relief wash all over her and she smiled sleepily.
She gave a tiny nod, already drifting again.
Min-seok stayed until she was fully asleep.
The wardens watched from the doorway, used to this sight.
"He's a miracle," one whispered. "New kids always open up to him the fastest."
Another nodded. "He's like a mother to them. They trust him instantly."
Mrs. Choi walked over to Ji-yeon, who had been watching quietly.
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