Seokjin kept his words as he visited the young girl the next few days. He managed to cut some time so he rushed to the orphanage whenever he was free. Gradually, the children also began to like his presence. He formed an unlikely friendship with Yoon Min and became another guardian of the children. He brought lavish toys, food, clothes, drawing materials, notebooks for them on his will, even gave them a TV to enjoy dramas and shows. The orphanage started to feel more lively by his kind offerings. And he became the children's favorite as well.

Today, he was sitting with Yoon Min on the patio beside a boy. He was called Mino, he was drawing on a sketchbook. He was told that Mino was the best painter of the whole orphanage. Seokjin couldn’t deny, there was something in his hands that were creating something so creative. Although he wasn’t sure what he was drawing.

Meanwhile, Yoon Min was calmly reading a book along with doing short talk with him. She seemed immensely focused on reading so he didn’t disturb her and let her read. He just liked to stay by her side anyhow.

Eunbi mentioned she loved books earlier. Out of curiosity, he thought to make sure if it was indeed true,

“Do you like to read?”

Yoon Min tore her gaze away from the book and showed him a soft smile,

“Reading gives me someplace to go when I can stay where I am.”

Pausing to think slightly, she continued, gazing her fingers on a page, “I love the moment when I open a book and sink into it, I can escape from the world, into a story that's way more interesting than mine will ever be.”

He blinked to understand the meaning behind her words and smiled. Well, he just found a way to surprise her.

Seokjin also tried talking with Yoon Min about what she planned to do after her birthday. She had no plans unexpectedly. She said she couldn’t find any place to live with a cheap rate around here. The money she earned was mainly spent on the children. But he felt like she was hiding something. How could it be possible that she couldn’t save enough money for her future? He needed to have a serious conversation with her.

Nancy, a pretty little girl suddenly ran towards them and whined, “Yoon Unnie, can you please do my hair?”

Yoon Min smiled and closed the book, put it on a side and gestured the girl to sit beside her. Nancy smiled widely and sat down, closing her eyes.

Mino abruptly raised the paper and showed his drawing to Yoon Min with a proud smile, “Noona look, I drew a dainasorous!”

“Dinosaur, Mino.” Yoon Min corrected his pronunciation and gave him two thumbs up. Which was enough to make the rest of the boy's day.

Seokjin giggled by their interactions. He watched as Yoon Min was brushing the little girl's hair from the back delicately. Nancy's eyes were closed in peace with a satisfied smile.

Yoon Min could feel his curious gaze on her hands which kind of confused her. She looked at him again, only to find his eyes concentrated on how she was gonna start the hairstyle.

She chuckled softly before saying, “Do you want to try it?”

Seokjin got startled by her suggestion and shook his head.

“Come on, it's very simple. I know you want to learn it.”

Without giving him a chance to answer, Yoon Min turned Nancy around so that the girl was facing him with her back. He stared at her dumbly because it looked sily for a man to learn how to braid.

“I don't think I--”

“Omo, is Oppa gonna braid my hair?” Nancy sounded very excited.

Yoon Min nodded and she cheered happily in place, sitting in a more comfortable position, closing her eyes.

Seokjin sighed and thought to give it a try. Who knows, he might be able to braid Jisoo's hair once he learned it?

She began to instruct him, “First, divide the hair into three sections.”

He touched the girl's hair and divided them evenly.

“Grab the right section with your right hand and the left section with your left hand, letting the middle section hang free. In your right and left hands, hold the strands so that you're grasping them against your palm with your middle, ring and little fingers, keeping your index fingers and thumbs free.”

Seokjin took a moment to grasp what she said and held the left and right strands like she said.

Yoon Min was watching what he was doing, “Cross the left section over the middle section.”

“With the index finger and thumb of your left hand, grab the middle section of hair.”

“Using the index finger and thumb of your right hand, grab the left section of hair that's grasped against your left palm. The original left-hand section is now the middle section.”

He started to get a hold of everything as braiding was all about doing in rhythm. He had no problem understanding her words and did exactly like she said.

She continued telling him what to do and not, and he followed her words attentively. It came to a point where he continued braiding her hair in the same manner.

Yoon Min praised him in between several times so it encouraged him more to keep going.

“Tighten the braid as you go, and keep the tension same for all 3 sections.” she said before looking around a little. “Keep doing that until a few inches are left of her hair and then tie it with that rubber band.”

Yoon Min stood on her feet suddenly, “I'll be right back. I think I didn't arrange the children's dresses.” she walked off to the kitchen after. She was certain Seokjin could handle the rest.

“Ouch! Oppa, gentle!” Nancy yelled at him.

“Sorry, sorry I think I messed up.” Seokjin confessed honestly and showed her new pigtail to her.

She looked at it and a wide grin formed her lips, “It's beautiful, Oppa! I love it! I'll tie the rest.” he only couldn’t tie her hair with the band because he didn’t know how to.

“Really?” Seokjin felt very proud of himself. He actually braided a girl's hair.

Nancy hugged him tightly as gratitude which surprised him a little but he eventually hugged the girl back.

“I should show it to Unnie.” she attempted to go to to her but he stopped her before she could go,

“I'll bring her. Stay here, ok?” that way, he could spend some time alone with her.

Nancy nodded with a grin.

Seokjin was walking to the kitchen because that's where Yoon Min was supposed to be. On his way, he was greeted by some kids who waved at him and he waved back with a smile. Spending a few days here made him familiar with the place and he was no longer an intruder among the kids. They liked him as an elder brother.

With an unstoppable smile, he arrived at the kitchen door and was about to enter, but he had to stop on his own. He could hear some conversation between two people. Slightly opening the door enough for him to peak through, he silently stood there while watching everything.

“You got your salary today, didn’t you?” Ms. Seo asked with a cold face.

Yoon Min didn’t look at her as she was folding the children's clothes one by one, “No, Ms. Seo.”

“Stop lying, brat. I know you're hiding it somewhere. Better give it to me before I do something to one of the kids.”

She looked at the elderly woman and yelled a bit, “Why are you like this, Ms. Seo? Why do you take away my earnings? I work hard for them! I've to keep them to find a place of my own.”

Her words didn’t affect a tiny amount to the woman, “Now you raise your voice, huh?” Without any more words, Ms. Seo started to look everywhere in the kitchen for her money. Yoon Min pressed her lips tightly and prayed to dear Almighty for her hard-earned money. Ms. Seo always snatched a large amount of money from her salary every time. Causing her unable to save enough money because somehow the rest of the money would get spent on the children.

If she took away her money this time, she wouldn’t be able to live out there.

Yoon Min heard the noises of dishes being moved, drawers being opened and her poor bag being searched. She sighed again,

“Ms. Seo, can you please stop? I've to leave this orphanage in three days anyway. Please have mercy on me.”

The woman never paid attention to her words. She kept searching and searching, until a box fell from the upper cabinet by her strong movements.

She smirked evilly, took the box and opened it. That's where she stored the rest of her money.

Yoon Min widened her eyes, unable to believe the box she tried to hide with so much effort was found so easily. Before Ms. Seo could look at her, she was already on her knees, begging the elderly woman.

“Ms. Seo, please don't take it away! Not this time, please I beg you. I really need the money!”

“Get away from me, bitch.” Ms. Seo pushed her by her leg. “You were the reason my husband lost interest in me and chased after you. You were the reason he lost his job and now stays at home like a useless man. Have some shame and be grateful I haven’t killed you yet.”

Yoon Min tried to ignore those harsh words and still pleaded. She was never this desperate to her all these time. This time, she just had to take back her money anyhow.

“I-I need the money, Ms. Seo. You took it away every time for yourself. Please give it back this time, Ms. Seo. Please..”

Eyes threatened to spill tears but she held them back, trying not to fall weak so soon.

Ms. Seo was a heartless woman. She had a heart only for her to keep living, not to contain any amount of kindness. Arrogant her laughed at her misery and taunted her,

“Why're you so worried, huh? You found yourself a guy now, right? That rich CEO who visits you almost every day.”

Yoon Min straightened her ears carefully.

“I knew you were a shameless whore. First you lure my husband, now that man?”

Her cruel, extremely dirty thoughts angered Yoon Min because out of everything, she didn’t expect her to say something like that.

She stood on her feet and said, “How could you say that, Ms. Seo? You're forgetting Seokjin-ssi's kindness and devotion towards our orphanage. And I'm not how you're assuming me.”

“Oh, don't lecture me, girl. I very well know your true intentions. Why do you think that CEO is visiting you? He wants to take advantage of you. Or else, he has absolute no reason to keep coming here. All rich guys like him want feeble, innocent girls and will do anything to them once they fall for his trap. Mark my words, he'll forc--”

“Stop, Ms. Seo!” Yoon Min yelled this time. “You cannot say that to him! He's honest, he's kind, he's friendly, he wants to help us. He's nothing like you think.”

Her strong support towards him not only made the woman chuckle, but also create much hurtful words for her.

“Of course, you will say that. After all, it's you seeking a chance to live under his roof and satisfy him for a stomach filled with food. When your parents could be that vicious to leave their only child, how couldn’t their lovely daughter entice a rich man for her own needs?”

Somehow, her heart stopped beating for a second and shattered into sharp pieces gradually by those words. The tears she was fighting to hold back eventually rolled down her cheeks and made her head fall down, eyes closing in shame.

Ms. Seo smirked at her wet eyes, “Go on. Run and complain to your new catch. See if he takes a step for you. Let me tell you before, he--”

Yoon Min didn’t hear Ms. Seo speaking suddenly. She raised her head in curiosity and found Ms. Seo's large, hateful eyes staring behind her. Before she could turn around to see who it was, she felt her wrist being grabbed tightly, not enough to hurt her and being pulled behind someone's back.

She stared at the sturdy back with broad shoulders and it took her a second to realize it was him.

Ms. Seo had lost all ego and capacity under his cold gaze, glaring at her as if he could murder her any second. She slowly gulped down her throat in fear.

“Next time you say anything to Yoon Min like that, I'll make sure she gets to slap you despite the manners.” Seokjin savagely growled lowly and stepped towards the woman slowly, still holding her hand behind him.

“Next time you even think of hurting her, I'll have your husband and you both locked in prison.”

“Next time you imagine my kind acts as misdeeds, I'll forget that you're an elderly woman and deal with you in my own way.”

By now, he was standing very close to her and Ms. Seo had nowhere to escape. She was trapped by his fiery eyes unfortunately.

Seokjin added lastly, “And next time, you bring her parents or her sickness on air, I promise you won't be able to open your mouth again.”

All threats worked successfully because Ms. Seo couldn’t utter a single word after. Deep down, she was like other women who got scared easily, just pretended she never cared. And she needed someone with high power and capacity to scare her.

Seokjin released a breath and stepped back a step, “Give her money back.”

Ms. Seo twitched at his command and threw the box on the table beside.

“Also, you will return every single cent you took from her. You will pay her back everything within the next three days and if not, I can easily contact the cops and charge you under so many laws.”

The way he was speaking was unrecognizable. The friendly, sweet tone he always used was long gone. He seemed too razed, too affected by whatever happened. Unlike Yoon Min, he didn’t know to shut his mouth despite injustice.

Being extremely scared, Ms. Seo nodded vigorously and pressed her lips together in fear.

“Oh and by the way, there won't be any next time.” Seokjin smirked. “You Are Fired, Ms. Seo. I've arranged another caretaker so you can say goodbye to this orphanage.”

There was nothing. Nothing she could say to defend herself. She couldn’t find any arrogance in her to spit back anything. She was threatened dangerously good and she knew she was in big trouble. She finally regretted for acting thoughtlessly for years.

Ms. Seo couldn’t look at him in the eyes anymore and swiftly got out of the kitchen after sparing a deadly glare at the young girl.

Seokjin released a long, deep sigh and instantly turned around to face Yoon Min. Luckily she didn’t faint like the first time. She was gaping at him...in shock?

He knew she was probably taken aback by his sudden approach and support on her side so he let her stare at him. He took the box and handed it to her.

“Here.”

Yoon Min wasn’t doing anything. Neither she was breaking the intense eye contact nor taking the box. It looked like she was paused in place. She didn’t blink, talk or move. When it became a while, he was starting to think her soul left her body.

Seokjin hesitantly asked, “Hey, you o-okay?”

He received his answer too. But the difference was she didn’t exactly reply.

She gently wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest.