“Y-You are going to a-adopt Yoon Min?”

Mr. Choi earned a cough from both Seokjin and Yoon Min sitting in front of him. The manager was extremely surprised this early morning when both these unexpected fellows knocked on his door and requested something unbelievable.

Seokjin's cheeks were hot red as he glanced at the girl beside him and explained, “Adoption is not the right word here. More like, helping her to have a better life?”

Yoon Min nodded viciously. She did think about this thoroughly the whole day and decided to trust him. After all, she really needed to find a place to live. Otherwise, she would never agree to trouble him.

Mr. Choi couldn’t believe the unexpected news. What on Earth happened between them? When did they get so close?

He looked at Yoon Min, “Dear, is there anything wrong? Are you being pressured or forced to do something? Is he--”

“No, Ahjussi. It's nothing like that.” she cut him off decently. “Seokjin-ssi wanted to help me so--”

“But living with him? That's unacceptable!” the manager seemed upset.

Seokjin interrupted by clearing his throat, “If you're thinking of her safety, then let me inform you, she'll not live with me. She'll have her own life separately. I'll just be--” he looked at her for a split second, “I'll be her guardian.”

Mr. Choi was in a state of confusion. He had no idea such a day will come when the most unexpected person will take custody of Yoon Min. Why would he do it? There had to be a valid reason behind it. He couldn’t possibly take her just because he wanted to help her. What if he had bad intentions for her?

He shook his head, “No, no, I cannot accept this. Yoon Min is too old to be adopted. She will turn 18 soon. She cannot live--”

“Exactly, what'll she do after she turns 18? She'll be kicked out of here sooner or later. Where will she go? Sleep on the streets? Wander in the alleyways? Do you know how dangerous it is for a pretty girl like her to even walk in the public? Who'll protect her from bad guys?” Seokjin protested.

Yoon Min blinked a few times. He didn’t just call her pretty.

Now was not the right time to blush.

Mr. Choi argued, “Forgive me, CEO Kim, but you are a man too. I shouldn’t give her to you so easily believing your words. I mean where's the guarantee you'll not harm the girl?”

Seokjin scoffed and crossed his arms, “I'll make sure Yoon Min will be safe, happy and independent.”

“It's too unthinkable that you; one of the billionaires of our country is taking a poor girl's responsibility. Why will you? No one can possibly be this kind to take someone for free, right?” the manager said afterwards.

The CEO sighed in defeat and leaned back on the chair. How hard was it for people to understand he genuinely wanted to help Yoon Min? The way everyone was taking the matter was so unfair. As if he was buying her for his own needs.

Yoon Min took the chance to talk with the manager, “Ahjussi, I understand your concern for me and I appreciate that. To be honest, I still don't think I should go with Seokjin-ssi to build a future of my own and leave the children. But I don't have any other choice, do I? Unlike other Unnies who managed to save money and find a home, I failed; and I'm sorry that I wasn’t careful and responsible enough.”

She paused and glanced down. “I thought for the kid's needs more than mine so I ended up destroying my own life. Most of my earnings were spent on them. As a result I--”

“You're not adding the fact Ms. Seo snatched a large amount of your salary always.” Seokjin's cold reminder made her roll her eyes.

Yoon Min continued, “Including what he said, as a result I failed to save enough money for my future. I'm sorry I failed, Ahjussi.”

She looked at the manager, “I can't keep staying here forever. The kids got a nice caretaker this time, thanks to Seokjin-ssi. I've to think of myself now.”

Mr. Choi didn’t answer her. He simply remained quiet, his fingers tapping on the desk repeatedly in anxiety. He was worried for her, that's all.

Seokjin knew it would take long to make him understand so he looked at her beside him and politely said, “Yoon Min, mind giving us a minute?”

She was confused at first, but eventually nodded and left the office after closing the door. She shouldn’t interrupt in professional conversations anyway.

“Mr. Choi, you do realize Yoon Min won't be able to survive out there with her weak heart, don't you?” Seokjin asked sternly.

The managed was silent in his place.

Seokjin straightened his back before placing his forearms on the desk, “You know what I realized? She wasn’t properly taken care of. You didn’t even bother to take her to the hospital once for a small check-up, let alone bringing her to the hospital whenever she fainted or her chest ached in pain. She had seen people declining her, she had no friends or siblings, she was bullied by the older kids. She was physically abused again and again over no reasons. Despite every torture, every scar she recieved here, she dedicated her whole life for the children so that they don't grow up like her; unloved and uncared. Poor her even knows her own parents left her because she was sick!”

“You, Mr. Choi as the manager and the fatherly figure of this orphanage should've done something for her. At least helped her when she needed the most! You've done nothing; you sat on your damn chair and watched everything. You were afraid you won't find another caretaker so you let that Ms. Seo torture her. She was being mistreated yet she was working hard for the kids and for herself, but you chose to ignore her devotion, her strength, her pure love. You thought she was doing fine. You should've been more responsible, Mr. Choi!”

Seokjin didn’t know he was getting mad and upset as second passed. Mr. Choi tightened his fingers together and couldn’t face the boiling CEO across him.

He knew he wasn’t responsible. He was too busy earning money for the orphanage.

Seokjin licked his lower lip and continued, “You pretending to look worried for Yoon Min now won't change the true facts that you were never there for her. She doesn’t need your concerns; what she needs is--”

“A guardian. She needs a guardian who'll take care of her every day, who'll protect her with his heart and soul. She has a weak heart for God's sake! A heart that barely works! How do you expect her to live on her own!?”

Seokjin added, “If you really want the best for her, if you really think she deserves so much more; then you'll hand her to me. I'll give her a brand new life. Hopefully, she will deserve what she deserves.”

Mr. Choi remained silent throughout all time. The whole room only echoed their breathing sounds and the sound of the wall clock moving. He wasn’t silent because he was speechless; he realized how bad he was to her all years. He ignored her pleas and didn’t take enough care of her. Thanks to her, the orphanage was a happy family despite the harsh treatment they received.

Seokjin did think he crossed his line due to overwhelming rage stored inside him for a long time. He might had yelled more than he was supposed to.

Being a well-mannered man, he slightly apologized for behaving improperly with an older man.

The manager took off his glasses and tightened his fingers together. Sure, Yoon Min deserved more. She was weak to begin with, she needed proper treatment regularly. Which he never was able to give her nor she will ever think about it if she lived by herself.

If he really wanted the best for her, the CEO was the only option.

Mr. Choi sighed before meeting his eyes, “Alright, CEO Kim. Let me get those papers.”