The next day, Yoon Min honestly expected a sweet compliment from Seokjin's lips and she was waiting for it as well, but the thing was, he never acted the way she guessed.

“Is that what you're gonna wear?”

Instead of a compliment, he rather commented her outfit with a grimacing face. Sometimes, he really did annoy her a lot.

And what was so wrong about her outfit? Blue denim jackets over a long sleeved shirt and black dress pants and no makeup. He commented as if it was too simple to wear on a birthday hangout. Oh wait, it was.

But hey, at least she didn’t have to deal with skirts to pull down.

She scanned herself from her chest to feet with wide eyes, “Why? Do I look extra?”

Seokjin sighed, shaking his head sideways, clearly showing how disappointed he was in in her poor taste of dressing herself up. She was always good at choosing perfect outfits for him though.

He decided not to answer that silly question and opened the car door instead.

Yoon Min pouted and walked to the driver's side when he almost stood before her and said, “I'm driving.”

“What? No way. I'm your secretary.” she tried grabbing the keys from him but as always, women suck at heights. Well some are born lucky.

Seokjin liked how she was almost jumping to get the keys so he decided to tease her more. He raised his arm higher, causing the poor girl to keep trying her best to reach the keys and making a fun of herself. And the CEO only had that famous smirk on his lips, watching her.

When she finally realized what he was doing, she immediately stopped and glared deadly at him for playing with her like that.

“My car, remember?” he widened the smirk and entered inside. He just loved to see her reaction after being teased; unlike someone.

Yoon Min scoffed and flipped her hair for no reason, maybe to look a little smart than him but everyone knew that won't work so she just made herself sit in the passenger seat beside him, keeping a cute, upset face.

He already wished her at midnight so he didn’t bother wishing her again. It was cringy somehow.

Then he started the car with an anxious heart beating inside and winking at him. Let's just hope he didn’t make the day worse for her.

-------------

Samcheong-dong, this hilly neighborhood is characterized by numerous small art galleries, shops, and restaurants. People can see Korean traditional-style houses in this area. But the most likely reason they visit here, especially couples, is because they have to walk the entire path with their partner and it somehow pleases your mind.

But Seokjin was getting bored while walking with her. It was because she had a book with her and it seemed like she only came to this place for a historical trip. She was checking if what she read in the book was actually there or not. Causing him to sigh every minute and walk silently beside her, doing nothing. He thought they were here to spend a good time together to celebrate her birthday. But what kind of birthday girl does this?

Although he did find some interest in the art gallery by its weird but unique sculptures, he never had any likings on them and so he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. He knew Yoon Min was someone who liked to learn about unknown things and discover about them, and he didn’t mind. If that girl wanted to explore the world, he would gladly help her in doing so. But this time, it was getting too boring.

And somehow, they managed to pass the whole afternoon without sharing any words between them. It was evening and the streets were filled with colorful street lights with good, jolly people. That's when Seokjin finally decided to stop,

“Yah, what exactly are we doing?”

Yoon Min stopped walking and changed her gaze away from the book to him with a blank expression. As if she had no idea of what he was talking about.

“Looking around this place?”

“I thought we were here to celebrate your birthday.”

She licked her lips and answered calmly, “I never said that. You asked me what I wanted for my birthday gift and I wanted you to come with me to this place. That's all.”

Seokjin was taken aback by her unexpected outcome, she was totally right. Now he regretted for tagging along with her. He just should've fixed her a date with that Lee Min Ho or whoever.

“But you do realize you've been walking around for the last two hours with a book in this area, learning about the history behind these houses and arts, and I'm following you quietly like a mouse?” he still hoped she would change her mind.

The secretary raised an eyebrow, “Well if you're getting tired or bored, you can just leave. Just because I told you come, doesn’t mean you actually have to come.”

She said nothing further and started to walk again.

Seokjin was offended by her words and started to follow her again; only this time, he didn’t keep his mouth shut.

“Hey, what do you mean I can just leave? Find me a birthday girl who acts like you, Secretary Song. I thought we were going to a park, have fun, then go to a restaurant to cut a cake, eat dinner and return home. But no, you had to come here to this boring place and--” he kept complaining while following behind her like a mad puppy.

Yoon Min wanted to walk further but the man behind her grabbed her arm and turned her around.

“Why don't we go to that restaurant over there? I'm hungry and we'll get you a cake as well.” He grinned in order to convince her.

“No, thanks.”

He furrowed his eyebrows together to question her, “Why does it seem like you don't want to celebrate?”

She sighed, pulling her arm out of his light grip and replied, “Sir, It was just the day I was born. Nothing else.”

“That is why, people celebrate their birthdays, Yoon Min. Because they were born on this day years ago.” Seokjin corrected her.

Yoon Min rolled her eyes, “Well people like me don't get to celebrate their birthdays, okay? Because we were born to be a burden for our family. We are no use to this world, and perhaps our existence is just destroying the peace.”

First of all, Seokjin didn’t expect her to suddenly shift to an emotional topic. Second, he didn’t know she had this perceptive about herself. But as soon as she said those few sentences, it was enough for him to understand why she was talking like that. He knew her well.

Fortunately, they were standing in front of a shop's doorway so they didn’t have to worry about their conversation to be heard or their actions to be noticed.

Based on the fact she was poorly mistreated by Ms. Seo a long time ago, he could guess it was only because of that woman she couldn’t love herself. Ms. Seo must've insulted her in every chance she got from a young age and told her so many wrong things just to hurt her. Maybe that's why she was acting like this.

Yoon Min believed whatever people said about her was right. She being born with a weak heart drove her parents mad to the point, they abandoned her. Having an adult lurking around her evilly and harassing her when she was a child made her think she had a cheap, low life for him to act like that. And Ms. Seo torturing her when she did nothing wrong was enough for her to believe she was indeed a bad person. That's why, everybody hated her and wanted to take advantage of her kind soul.

She lost the love she should had for herself because of them. And now she thought she was worthless.

The girl bit her lower lip, “f I was so special, then why didn’t my parents love me? Why did they choose a happy life over their sick daughter? Why was I left alone in an orphanage with my heart at risk? It's all simple, I am...I'm sick and unwanted. All I ever did was to bring misfortune in people's life.”

Yoon Min didn’t act like this during her last birthdays. At least, he didn’t see her like this. Oh wait, he didn’t spend those days with her. She was alone.

He wanted to tell her so many things but he asked something before, “Is that why you are not doing this? Because those bastards were wrong to you and you believe their lies?”

When he thought she wouldn’t reply, she did. And it seemed like she had a strong belief on this.

“Yes! Because I don't matter to anyone in this world. And--”

“You matter to me.”

Yoon Min eventually blinked her eyes to clear out the words his lips just escaped. Suddenly, she calmed down and it was starting to make her regret about why she got a little sensitive earlier. She wasn’t supposed to stay weak in front of him.

Most importantly, what did he say?

Seokjin seemed like he had no problem repeating the same heart-fluttering words again,

“You matter to me, okay? Right now, all I have left in this world is my mother, Jisoo and you. I get it you didn’t experience a happy life like others, but you've still grown to be a perfect, strong woman. Life is fair only to some lucky ones, but for the unlucky ones like us, we must be grateful for whatever we have right now.”

She opened her mouth to say something but he added more, “Even if your birthday isn’t important to you, it is very important for me. I feel like I need to make this day worth to remember for both of us. You are mine to take care of so I need you to forget the negative thoughts today and let me make this day enjoyable for you.”

Yoon Min couldn’t help her legs from going weak and her heart softening by his affectionate words. True she felt like a burden to him, but he never showed it that way. He proved once again he really cared for her. And he wanted to be there for her.

Blushing mode was on and that's how her whole face started to glow pink and soon enough, she was a shy tomatoe.

How wonderful it would had been to have him...as a lover.

Seokjin wanted to say more but he was cut off when she suddenly talked, “Chocolate cake then.”

Not saying anything more, she started walking to that shop in high speed as if she was competing with Olympic racers.

Blinking, he let out a breathless chuckle and followed her as well.

-------------

“Ooooh, that looks yummy.” She pointed at the colorful doughnuts, placed safely inside the glass counter instead of choosing a cake.

Seokjin rolled his eyes and decided to take order by himself.

Yoon Min was shamelessly staring at every food with her mouth open, as if she was a begger whose stomach was empty for three months. Her face almost made the shopkeeper pity her but if it wasn’t for Seokjin's luxurious appearance, he didn’t do anything.

They sat around a table and waited for their food to arrive.

Time began to pass slowly and they started feel bored though they did talk a few time. Now they started to look around to stare at someone or something to pass the time more quickly.

“Argh, they just have bring the cake. Why is it taking so long?” Yoon Min was obviously frustrated and pouted.

He then answered, “I could tell you some jokes about unemployed people but none of them work.”

She stared and blinked, but didn’t laugh.

“Was that a joke?”

He answered with a windshield laugh, covering his face.

Sighing, she looked away to somewhere else, thinking of what she can do to pass the wait, but her boss became serious again.

“Oh right, did you hear about that famous Italian Chef?”

Yoon Min glanced back at his face with a serious look. Italian? Vincenzo?

“N-no, what happened?” she asked worriedly.

“He pastaway.”

Yoon Min was so done with his unhelpful jokes and his super loud laugh that she was about to yell at him but fortunately, the waiter arrived with their cake so he was saved.

Who makes a jokes about someone passing away?

“Let me eat before you tell me those jokes again.” She hurriedly took the candles and started to place them on the cake softly while he watched rubbish his teary eyes from that big laugh.

After placing 5 candles, all she cared was to eat the cake so she didn’t hesitate to start blowing the candles, but fortunately Seokjin stopped her from doing so.

“Hey, make a wish first!”

Yoon Min frowned but listened to him. She clasped her hands together and silently made a wish. That allowed Seokjin to stare at her face for a few seconds peacefully. The candlelights reflected on her face so ethereally.

She opened her eyes and looked at him with an exciting smile. He wondered what she wished for.

“Ready?” He asked, forming a smile.

She nodded and inhaled a huge amount of air to blow on the candles.

But that's when his phone started to ring.

Both of them stopped and glanced at his phone, placed on the table; showing the name of the most unwelcomed person. His girlfriend.

Seokjin at first glanced at the girl's face to see her reaction, she seemed pretty nervous and indifferent. So he cleared his throat and took the call in front of her.

“What're you doing?”

That's the first question Jisoo asked from the other side. Yoon Min could faintly hear her voice.

He looked confused, “I-I am...busy?” There was no way he could tell her he was out with his secretary. Both of them knew it.

“Can you pick me up right now? My interview is unexpectedly over.”

Seokjin gulped the big lump inside his throat. Instead of answering, he met Yoon Min's sorrowful eyes. She smiled and encouraged him silently; it broke his helpless heart.

“I-I uh--” he couldn’t utter anything. Jisoo was the top priority of his heart and he wanted to get up right now and leave. But hurting Yoon Min? Something he kept doing over and over instead of holding himself to do it?

Choosing among your favorite things is always the hardest choice. You pick one, you hurt the other. And yourself.

It was Yoon Min's birthday. A special day of his life. The birthday of his loyal secretary and...friend. She was also important along with his girlfriend. She was his responsibility. And he wanted to do all these, fulfilling a wish, cut a cake, go somewhere...There was absolutely no way for him to cancel all the plans for Jisoo.

“I-I'll be there in a few minutes.”

Why of course, his brain was always before his heart.

“Thanks, babe. I'll be waiting.” she said before hanging up, making the atmosphere too painful to start a talk.

Yoon Min seemed indifferent to him, she still had the smile and her eyes speaking a million hopes. But he knew. He knew she was breaking inside. Real hard.

“What you waiting for? Go on. Ms. Kim's waiting.” she urged him.

Seokjin didn’t bother giving excuses. He knew he messed up again and it would do no good to her even if he apologized.

So he stood up slowly and prepared to leave. He thought of a million things to say to cheer her up or in a form of sorry, but nothing at that time seemed appropriate.

He only managed to say this far, “Go home safely.”

She nodded her head happily. And he didn’t waste any time before excusing himself and he left her alone in that shop that late evening.

Yoon Min watched the candles burning and melting down softly. As if they were grieving and crying tears for her unfortunate destiny. The little flames could understand her heart so they cried instead of her, in order to protect her diamond tears she wasted so many times.

Feeling the urge to cry because her eyes were already filled with unspoken tears, she shook her head and closed her eyes to accept everything. This is what happens when you expect too much.

She told the waiter to parcel it for home. She was in no mood to eat a cake, that too a birthday cake.

But he requested to blow the candles at least. Otherwise, it would be hard to parcel the cake.

Yoon Min sighed heavily and smiled bitterly before blowing the candles softly. Somehow she was starting to regret the wish she made a few minutes ago.

“I wish for our bond to get stronger until forever.”