21
Chapter 21 For a Beautiful Future
He had admitted his own incompetence. He had even admitted he wasn’t kind. But no matter what, hearing criticism like
that from a child who lived off his sacrifices couldn’t help but hurt.
Still, as an adult, Lee Seunghun suppressed his anger. He couldn’t argue with an eight-year-old.
To him, Do Minho was still just a smart child.
“Am I that frustrating to you?”
He partially accepted Minho’s words.
“You think it would be simple, right? Just go on TV, accept donations and volunteers without discrimination, take
photos, do whatever people ask, and everything would be solved. But because of my pride, I struggle alone and end up
making all the kids here unhappy.”
“Yes.”
“Even so, I can’t help it. This is who I am. Every kindness comes with a price. Sometimes that price can feel worse than
dying.”
It was an irresponsible conclusion.
“I might be wrong. No, I definitely am. But shouldn’t people like me exist too? There are already plenty of people who
can’t live the way they want because of reality. So maybe instead of changing, I should stay where I am until the end.”
There was resentment in his voice.
Even though Minho was just a child, he believed Minho would understand.
“To you, this place may feel suffocating and insignificant compared to where you lived before. But to me… it still has
meaning. I can guarantee that.”
He stared ahead as he spoke calmly.
“I’m not as smart as you, so I don’t know how to explain myself well. But I want you to understand one thing. I’m not
completely wrong. The kids might prefer you, someone who can win millions and build them a nice home. But that doesn’t
mean you’re always right. You’re still a child.”
“I know.”
“So let’s end this conversation here.”
“Alright. If that’s what you want. I’m just one of the children here, after all. But Director, what exactly do you mean
by pride? Is it rejecting help? Or hiding the fact that we’re orphans?”
“…I’m not trying to argue. You wouldn’t understand, but there are reasons for living like this.”
His heart was more closed off than Minho’s.
The difference was that he didn’t need to convince Minho.
“Seems like you don’t want to talk about it. Fine. Then at least get rid of the container units. They’re just taking up
space.”
“What?”
Those containers were his weakness.
“You know those kids aren’t coming back.”
“…You really are a cruel child.”
His suppressed anger finally surfaced.
“They may be troublemakers to others, but they’re family to me! Even runaway kids need a place to return to!”
“Who said they were troublemakers?”
“What?”
“I heard they were all kind. Isn’t that why they left?”
“…What do you mean?”
“I think both sides share responsibility. Those kids were victims and perpetrators at the same time. But society treated
them unfairly because they were orphans.”
Minho’s voice was calm.
“Maybe they thought leaving would make things easier for everyone else.”
Lee Seunghun fell silent.
“Kind people find it easier to sacrifice themselves than others.”
That was the truth he had never considered.
“Maybe… you’re right.”
“When I first transferred schools, I was shocked. Kids casually mocked Hyunseung and Songi for being orphans. They said,
how can you draw parents you don’t have?”
“…What?”
“They didn’t even realize it was wrong. But Hyunseung and Songi endured it. They were more mature than the others.
Still, without someone to protect them, they’ll eventually break.”
“….”
“The real problem isn’t just the bullies. It’s the bystanders.”
“….”
“What we need isn’t a rich director. We need someone who will stand up for us.”
“I wanted to. I tried. But it didn’t work.”
He had begged, compromised, even paid settlements.
But nothing changed.
Donations decreased. Kids left.
“You’re right. I’m incompetent. But reality isn’t that simple.”
“But the people who drove them away were wrong too, right?”
“Of course. Very wrong.”
“Then there must be people on our side too.”
“…What?”
“There are more people who want to be human than those who abandon it.”
“….”
“Those who treat orphans as human beings do exist. Like the vice principal. Like the people who still donate.”
“…That’s true.”
“There’s no need to hide what we are. This time… these ten years… they could be the most important time of our lives.”
A realization struck him.
‘I was wrong. I wasn’t protecting their pride. I was just protecting myself.’
“I believe people should live well if they are good. But you and the others… you’re all living deprived lives.”
“….”
“If we become known, donations will come. The kids who left might return. No one will dare mistreat us anymore.”
“…What?”
“Fame is power. Not because people are kind, but because they’re afraid.”
‘Become known…’
His options narrowed to one.
“I want to live a better life. And I want that for everyone here.”
“….”
“Do you know? The kids here have big dreams.”
That was the final push.
“Apply for it. Build the best home in the world. No one will kick us out. This place… belongs to me.”
“…What?”
“When I moved here, I swore never to be forced out again. So I bought this place.”
That was why the orphanage had never been demolished.
“Wow… you’re rich.”
“Hah… yes. I am.”
For the first time in a long while, he smiled brightly.
“Tell the kids. Whatever they need, I’ll provide it.”
He spoke boldly.
“I’ll take care of everything.”
It was reckless confidence.
But maybe—
“Tell them to trust me.”
“Yes.”
‘You just need to trust me.’
Everything was going as Minho intended.
“But Director.”
“Yes?”
“My adoptive parents… they’re not bad people.”
“…I see.”
‘They must be good people, to raise you like this.’
“Even if they were, please understand them.”
“What do you mean?”
“My time in America… half of it was truly happy.”
“And the rest?”
“It’s not that they were bad.”
“Then?”
“I was the problem. I couldn’t love their child. I wanted their love for myself.”
“….”
“This… being sent away… it’s what I wanted.”
He couldn’t believe it.
But he didn’t argue.
“Alright. If that’s what you say.”
He held back his questions.
‘You’re good at lying… mixing truth with it.’
But his heart ached.
---
“They’re still awake.”
“They were excited.”
“Heh. No one’s sleeping tonight.”
The director smiled as he stepped out of the taxi.
Minho followed behind.
‘So it’s technically owned by the bank…’
Minho already understood.
‘Was it because of the financial crisis? Or was it inevitable?’
He remembered the future.
The orphanage would be forced to move.
‘Either way… I’ll stop it.’
‘Or rather… someone else will.’