I'm Yours

Chapter 3 : You Are The Only One

UPPWOKK Notification: You've Received a New Message!

Click. Click. Click. The sound of computer keys echoed in the quiet room.

"Hello Mr. Kang, it's me again. I need you to rewrite the code. There are some errors in the .EXE file. Could you take a look?" the client's message read.

"Hello again! Thanks for reaching out. Sure, I can rewrite it. I'll send over the revised version by tomorrow," Hae Joon typed back, his fingers hitting the keys with practiced speed.

He leaned back in his gaming chair, eyes drifting to the ceiling, and let out a sigh.

"Ahh... why wasn't I born into a rich family? Then maybe I wouldn't have to work so hard just to get by," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger. He chuckled. "Who am I kidding? It's not like money's gonna rain down on me just because I'm complaining."

Thirty minutes passed in a daze. A loud grumble from his stomach broke the silence. Hae Joon pushed himself up, wandered into the kitchen, and quickly whipped up a rice omelet for brunch. After finishing his meal, he resumed work, only surfacing from his computer when the clock read 18:18 PM.

Stretching, he glanced at the time. "Whoa, it's already 6:18. What should I do for dinner? Maybe I'll eat out; I'm too lazy for cooking."

He took a shower, slipped into a casual night-out outfit, and set out to explore the night market for something tasty. As he strolled among the vibrant lights and enticing food stalls, a small hand tugged at his sleeve. Startled, he looked down to see a little boy, about six years old, staring up at him with big, uncertain eyes.

"Uncle, can you help me find my parents?" the boy asked timidly.

"Uncle?" Hae Joon almost flinched at the title. He crouched to the boy's eye level and ruffled his hair gently. "Kiddo, do me a favor and call me 'Brother,' okay? I'm only thirty, not old enough to be an 'uncle,' and I'm definitely not married with kids yet!"

The boy gave a shy smile. "Okay, Big Brother."

Hae Joon's expression softened. "Do you remember where you last saw your parents?"

The boy's face scrunched up as he shook his head. "I don't remember, Big Brother."

Keeping his calm, Hae Joon patted the boy's head reassuringly. "Alright then, let's wait here. I'm sure they're looking for you, too. Let's stay put so they can find you."

About twenty minutes passed as they shared a matcha ice cream from a nearby stall. Then, a frantic-looking couple came rushing over. The boy's mother hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face as she scolded him between sobs. The boy nodded, sniffling out apologies.

Watching the reunion stirred something bittersweet in Hae Joon. He felt a pang of envy. What would it be like to have parents like that, to feel their warmth and unconditional love? He quickly brushed aside the thought. Wishing for a different life wouldn't change anything.

The couple turned to him, bowing gratefully. "Thank you so much for helping our son."

"It was nothing," he replied with a modest smile. "I'm glad I could help."

As the family walked away, Hae Joon resumed his stroll, letting his thoughts drift. He wandered into a cozy Japanese restaurant and ordered a bowl of 牛丼 Gyudon (Japanese Beef Rice Bowl) to satisfy his hunger. After finishing his meal, he took a longer route home, weaving through groups of young friends laughing and chatting, their voices blending into the lively buzz of the night.