PROLOGUE

Two cheeks, touched by the cold wind, felt chilly. The girls wrapped their faces with gloved hands, shivering.

“Bora.”

“Yeah?”

“Have you heard that story by any chance?”

“What?”

Hanju, who was Bora’s age, said with a hint of excitement in her voice.

“Do you know the couple who comes to the director’s office every Sunday?”

“Who?”

“Well, you know, the chubby man and the incredibly sophisticated and pretty woman.”

“Oh, I know. Why? What about them?”

“They’re going to pick one of us and start the adoption process soon.”

Seo Jaewoo and Do Hye-ran. The two were a married couple. They had been coming to the orphanage every week for over a year, staying in the director’s office for over two hours, but they were different from the other volunteers.

They didn’t fold laundry, do dishes, or even play with the children.

They just spent time in the director’s office and then left.

Hanju and Bora took turns cleaning the director’s office every week, so they had some interaction with the married couple. Due to this, there was a bit of familiarity between them and the couple.

Unlike Seo Jaewoo, who had a loud voice and easily expressed anger towards the director, Do Hye-ran appeared consistently kind in every situation.

Of course, she never initiated a conversation, but there is such a thing as atmosphere.

Certainly, in the dynamics of the couple, Do Hye-ran seemed to hold more influence than Seo Jaewoo.

According to rumors, her father earned a fortune in the transportation business, resulting in a wealthy household. On the other hand, there were stories suggesting that Seo Jaewoo’s family was also affluent.

Whichever was true, it didn’t matter to the children; they just vaguely admired the two people who brought them expensive clothes and food every time they visited.

It wasn’t until earlier this year that the topic of adoption came up.

They were both a little too old to be adopted. Hanju’s recent story was, therefore, shocking.

“Between the two of us? You and me? Does that make sense? Maybe you heard it wrong.”

Hanju gestured for Bora to lower her voice.

“No, I couldn’t sleep last night, so I walked down the hallway and overheard the director talking on the phone, and I swear he said something like that, you and me, one of us.”

“Really?”

“It’s kind of weird, isn’t it? Everyone dislikes us because we’re older. Why would they choose between the both of us?”

Hanju displayed her characteristic sparkling eyes, and Bora responded with a puzzled expression.

“It’s obvious. He’s running for the National Assembly soon, so it’s a perfect media play. Do Hye-ran, she’s got a lot of money, and she’s trying to make her husband a member of the National Assembly somehow. If they adopt one of us older kids, it’ll look good, don’t you think?”

“I guess.”

The fact that the couple didn’t have children was something Bora had heard from the director a long time ago.

Bora recalled the clothes Do Hye-ran used to wear in her mind. Although she didn’t know much about fashion, the clothes she wore always seemed expensive and stylish.

So, if someone were to ask if she envied them, the answer would be obvious.

Wearing the same clothes over and over again and sharing them with the children here now feels truly uncomfortable.

They were walking together through the large open space past the entrance of the orphanage. Hanju stopped abruptly and grabbed Bora’s hand.

“Min Bora.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to be honest with you. Adoption, do you think I should go? You’ve got a pretty face, you’re smart, and I’m sure you’d have a good life, even if it wasn’t in that house.”

“…”

“If, by any chance, the couple chooses you, say you don’t want it. Or run away. Can you promise me that?”

At that moment, Bora felt conflicted.

Responding to Hanju’s request wasn’t easy. Just like Hanju, she harbored a strong desire to grow up under the care of good parents.

Hanju came to this place when she was five years old after her parents were killed in a car accident. Bora, on the other hand, was placed in this orphanage right after birth and was left in a box.

Being the presumed daughter of an unwed mother was the only expectation. There were no notes in the box, so Bora remained unaware of the exact secret of her birth.

More than the names of a father and mother that she had never had, Bora wanted a bright future.

A future where she could dream of happiness, too.

She looked into Hanju’s eyes and opened her mouth heavily, oblivious to her old friend’s desperation for an immediate answer.

“I’m sorry. You’re pretty, too. And smart.”

Hanju twisted her lips. Bora was such a good friend to her, but at this moment, she became someone Hanju resented.

The rock they swore their friendship on this spring was still safely tucked away in the desk drawer, and she forgot about it.

Irritation crept into her voice.

“I thought you were kind, but you’re more calculating than I thought.”

“Don’t be mistaken, Park Hanju. I’ve never pretended to be kind.”

“Oh, really? Fine. Then do your best. I’ll do the same.”

“Hanju.”

“What!”

Hanju reacted irritably, but Bora paid no attention. She calmly put both hands into her pockets.

“Regardless of who gets chosen between us, can’t we continue being friends like this?”

“What?”

“You only have me, and I only have you.”

Hanju was agitated.

Does that even make sense?

She seemed to be asking if such a thing was possible.

“Just help each other out. If you go to a good home, help me out a bit.”

“Ha.”

“I’ll do the same. Don’t worry; I’ll definitely help.”

Bora held out her hand, and Hanju took it. It wasn’t a bad suggestion. She felt anxious about not being adopted, so it was her own insurance policy.

Hanju actually motioned for her to stamp it.

“Quickly!”

“Yeah.”

A week later, as Hanju had predicted, Seo Jaewoo and Do Hye-ran came to see the two children.

Bora couldn’t ignore the gaze of the two people who observed her from a distance without coming closer.

Hanju felt the same way. She purposely acted as if she was many times nicer and more diligent than usual.

She helped her younger siblings in the orphanage with their studies, willingly gave up her food, and acted intelligent and considerate.

When the couple, who had been observing them, disappeared, Hanju let out a deep breath she had been holding.

“Phew, I thought my heart was going to explode.”

“Me too.”

“But if we get adopted, we’ll have to change our names, right?”

“I guess.”

Hanju showed a surprisingly indifferent laugh that didn’t fit her usual demeanor.

“Well, names are just names. Don’t you think?”

Bora nodded in agreement. Min Bora and Park Hanju. Who would end up discarding those names?

After a while, the director called the two girls into her office.

In the office, Hanju and Bora sat nervously, with only Do Hye-ran across from them.

Unlike Hanju, who was too nervous to do anything but keep her head down, Bora looked at Do Hye-ran.

From head to toe, Do Hye-ran looked as if she were adorned with luxury, and her appearance remained undeniably beautiful.

What would it feel like to have such a mother?

As Bora absentmindedly stared at her, their gazes were briefly intertwined.

Do Hye-ran continued to stare at her, expecting her to look away first, but Bora didn’t.

“Are you Bora?”

“Yes.”

“Then you must be Hanju.”

Hanju hesitantly looked up, but only for a moment, and then her face turned red as Do Hye-ran stared at her, and she looked away.

If Bora was more outgoing and active, Hanju was more reserved and passive.

Do Hye-ran smiled slightly as she shuffled through her papers.

“I heard you’re both good students.”

“Yes.”

“Who’s better at it?”

“I am.”

This was Bora’s response. Hanju looked at her with a disdainful gaze, and there was a sound of lips smacking from Hye-ran’s side.

She placed the documents containing information about the two children on the table all at once.

“Well, it’s hard to choose. I promised to pick one by today. What should we do?”

Even Bora, who had been answering confidently so far, couldn’t respond to this statement. With her lips pursed, she simply waited for Do Hye-ran to make her choice.

Tapping her fingers on the table, Do Hye-ran spoke with determination, as if she had made up her mind.

“There’s competition, right? I want my daughter to stand out more than anything else. I hope she excels in everything, no matter the means or methods. I want a daughter who stands out everywhere, the kind that everyone wants and envies. Do you understand what I mean?”

Bora and Hanju exchanged glances and soon realized that Do Hye-ran was going to choose a daughter to adopt.

Both had hopeful looks, silently communicating with each other through their gazes. This moment would change their lives.

[Min Bora, do you remember your promise to me? Don’t forget it.]

[Park Hanju, I won’t forget. Don’t you forget either. No matter what others say, we’re friends till the end.]

Suddenly, Do Hye-ran picked up Bora’s documents. Hanju looked disappointed, and Bora was pleased.

However, the words that reached them were completely unexpected.

“I don’t know. It’s really difficult. So, what I’m saying is, can I leave the decision to you two?”

Bora replied.

“What does that mean?”

Do Hye-ran raised her lips.

“To be honest, that’s why I told the director that I wanted to see you two alone. I’ll take the first one of you who stands up from your seat. I think a bit of ambition and competitiveness are necessary to take my daughter’s place. Shall we begin?”

Hanju looked at Bora, and Bora looked at Hanju.

Bora’s face seemed slightly angry, as if she couldn’t understand why they were being put through this test. Hanju, on the other hand, was just staring at Bora, seemingly lost in thought.

The sound of the wall clock ticking echoed in the room. Neither of the two children easily stood up.

Being chosen and making a choice were two entirely different things.

[What are you waiting for? Min Bora, stand up already.]

[Park Hanju. You need to stand up now. You have to stand up now to beat Bora.]

Suddenly, someone swiftly lifted their buttocks and stood up from their seat.

Do Hye-ran reached out affectionately as she picked up the documents containing information about the chosen child.

“Let’s go, Hanju.”

Do Hye-ran held Hanju’s hand and left the director’s office.