C3: Surname

Arrived at the gate of the orphanage, Ace couldn't do anything but feel amazed. The building doesn't have any special characteristics but it was brimming with happiness. The logo of the orphanage looks peculiar. Instead of the word 'smile' a smiling emoticon was used to substitute it and the 'kids' following it.

"Mister, can you open the door for me? I have something to give the kids." He patted the guard's shoulder to catch his attention. The entrance to the orphanage isn't the big gate since it is used for vehicular purposes only while the small gate is the only way to enter the vicinity of the orphanage. The children's safety was their priority so they needed a guard to prevent uninvited person to enter and do some ruckus.

The guard opened the gate for him without battling an eye. Of course he saw the label of the paper bags Ace is carrying. He knew that the mall beside them have this brand of toys.

His hand feels a bit sore just for holding the bags for a short time. The reason is the toys were too heavy for him. His gaze landed on the big wooden door with a placard saying, " Welcome to our little house!"

He giggled reading the message. The strokes of the letters weren't too accurate but a Korean would understand it. The kids probably wrote the message in order to make visitors happy.

Knocking on the wooden door, he saw more details on the placard. The are small thumb prints on the background of the words. It could be that the kids are the one behind this.

"How may I help you?" A man came out of the door with a name tag saying 'Old Pa'. The man's age can't be any higher than forty and not lower than twenty five.

"I have something to give the kids sir." He replied raising the paper bag to the man's view. The man nodded and widened the door so that he can't enter. What came into his view is a hall with children playing. It could be that their playground is inside the building.

"Kids stop playing someone is here to see you." Said the man in loud voice. The kids stopped playing and beautifully squatted in front of them with smile plastered on their lips.

"Hello kids, you can call me Brother Ace." He introduced himself in a childish manner aware that he might scare the children with his happy and loud voice.

"Hello Brother Ace" They replied in succession. He then remembered his old school days at the age of four. It may be impossible but he remember clearly the way they would greet the teacher. The normal word '선냉님' (teacher) would take them nearly six seconds to pronounce. The reason behind this is they prolonged each syllable or simply they were too lazy to study again.

"Let's play a game okay?" He asked and dropped his leather bag on his luggage preparing. The kids seemed to be a little council discussing their answer. A boy wearing over sized shirt stood up confidently and answered, " Okay brother. What would be the game we are playing?"

He layed the contents of the three bags on the carpeted floor in an orderly manner. The eyes of the kids flashed with excitement seeing this toys clearly forgetting Ace. He finds it natural for the kids to behave like this since they were too young.

Placing his palm on one of the toys, he said, " Okay this is how our game will work. Every two kids who come here in front of me and tell me about themselves, I will leave one toy for you to play with."

The population of the kids were not higher than twenty and Ace brought nearly thirty toys and books. According to the rules he made, two person will be needed in order to get a toy. Then he would only give barely ten toys for them to play just by this game. He will think of another one to give them all the toys.

"Hello Brother Ace! I am In Ho Baek, and this is my twin In Ha Baek. We are both seven years old in Korean age and six in English Age."

(AN: In Korea, when a child is born, he/she will automatically be one year old not like the English rule of counting age.)

Ace glanced at the twin. They both share exactly the same features except for their hairs. In Ho Baek have slightly curly hair while the other twin have droopy hair. Ace wondered if their surnames were given by their real parents before leaving them here or the orphanage simply changed them. He didn't pursue the matter any longer since he considered asking the person's real surname before befriending them meant you are after their power nor wealth.

"We both like eating cauliflower flower Brother Ace and also likes to play swords. He is not a morning person while I am." In Ha Baek told him smiling like crazy since he managed to get revenge from his brother.

Ace saw In Ha Baek's meaning behind his words and finds it cute. He really wants siblings who have always have small fights but ended up loving and protecting each other. In this world, brotherhood is one of the best things since you can't trust anyone. Even your own family can betray you when facing money. Admiring the relation of the twins, he couldn't help but feel jealous. Since born, he haven't felt connection with anyone from the same family as him. Thankfully, he has a friend who is busy on his own affairs at this time and he couldn't come and talk to him.

Their lost their contact that day, they were brought apart because of the event. However, he believes in him like how he believes in Ace. Some day, they will definitely reunite and continue their unbreakable friendship. If not now, tomorrow or even years after, he would still wait since he is the only person who made hi feel that he was loved.

" Don't fight with each other until you hurt each other okay? Love each other and be sure to protect your brother. You like swords right? I have a robot here who wields a big sword." He said giving them a thumbs up after handing them the robot. The robot was from the movie ' Pacific Rim ' which he also likes. The robot was the exact miniature of Saber Athena of the movie. Even if it actually isn't a sword, they are still young to determine the difference between a saber and a sword.

Time passed like that, he learned much from the kids. While playing he could hear the happy sounds they make which warned him. He may be a cold-hearted guy but in the right hands, he melts.

He was about to talk to another one but he saw an unbothered kid at the corner of the hall. He was reading a book silently while tapping his foot on the carpeted floor. Ace shivered seeing this, the kid looks too young and cute reading the book but at the same time he looks really cold. Amazed that such a young age could already read and have this concentration, he asked the man earlier they call Old Pa about him.

"He is the hardest kid to approach here. Not only does he stays in a corner, he don't like to talk to others." Old Pa replied with sympathy in his voice.

"Please look for the kids, I'll try to talk to him Old Pa." He said and left Old Pa there. The man sighed, numerous important persons already tried to talk to him but they only got annoyed at the end. It was because the child doesn't speak to anyone and uses the white board to talk.

Meanwhile, Ace just reached the child and sat beside him awkwardly. The kid didn't even flinch not spare him a glance but stared at his book. The angle Ace is facing affected his sight thus he couldn't peek at the contents of the book.

"Hello, I am Ace. What is your name?" He asked but the child didn't even bother to spare him a second. Ace, hoping that he will make the child talk, he asked him different questions. No avail, he didn't even got the slightest reaction.

It was at this moment that the child felt his waist itchy. He can't help but rub his waist. Meanwhile, Ace who was beside him caught a glimpse of the book. With his photographic memory, no one can be safe.

" Game guide? Could it be that this kid is interested in games? He wants to be a programmer? No way, he might want to play those games but he doesn't have the chance."

Countless thoughts were inside his mind. A devilish smirk appeared on his lips but the kid can't see it. Remembering that he was reading the part about the game ' Talking Tom', he downloaded it into his phone.

His phone's connection was too fast that it only took five minutes to download the app. It is a good game also. It develops the user's thinking since you need to care for Tom which is a male cat in the game. You need to feed, wash and play with him daily. Letting him sleep was also necessary in order for him to have energy and you can play in the provided games.

He run the app and a grin appeared on his lips again. He raised the volume to maximum so that the kid could hear him playing. The kid was first annoyed that his reading were disturbed by the sound.

Ace didn't waste time any longer and spoke, " Hello Tom". The game has a feature that when you talks to him, Tom would imitate your voice saying the exact words you said.

The kid felt curious and glanced at him. He then looked at his book again thinking about the game Ace was playing. The features it have is exactly what he have read in the book. In all games described in the book, he was curious about the certain game more.

Ace felt this and rejoiced in his mind. He waved the phone in front of the kid's eyes and said, " Is this the game you are reading?"

The kid was confused, how could he know? However, he stared at the screen of the phone. The longer he stare at it, the heavier his heart wants to grab the phone and play with it. This man knows how to tempt!

"Do you want to play with it?" He innocently asked. Upon hearing this, the kid rejoiced silently and quickly tried to grab the phone. To his dismay, the phone was out of his reach since Ace was faster and raised it higher.

"I'll let you play with this every time I come. However, talk to me with you voice." After hearing this, he didn't think any longer and nodded. He must grab this chance! No one had offered him this before and he doesn't know if someone will offer this again so he didn't hesitate.

Ace saw his movements so he handed him the phone. The kid looked good playing with the phone like a professional. He don't look like a kid at all! Little did he know, the kid was very happy inside. He didn't expect to play the game at this age at all. He was planning to work after being sixteen and buy a phone with his salary. It may sound childish but he wants to download all the apps for kids he read and play with it until he get tired of it!

Ace didn't bothered him after this and watch him play. After nearly ten minutes, he spoke, " What's your name?"

The kid didn't look up but his cute voice sounded lightly almost like a whisper, " I am Ahn Ko Ki"

"Meat? you want meat?" Ace felt confused. He didn't ask him if he wants anything but the kid messed with him talking about meat.

(AN: 고기 "Kugi" Koreans have letters whose sound are similar like that one. It means meat in English and Ace misheard the kid.)

The kid nearly puked blood. How could this man be stupid?

However, he restricted his body and said, " Ahn is my surname given by my real parents. Ko Ki is my name."

This simple sentence made Ace remember of something. The surname 'Ahn' is nor really normal in South Korea. Moreover, a lot of families with this surname is either rich nor holds a great position in the government.

Having this surname is actually rare. This made Ace really confused. Why would his parents dare to give him this surname if they are just an average family? Why don't they just let the orphanage decided his surname but instead gave him this surname.

Ace also thought of the possibility that his real surname is 'Ahn'. He maybe born in an average family or a wealthy one. But the perks of a family being an average one is simply low with this surname. Almost eight out of ten families with this surname are wealthy and not just something.

Ace stared at the kid carefully. He caries the handsome and intelligent genes of a true Ahn. Who is this child really? He could be the young master of the great Ahn Family which is one of the ten wealthiest family in Korea. He could also be a normal one. Being the young master of the world-known owner of Ulzzang Groups with the surname 'Ahn' is also possible. But why would a wealthy family leave their child here in an orphanage? One thing is also running in his mind.

They have the same surname!