Sunggyu's least favourite chapter in Math was Complex Numbers. It was difficult to teach, and it was difficult to understand.   The very basic idea of an imaginary number, i, is that i^2 is -1, which sort of explains the imaginary part of it because squared numbers ought to be positive. So 25i^2, will be -25.    When Sunggyu first learned this, he thought it was extremely stupid for any mathematician to call a chapter 'complex' because that would just discourage any learner, especially those terrible in or hated maths. The dude who named this topic was probably just bloody honest but terribly boring as a person. The second thing he felt was even stupider, was using i as the imaginary number. Okay sure, i for imaginary...but of the 26 alphabets in English, you just had to choose that one letter that represented your personal identity as the imaginary number that made little sense, confused a hell lot of people, tripped students up in tests and was imaginary. To an average teenager first approaching the topic, it must feel so comforting to i is imaginary.    To an average teenager figuring out the first bumpers in life, 'i am imaginary'.    He lightly tapped the shoulders of Janelle and Howon as the two snored loudly in is class about i, tired from their overtimes the day before. "Make it less obvious, will you," he whispered in their ears.    Sunggyu wasn't sure whether he was teaching about math or life anymore.    -∞-   Janelle had been selling illustrations and Howon was burning his soles in extra shifts of dance classes since the day of the major fight. He had begged the centre to start paying him, and they were more than willing to given his long time service. Sunggyu had been lenient to them in class for their increasingly frequent doze offs, but he was in a difficult position too even if none of their classmates protested. He once felt that Howon was beating him in rule-breaking and school absences, but he's been leading the young lad in recent weeks as he closed an eye to Janelle and Howon's obvious part-times, and he had his own few days of leaves as he got Woohyun an attorney to run through the papers. All he could do to compensate for his lack of good teacher qualities was to offer the duo extra weekend classes. It had come to a point when Sunggyu was seeing the three youngsters more than his own bed.    The worst that resulted from the big fiasco was not the broken furniture that quickly got replaced, nor was it Sungjong's injury. The young boy managed to deal with it under the care of his second brother Myungsoo, and he was hardly complaining anymore seeing his oldest brother work to his bones. The most terrible thing that happened, was that it broke Woohyun's budding resolve to return to school. Despite having Sunggyu's attorney look through the debt papers (likely illegal and an easy case off his shoulders, eventually), the boy could not remove the weight of this burden off his shoulders. He refused to accept monetary help from his two classmates, so after a while Howon was helping to buy his life necessities for him because "he happened to run into supermarket offers every other day", while Janelle was practically feeding his brothers by packing extra food from home all the time.    Yet none of them were anywhere near to getting Woohyun back to school again. For the fourth time, Sunggyu saw Woohyun pass his old school uniform to Myungsoo, asking him to clean up the living room floor.    It was one of those weekday nights when Sunggyu was marking 3D-1's papers while supervising the younger brothers' homework. Woohyun was busying himself with the overwhelming crowd at the store that night. Janelle had returned from her day of work and was helping Myungsoo with his art homework when Howon walked in to join them, sweaty (from work) but smiling.    "So guys, what are we doing tomorrow?" His words were directed at Myungsoo and Sungjong.    The boys looked up from their work and their eyes glistened with excitement. "Janelle noona is teaching me how to sketch now so I think I might be drawing him something. Maybe a cake or one of those ladies on his magazine." That earned a stern glare from Sunggyu. He made a mental note to let Woohyun keep those things away from his brothers.    "I think I saved up a bit this month, so I think I might buy him a new t-shirt. I think his wardrobe looks miserable." Sungjong said, and Howon gave him a fist bump.    "What's the occasion?" Sunggyu and Janelle asked simultaneously.    "Oh," Howon replied, "it's his birthday. I plan it with these little men every year since I knew him." It was so intuitive it didn't occur to him that he had to clarify.    "Can I just tell him his papers are settled and he can be off that load of debt tomorrow? I got the text just now so that can be his present. I will forward him the message...with a cake emoji maybe." Sunggyu said as he continued poring through the papers.    "Wah, Howon-hyung, are all adults stingy?"   "Janelle-noona, I'm so embarrassed you have such a homeroom teacher."    The two teens nodded and gave their teacher a disapproving look.    "I was kidding. The message is real, but I have a heart okay? I think I know what to get him."    Woohyun was approaching so everyone at the table leaned in, making Sunggyu feel that he was Mother Goose with the children coming to listen to his tales.    "Maybe we can all get him..."    -∞-   Myungsoo and Sungjong were tasked with the most important mission of the night: holding the cake. The boys had given their busy brother a lame excuse that Saturday morning so that they could follow their older companions around town to get Woohyun's birthday surprise.    The two of them were seated on the couch together with Sunggyu and Howon. The four males were staring into space and daydreaming at various degrees when Janelle unlocked the door and entered. "I gave him the map. Pretty sure I drew it accurately so...he should be here in no time. He was texting me and complaining and all so he should be on his way." She joined everyone in the living room.    The room they were in was a small apartment that belonged to Sunggyu's father, who would visit Korea every now and then when he wasn't on business. When he's away, this was for Sunggyu to use, which he very gladly did.    There was a knock on the door and everyone scrambled into position. Sunggyu lit the candles while Myungsoo held on to the cake carefully. Sungjong joined Howon and Janelle at the door, lining up such that the youngest sibling was in front, holding on to the wrapped gift. Howon and Janelle each held on to something else too, though they were just in a simple plastic bag (who had time for wrapping when you have school and jobs at the same time?). The knob turned hesitantly, and in came Woohyun, unsure what to expect.    "SURPRISE!"    When Woohyun entered, he was immediately attacked by his youngest brother, who threw himself into his arms as he gave his brother the birthday hug. Sunggyu tapped Myungsoo's shoulder to cue him forward, and Woohyun saw immediately the fruit cake that his brothers and friends had scoured for the whole day while he was at work. Two large candles perched firmly on the strawberries, and he closed his eyes to make a wish (secret!) before blowing them out.    "Happy Birthday hyung!" The two little boys said, looking up at their brother expectantly to wait for their kisses on their heads.    "Happy Birthday brother." Howon said his greeting in a mock-hiphop way, gave Woohyun the full bro fist bump and chest bump routine before ending off on an extremely complicated handshake. "I can't believe this is happening but here's my present." He lightly slapped the flat gift into Woohyun's chest. The birthday boy peeped in momentarily, and then he looked up shocked, eyes widening so greatly everyone was surprised he was capable of that. "You're kidding..."    "Not kidding bro," Howon said coolly.    Janelle's gift was an