The truest purpose of being human is made for service to care for all. We are made for love both time and again; a love that will live through sorrow and pain and a love that will never die with strain.

A splash of water hits Chaeyeon’s head as she walked to her work on a fine day. She didn’t react that it was gross nor she threw a rock at the pipe for her soggy situation. Instead, she shrugged and saw a dead plant, placing by the dripping water and went on her way.

“Kkura-chan!” She saw the woman selling takoyaki as she struggled to push her cart. “Let me help you.”

“Thank God, you’re here.” Sakura sighed in relief and they lift the cart together.

With a big heave and a big push, they got the cart to Sakura’s favored spot; a park filled with lots of people. Chaeyeon got her thanks and she bids farewell, only to be stopped by Sakura as she got a pack. 

“Have some takoyaki on the way. Free of charge.”

Chaeyeon was flattered, accepting the gift and saying her thanks before heading to work.

+++

Chaeyeon had a decent day of work at a corporate. Despite being wet, she dried it off with air conditioning and the dose of office work.

It was the end of the day. Instead of having a luxury dinner at the corporate’s canteen, Chaeyeon chose to have a simple meal of rice and meat together with Sakura’s takoyaki. It was cheaper, more open, and there were varied viands and rice to choose from. Not only that, it was also a place for the majority, even for those who had nothing to eat.

“Unnie…” A tall kid got to her table. “…can you spare us some food?”

“One bite for each of us will be fine.”

Chaeyeon still had some Sakura’s takoyaki and gave the kids the whole pack. “Here.”

“Yujin! Yuri!” The restaurant owner spat. “Move it! You’re disturbing the customers!”

Like a pair of whining puppies, Yujin and Yuri left after thanking Chaeyeon for the pack. Chaeyeon wondered of the tall kid and asked. “Yena, how do you know the kids?”

“They introduced themselves as Ahn Yujin and Jo Yuri; orphans. People say that they escaped from an orphanage and wandered around Seoul with nothing.” She spoke. “As much as they are pitiful, we don’t tolerate to give anything. They might’ve been used by some group in order to get food or worse, they’ll end up become dependent and lazy.”

Chaeyeon understood Yena’s reasons and continued to eat. Once she was done, she puts her plate by the basin of dishes and utensils even washed them.

“Aigoo! You didn’t have to put an effort!” Yena got the clean dishes and placed them on the racks. “Thanks very much, Chaeyeon.”

“No sweat.” Chaeyeon did a thumbs-up.

“Here. Some spare food for today. I don’t it to last for tomorrow plus I don’t want it to go to waste.” Yena added. “Take as much as you want.”

Chaeyeon was flattered again and thanked Yena for the meal and the extra food. She walked home, passing by two female beggars. Chaeyeon checked her wallet and puts a 10000 Won bill on the cup.

Those beggars go by the name of Eunbi and Nako. According to people, Eunbi was a single mom who didn’t finish college, was fired from her low-paid job, was abused by her parents, and had her possessions taken away and had to raise little Nako as her own. With such circumstances, they can only beg on the streets with little to no chance of survival. They begged mostly for food and for Nako’s education since the latter wanted to go to school. And of course, Chaeyeon wanted that for the duo so she would always give whatever she can every day.

“Don’t tolerate them too much, Chaeyeon.” A pawnshop owner spoke as she chewed her gum. “They’ll become dependent and lazy.”

“No worries, Chaewon.” Chaeyeon assured her.

Chaewon just nodded and carried three heavy boxes when Chaeyeon helped her in getting them inside.

“Thanks, Yeon.”

“No sweat, Chaewon.” Chaeyeon added. “I’ll get going now.”

Chaewon waved her farewell as she closed her pawnshop. Chaeyeon bids goodbye to the mother and child – with getting both of their waves back – and walked home.

After all the walking, she stopped at a decent apartment. She went inside the small hallway, stopping to leave packs of food on the ground floor’s doors.

“Don’t tolerate Hyewon and Wonyoung, Yeon.”

“Oh! It’s fine, Hitomi. You know Hyewon’s struggling onto her work to the point she and Wonyoung couldn’t eat.” Chaeyeon assured him and got the pack from his doorknob. “For you.”

“Aigoo…thank you.” He smiled as he accepted it. “May you always be blessed, Chaeyeon.”

Chaeyeon bowed and went to the second floor where her room was. Hitomi looked up, clicking her tongue. “Aigoo…what will that good girl ever get in return?”

+++

The Almighty sent instruments to show us the way, love every minute of the day, give life hoping that we might live, and give spirit to help us and others through the years.

That was Chaeyeon’s principle every day. In the morning when she would go to work, she always made a stop to check on the watered dead plant and help Sakura heave and push her cart to her spot.

“There you are!” Sakura waved. 

“Sorry if I was running late.” Chaeyeon cackled.

“It’s fine. Thanks for always helping me, Chae.” Sakura said as she handed a pack again. “Here. There’s extra bonito flakes, just how you like it.”

Chaeyeon accepted wholeheartedly as she got to her work, spending eight hours with no noon break but nonetheless, she would always do her work diligently.

After her work, she would always eat dinner at Yena’s restaurant and always helped with the dishes. And no one could forget Yujin and Yuri who always stopped at a table to ask for something to eat. They stopped at Chaeyeon’s table and got takoyaki AND a free meal each to which Chaeyeon paid.

“It’s fine, Yena.” Chaeyeon assured her. “The kids are starving.”

Yujin and Yuri were really grateful for the food. The life on the streets was so cruel to the point she wanted to give up in living. They may have wanted to seek an opportunity like going to school or get a job but none wanted them, hence to why they were on the streets.

As Yujin and Yuri finished their meals, they thanked Chaeyeon and Yena before wandering out again. Yena sighed as she cleaned Chaeyeon’s table. “Those kids…”

“They don’t disturb me, really.” Chaeyeon spoke. “You could hire them. You could use some more help.”

“Soon.” Yena said and got take-out again. “Here.”

“Thanks, Yena.” Chaeyeon carried the packs and bid her farewell.

She would’ve walked tonight but with the load she was carrying, she decided to hitch a bus home. But before she could, she always stopped by to put money in the cup.

“Again, Chaeyeon?” Chaewon asked as she cleaned the counter.

“Hey, it’s fine. I even gave them food.” Chaeyeon spoke and got another pack. “For you.”

“Thanks. I haven’t had dinner.” Chaewon mumbled. “What about them? Did you give a large amount again?”

“Only a 5000 Won bill. Money got a bit tight.”

Chaeyeon had to bid goodbye as Chaewon smiled before closing her shop. Chaeyeon got to the bus stop and hopped in, paying for her fare and sitting down. A familiar passenger hopped in and she was panting while standing up.

“Wonyoung-ah.” Chaeyeon called.

“Unnie~” Wonyoung greeted. “I’m glad that you and I get to go home together.”

“Me too.” Chaeyeon got up and offered her seat. “You’re more tired than I am. Take a seat.”

Wonyoung was shy to accept the offer as much as to decline. Nonetheless, Wonyoung sat after her body was tired from running. When they arrived at the destination, Wonyoung and Chaeyeon got in as Hitomi and Hyewon waited.

“Finally, you’re home.” Hyewon hugged her dongsaeng. 

“Chaeyeon-unnie and I got on the same bus together,” said Wonyoung.

“For all of you.” Chaeyeon gave the packs of food to the trio. “The restaurant I had dinner in gave them.”

Hitomi gave the same words as Chaeyeon climbed to her room. Hyewon and Wonyoung were thankful as they got inside theirs while they asked the same question.

What will Chaeyeon ever get in return?

+++

She gets nothing.

That was the universe’s answer to that rhetorical question. Chaeyeon may have been considered as a martyr that helps people every day but she got nothing in return. She was the normal girl who worked eight hours a day, lived in a decent yet small apartment, and earned enough for herself to live a decent life…

…except she chose not to.

That is why the people who knew her pitied her for helping others when sometimes, they wonder if she even helped herself. The efforts Chaeyeon paid nothing. She won’t get richer, she won’t appear on TV, she will remain anonymous, and she was not a bit more famous.

But whatever life throws at her, Chaeyeon was doing it out of pure heart and she herself thought it was more than enough.

+++

Life can be so lonely when nobody cares. It can also be so empty when nobody shares. But if man gives himself to help other men, the happiness of everyone will live within.

“It’s hot today!” Sakura laughed as she puts her hat on Chaeyeon’s head. “To protect you from the Sun.”

Chaeyeon laughed with her as they pushed the cart together. It got to a farther spot where there were more customers. Sakura was thankful and even gave a bigger pack of takoyaki to Chaeyeon.

“Thanks so much~” Chaeyeon bowed then waved. “See you tomorrow, Kkura~”

Sakura waved back as she went to entertain her first customers. Chaeyeon carried the pack like it was a baby and went to work.

+++

“Aigoo…our Yujin and Yuri gotten bigger.” Chaeyeon patted the kids’ head.

Yujin and Yuri smiled through her tears of joy as they ate cake. Not only that, Chaeyeon and Yena were celebrating with them after it closed.

“First you tried to move them away and now, you took them in.” Chaeyeon said. “That’s some progress, Yena.”

“I have to give you credit, Chaeyeon. They’ve helped me in the restaurant. Yuri’s good in entertaining customers through her singing while Yujin’s good in cleaning tables and washing dishes.” Yena added. “To compensate, I let them sleep inside the restaurant and give them free meals.”

“But isn’t it a bit cramp? Yujin’s so tall plus there’s two of them.”

“It’s okay, unnie. At least we have a roof above our heads now.” Yujin added.

“With the free food and services, it’s more than enough, unnie,” said Yuri.

Their dinner had to end as Yujin insisted in cleaning their table. Yena bids her farewell first, Yujin got inside the cramped area to sleep, and Chaeyeon with her route home.

She got to the pawnshop and readied her wallet when the beggars were nowhere to be found. Chaeyeon even asked Chaewon but she only got a teary smile.

“Unnie~”

Chaeyeon looked at the side and saw Eunbi and Nako. They looked very different as their rags were turned to decent clothing – even Nako wore a uniform.

It was then that Chaeyeon’s heartstrings tugged. Who knew that all her giving had a great impact in the end, changing the answer to that typical question?

What does she get in return?

She gets emotions. She witnesses happiness. She reaches a deeper understanding…

…and she feels the deepest sense of love.

“Chaeyeon-ah~” Eunbi greeted her and shook her hand. “Thank you.”

“Thank you too, buddy. You gave me the understanding I need.” Chaewon got to them. “I let Eunbi and Nako stay with me. Eunbi and I run the pawnshop together now and Nako finally goes to school.”

“We owe you a lot, Chaeyeon-unnie.” Nako smiled. “Thank you for everything.”

Chaeyeon felt teary yet all of them had to say goodbye to another day. Chaeyeon took the bus home again and Wonyoung was already there, saving a spot for her. They sat next to each other and got out together, with Wonyoung guiding a blindfolded Chaeyeon.

“What’s with this, Wonyoung-ah?”

“Trust me, unnie.” Wonyoung spoke. “We’re almost home.”

Chaeyeon was stopped. Wonyoung got behind her and slowly took the blindfold off. Chaeyeon saw Hitomi and Hyewon holding a cake.

“Happy birthday, Chaeyeon~”

Chaeyeon got teary as she thanked them. The trio gathered around Chaeyeon for a group hug and decided to celebrate inside Hitomi’s room.

Chaeyeon was really blessed. The day had been the very best.

+++

Life looked usual for Chaeyeon but it had gone for the better, especially for the people around her.

Sakura became a successful takoyaki vendor – even giving extras for the customers. Yuri became a full-time singer in Yena’s five-star restaurant with Yujin as the full-time receptionist. Nako’s excelling in her studies, Eunbi became a successful right-hand in the pawnshop with Chaewon as a successful owner. Hitomi was still a successful owner of the apartment and Hyewon was promoted on her job, giving good life for herself and for Wonyoung, who was also an excelling student.

Chaeyeon? She was the most blessed as she was promoted to the highest position in their department. Even with that progress, Chaeyeon never stopped to help other people. Of course, the universe gave her blessings in return.

Most importantly, the main thing Chaeyeon got in return something that money can’t buy and the thing she desired the most.

A world made more beautiful.