There’s just something about Christmas that makes people want to spend money on things they don’t need. I have that problem. Maybe it’s the pretty decorations and outrageous advertisements that line the streets of Seoul. Maybe it’s because everything is suddenly at its “lowest price all year” and a “must have deal.” Or maybe it has to do with the Christmas music and jingles that I have learned to appreciate while working as a lyricist.

That was what was going through my mind as I stood in front of the Tiffany’s store, eyeing the prettiest diamond necklace in the world displayed in the window. But let’s be honest; I was not the type of girl who wore diamonds on an everyday basis. If I bought that beautiful necklace, I’d probably wear it once or twice a year to dinner parties or special events. But then what? For the other 363 nights, was it just supposed to sit in my drawer, collecting dust?

Besides, I thought guiltily as I peeked into the bags that I was already carrying, I had already spent more than I should have on a new leather jacket and heels.

While I wasn’t short on funds, I was also not a money tree. As a responsible 23 year old, I should definitely move away from the display case. But I couldn’t. The diamonds reflected light from the bulbs around the window, and I sighed, thinking over my life decisions that had led me up to this point. I should have known better than to even walk on this side of the street, knowing that I was going to pass this display window.

Suddenly, I heard a little scuffle behind me, and something pulled at my leg. I looked down to see a little boy, no taller than 3ft 5, gazing up at me with big, brown eyes. He was dressed warmly in an adorable little purple jacket and matching mittens, but had no scarf on, leaving pink cheeks and ears.

I knelt down to his eye level and smiled at the poor thing. “Hi, little boy. Are you lost?” I asked, concerned.

The child shook his head confidently, and smiled back at me.

“Umma!” he called, reaching out to pat me on the cheek softly.

I blinked in surprise and quickly stood up. Growing up, I had never been a fan of little kids or babies. Normally, they didn’t like me very much either, so having this child so comfortable around me was disconcerting.

“I’m not your mommy,” I told him gently, patting him on the head. “If you tell me your name and where you last saw her, I’ll help you find - ”

“Hyunjun!”

A frazzled looking young man holding a fluffy white scarf had spotted the little boy and was hurrying towards us.

“Look, that must be your appa,” I told him, breathing a sigh of relief. “You’re going to be okay.”

The man stopped in front of us and rubbed his eyes, tiredly.

“I swear I reached up to get some crackers and the next thing I know he’s wandered off again. Hyunjun-ah, you can’t just leave daddy’s side like that, okay?”

He reached out to the child, Hyunjun, and wrapped the scarf around the boy’s face.

“Come on, let’s go, Hyunnie,” he said, holding a hand out for the boy.

Hyunjun shook his head vehemently, and grabbed onto my ankle again.

“Appa, look,” he said, happily. “I found umma.”

At that, the man’s head snapped up, and I was met with deep brown eyes, almost identical to those on the little boy. He was handsome, with a gentle, kind appearance and I blinked at him, mesmerized.  The man flushed, embarrassed, and turned back to Hyunjun.

“That’s not your umma, Hyunnie,” he explained gently, fixing the boy’s scarf. “Let the pretty noona go, okay?”

“No,” Hyunjun replied, stubbornly. He pointed up at me with one hand, the other still holding onto my leg. “This is umma,” he insisted.

The man sighed, dejectedly, and turned back to me.

“I’m so sorry, Miss,” he apologized, flashing me a charming smile. He looked to be no older than me, yet had the feel of someone with much more life exp