fn birthdayCakeCandles(candles: &[i32]) -> i32 {
    if candles.is_empty() {
        return 0; 
    }

    let mut counter = 0;
    let mut high_number = candles[0];

    for &i in candles {
        if i > high_number {
            counter = 1;
            high_number = i;
        } else if i == high_number {
            counter += 1;
        }
    }

    counter
}