⊱┊ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ sᴛᴇᴘ ༊*·˚

Jungkook isn't sure what it is, but something shifts in the atmosphere and Minjun glances at him expectantly, gripping the stuffed animal in his palm tightly to his body. Jungkook admits that the smaller one looks adorable in the dungarees, waddling over the floor as he moves.

"I won't hurt you, I promise." Jungkook extends his arms towards the little boy. Hesitatingly, he steps forward, allowing Jungkook to gently lift him and sit him down onto the piano bench. Minjun's lips break into a timid smile, causing Jungkook's heartbeat to increase.

"I will be back. I have to close the door," Jungkook says after noticing that he left it open. He walks ahead and closes the door before taking a seat next to Minjun. Jungkook looks like he's contemplating to say something for a few seconds but just settles his gaze on the piano in front of him, not saying anything more.

Gingerly, the taller one lies his hands on the piano keys and begins to play a soft melody. One thing rarely anyone knows about the student is that he loves music, especially playing the piano. Jungkook's parents began teaching him to play the piano at a young age. When he was three years old, his parents enrolled him in a music school where he learned his first children's songs.

Later, he expanded his hobbies and began to play more challenging songs. When none of his parents were home, he would sit at the piano and practice in private. Often he would forget about his homework or do it later. It was as if he was magically drawn to it. Nothing and no one could stop him from secretly practising.

Finding himself again in this situation of being able to play the piano, Jungkook gives free rein to his feelings and hands. And apparently, he is not the only enthusiastic one, otherwise, Minjun would not be watching Jungkook's dexterous hands with an intrigued and broad smile, following their movements.

"Did you like the melody?"

Jungkook turns with a fond smile to the two-year-old, who almost instantly nods before he hides his face behind bubbles. Despite feeling extremely shy the younger dares to scoot closer, so close that barely a stuffed toy fits between their bodies. Minjun squints his eyes as he clasps his other hand on his toy and hesitantly presses a piano key. Too soon he pulls his hand away as a sound is produced and Jungkook has to stifle a coo.

Minjun's brown hair falls into his face as he briefly focuses his gaze on his own hands, which he examines from each side as if wondering if he created the sound. Often he would stand in the hallway and watch a kindergarten teacher disappear into it or how the piano was used when the music group would sing songs.

The music group is nothing more than a voluntary workgroup or, more simply, a group with a teacher or a committed teacher who teaches the children after lunch. The children are enrolled in a list by the parents. A few workgroups also cost money, for example, if the kindergarten employs a teacher who does not work here but somewhere else.

Many parents take advantage of these offers if their child is interested. So there is not only a music group but also a yoga or Kung Fu course, whereby the groups usually take place once a week and on different days.

Jungkook chuckles and shakes his head, "Here let me show you how to play."

The stuffed toy is quickly abandoned on the side of the bench as Minjun finds himself focusing on tapping the right piano keys the way Jungkook showed him before, giggling each time when the elder praises him or when he presses down on the individual piano keys.

"Yes, correct. You're doing great. Now the next key. It's called 'mi' and you use the third finger for it," Jungkook explains with a soft voice and demonstrates. He deliberately uses the simpler key designation with which he first learned to play the piano. Although he doesn't expect Minjun to remember everything straight away—he's probably still a bit too young for that, but it won't do any harm if he explains it once. Besides he is or almost is in the age where kids can start learning how to play piano.

Just then an idea pops up in his mind as he musters the sparkles in Minjun's eyes. Based on seeing Minjun play, he has never played on a grand piano, let alone sat in front of one.

Subconsciously Jungkook rolls up the sleeves of his jumper, exposing a few tattoos and sighs. Yet Minjun doesn't seem to notice or mind, as he continues to remain quiet and presses the keys wildly.

"Do you want to surprise your parents?"

The word 'parents' seems to be drawing Minjun's attention to Jungkook. A faint utter of 'appa' escapes his mouth and Jungkook wonders what his parents would be like, whether he has those bright eyes or the shy personality from one of them.

"Then let's keep what we are doing here between us, okay? The piano playing, I mean. Pinky promise?" Jungkook says and holds out his small finger, only for Minjun to nod, touch his finger and then giggle in joy. Jungkook, meanwhile, can only hope that the room will always be open because disappointing Minjun is the last thing he wants to do after today.

And as a matter of fact, whether it is intentional or just done by coincidence, the next few times Jungkook gets to kindergarten, he checks after a certain amount of time to see if the door of the music room is open or closed so that it is not noticed (or so he hopes). And believe it or not, each time the door is unlocked, which quickly becomes a routine for them:

Checking the door, leaving to find Minjun if he's not already at the door impatiently waiting for Jungkook to show up and then playing the piano.

Minjun also becomes a little more approachable towards the student, though that doesn't mean he talks more than usual. Rather, he becomes more open about actions towards Jungkook. For example, one afternoon they are in the music room and as soon as Jungkook sits down he has a lap full of Minjun, brown orbs staring into his eyes before he turns with his back around to him. Jungkook almost chokes at the sudden action and knocks Minjun off his lap in surprise.

Fortunately, neither of these things happened.

It's one afternoon that Jungkook encounters probably the most attractive person he has ever met. Minjun was not standing at the door when the student came, so he is attempting to find him now. Worry overcomes him when he can't find him. He is circumspect on the issue of asking a kindergarten teacher if Minjun has already been picked up when he comes to a halt and perceives a soft whimper in the room he's in.

Frantically, Jungkook looks around until his gaze settles on a corner of the room. Hidden by books and small cupboards is Minjun curled up in a ball, tears pricking at his eyes and a pout on his lips. A hand lies on his stomach as Jungkook notices in spite of him wearing a big jumper that his body drowns in. No longer thinking he rushes to the small boy and kneels down, unable to think and in an attempt to figure out what is going on. Carefully he touches Minjun's cheeks to signal that he is here.

"Minjun, I'm here. What's wrong? Does it hurt anywhere?"

Jungkook is no longer astonished by how concerned he is for Minjun. He has become fond of him over the course of days. While he's gotten more open to other children and they've occasionally found the courage to come up to him, Minjun still holds a special place in his heart.

Whimpers snap him out of his reverie and he searches in vain for a kindergarten teacher, but none can be found far and wide. Based on the way the little boy holds a hand to his stomach, he guesses it has something to do with his stomach. Minjun confirms this only a few seconds later.

"T-Tummwy."

"I will inform a kindergarten teacher." Jungkook gathers the small bundle of human into his arms and carries him to an adjacent room where he can perceive the sounds of children. Fortunately, Hoseok is also present.

"Hoseok, Minjun is not feeling well and I don't know what to do."

"What? What's the matter with him?" In a hurry, the older one grabs the phone in case he needs it and rushes to Jungkook's side, waiting for whatever Jungkook has to say.

"From the way he's putting his hand to his stomach, I'm guessing he's got a stomach ache."

The older looks dazed for a moment, but slowly nods, nonetheless. Trying to go on about this situation not in panic. "Okay, let's go back to the room you were in. There are too many kids here." He tells another teacher to keep an eye on the children, while he'll be gone.

Once inside the room, Jungkook can't help but kneel down near the book corner and wipe away Minjun's tears. He feels compelled to brush his hand over the said boy's stomach and attempt to assuage him.

After a brief examination, Hoseok grabs the phone and dials a certain number.

"I don't think that I need to call an ambulance. However, I have to contact his father."

Father? What about the mother?

Jungkook lowers his eyes, the second Hoseok backs up a few paces. The call becomes quieter and the brown-haired student only hears it subconsciously. His entire concentration is on none other than Minjun, whose head the student lays on his thigh and rubs through his hair in an attempt to distract him.

"His father will come," Hoseok says eloquently as he is kneeling by Jungkook and looks at them both for a few seconds. This is the first time Minjun has been this close to someone, many times shying away if someone got too close and talking... Talking is a different adversity. He recalls his father approaching one of the kindergarten teachers with Minjun in his arms, informing them that his child is quite timid.

That was months ago.

Hoseok expected Minjun would adjust to the kindergarten and the other children, but to his surprise, he stayed the same, hardly communicating and usually sitting alone in a corner. One of the teachers frequently tried to coax him into talking or playing but he refused, so they left it at that for now.

On the other hand, it's the first time seeing that Jungkook is so invested in a child's business. Even if the latter has not always been in the room he was in, Hoseok is not oblivious to the fact that there's some special bond between them; otherwise, Jungkook would probably not be allowed to be as near as he is now. It makes Hoseok wonder what happened to cause them to become so close.

Trusting Jungkook to keep an eye on Minjun for a few minutes, Hoseok retreats to the front of the kindergarten to meet his father. Meanwhile, Jungkook managed to draw Minjun carefully into his lap, his head leaning against the sturdy chest, eyes closed, while Jungkook's hand caresses over his back.

Jungkook is so engaged in the child's well-being that he doesn't realise how quickly time flies. Lost in the moment, Jungkook stares at the bundle in his arms and cognizes how calm he has become, breathing even out and tiny fingers clutch onto Jungkook's green jumper.

So adorable.

A sudden sound of patent leather shoes echoing in the hallway jolts him out of his thoughts. The sound is followed by rapid breathing and Jungkook assumes it is his father who must be concerned. What he didn't expect is for a young man in an open grey suit jacket with soft brown hair to enter the room a few seconds later.

His eyes radiate pure concern, but Jungkook does not miss the glint of surprise when Minjun's father stops short in the doorway and Jungkook can only guess that it is because Minjun is in his arms. With quick steps, the father walks towards both of them and Jungkook cannot refrain from taking his eyes off him.

His straight brown hair is parted down the middle, exposing his forehead and drawn-together eyebrows. Brown hair falls into his face as he crouches down and Jungkook observes the way the worried male leans closer and how his fingers reach out to touch Minjun. Small fingers to that.

Jungkook hears the male sigh as he caresses his fingers through his son's hair. The father's eyes, in a deep shade of brown stare right at Minjun, missing the pointed stare at him. The student wonders how old he is because to him he is the father of a two-year-old and the brown-haired male appears to him to be only a few years older than him.

"Minjun, baby. Do you have a stomachache?" Jimin speaks in a soft voice and earns a barely visible nod from his son. Shifting in his position he finally casts a glance at the person, who's holding Minjun in his arms.

Now that Jimin has made the move of taking notice of the other, he can feel his breath catch in his throat; their proximity between them is barely existable by a few centimetres and Jungkook's absolutely attractive, there's no denying on Jimin's side. His silver and round earrings and smaller piercings decorate his ears. It only compliments him. Jimin tries not to show it, but he's surprised. Hurrying from work he didn't exactly think he would find Minjun cuddled into the embrace of another man, even less in an embrace from a man he doesn't know.

Questions come up but Jimin brushes them off when Minjun calls for him. He pulls Minjun from Jungkook's embrace after the smaller lets go reluctantly and gives him a nod of thanks, finding his cheeks slightly burning under Jungkook's intense glance.

"Thank you for taking care of him," Jimin gulps heavily and gets up. "I think it's best if we go now so that I can put him to bed and give him the right medicine."

He doesn't look at Jungkook when he says it, but he knows that the other still has his gaze fixed on him until he gets up as well, brushing his hands on his pants and then follows Jimin to the doorframe of the room.

They come to a halt and Jimin throws Hoseok a thankful smile, who still stands nearby. Turning to Jungkook, he sees that his eyes are casted to the floor up, his silver earrings dangling as he scrunches his nose. However, Jungkook peers up to the second Jimin speaks up.

"Thanks again," Jimin murmurs, eyes crinkling in fondness. As much as he would maybe exchange some more words with the male, curious about whether he really works here, Jimin needs to head home. He has a sick son in his arms and standing here doesn't make him feel any better.

"It's fine, I guess." Jungkook attempts to put on a genuine smile as he searches for words that he can say. "I think you should really go now before the stomach ache might get worse again."

"I guess so," Jimin smiles and takes a step back. Not really wanting to leave, he tears his gaze away from the person in front of him. "Until then, goodbye."

"Bye," the student softly answers and watches as Jimin slips through the front door until it closes and no one but Hoseok and him are left standing in the hallway. If Jungkook had known what would come next he would have rushed quickly into another room.

"My, my, my," Hoseok snickers and turns to him, a grin present on his lips. "What exactly did I witness just now?"

"Nothing. Shut up," Jungkook grumbles and avoids his gaze.

"Sure kid. Just be careful. Not everything might seem as it is," Hoseok states amused, reaching out to pat him on his shoulder. "I will go back to the squirrel room."

Careful?

What does Hoseok mean? Being careful of what exactly? Various thoughts enter his mind and swirl around his head. From the first glance up to what Hoseok just said. Is it really Jimin he meant? What is it that he has to be careful about when it comes to Jimin? What is it about this handsome male that he couldn't take his eyes off...

Handsome?

Jungkook shakes his head in disbelief. He doesn't even know Minjun's father. Besides, this man has a family. But then why did Hoseok only mention a father and not a mother when calling by phone?

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