⊱┊ᴡɪɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ༊*·˚

A marble.

A second marble.

And a third marble ultimately drops through a hole in the marble run and rolls down the track at a reasonable speed. Jungkook averts his gaze as soon as Minjun picks up another marble and places it into the funnel-like mould's top. The longer he sits there and watches, the more nervous he grows. Even the ticking of the clock in the room seems to deride him.

"You like playing with marbles, huh?"

It takes a few moments before Minjun picks up a new marble, but instead of dropping it into the funnel, his small feet rush to him. His pants rode up and Jungkook could now see the conspicuous motif of tigers on his sockc. The boy drops the marble with assuagement into Jungkook's lap, turning a profoundly expectant gaze on him.

"I see what you want from me," Jungkook chuckles serenely and raises to his feet. He stretches out the hand wrapped around the small transparent glass ball and throws it into the funnel.

Soon his probation officer would be arriving at the kindergarten to speak with him and some of the other teachers. After all, today is his second evaluation meeting and Jungkook is impatient for the first time. At the same time, he's terrified and unsettled about what the others might say about him. It's not like he has been observing a significant amelioration in his behaviour during the last six weeks, although he did notice some little changes.

One example is, Jungkook doesn't hold the inclination to roll his eyes or suck his bottom lip in when a child approaches him.

Instead, Jungkook finds himself softly smiling at a few children when he walks through the rooms, helping where he can. One thing that hasn't changed and has simply become stronger is his bond with Minjun. Despite his regular assistance in other rooms, it is either Minjun or Jungkook who finds the other when they aren't clandestinely playing the piano. Regardless of the fact that Jungkook is virtually convinced that at least one kindergarten teacher must have discovered the truth by now, no one has said anything.

When Jungkook sees Mr Sung approach the kindergarten in business clothes, a button-up shirt, and black pants, he knows it's time for the meeting. His identity card hangs from a light blue lanyard around his neck, and his shearling coat is neatly folded over his arm. Jungkook musters his solemn face before diverting his gaze. Wordlessly, the student strides towards the entrance door and follows Mr Sung to the room where they'll discuss the progress.

Surprisingly, the evaluation meeting goes well, the kindergarten teacher mentions that there can be certainly seen changes in Jungkook's behaviour; good changes. Mr Sung scribbles everything down while glancing across at Jungkook from time to time. Probably scanning his face for anything that doesn't match reality. But to his delight, that's not the case. In his eyes, Jungkook is a young boy who doesn't seem to know where he belongs or what he wants.

A lost star.

That's what Mr Sung compares him to. A boy who is unsure of where he should go or what his destination is. But the fact that Jungkook makes no snide remarks or negative facial gestures gives him hope. Each case he handles is unique, and he can only endorse the judge's decision to allow the student to work here. It shows him progres, which has been the goal the entire time.

"Is there anything else to add I should note down?" Mr Sung asks in the round and straightens his posture in the office chair, his gaze settling on each individual person's face in the room for a moment. But he's either met with silence or a head shake. Pleased, he closes the folder and shakes their hands before they step out of the room.

Jungkook walks his probation officer to the entrance door and holds a light-weighted conversation until a little monkey interrupts them. With weeping eyes and extended arms, he waddles straight into Jungkook.

"Kwookie-" Minjun manages to get out between soft sobs and then something unexpected occurs. The little boy curls one small hand into the fabric of his pants, attempting to lift himself up or make himself taller and makes a grabby hand with the other hand. The student initially pauses there, taken aback by the unexpected movement, but he finally gets what the little boy wants and crouches down to take him into his arms, who quickly warms his heart. Never has he been that close to Minjun. He's never been so close to Minjun. He is concerned about what may have happened to trigger the bundle to cry.

Jungkook can see Mr Sung chuckle from the corner of his eye as the young child buries his face in the crook of Jungkook's neck, but the latter doesn't bother to comment on it. His attention is solely on Minjun.

"What's the matter, little one?"

"Mwissed you," Minjun exhales and relaxes as Jungkook gently caresses the expanse of his back. His mind goes over his words, unable to comprehend Minjun's actions.

"It seems like you have a handful of work, I'll leave you to it so that you can tend to your work properly," Mr Sung remarks and throws both of them a genuine smile before he clutches his bag under his arm and leaves through the entrance door. A subconscious sigh leaves Jungkook's lips as he looks down into his arms.

"What am I going to do with you? I've been gone for twenty minutes, and you're missing me like you haven't seen me in months." The student laughs heartily.

"Let's go do something creative. Maybe you could draw something pretty for your appa?" Jungkook smiles softly and has to suppress a coo the second Minjun lifts his head in curiosity. It appears to him that no matter what Minjun does, he acts as an emollient for his heart. After enough time has passed, Jungkook can honestly assert that the words 'daddy' or 'mommy' have never left Minjun's lips. The older realises it doesn't have to mean anything, but why would he not mention his mother in the same way he mentions his appa? Jungkook has been thinking about this more than he'd like to admit.

He shakes his head as if he shakes off the thoughts. Jungkook doesn't even understand why it's so interesting for him. This is a family; a relatively unknown family to him.

They return to a more peaceful area of the group room, where they take a seat at a way too little table and on a far too small stool (at least for Jungkook). Minjun takes a while to let go, but he ultimately does after Jungkook snatches the pencils and papers from a cabinet. Minjun eagerly begins to draw, and Jungkook can't help but admire how much passion exists in this little body, just waiting to be released.

"What are you drawing?"

"Sun. Flyfly." Minjun gestures to the individual drawings on his paper. Jungkook can only guess what he means by 'flyfly', a colourful animal shape that is similar to a butterfly.

Jungkook ruffles his hair and gestures at a solitary individual on a white piece of paper. "Very good. Is it your favourite animal?"

"No." Minjun shakes his head and peers with a pout at him.

"No? So, which animal do you like best?" The older tilts his head and his curiosity is piqued as he perceives how Minjun's eyes widen and his lips open and then close.

"Hmm," comes over Minjun's lips ultimately, hands clutching to his pants and displaying once again the funny orange tigers on the socks. The latter's eyes roam in the room until they land on something small, hidden in one of the play corners. Hasty footsteps are followed by an extended hand that firmly holds a stuffed animal.

Jungkook licks his lip and lowers his gaze, hand tracing the head and the ears of the animal.

"You like cats the best?"

The boy in question firmly nods and then does something Jungkook would not have expected in his dreams, for he didn't know they were anywhere close enough for Minjun to do that. It truly leaves him speechless and Jungkook finds himself once again in a situation where he's uncertain of what to do or how to act.

Because Minjun sits in his lap, cuddled into his embrace and throws him a toothless grin. Although it has happened once before, in the music room, the smaller makes it seem like this is the most normal thing for him to do. But something about this situation reminds Jungkook of the time Minjun wasn't feeling well.

Jungkook lets his hand roam through Minjun's hair almost automatically as he leans closer. His finger then points to what appears to him like a person on the drawing. "What about this?"

"Kwookie."

"That's me?" Another wave of shock runs through him. What is just so different about this child than anybody else? What exactly is it that makes Jungkook want to look out for him and feels the need to protect this little bean? "I like that. If you want, you could maybe draw a cat."

"Yes!"

Jungkook proudly smiles and places Minjun on a nearby chair to get up and grab some water when Duho, a kindergarten teacher, enters the room and steps next to him. Duho gives him a sidelong glance before turning to look at Minjun, who is peacefully drawing with a green coloured pencil in his hand. As he talks, admiration and respect flash across his face.

"You know... Minjun's birthday is coming up soon..."

Jungkook turns around and gazes with something resembling interest. "Is it?"

"Yes, I'm pretty sure it will be in two days. Normally, we throw a small birthday party for each child's birthday and celebrate within the individual groups, but you might be unable to attend."

"Why?" Jungkook furrows his brows.

"We often celebrate around lunch. However, I'm sure if you went to see Minjun later and congratulated him, he wouldn't be sad that you weren't there in the morning."

"Do you think it would be improper if I got him something?"

"Do you want me to be candid? If I were any other child and saw that you would give him a present but not to me, I would be envious and disappointed. On the other hand, you don't know how his father will react to it. In conclusion, if you truly want to get him something, choose something small and give it to him when there are no children around. I know it is unjust when I say that but no one can stop you from giving him a present, whether it is in your spare time or not."

"Okay, I understand. I will come up with something different then."

"Did you already have a present in mind?" The kindergarten teacher inquires curiously, raising a brow and looking at the attendance list on his list.

"Hm, yes, but that's not relevant right now. Thank you for telling me, though." The younger takes a sip of the water in his hand and observes other children playing with a kiddie kitchen. He can't suppress a grin.

"No, problem. I wanted to inform you because I've seen the way you are around him and change not only yourself but him as well. Before you came... Minjun used to be much quieter and more private as you've seen at the beginning. Nobody has ever been able to get as close and form such a relationship as you two have. I'd really like to know what your secret is." Dohu laughs and the student shrugs.

"I don't know how to answer that question if I'm honest. It just... happened?"

"Okay, okay. I get it. I'm just happy to see that he has become more open and although he doesn't talk to you, Minjun communicates in a silent way with you. It's very admirable. Anyway, I need to return to the butterfly group room." Without another word, Dohu walks out of the room, a cup of coffee in one hand and the attendance list in the other. Jungkook is unable to express disappointment or irritation. Instead, he feels as though a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

It may have been a brief and neutral conversation but to Jungkook it's more than that. He has recently not only begun to open up to children but has also begun to communicate with kindergarten teachers. Every now and then. It's a strange yet good sensation he hasn't felt in a long time. Nonetheless, Jungkook remains sceptical of the little changes he has observed and is unsure what to make of them.

"How about we puzzle, Min?"

Jungkook receives a shy nod and glance as an answer.

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