Too Young - Tumblr Posts

So I found the letter that the Animorphs author and trans ally K. A. Applegate wrote after the series ended and I’m FLOORED

I mean

Graveside

I am defective in grieving. There is too much analytical practical elemental selfcenteredness in me I suppose.

I stood by her casket looking down at a husk dressed in white, face puffy and distorted from the chemo. The girls whispered how shameful it was her makeup had not been done (her eyebrows had always been on point) while all I could think of was the long curved needle they use to sew the jaw to the palate, it prevents the mouth from falling open you see, and all around was the scent of death, no amount of flowers and candles could cover.

This evening a friend texted me "everything is going to be ok".

Yes, everything is going to be ok, but life is goddamned unfair sometimes.

too young || one

summary: you meet jungkook, a single parent who keeps forgetting to pick up his daughter from school

word count: 2,387

genre: parent!au, single dad!jungkook fluff/slow burn 

It was an hour after school ended when the most precious and cutest little girl knocked on your office door. She was tiny, shorter than your office desk. Her light brown hair was styled into low pigtail braids, and there was a big red flower in her hair that matched the red dress she had on. Her navy blue light up shoes were just as bright as her shining hazel eyes. “Hi, my name is Jules. Can you call Jungkook to pick me up?”

The smile on your face disappeared when she tells has been waiting outside for an hour to go home. You gave her some water and let her play with a Rubik's cube as you try to contact her parent, Jungkook. He wasn’t picking up, so you decide to look at her emergency contacts. You were surprised to see six other people listed on her file as family friends and were even more amazed that none of them were girls. It looked like she only had male figures in her life. You had never seen a support system as large as well.

When you dialed Jin, he picked up on the first ring. As soon as you mentioned Jules not being picked up from school, he quickly mumbled that he’ll be on his way as fast as he could and thanked you. He hung up, and you looked at Jules who put the toy down on your desk. “Jin will be coming.”

“Uncle Jin?” You nodded with a small smile on your face, and she smiled back. “He bought me these shoes for Christmas last year! They light up when I move.”  

After you called Jin, you and Jules went outside to sit on the school bench in front of the curb. She was quietly humming to herself and could not sit still. She constantly swung her feet and moved her head side to side. "Sweetie, do you know where your dad is?” 

“Jungkook? He works a lot, but he loves me a lot too.” 

“Does this happen a lot?”

“Does what happen a lot?” She scrunched her nose in confusion. 

“Has he ever left you here before?”

Before she could answer, a black SUV pulled up. The car came to a stop, and a tall male with dark brown hair and broad shoulders came out of the driver seat. “Uncle Jin!” 

Jules ran towards Jin where he bent down quickly to give her a big hug. He asked her about her day and complimented her shoes while fixing some strands of her hair. “Do they still light up?” 

He stood up to stomp both his feet, acting as if his brown leather shoes were the ones that could light up. Jules laughed and jumped to show Jin her shoes, and to you, that was like hearing and seeing the most pure thing ever. 

“Hi, I am so sorry! I hope I didn’t make you stay here for her,” he apologized to you as he held Jules’s hand and opened the backdoor to put Jules in the car seat. “If I had known Jungkook couldn’t pick her up, I would have done it as soon school was over.” 

“I couldn’t get a hold of him, so I apologized if I bothered you.” He buckled her seat belt and closed the door. “Is there something I have to worry about? Like will this happen again? I would just hate for her to wait again all alone.” 

“I will make sure that Jungkook picks her up the next time.” Again, he apologized. “I think he’s just stuck at traffic or work. He’s still new to all of this.” 

You raised your eyebrows. “New at what? Being a parent? For being responsible for his daughter? To remember she needs to go home after school?”

Jin opened his mouth to say something, but instead, he released a tired sigh. “If it happens again, please do call me or Jimin. He should also be in the emergency contacts. The rest of the contacts live out of town.”

“Thank you, but I really hope we do not have to call three different people to make sure Jules is able to go home.”

___

The next week, Jules knocked on your door again but this time, her hair was styled into two dutch braids. Her baby pink hair ties matched her pink skirt while her blue shirt matched with her shoes. She sat down and pulled the game, connect four out of her light purple backpack that had small white unicorns all over it. “I’ll be red.”

Her file was still on your desk, so you opened it and dialed Jungkook’s number on your cellphone. You put your phone up to your ear, and as it rang, you got up and placed the yellow piece in the center. Jules stared at the one piece for a while before placing her red piece on top of yours. 

When it went straight to voicemail, you immediately called Jin’s number and then placed another yellow piece to the left. It automatically went straight to voicemail as well, and you looked down at Jimin’s number. 

“Is Uncle Jin coming?” She asked as she put a red piece on top of yours again. “He always beats me at this game.” 

“I think Jimin is picking you up today,” you said with the slight annoyance in your tone of voice. “Does he play this game as well?”

“Not good.” She smiled. “I beat Jimin at this game a lot.”

“I love that energy. Remember to keep that,” you said right before Jimin picked up. You placed a yellow piece to the right this time, making three in a row; it doesn’t matter where the next game piece goes because you won either way. “Hello? I am calling about Jules. She hasn’t gotten picked up from school yet, and I was wondering if you would be able to since I cannot contact Jungkook or Jin at this time.” 

Just like Jin, Jimin said he’ll be here as quickly as he could, thanked you and hung up. 

“How old are you?”

Jules put the red piece on the left side before realizing she lost. She took out all the pieces and prepared to set up for another game. “Six! How old are you?”

“Not six.” You smiled and let her go first. She copied your strategy and placed her red piece in the middle. You follow her lead and let her win to see the excitement on her face. “Nice job.” 

“I like to win.” 

“I do too.” 

After two games, you held Jules’s hand and walked her to towards the blond man that was walking towards the building. He was shorter than Jin, but still tall compared to you. “Jules!”

“Uncle Jimin!” It was literally déjà vu. The same thing happened last week except with a different person. She ran towards him, and the man bent down to give her a hug. He rubbed her back, and he pulled back to look at her face. “Do you want to play connect four later?” 

“Sure thing! I made your favorite soup today too, so you can eat that later.” She clapped and jumped up and down excitedly, showing off her light up shoes. “Hey! Those aren’t the shoes I bought you!”

“Yeah because Uncle Jin gave me shoes that light up! See!” She kept jumping up and down. “Do you see?”

“Yes I do!” He put his hand on her shoulders to make her stop. “Are you dizzy? Are you okay?” She nodded. “Go to the car, kiddo. I’ll meet you there.” 

“Bye teacher!” She shouted as she started running towards the blue SUV in the parking lot. “I’ll come back to school tomorrow!”

“Thanks for letting me know that she was here.” He had a soft voice, and you can tell that he felt bad that this had to happened. “It really means a lot.”  

“That is my job as principal,” you remarked. “Teaching and taking care of all the students.” 

“Right,” he agreed. “Look, before you make any assumptions, Jungkook does take care of Jules. I mean, she’s happy, is fed, goes to school and everything. It’s just that he’s struggling with his job right now that’s not letting him out to pick Jules up.”

“And they don’t let him contact any of her six emergency contacts to pick her up?” You crossed your arms. You were always a happy and soft-hearted person, and you hated making someone feel bad. “I know it’s not your fault, but the thing is school ends the same time like it always does. He should know that by now.”

“He really does try to find someone to take her home.” 

“I suppose I trust your word.”

____

A few days later, Jules was back in your office again, but this time, she brought a deck of playing cards. Her hair was put into a single french braid, and she was wearing white dress with a blue denim jacket that matches her white converse. “Do you have any fives?” 

“Go fish.” She picked a card from the deck and sat up straight to try to peek over your cards. “Are you cheating?” 

“No!” She laughed and looked down at her cards. “Can you at least give me a hint of what you have?” 

“Do you have any twos?” You used the same playful tone as she did, and she laughed while handing you a card. “What about fours?”

“Goldfish,” she replied. You thought that it was cute, that she always insisted to say goldfish instead of go fish. “Who’s coming today? Should I guess? Should I be scared?” 

“Jin is coming.” You put the cards faced down on the table. “Are you close to Uncle Jin?” 

“Well, I see him a lot because he picks me up, you know?” You nodded. “I also see Uncle Jimin and Uncle Hobi a lot because of my cousins, Hye and Lia. They’re six years old like me.” 

“Do you have any more cousins?” 

“Does this mean I win if you quit?” You laughed and nodded as she happily picked up the cards. She put a rubber band around the deck and put them in smallest pocket of her backpack. “I have Suzy and Min, but they’re babies. And Alex is too old.”

“Do you know what your dad does to not pick you up?” Your conversation was interrupted when you see Jin by your door, ready to knock. “You ready to go, Jules?”

“Yes!” She got out of her chair and waved goodbye to you as she went towards Jin.

He slightly covered her ears. “I can promise you that Jungkook isn’t a drug dealer or anything. He’s a good parent, and good parents do make mistakes here and there.”

“Another time, I will have to meet with him myself,” you warned him before he went out the door. 

“I will make sure he gets that message.”

___

He did not get the message. 

Although you liked spending time and playing games with Jules, you still had to call Jin and Jimin four more times to pick her up. Finally, you personally called Jungkook’s work place and asked the secretary to give him the message that he will have to meet you right before school ended. 

A young man with a black fancy suit knocked on your office door. His dark chocolate hair was all fluffy and wavy; you couldn’t tell if he styled it like that or if it was naturally that messy. He had the most alluring brown eyes you had ever seen. “Hi.”

“You must be Jeon Jungkook. Please sit down.” You pointed to the chair right in front of your desk. “How are you? You seem tired.”

“I am,” he replied softly as he took a seat and put his hand out to shake yours. “But I don’t think we’re here to talk about how tired I am. We’re here to talk about Jules.” 

“Yes, well, do you know what day it is?” You asked. 

“Yes?” He blatantly said. “It’s the first day of October.”

“That means last month I had to call you and your family more than six times to pick up Jules just so she can go home.” He released a disappointed sigh. “That number should be zero, not ten. She should have transportation ready for her whether it is you who is picking her up or family friends.” 

“I know,” he said formally and looked down at his hands in his lap. “I will do better this time and make sure it does not happen again. I’m sorry to inconvenience you.” 

“Do you understand the responsibility of making sure she is safe and picked up from school? Because from your track record right now, it doesn’t seem like it.”

“Do you work the same hours everyday?” He asked. “Because I actually don’t. I  work at a company thirty minutes away from here. Sometimes I work from three in the afternoon to seven in the evening, and other days, I work eighteen hours,” he explained. Just by the sound of his voice, you could tell he was overworked, tired and hurt. “There were days I didn’t even see Jules. I stepped down from my position two months ago, and yesterday was my last day.”

“I didn’t know that.” You struggled to speak. “I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t be. You didn’t know,” he replied with a small smile on his face, but you could tell he forced it. “Knowing that would not work with Jules’s schedule, I gave up what I loved because parents have to sacrifice for their kids. I’ll be working more flexible hours and from now on, you don’t have to worry if she gets home, because she will be getting picked up by me.”  

You gave him a small smile and nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.” 

“I appreciate you for spending time with her instead of turning her away. She’s real thankful for it, for everything.” You chuckled at his comment. “Is there anything else that you wanted to talk about?” 

“That is all, thank you.” You thought that was the last time you would see him, but the next thing you knew, you saw Jules in your office the next day, waiting to go home.

too young || two

summary: after forgetting to pick up his daughter, single parent jungkook proves he’s a good parent on your birthday.

word count: 2,027

genre: parent!au, single dad!jungkook fluff/slow burn

one || two 

“Can you help me with homework?” Jungkook’s daughter, Jules asked as you were typing an email about a staff meeting. You looked at her and saw she was biting the tip of her purple pencil eraser. “I need help.”

“Of course.” You were right next to her and looked down at her sheet of paper. Her assignment was learning how to spell the pictures that were being shown. “Which one do you need help with?” 

“This one.” She pointed at the picture of the yellow flowers. “I have to spell it, but they’re just flowers. I don’t get why there’s two blanks.” 

“Well, there’s more than one, right?” She nodded, still biting the tip of her eraser. “What do we do to the word if there’s more than one?”

“Add an s,” she replied.

“Right, so that makes it flowers, and I think flowers fit in the second blank because there’s seven letters.” She smiled and started writing on the paper. “Do you notice anything else about the flowers?”

“They’re ugly.” You scoffed at her comment and bit your lower lip to prevent anymore noises to come out of your mouth. “But that’s only four letters. It has to be six.” 

“What else have you learned in class?” You asked. 

“You just learned colors, remember?” You turned around and see Jungkook in another black suit. He was leaning against your office door, with golden star balloons in his right hand. “Hi.” 

“New record, you’re only twenty minutes late,” you quipped. There was slight annoyance in your voice, but you were glad he was doing a better job at picking up his daughter on time now. “Let’s try to make it to ten next time.” He chuckled, having a small smile on his face. “Everything going okay, kiddo?” 

Jules had started packing up, putting all her papers into one red folder. She zipped her purple backpack, got off the chair and ran towards Jungkook with her backpack in her hands. “I’m happy! Are we going to get chicken feet?” 

“Anything you want,” he said. “Did you thank Y/N for her help?” 

“Thank you, miss! Do you want to come with us? We’re having chicken feet for my birthday!” She said with the biggest smile on her face. “Is that okay, Jungkook?” 

His mouth was slightly parted, not knowing what to say. He blinked and looked at you, shrugging his shoulders. “Is that okay with you?” 

“Maybe next time,” you lied. There was nothing morally wrong with going out with them, but you felt uncomfortable spending time with her and Jungkook outside of school. “I have some work to do for tomorrow.” ____

You ended up sitting across from Jules as her and Jungkook sat on the other side of the booth. They were out of the clothes you saw them in earlier. Jules undid her braid, making her have wavy hair and was wearing a pink sweatshirt with a tiara on her head. Jungkook was out of his suit and was now wearing a navy blue button up with a purple party hat on his head. They were both enjoying spicy chicken feet while you were eating bulgogi.

Somehow, your favorite restaurant had to be full, and there were no tables for you to eat alone. And of course, somehow, Jungkook and Jules happened to be there to celebrate her birthday, so they offered you to sit down with them. 

“Thank you for this.” You covered your month as you finished chewing. “It means a lot. I’m sorry if I’m intruding now.” 

“Is that your favorite food?” Jules asked with her mouth full, almost being incomprehensible. You smiled and nodded at her. “I like that too!” 

“Did you get your work done?” Jungkook asked. “It seemed like you left like five minutes after us.” 

“Yes.” 

“That’s great.” He picked up a chicken feet with his chopsticks. “I’m sorry if this is uncomfortable for you.” 

“The same for you,” you said. “Do you always go out to eat here for Jules’s birthday?” 

“Well, last year we spent it with my cousins, and that was a big mistake,” Jules answered which made you and Jungkook laugh. “Too many people. I hated it. There was too much noise.” 

“We have a big family,” he explained. “Already, she has six uncles and that’s not including their wives and kids, you know?”

You wondered why both Jules and Jungkook word things the way they do. He doesn’t say he has six brothers or family friends, but instead said Jules has six uncles. She doesn’t call Jungkook Dad, but will rather call him by his first name. They don’t mention anything about Jules’s mother either. 

“Jungkook!” Jules pulled on his sleeve and pointed ahead. Her eyes were lit up like a Christmas tree. “The guy left the piano! Can you go play and sing? I want to hear a song!” 

“You sing?” You questioned with a small smile on your face. “I didn’t expect that.” 

“No, I don’t.” He nervously chuckled as he carefully took Jules’s tiny hand off his sleeve. “I wouldn’t call it that either. I never sing.” 

“What are you talking about?” Jules raised her eyebrows and tilt her head slightly. “You’re a songwriter! Of course, you sing all the time! You sing when you’re cooking, cleaning, driving, writing, getting ready and every day when you do my hair and before I go to bed.”

Although he couldn’t pick up his daughter on time, you regret thinking that he was a bad parent. You didn’t know what happened behind closed doors after school. You didn’t imagine he would somehow know all these kinds braids and then learn how to sing to her at night. You didn’t imagine him knowing what she learned in class and didn’t think he would take her out to a fancy birthday dinner.

“I’ll sing to you tonight, okay?” Jules groaned and had a pouty look on her face, making you laugh once again. “I promise.” 

“You’re a songwriter?” You asked. 

“And you’re a teacher,” he deadpanned, causing you to roll your eyes. He smiled and let out a small sigh. “I was an executive producer, but I stepped down to this position.” 

“Do you miss it?”  You remember how he talked about how he loved his job, but in order to keep Jules happy, he made the sacrificed doing something else.

He closed his eyes for a moment. Perhaps, he was recalling the memories and the feeling of his job before or perhaps, he was comparing which jobs was harder and easier. In a small voice, he said, “I think I’ll always long for it.”

Before you could ask anything else, the waiter comes to your table with the black check book. You were going to reach into your purse and pay for the whole thing, but Jungkook beat you to it. He placed a few bills onto the table as a tip, grabbed the book, stood up, mouthed, ‘Don’t worry about it’ and followed the waiter. 

“What a show off!” Jules scoffed and crossed her arms. ____

Your night with Jungkook continued as your car didn’t start and you had to call a tow truck to get your car. “I’m really sorry again.” 

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” You were in the passenger seat of his grey SUV. You were glad that he wasn’t that parent who had some kind of sports car that was unsafe for kids. “I don’t mind really. I’m just going to drop off Jules first, so she can sleep in her bed.” 

Looking behind, you saw Jules cuddling with her fluffy white blanket that had dogs with Christmas hats on it. She was trying her best to not fall asleep, but her eyes kept shutting so often. “You’re going to leave her by herself?”

“Oh no.” He took a quick look at you before looking back onto the road ahead of him. “Before I got into the car, I texted Danielle to come over and look after her when I drop you off.” 

“Oh.” You nodded acting as if you knew who she was.

“She’s Jin’s older daughter,” he clarified, making your confusion go away. “She lives down the street from us.”

Again, he didn’t say Jin’s family lived down the street, but said Jin’s daughter lived down the street. “She doesn’t live with him?” You were being nosy, and you hated it. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be-”

“Invasive?” He suggested. 

Your jaw dropped and released a scoffed. “I was going to say intrusive.”

“It’s fine.” He laughed. “It’s nothing serious. She moved in with her friends to be closer to her university.”

The car finally pulled into a driveway. The house was very modern and fancy that you could not believe your eyes. It seemed like both the house and car was probably five times worth more than your annual salary. “Jules used to live closer until recently.”  “Wow.” You stared out. “You two live here?”

“That hard to believe?” He joked and then beckoned the girl outside with brown hair and blue jeans overalls to come over.

“You are such a show off,” Jules mumbled as her face was resting against the glass window. She was startled once the automatic door started to open. Her eyes widen as she saw the girl that came over. “Dani!” 

“Hi kiddo,” she said as she unbuckled the seat belt of Jules’s carseat. Once the seat belt was off, Jules jumped into her arms. “Let’s go inside.” 

“Are you still going to sing to me, Kook?” Jules asked. 

“Of course. I’ll be back very soon,” he promised her. 

“Bye Jungkook! Bye miss!” Dani had a confused look on her face when she heard the second goodbye from Jules. She then gasped once she saw you in the passenger seat. She winked at you and then at Jungkook before pressing the button to close the back door. 

“I’m sorry about Dani,” he immediately apologized right as the door closed. He pulled up his GPS, and you tapped the screen to put your address in. “I don’t think she’s seen me with any person, but Jules.”

“That’s totally fine.” You shrugged as he started driving. “I get it.” 

“If you don’t mind me asking, why were you alone tonight?” He gave you another look, waiting for your answer. “A lot of people usually don’t eat alone, especially on their birthday.” 

You were taken back by his comment. He looked back at the road and told you that Jules mentioned that you and her had shared the same birthday. He didn’t think you would want to be by yourself. 

“To be frank, I haven’t made any friends yet, and I’m still new town,” you said. “I really liked that restaurant and didn’t have a problem eating alone until it got full tonight. So thank you for inviting me to your table. It means a lot.” 

“Yeah, of course.” The rest of the car ride was just pure silence. To you, it wasn’t the silence that was awkward, but it was a silence that made you feel comfortable. There was no need to talk or to make conversation. It felt like everything was fine on its own. 

“Thank you for dropping me off.” Unlike Jungkook, you lived in an affordable apartment building nearby the school. 

“Do you want me to walk you to your door?” He asked, ready to take off his seat belt for you. 

“Oh no, that’s okay.” You felt your heart skip a beat. You awkwardly let out a laugh. “I can just walk to the door myself. There’s no need for you to get out and then get back in.”

“I just don’t want you to be suddenly taken away before you could reach the front doors,” he joked again. You shook your head and laughed. “Thank you for taking care of Jules.”

“Is this my birthday present? You finally picking her up on time?” 

“You’re funny.” He turned his head to look at you. His brown eyes met yours, and the silence was back. The only thing that was heard was your heart suddenly beating. “Goodnight. Happy birthday.” 

too young || three

summary: jungkook tells you the truth about his “daughter” and the girl’s mother

word count: 3,003

genre: parent!au, single dad!jungkook fluff/angst/slow burn

one || two || three

“Jungkook, look!” Lifting your head up from your book, your eyes watched Jules drag Jungkook into your direction. You bit your lower lip to stop yourself from laughing as he and Jules stumbled onto the light blue checkered blanket. “Wow! Small world, am I right?”

“Indeed,” you joked. 

Jungkook was wearing a long-sleeve yellow button up with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His shirt was tucked into his ripped light jeans. His outfit matched Jules; she was wearing a white t-shirt with yellow checkered shorts. For the first time in forever, her hair was down. 

“Do you mind if we join you?” He asked while Jules put her hands together and gave you a begging look. He ran his left hand through his brown hair as his other hand held a large picnic basket. “If not, it’s cool.” 

You let out a small laugh and rolled your eyes at his attempt of being a cool guy who didn’t care. “I mean I suppose if I get something from the basket.”

“Yay!” Jules cheered as she sat down right away across from you. “I’m glad the three of us are having a picnic.” 

“What are you reading?” Jungkook as he sat down. He put the basket lightly in front of him and opened the lid. He gave you a teasing look. “Let me guess: E. L. James?”

“I’m sorry to disappoint.” You lifted the book from your lap to show him the cover of the book you were reading. It was a graphic novel that documented a life as a refugee escaping the Great War. He stared at your book for a while before taking out the first container out of the basket. “Not what you expected?”

“I don’t know actually.” He opened the lid of the container, revealing chocolate covered strawberries. “I mean, I don’t really know you.” 

“You will soon,” Jules whispered under her breath. She shoved a strawberry in her mouth. “Soon.” 

“What was that, kiddo?” Jungkook asked as he grabbed hand sanitizer and squeezed some onto his hands. 

“Nothing.” Jungkook then started parting Jules’s hair into three sections and began braiding her hair. “I’m eating strawberries.” 

“Who taught you how to braid?” You asked, getting a strawberry from the container. Once you tasted it, you knew you couldn’t stop; they were that good. “I feel like you can braid better than most people.” 

He laughed, and just like Jules’s laugh, it was like hearing the most precious sound ever. You just wanted to listen to it over and over again, and you would never get tired of it. “I asked Jin to teach me how to braid when Jules started living with me, but then I taught myself how to do the fancy ones.” 

Trying to hide your confused facial expression, you closed your book. Jules didn’t always lived with Jungkook, and he had moved and changed his job in order to fit around Jules’s schedule. Did that mean Jungkook and Jules’s mother were divorced? Did her mother suddenly not want her anymore?

You watched as Jungkook carefully and gently braided Jules’s hair without hurting her. “I wish I knew how to braid.” 

“You don’t know how?” Jungkook asked as he grabbed the brown hair tie from his left wrist and wrapped it around the end of Jules’s braid. Again, he put santizer onto his hands and then reached to grab a strawberry. “You never learned?” 

“I’m just really bad with my hands,” you said without thinking. 

“Oh god,” Jules mumbled as Jungkook bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh. “What does that mean?”

“That’s not what I meant.” You let out a laugh. “I just couldn’t braid, so my mom or my friends would always do it for me.” 

“Maybe one day, I’ll teach you.” Jungkook offered. Jules gave him a ‘what is this’ kind of look. You watched Jungkook nudge her, and Jules got back to eating the strawberries. “Perhaps, I’ll be the teacher, and you’ll be the student.” 

Before you could reach for another strawberry, Jungkook reached for one and handed it to you. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like them,” he said. “Jules and I made them.” 

“They’re delicious.” Jules smiled and patted herself on the back.  

“Do you like coming to the park to read alone?” He asked. 

“I’m fine by myself.” You shrugged. “Even if I didn’t want to be alone, I couldn’t invite someone. No one would want to come just to be with someone who’s reading.”

“I just think you haven’t found the right person for that.” Jungkook’s alluring eyes met yours. He was looking at you as if he was trying to look into your soul and understand what was going on in your head. “I know you said you were okay with being alone, but don’t you feel lonely sometimes?”

You knew that he asked with concern and wonder, not with the intent to hurt you, but somehow, it did hurt a little. You never thought too much about it, but you were amazed he could read you that easily. 

“And what makes you think that?” 

“I mean, you’re reading a book alone where someone is seeking asylum in a new foreign place, and I just had this feeling,” he explained. “Do you feel like you’re alone?”

You didn’t like depending on anybody else, but there were times where you did feel alone, even when you surrounded yourself with a bunch of people. You just distracted yourself away from that feeling by talking to other people. The feeling of loneliness eventually does go away, but it eventually did come back. It was just a cycle you had to deal with. 

“Way to go, Kook,” Jules gritted through her teeth. “You know how to make a person feel good about themselves.” 

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be nosy or anything. Or sad. I wouldn’t want that on you.” 

“I’m fine, really. I’m just thinking.” Jungkook was practically a stranger to you, yet you felt comfortable enough to share personal information with him. Your feelings towards Jungkook were changing. You knew that you started to like him and trust him. “I think that’s why I wanted to work in a school environment. I’m able to connect with a bunch of people who have different stories, so it makes me feel less lonely and alone. And I want to help them, so they don’t feel like that.” 

“Did you feel like that growing up?” He asked.

“I mean, a little.” You thought about your childhood. “I was an only child, and I didn’t have a big family. I grew up with my parents and spent a lot of time at school with some friends, so when I wasn’t with them, I did feel alone. But I knew there was always someone there.”

“I get it.” Jungkook gave you a small smile and reached your shoulder to rub your upper arm in soothing circles. His touch felt like a thousand bolts went through your system. It was like he made your senses stronger. “Thank you for being comfortable enough to share that. Especially with me.” 

He had the kind of energy where you felt like you were at home; you felt comfortable, safe and at peace. You were so used to being that type of person that you weren’t used to seeing other people like that too. As much as you didn’t want to admit it, you needed that. “Thanks Jungkook. For listening. For not judging.”

“Are you always that brave?” He teased. “Like I’m glad you trust me and all, but you took a risk by telling me. What if I run away this instant and tell the whole world how you felt?”

”Ha.” You released another laugh. “My mom owns a casino, actually.”

“Oh?” He said, not getting your point. “You go to casinos, and that’s why you like taking risks?”

You rolled your eyes and playfully shoved him. “She told me to always take the chance even when I’m afraid and don’t know. She didn’t think I would want to lose what I could have had,” you explained. “I took the risk to tell you, and hopefully you don’t run away from me.” 

He smiled. “She’s smart.” 

Jules then cupped her hands around Jungkook’s ear and whispered into his ear. She was terrible at it as you heard her ask, “Jungkook, when are you going to do it then?” 

He looked at you and said, “Monday.”

___

That following Monday, you looked up from your laptop once you heard a knock on your office door. 

There, at the door, Jungkook, in a cotton candy blue long sleeve button up and white pants, had a bouquet of purple Alstroemerias in his left hand. He gave them to you, and before you could say anything, he asked if he could cook you dinner at his house on Friday night. 

You didn’t have to say anything. The smile on your face was your answer, and Jungkook knew it.

“I took the risk.”

“Are you glad?”

“Hell yeah.”

____

“Yeah, so I actually can’t cook.” You were with Jungkook at his home theatre room. You two were lying on your sides, facing each other under the big pillow and blanket fort that Jules was still setting up. Just like kids, you three were having a sleepover.

“I can tell,” you joked as you looked down at the leftover pizza on the paper plate that outside the fort. You arrived earlier than what Jungkook told you, and he tried to rush you into the theatre room. As you went into the room, you saw the pizza delivery guy come to the door with a box of pizza in his hand. You kept teasing him about it as you both ate the pizza. “It’s okay. I like it still.”

“Jules, do you want to join us?” Jungkook asked.

“I’m still setting this whole fort up, Kook!” She yelled from outside the fort, adjusting the sheets above your head. "I’m almost done! One more thing!"

“Do you guys always make forts?” You heard loud footsteps run towards the other side of the room, and the lights are turned off. Then, a switch is turned on, and you looked up to see stars through the blankets and sheets. "Fancy."

“Probably every other weekend.” You nodded. “Just to keep things interesting.”

Jules then got into the fort and laid between next to you and Jungkook. Jules then wrapped her arms around Jungkook's body. He laughed, rubbed her back and quietly sang her a soft lullaby. You couldn't help but to smile at how precious they both were.

"How's work?"

“Bearable,” he joked. "I get to see Jules in the morning and after school now, so I'm glad."

Despite the fact that Jungkook forgot to pick up his daughter, you knew he cared about her deeply. There was no way he couldn't. He took the time to learn to braid her hair, sacrificed his career and always made sure she was okay.

"Look at you being a cuddler."

“I like you a lot, ya know?” You let out a small giggle.

"I sure hope so," you teased back. “The pizza really shows.” 

“I want to get to know you better.” Jungkook began asking questions. He didn't ask you the simple things like  your favorite color, food, movie or any of small talk. He knew he could always ask those later. Instead, he asked you questions that made you think and see what kind of person you were; he really wanted to get to know you and how you see life. He asked questions like lyrics that stood out to you the most, what you thought your purpose was, your worst habit and more.

You told him that you always wanted to help kids. To you, kids were special, and you wanted them to be on the right path as they grow up and develop their own ideas. You wanted them to be in a safe environment, wanted them to learn and be happy. You thought your purpose was doing that: making others live happy and shaping their lives, so they choose the path to do something great.

Jungkook told you that he had a similar purpose. He told you that he thought his purpose was to make art with words and sounds; making music was perfect for him. He loved the idea that people turned to music in times of happiness, sadness, needing of comfort and more, and he wanted to make all kinds of music that people could turn to. It was a small thing, but he believed he could help people.

You liked that about him a lot. He wanted people to be happy, just like you did.

"Do you think your purpose changed with Jules in your life?" You asked. “Do you think it shifted towards to Jules instead of your career?”

He looked down at Jules who was peacefully sleeping in his arms. "A little. I still make music, but I still want the world's happiness for Jules. I guess it’s having multiple purposes in life."

You couldn't help but to ask him. “Why does she call you Jungkook?”

He raised his eyebrows, scrunching them together. “Because that’s my name? Is she supposed to call me Martin or something?”

You rolled your eyes causing him to smile at you. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

He took a deep breath, and his facade of being happy and a joker came off. He became serious. “Ask me what you really want to know.” 

“Why doesn’t she call you Dad?”

"Because I’m not her dad." He started stroking the back of Jules's hair. "I thought you knew that."

"What do you mean?" You tilt your head, confused. “How would I know?” 

“I just thought Jules would have told you by now, or you looked into her file at school.” He started to explain. “"When I was growing up, my family was close to Jules's mother's family. They had a daughter about four years younger than me. Her name was Sarah."

"That's Jules's mom's name?"

He nodded. “Jules looks just like her. Brown hair, hazel eyes, and the dimples.”

“Same personality too?” 

“I think she’s more like you.” He chuckled, having a small smile on his face. “Jules has a big heart, is smart and knows what she wants. For her age, she’s not afraid of anything. Sarah wasn’t quite like that. She struggled a lot in school and really was more of a follower than a leader.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Right, but I think it just led her to make the wrong choices. She partied a lot, argued with her parents and wasn’t responsible. I was like her older brother. I had to take care of her and made sure she was coming home at night, alive and breathing.”

“So what happened?”

“Sarah told me everything. Seven years ago, she told me the night before her graduation that she was pregnant.” He paused. “But she didn't know who the Dad was. It was a one night stand." 

You felt bad for Sarah already, having to raise a child at such a young age and all alone. Although Jules seem to not mind about not having a Dad, you felt bad that she never had the opportunity to meet him. She was left with a lot of questions not answers.

“I already graduated university and had my own career ahead of me.” Jungkook continued his story. "I didn’t do much, but I tried and helped Sarah here and there once Jules was born. I bought diapers, paid for babysitters and visited like once a month and on birthdays.”

“You did that even though you didn’t have to.” 

“I cared for the both of them.”

“Where is she now?” This story could go anywhere, and you weren’t prepared at all. Did she become an alcoholic and was deemed unfit to parent Jules? Did she leave Jules? Did she just give Jungkook a baby and walked away?

He took a deep breath. “A couple months before you were principal, Sarah was on her way to pick up Jules and got into an accident. Nothing could have been done to save her.”

“How did you get Jules then?” 

“Jules didn’t have any other family but her uncles, and in Sarah’s will, she entrusted me to be Jules's guardian."

"Oh, Jungkook." You knew Jungkook adored Jules, but it wasn’t the life he planned or wanted; it just happened. “I’m so sorry.”

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Y/N." He kissed the top of Jules's head and held her a little tighter. "I'm glad Jules is in my life, but there are some days where they are harder than others."

"I mean, that's still a big adjustment." Jungkook agreed with you. "You had a whole life already, and now you’re living a life you didn’t think you were going to live.”

“It wasn’t something I wanted to choose, but there was no other choice.” He sighed. “Life is crazy and works in mysterious ways.” 

“You asked me if I felt alone.” He nodded. “Do you feel like that?” 

“Sometimes when I am lost and confused,” he answered. “I have the boys, but sometimes, I don’t know what I’m doing with Jules. I feel like it would have been better for Sarah to raise her, and I wouldn’t have to be hard on her sometimes when she misbehaves.”

“You’re just doing your job,” you assured him. “She loves you and knows you love her.” 

“But on good days, I’m glad I have Jules. I know then I’m not alone.”

“But you still miss what you had before.” 

“Missing my old life won’t change anything. It’s not going to bring me back my old life or bring back Sarah. It’s better just to move on,” he said. “Besides, I’m really happy with what I have now and Jules. And I am definitely happy that I met you.”

too young || four

summary: you have a chaotic and very interesting dinner when you meet the boys

word count: 3,830

genre: parent!au, single dad!jungkook fluff/slow burn

one || two || three || four

“Do you really think that’s a good idea, Jungkook?” You two were at the grocery store, buying groceries for tonight’s dinner with his friends and their kids at his house. “I don’t have to meet them today.”

“I want you to,” he said, slowly pushing the cart in the direction you were walking in. “What’s first on the list?” 

“Radish.” Looking up from the shopping list, you stopped and stared at Jungkook. He stopped rolling the cart and stood next to you. “Do you think your friends will like me?” 

“Don’t ask me no dumb question,” he teased, kissing your cheek. “Trust me, they’re going to adore you once they see you.” 

“I hope so.”

Ever since the your first date with Jungkook, he remembered to pick up Jules from school everyday. He would come in the school and go to your office to talk to you for a couple minutes. Once Jules came to your office, he would then take her home.

There were some days where he ran late, but he would always let you know ahead of time and allowed you to take Jules home on those days. Now with his new position and more time on his hands, he was starting to become the parent he wanted to be: the kind of parent that loves his child unconditionally and takes responsibility for them.

Not only was he a great parent, but he was a great boyfriend as well. 

You and Jungkook had been dating for three months. 

Although you two had the same 8 to 4 work schedule, the two of you were busy most nights. You spent your nights at meetings, children’s concerts and met with other parents. You were also working your way to another degree online. 

Jungkook spent his nights, working on other songs at home, entertaining Jules and driving back and forth to take Jules to little league soccer practice. 

Despite being busy and having hectic schedules, you two managed to make time for each other. The both of you spent time together on Wednesdays and Sundays. 

On Wednesday nights, Jin, who wanted Jungkook to have some normality in his life, picked up Jules from school and had her sleep over at his house with his family. He understood that Jungkook was still new to everything and knew he was having a hard time as a single parent, so he insisted doing this for Jungkook to have some alone time. He also said it was the perfect way for him to spend more time with Jules. This way, Jules would know in her heart that she meant everything in her family and that Jungkook isn’t her only family.

After your weekly school board meetings on Wednesdays, you went over to Jungkook’s house and worked on your online college classes on the dinning table as Jungkook sat across from you, playing games on his computer. After you were done, the two of you watched movies, videos, and tv shows in the family room, talking about everything, anything and nothing. Wednesdays easily became your favorite day of the week, and Jungkook felt the same. 

Sundays were also one of your favorite days too. It was the only day of the week Jungkook didn’t have to work, which was perfect for you and Jules. In the afternoon, you and Jungkook would go to Jules’s indoor soccer games, cheer and support for her and then the three of you would go to a restaurant for dinner. 

Ever since you got your job position as principal, you suddenly didn’t feel alone anymore. You knew you had someone special in your life, and you felt so happy. 

Although your relationship with Jungkook was going well, you started panicking after New Years. 

“You know how I cancelled on the guys on New Years?” Jungkook had his arm wrapped around you as the two of you were in his bed, sitting up against the bed headboard. You were reading a book, and Jungkook was next to you playing with the tips of your hair, enjoying your presence. “Well, the boys freaked out on me, like, way more than expected.” 

You looked up from your book and tilted your head in confusion. “Why? Did something happen?”

“It’s just very unusual for any of us to miss a family event,” he explained. “We’re just always together, and it isn’t the same when someone is missing.” 

“I told you that you should have gone.” 

“Yeah, but I wanted to spend time with you.” 

Rolling your eyes, you scoffed at his comment. “How romantic.” 

“I invited all of them to dinner next week on Sunday. Jules doesn’t have a game, and all of them don’t have plans either.” He paused. “I want you to be there, so you can meet all of them, and they can meet you.” 

“What?” You didn’t have a problem with meeting them, but with how Jungkook described them, you didn’t think meeting them during dinner would be the best time or place. You would be too nervous. “Kook!”

“I know I’m sorry! But I promise you that you have nothing to worry about. They’ll might make you uncomfortable for five seconds, but after that, it’s all good. They’re good people, and you are a great person. It all works out.”

Now, after a week, you were finally going to meet his friends, and you were still nervous. You didn’t want them to tell you that you weren’t good enough for him or that Jungkook deserved better. 

“Let’s go over everything for tonight again.” Jungkook groaned at your request. “Please.”

“Fine,” he said, putting the bag of radishes into the cart. “Jin.” 

“Two daughters and one son. Danielle is the oldest and Katelyn is the same age as Jules. And his son, Jun-Ho was born a eight months ago.” 

“Namjoon.” You started walking to the other produce shelves, grabbing a bundle broccoli, white onions, green bell peppers and zucchini. As you got all the vegetables, Jungkook then opened the plastic bag for you to put them in.

“He doesn’t have kids yet, but he’s expecting twins, two girls, next two months in March.” 

“Wow look at you,” Jungkook praised. “Yoongi?” 

“Two sons named Hyun-Joo and Jiwoo. Hyun-Joo is twelve while Jiwoo is the same age as Jules too.”

He nodded as the both of you grabbed a some romaine lettuce. “Hoseok.” 

“One girl and one boy: Hanna and Hye. Hanna is two years younger than Danielle, and Hye is two years older than Jules.” 

“Taehyung?” Jungkook then grabbed iceberg lettuce.

“He has Roman who was born the same day as Jiwoo.”

“Jimin?” Now, you and Jungkook were walking in the direction of the meat counter.

“Two little girls. Lia is the same age as Jules, and he had Mi-suk five months ago.”

“You got all twelve of them.” 

You stopped in your tracks to look at Jungkook. “Wait does that mean all of them are coming tonight?”

“The oldest kids aren’t coming. Danielle and Hanna are getting ready for university to start again, and Hyun-Joo and Roman a piano competition.”

“So it’s just Lia, Hye, Jiwoo and Katelyn?”

“Don’t forget the two babies, Jun-Ho and Mi-suk.”

“Do we need more food then?” 

He shook his head. “We’ll be fine. What’s next?”

_____

“Are you sure you don’t want me to help with dinner?” Jungkook asked once again for what seemed like the thousandth time. He kept insisting that he could help you with dinner, but his actions said otherwise as he watched the news on the tv. “I can totally help! As you know, I am a natural cook.”

“Actually, I wouldn’t know because we’ve only had take out,” you teased as you turned on the kitchen facet to soak the rice.

Pretending to be hurt, he gasped and put his hand on his heart. “I can’t believe you’re forgetting those nights where I made ramen.” 

You shook your head and laughed. “It’s all under control. Thank you.” 

When you heard the doorbell rang, you and Jungkook give each other a weird look. No one was supposed to come through the front door. He had specifically asked all the guys to text them when they had arrived and he would come through the back door, then leading them to the dinning room.

For some reason, he wanted to surprise them and didn’t want them to see you. He also thought it would be better to meet them all at once rather than one at a time.

Jungkook pressed a button on his remote, switching the channel. Now, on the screen was different areas of his house. 

“You had security cameras? Since when?” You asked, turning off the facet. “Isn’t this a safe neighborhood?” 

He shrugged. “It came with the house.” 

At the front door, there was a man with dark brown hair and was wearing a light blue button up with white pants. He was just as tall as Jungkook. The man was rocking a child in his arms. The child looked about the same age as Jules and looked exactly like the man. Then, the child started waving at the camera, and the man smiled; you noticed that he had a smile in a shape of a little heart.

“Jules, come down!” Jungkook yelled out as he switched the channel back to the news. He got up off the couch and walked towards the front door. “Your uncle Hobi and Hye are here!”

“Did you not get my text?” Jungkook asked as soon as he opened the door.

Ignoring Jungkook’s question, Hoseok walked in and crouched down to put Hye down. As Hoseok unzipped the child’s jacket, you heard Jules’s heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. 

“Uncle Hobi, you’re here!” Jules screamed and ran towards her uncle who greeted her with the same excitement. Still crouched down, he wrapped his arms around her and pecked her cheek a couple times, making Jules giggle. “Stop, it tickles!” 

Jungkook gave Hye a tight hug and helped him take his jacket off. He booped Hye’s tiny nose. “Hey, buddy.” 

“Why did you ask that by the way?” Hoseok asked, letting go of Jules. “That is such a weird request.” 

“Who is that?” Hye pointed at you. “Who is in the kitchen?” 

Not understanding what Hye was talking about, Hoseok stared at the direction he was pointing at. His brown eyes widened once he saw you, and his jaw dropped. He blinked a couple times before he started taking out his contacts just to put them back in. “I think I’m going crazy.”

“Let’s go play tag!” Jules took Hye’s hand and dragged him towards her bedroom upstairs. “Come on!” 

With his mouth still open, Hoseok went towards you in the kitchen, and Jungkook laughed. “Hyung, you’re okay.”

“You must be Hoseok.” You put your hand out. “Jungkook has told me a lot about you. I’m Y/N. It’s nice to meet you.” 

Once he shook your hand, he gasped at the contact. “You are real.” 

Taken back from his comment, you let go of his hand. “Excuse me?” 

"This is why I thought it would be better if you met them together rather than alone,” Jungkook explained. “Let’s go wait for everyone in the dinning room, Hobi.” 

"The boys are going to freak when they see her,” Hoseok said as Jungkook and him walked towards the dinning room. His giggle echoed throughout the whole house. “My bet is on Jimin.” 

______

The dinner for tonight was simple. 

Everyone would choose a piece of meat and cook it along with vegetables on the griddle. The only reason why it was taking so long was because you were cutting all the meats and vegetables neatly. 

Once you were done with cutting everything, you put it all onto two trays and started cooking the rice and ramen. You didn’t have to do anything; you just had to wait. 

You went to the bathroom, and once you came back, you saw the back of Jungkook. Going up to him, you hugged Jungkook from behind and stood on your toes to rest your chin on his shoulder. “I thought you weren’t going to help.” 

“I feel very uncomfortable right now,” the man you were hugging said. 

It took a second, but you realized you had heard this voice before. You then realized the man in front of you was taller with broader shoulders. 

Realizing that you were not hugging Jungkook, you pulled away, screaming and Jin started screaming too. He turned to fae you, and the both of you just stared at each other screaming. 

In an instant, Hoseok came into the kitchen. “You guys! What is going on here?” 

“I was going to make eggs for the ramen, but I didn’t know Y/N was here,” Jin said. 

“Wait, you two know each other?” Hoseok asked with a confused look on his face. 

“Hyung! I thought you said you were going to check up on the kids!” Jungkook said as he came into the kitchen. Seeing the horrified look on your face, he went to you and pulled you into a hug. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

“Wait what?” Jin asked, pointing at the both of you. “Are you two...you know?”

“Yes, and I was going to announce it as soon as all the boys came,” Jungkook explained. “It was supposed to be a surprise.” 

“Wait how do you know Jungkook’s girlfriend?” Hoseok asked again. 

“She’s Jules’s principal,” Jin answered. “The one and Jimin I met when Jungkook had to step down.” 

“Ahh, Jungkook-ah, you nasty little-” Hoseok started, causing your cheeks to redden.

“Hobi!” Jungkook cut his sentence off. “It’s not like that!” 

Before anyone could say anything, the frying pan with the eggs on the stove was now on the fire. It wasn’t a big fire that could have burned the hose down, but it surprised everyone. 

As Jungkook remained calm, you, Hoseok and Jin were screaming all at once again. Jin ran to the pantry, trying to find something while Jungkook let go of you and opened the bottom stove drawer to get a glass lid. Your youngest one then covered the pan with the lid and turned off the burner. The fire and flames died down.

“It’s okay!” Jungkook reassured everyone, but everyone kept screaming and didn’t hear what he had said. 

Jin, not seeing the fire was already gone, came back with the fire extinguisher and started spraying the stove. He stopped screaming and spraying once he realized that he just spraying Jungkook’s shirt. “Are you okay?”

Hoseok couldn’t help but to laugh at what had just happened.

Jungkook took a deep breath. “I’m going to get dressed again. Y/N and I will come back and bring the food out once everyone is here.” 

___

All the energy for tonight was officially gone, and the dinner hadn’t started yet. There was no way you could get through the actual eating part. You tried to take a small power nap on Jungkook’s bed as he showered, but you were still awake.

“How are you doing?” You turned your head to the master bathroom. The bathroom glass door was open, and you could barely see Jungkook adjusting his hair in the mirror. He was now wearing over sized plain black t-shirt and ripped blue jeans. “Tired?”

“Are you okay?” You asked. “You aren’t hurt or anything, right?” 

“I’m okay. Jin practically used a water gun on me. It wasn’t the kind where it was acid and foamy.” He turned off the bathroom light, left the bathroom and propped on his elbow as he practically laid next to you on the bed. Raising his eyebrows, he asked, “Are you okay? Still nervous?” 

Like a baby, you put your arms out and had a pouty look on your face. Jungkook laughed and wrapped his arms around you, burying his face in your neck. “I’m feeling much better now.”

You bit your lower lip to hold back a moan as Jungkook started planting gentle kisses on the side of your neck. He smiled and chuckled when you tilted your head to give him better access. “Does this make it better?” 

“Mmm.” Your fingers were now tangled into his wet hair.

“Jungkook, Jimin is finally here! We’re ready.” You heard Jin shout from downstairs.

Your boyfriend pulled away and looked you in the eye. “Are you ready?”

You shook your head. “I don’t want to see Jin.” 

He scrunched his nose in confusion. “Why?”

“Well, I thought he was you in the kitchen, so I hugged him. I don’t think I can show my face to him without feeling embarrassment for the rest of my life.” Jungkook burst into laughter, burying himself into your neck again. “It’s not funny!”

“Come on. Let’s go down.”

_____

As you and Jungkook were carrying the trays of meat and vegetables, you heard another familiar voice shout. “No way! You’re joking! Is this really true?!”

“Jimin, keep your voice down!” The oldest scolded. “Your five month old child is literally taking a nap in your lap right now. You’re going to wake her up. And yes, it is true, so let’s not scare her away for Jungkook’s sake. She’s already handled enough for today.” 

“This is golden!” Jimin said, still shouting. “Is she pretty?” 

“Breathtaking,” Hoseok responded without no hesitation. “It’s like she’s not even real. I even checked.”

You and Jungkook walked in the room, seeing everyone confused with what Hoseok meant. The room became silent as all eyes were on you, watching every move you make. 

Jungkook put the first tray down and then took the tray out of your hands. “Hey guys.” 

Right in front of you, there were two empty seats: Jungkook sat down first right next to Hosoek while you took the empty seat at the edge, beside Jungkook.

“Wait, aren’t you the principal from Jules’s school?” Jimin asked, raising his eyebrows. “Or am I thinking of someone different?” 

“That’s me,” you responded. “I’m Y/N. I’m sure you heard from Jin and Hoseok that I’m dating Jungkook.” 

“This is Yoongi.” Jungkook pointed at the tiniest person in the room. He was wearing a plaid shirt and a  grey beanie, but you could see his black hair poke out of it. 

“Hello.” Yoongi waved at you.

“This is Namjoon.” Junkgook pointed to the person right next to Jimin. He was wearing a short sleeve red button up and had his hair pushed back in a headband.

“Hi there.” Namjoon grinned; he had an angelic smile. 

“And last but not least, Taehyung.” Jungkook pointed at the person next to Jin who had short wavy brown hair and was wearing a green long-sleeve shirt. Compared to the rest of the friends, his clothes seemed more comfortable and casual. You liked his style. 

“Nice to meet you,” Taehyung said. “Jungkook didn’t pay you to be here, right?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Tae,” Yoongi said. “Of course she did.”

“Yeah, who would want to be here willingly? Especially with him?” Hoseok winked at you. 

“I don’t think so, guys.” Jimin put his finger on his chin, making a concerntrated thinking face. “You really think Jungkook would pay someone to be here when he won’t even buy Jules light up shoes?”

“I can’t believe you guys are insulting me in my house.” Jungkook shook his head, but chuckled at his older friends. “Let’s get the kids and start eating. Shall we?”

_____

After everyone ate, the kids returned back upstairs, playing games while all the adults stayed in the dinning room. Everyone formally introduced themselves, told you what they did for a living and their kids. They all talked with passion and happiness in their voices. Anyone could tell they were content with their jobs and loved their family. 

“What about you, Y/N? How are you liking the job and town?” Namjoon asked.

“It’s good.” You nodded. “All good.”

“Just good?” They all asked.

“Don’t be shy,” Jungkook encouraged. “It’s okay. They won’t judge.”

“I mean, I like my salary. I can’t complain about that at all.” Everyone laughed at your comment. “I really love seeing the kids and hope to help them with their learning. It’s really crucial for them to be able to like school at this age.” 

“Do you want to be a elementary principal for the rest of your life?” Jimin asked. “Or do you think you’ll go back to being a teacher?”

“Y/N is actually working her way to another degree and is aiming to be a superintendent.”

“Wow!” Everyone was all impressed and were clapping. You couldn’t tell if they were just overhyped from the soju or they generally liked you. 

“And the town?” You’re not from here, right?” Jin asked. 

You shook your head and nervously tucked a strand of your behind your ear. “It’s a small town, but I like the sense of community here. Everyone knows everyone. I just wish I was able to make friends and talk to people.” 

“You have no friends or family here?” Yoongi asked.

“They’re all back home,” you replied. “I really just have Jungkook, and I am thankful for that.” 

“Why don’t you meet the girls?” Jimin suggested, rocking the baby in his arms.

“The girls?” Did he mean everyone’s wives? You barely could get through this dinner; you didn’t know if you could do another dinner with the girls too.

“I don’t think she’s ready for that yet,” Jungkook said. 

“I don’t even think that’s a good idea either,” Jin concurred. 

“That’s because it’s not a good idea to meet them,” Hoseok agreed.

“Why?” No one verbally answered your question. Instead, they all turned their head and looked at Taehyung, who was lost in his own world, making some origami with the napkins on the table.

He noticed the silence and looked up to find everyone staring at him. “Hm?”

“You don’t have the most friendliest wife, Hyung,” Jungkook said. He then looked at you to give some explanation. “It takes her a while to warm up to people. I was one of Taehyung’s best friend, and it took her a whole year after the wedding for her to finally warm up to me.”

“The girls are very talkative and not shy. They basically have no filter with each other,” Yoongi added. “And from what I see now, that’s very different from you.”

“They might be protective over Jungkook too and question you like a murderer,” Hoseok said so casually. “It’s out of pure love for him though. They want Jungkook’s first girlfriend not to break his heart.” 

“First girlfriend?” Smiling, you turned your head to Jungkook. His cheeks were now a crimson color. “Didn’t you have other ones before?” 

“Jungkook has had other girlfriends before,” Taehyung explained. “You’re just the first and only one we’ve met.” 

“Wow that just definitely makes her feel special,” Jimin said. 

Ignoring Jimin, you asked, “Why am I the first to meet everyone?”

Jungkook grinned. “I’ve never liked anyone as much as I liked you.”

too young || five

summary: you learn about jungkook’s past, and jungkook and his daughter aren’t too happy about that

word count: 4,116

genre: parent!au, single dad!jungkook angst

one || two || three || four || five

As long as you could remember, Valentine’s Day was your favorite holiday. You just loved making cute valentine’s cards, colored paper hearts and making little mailboxes to put your candy in. Not only that, but you just loved your parents spoiling each other on that day whether it was doing cute things spontaneously or putting love poems on sticky notes every where around the house.  

Valentine’s Day was just the day you wanted to be in love, but for the most part, you and your short term boyfriends never made it that long, so it was just mainly you working at schools, doing arts and crafts with the kiddos, spreading the love to them. 

Today was different. 

You invited all parents to come and help their child decorate their mailboxes, and you rescheduled any tasks or meetings that day as you wanted to spend the whole day visiting each classroom to see everyone’s progress and give candy out. 

Wanting to spend the most time with Jules, you visited her classroom last. Her classroom was well decorated for the holiday. The color pink and red along with messages and puns about love and hearts were found everywhere. 

Standing under the doorway, a smile appeared on your face once you saw Jules in Jungkook’s lap. She was laughing with her head tilted back as Jungkook traced his hand onto the cardboard mailbox. “Jungkook, why are you putting a hand turkey on our mailbox?!”

You talked to every student and parent in the class before taking a seat next to Jungkook. “I love the mailbox.” 

“Do you want to put your handprint on it?” Jules asked as she put a heart shape lollypop in her mouth and snuck one into your pocket. “Me and Jungkook have more for you later, but don’t tell anyone.” 

You smiled and grabbed a red marker from the table. “I would love to put my hand on the mailbox.”

“So I have some news,” Jungkook said as you pushed the marker lid off. “I have to leave a day early next week.” 

Jungkook was going on a business trip overseas for a week, and during that week, Jules was going to stay with you. At first you didn’t understand why Jungkook was telling you, but once you realized it, you dropped the marker abruptly. “Wait, that means you won’t be able to be there with me when I meet the girls.”

“I’m sorry, but I promise Jin is going to make sure it all runs smoothly,” Jungkook reassured you, picking up the marker off the table. “We can wait till after you come back if you want.”

You shook your head, not wanting to wait any longer to meet them. It was bound to happen whether you liked it or not. “It’s okay.”

“Are you sure?” He questioned, raising his eyebrows. 

“I promise.” 

After school, you spent the rest of Valentine’s Day making blanket forts and watching movies with Jungkook and Jules, and you knew that you could never get tired of this. 

___________

“Uncle Jin!” Jules excitedly jumped up and down as Jin bent down and wrapped her arms around her. “I missed you!” 

“It’s not as if I didn’t see you a day ago.” Jin pulled away, smiling. “Your cousin is waiting for you in her room.” 

Jules hurried off to take off her jacket and rushed upstairs. “So you’re first meeting Taehyung’s wife first, then Jimin’s and then mine,” Jin quietly explained as he took your jacket along with Jules to put it on the coat rack. “Tae dropped her off first, so you can warm up to her. Jimin’s on his way to drop off Seo-yeon, and Su-ji is still at work and has to pick up tonight’s dinner.” 

He gestured behind him with his eyes where Tae’s wife, Ji-Ho was. You were surprised by her appearance. She looked like a normal human being when the boys had described her similar to the evil queen from Snow White.

"She doesn’t look scary at all,” you whispered in a hushed voice. “Why did you guys try to scare me?”

“Ji-Ho, this is Y/N, Jungkook’s girlfriend. Ji-Ho came early, and we’re just talking about a book idea she has,” Jin said in his normal tone, ignoring the comment you made. “She wants to write a book about being able to forgive and forget.” 

Sitting next to Jin on his white loveseat, you looked and smiled at Ji-Ho who was on the white sofa across from you two, staring at carpet, not meeting your eyes. “I didn’t know you wrote books. Why do you want to write a book about that?”

“The world is a cruel place where people hold grudges over trivial and dumb things. They say they forgive, but never forget. Teaching others and helping them learn to do that will make it seem like you’re mature and able to have peace with yourself,” she explained, now playing with her hands in her lap. “Why hold grudges when you can move on and not give them the power to think about them?”

“I suppose that you can be happier just living your own life when you focus on yourself and forget and forgive.” Jin shrugged his shoulders. 

“Do you think that people who can’t forgive and forget are unhappy people?” You asked. 

“Excuse me?” Ji-Ho asked, finally looking at you. 

“I think what she meant to say is-” You cut Jin off.

“Personally, I think you only need to forgive someone and come to terms that not everyone or everything is going to work out in your favor. Forgetting it is like running away from your problems. It’s not going to go away just because you ignore or forget the feeling; you just will experience it again.” You shrugged your shoulders as Jin muttered an ‘oh god we’re dead’ under his breath. He was shaking in fear, worried about what you were going to say next and afraid of Ji-Ho’s reaction.

Ji-Ho scoffed. “What do you think about forgiving and forgetting then? You think we shouldn’t forgive and we shouldn’t forget?” 

“No, I’m not saying that, and I’m not saying that you’re wrong either because I don’t think we should hold grudges,” you said slowly. “But maybe you can forgive and accept, but you can’t forget, so you can be able to learn and overcome obstacles like that to be a better version of oneself.  Does that make sense?” 

Ji-Ho scoffed, but this time, she smiled at you and looked at you with interest in her eyes. “What is your name again?” 

“Y/N.” 

“It’s nice to meet you.” She released a laugh, which startled Jin. “I think we’re going to get along perfectly fine.” 

Ji-Ho did open up to you right away, talking about her interests and asking all about you as if she wanted to know every single detail. She was a lot like Taehyung, and you realized they truly were a perfect match for each other. They were both kind, observant and funny without even trying. 

After twenty minutes, Seo-yeon and Su-ji arrived at the same time. Su-ji immediately went into the kitchen with some grocery bags as Seo-yeon took a seat next to Ji-Ho, smiling. 

“Hi, how are you?” She asked, not giving you anytime to think or respond before talking again. “We heard so many great things about you, and I am so happy for Jungkook. It’s about time he finally found someone and that we’re able to meet her.” 

Not knowing what to say, you laughed as your cheeks reddened. You weren’t really good at accepting compliments, but a part of you felt happy, knowing Jungkook was surrounded by people who loved him and wanted what was best for him.

“I got a charcuterie board for all of us,” Su-ji said out of breath, coming out of the kitchen. She placed the large plate on the coffee table in front of everyone and took a seat in between the other wives. “Hi, Y/N.” 

Most of the dinner went well. It was basically like an interview where they were trying to see your strengths and weaknesses, but you still felt comfortable with them, talking to them.

“Can we see pictures of you and Jungkook?” Ji-Ho asked. You unlocked your phone and passed it to Jin’s wife as she sat in the middle and could show them. “It really sounds like you two are both happy and comfortable with each other.” 

“It was really nice to meet you all,” you said as most of the plate was gone. 

“You don’t have to lie to them,” Jin joked. “I know my presence is enough for you to enjoy.” 

“No, I do mean it,” you reassured them just in case they didn’t take you seriously. “Jungkook talks about Jules and his support system all the time, and it warms my heart that you guys were there for both of them when they were struggling especially after their loss.” 

“Oh?” The look of displacement was written all over Su-ji’s face. “You know about Sarah?” 

“Yes,” you answered. “Is that a problem?”

“If you want me to be honest, I never thought Jungkook would see anyone after Sarah’s passing,” Jin’s wife absentmindedly said, thinking it was a compliment. In the corner of your eye, you can tell Jin was giving her a warning glare as if he didn’t want her to say anything else to you.

“Excuse me?” If she was trying to make you feel better about yourself, she was surely doing the opposite, but you hardened your face, so she couldn’t see that her words affected you. You knew that’s what she wanted, for you to be hurt. She wanted a reaction out of you, and you weren’t going to give her the satisfaction of getting it. 

“You know, Y/N, from the way you talked about it, your relationship with Jungkook reminds me of Sarah and Jungkook’s relationship,” Su-ji said once she saw the picture Jules took of you and Jungkook laying down, cuddling in the blanket fort during New Years. 

Although hearing the name of Jules’s mother made your heart drop, you kept your poker face on and continued to act like everything was okay. With confidence, you raised your eyebrows. “I’m not sure what that means.” 

“Jin and I actually grew up with Sarah and Jungkook. We always went on lunch dates together while we were still in school,” Su-ji explained with a murderous smile on her face. “Kook’s a romantic, isn’t he? Opening the doors, cooking home-cooked meal, giving his jacket when it’s cold, and writing songs and poems weekly? He did that all the time for girls when we were younger. He did that for Sarah too.” 

Your face softened at what Su-ji listed. They were all things he had never done for you, and you couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad thing. Did he want to do something new and fresh with you? Or did he just not put in effort and care? 

Most of it wasn’t a big deal. There was nothing wrong with opening the door yourself and being prepared for cold weather. You could have easily just asked Jungkook for a piece of his clothing if you had wanted to. But the thing that bothered you the most was in a span of months, Jungkook has never written anything for you.

He was a songwriter, but somehow, he didn’t have any words for you. 

You knew Su-ji was hurting your pride on purpose, but for some reason, you let her continue and listened to every word she had to say. She stared at the pictures on your phone. “The way he looks at you is almost identical to the way he looked at Sarah.” 

“Su-ji...” Jin warned. “Stop now.”

"It’s almost as if you were Sarah.” Her sharp words cut like a knife. If it weren’t your phone that started ringing in her hands, you would have cried on the spot. You felt a little better seeing Jungkook’s name on your screen. “Oh speak of the devil.”

“Why don’t we call it a night? I’m sure Y/N needs some rest.” Jin suggested as you stared at your phone. “How about you girls go clean, I’ll go get the kids, and Y/N, stays here to talk to Jungkook?” 

The girls, one by one, got up from the couch with their plates, heading towards the direction of the kitchen. As they left, each one of them gave you a look. Jin’s wife gave you a look of resentment, Jimin’s wife gave you a look of pity, and Tae’s wife gave you a look of worry.

You slid your thumb on the screen and answered Jungkook’s call. “Hey. What’s up?” 

“How are you, darling?” His honey voice made you want to cry. All you wanted was to cry your heart out and have his voice and touch comfort you, but he was the reason why you wanted to cry. “Doing okay?” 

“Yeah, the dinner went terrific. I really liked tonight,” you lied, trying not to let your voice crack. “I’m actually not feeling so well, so I’m leaving early with Jules in like five minutes.” 

“Are you sure you’re okay? It sounds like you want to cry?” He could read you so easily. “Is something wrong? If something is wrong, I can take the next flight and be back with you as soon-” 

“Everything is fine. Jules and I are fine.” Lie once again. “Please don’t worry.” 

Jules came down the stairs, holding hands with Jin. She ran towards you with a smile on your face, cheering you up a little bit. “Is that Jungkook?” 

“Do you want to talk to him?” You asked, and she shook her head. “Kook, I’m going to help Jules get ready to go home, and I’ll call you back once we’re there. Is that alright?”

“Yeah, of course. Drive home safely, okay? I miss you.” 

“I’ll talk to you later.” You hung up the phone. 

Jules put her arms out once she saw you grab her red winter coat from the armchair. As you helped her put her jacket on, you hear distant arguing. 

“What were you thinking, Su-ji?! You had no right to do that! That behavior was unacceptable and immature of you.” Jin whispered as he scolded her. 

“What are you talking about?” 

“Talking about Sarah and Jungkook like that! Making Y/N feel bad when she did absolutely nothing to you. He paused. “Sarah might have been your best friend, but she would have been extremely disappointed in how you treated Jungkook’s girlfriend.”

“I don’t need a lecture from you, Jin,” Su-ji snapped. “I personally do not think I do anything wrong!”

“I wouldn’t even be having one if you had behaved like an adult!” He argued back. “Even Ji-Ho didn’t say anything degrading about her. She actually liked Y/N and she usually hates everybody at first.”

 “Don’t you think she deserved to know? All I did was tell her the truth!”

“You didn’t help her!” Helping Jules put her black hat on, you tried to listen to more of their conversation. “You’re unbelievable. I am furious with you.” 

“Sleep on the couch then if you just want to defend her instead of me.”

“If something happens between them because of this, I will never forgive you.” 

It doesn’t take long for Jin to come back to the living room with a forced smile on his face. He went closer to where you and Jules were at, bent down, grabbed the white gloves and helped Jules put them on her hands.

“Jules, honey, aren’t you going to say bye to your favorite Uncle Jin?” You asked. “Thank him too.” 

“Thank you Uncle Jinnie for the food and hugs.” She wrapped her arms around him, instantly, making him smile. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Sweetie.” He let go of Jules and stood up, making eye contact with you as you put your jacket on. “I’ll walk you out.” 

____

[seokjin]

i want to apologize for su-ji’s behavior. i should have stopped her, and i am sorry. you didn’t deserve that. i know you’re going to tell me that it’s okay, but save it. it really was not okay

you know what su-ji said isn’t true right? 

jungkook only loved sarah as a sister

he didn’t love her like he loves you

i promise

It took you a while to respond to Jin’s text. You wanted to believe his words because he knew Jungkook better than anyone, but his wife’s words kept repeating in your head. 

It’s almost as if you’re Sarah.

did he tell you that? 

that he loved me differently than sarah? 

He didn’t respond, and what you’ve learned in the past is that sometimes no answer is an answer.

___

"Why do you like me?” Jungkook was coming back tomorrow, and before his flight, you called him randomly. “Why me? Out of all people? I’m nothing special.” 

“What are you talking about?” Jungkook asked. “Don’t say things like that. That’s not true.” 

“I mean, come on, when you got to know me, I didn’t have a rough upbringing or had a special talent that made me stand out from others. I was just an ordinary person with parents and a few friends.” 

As you waited for an answer, you opened your laptop and went onto a social networking website. Sighing, you looked up the one person that was on your mind lately ever since the dinner at Jin’s. 

“You talk about how I’m so passionate about my dream and how I’m so amazing for growing up and taking care of Jules, but I think about you like that.” 

“How so?” You breathed out, barely audible. 

“Like I know it’s your job to take care of the kids and to make sure everyone is learning, but you take the time to connect with others and strive to make everything better is amazing.” 

Sarah’s profile finally loaded onto your screen. Her profile picture was her and Jules, smiling on a park bench. Scrolling down, almost all her public and tagged pictures were with Su-ji and Jin’s family, celebrating almost every little occasion together. “Really?”

“And I know you want to take care of everyone and you’re okay with being by yourself, but I hope you know that there are people in the world who do care about you and will care about you.” His comforting words made you want to cry. “I care about you.” 

Before you could say anything, the last picture you stumbled across on was a picture of Sarah and Jungkook together at her graduation. Sarah was wearing her cap and gown, holding a bouquet of roses in her hand. She had the biggest smile on her face as she looked up at Jungkook, who was in the middle of laughing. Although this picture of old, Jungkook almost looked the same and had the same features. The only difference was that he never looked quite as happy with you.

“Are you okay?” Jungkook asked, bringing you back to reality. “What’s up?

Clearing your throat, you answered, “Yeah. I just was thinking.”

“I also love everything about you, you know? I love how you have a different, but such an understanding perspective about literally anything,” he said. “You’re special.”

“I hope so.”

“I’m going to sleep now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?” You hung up the phone without saying anything, still staring at the picture of Jungkook and Sarah.

“What are you doing?” A gasp came out of your mouth as you shut the laptop lid as quickly as you could and turned your head to see Jules behind you. The look of confusion was all over her face along with heartache. “Why were you looking at pictures of my mom?” 

“I’m not!” You denied, putting the laptop onto the table. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“You were.” She ignored your question, wanting actual answers. “I saw you.” 

She took a seat next to you, looked at your for a long time and looked down at her fingers in her lap. “I know it’s been a long time, but I know what my mom looks like, and I know you were looking at her.”

“Honey-” Jules ran up the stairs, not hearing your explanation or excuse. 

__

“I missed you so much.” The moment Jungkook saw you in the airport, he ran as fast as he could with his silver carry on suitcase, wrapping his arms around you. It was the tightest hug you’ve ever received, and you never wanted to let go. “I missed Jules too, but I really missed you.” 

He pulled away and saw the tiny red bag in your left hand. “I got you a gift for White Day.” 

“You didn’t have to.” Wrapping his arm around your shoulder, you two walked slowly towards the exit. “Is this really for White Day?” 

“What else would it be for?” 

“A gift for being insecure?” 

You stopped in your tracks, and he took it as a sign to let go of you. “What?” 

“Well, I don’t know what to think when you asked me things I liked about you, and then Jules telling me you were looking up Sarah.” Not wanting to meet his stare, you continued looking down at the ground at your feet. Once you looked back up, he saw the guilt in your eyes. He scoffed and rubbed under his nose in disbelief, taking your silence as his answer. His tone of voice changed. “I can’t believe you.”

“Why does it bother you, Jungkook? Maybe I was just curious. Is that so wrong?” 

“Except you weren’t! You and I both know that!” His voice grew louder with each word he said. It was the first time he was raising his voice at you, and it was a surprise. He was always the one who always kept calm in the most heated situations. “I told you everything about Sarah.” 

“Not the fact that she was head over heels for you!” You cried.

“Oh my god. Is this what this is about? You wanted to see if Sarah was in love with me?” He shook his head. This wasn’t the Jungkook you knew; he was acting different. “Who even told you that?”

“Does it really matter?” You stared at him. “I was bound to find out sooner or later.”

He shook his head. “No one looks pictures of dead strangers unless they want to know something.” 

“Fine! I just wanted to know if what the girls said was true. They said that you two were madly in love. They said I was practically a replacement for Sarah.  I just had to find out if it was true.” You paused when Jungkook looked away, not wanting to look at you. Not only that, but you noticed there were tears that were about to fall from his eyes. “She was beautiful and looked so happy with you. You looked happy with her too.” 

Silence.

“Seokjin told me that you didn’t love her.” 

Silence. 

“Is that true?”

Silence once again. 

“Jungkook, I can’t compete with her.” 

He finally looked back at you and grabbed your hands. “I’m not asking you to.” 

“I can’t do this,” you cried, pulling away. “I want to be with you and want you to want me because you love me. Not because I remind you of the girl who isn’t here anymore.”

“Don’t do this,” he whispered. “Don’t say that.” 

“Do you realize how badly it hurt when they told me that?” Sobbing, you covered your mouth holding back any ugly sounds you were going to produce. “I was humiliated and felt like I would never measure up.” 

“You are more than good enough.” 

“What am I supposed to think when they told me that?” 

“Believe me and Seokjin when I say that I have feelings for you.” You knew he was trying to comfort you, but you noticed that he didn’t straight out admit that he didn’t have feelings for Sarah. 

“You’ve never written me a song,” The color drained out of his face as he heard your voice crack; you got your answer. There were tears falling down your face, but he didn’t wipe them like he always did when you cried after watching sad movies. “You have never written me anything.”

He let go of your hands. 

You walked away, and he didn’t even come after you. __ 

lowkey not proofread but i really just want to continue this hehe thanks for reading

too young || six

summary: you and jungkook meet up after a surprise delivery happens at the school

word count: 2,018

genre:  parent!au, single dad!jungkook angst

one || two || three || four || five || six

When you thought about your first heartbreak, you’d thought you would be nonstop sobbing in your bed, being surrounded by empty jars of melted ice cream pints and sad movies. You thought that despite the distance, your mom would make the trip and drive all the way to see you, rub your back in small comforting circles and take care of you as if you were a sick child. You thought that everything would hurt so much that you wouldn’t even want to move. 

The only problem? Your first heartbreak didn’t feel like that at all. 

It was all practically numb.

You didn’t fall apart when you did something that reminded you of him. 

You didn’t start breaking down when you watched him pick up Jules and didn’t bother to come in to your office to say hi to you. 

You didn’t crumble to pieces when you had no notifications on your phone from him.

You lived your life normally again just without Jungkook and Jules. 

Alone.

There were no more screams or echoes of noise from Jules and her cousins when you peacefully relaxed, there was no more idle music playing in background as you did your work and there were no more soft breaths and snores next to you in your bed. 

Your mom called you every night on the phone, checking up on you. It was like she wanted you to cry and to feel some pain, just so she could go down there and be there for you. But you told her that you were fine and will deal with whatever negative feelings when they come. 

Life went on whether you liked it or not. 

Three weeks after the break up, at the end of March, there was a familiar knock on your office door after the last school bell rang. You haven’t talked to Jules since the night she found you looking at pictures of her mom, and you really hope it wasn’t awkward when you talk to her. 

It’s the first time you see Jules’s hair was down, strands of her hair going in every direction. She looks like a mess. Tears streamed down her face as she ran towards you, hugging your legs. “Can you help me?” 

“What’s wrong, Sweetie?” 

“I lost Jungkook’s mp3 player,” she cried, rubbing her face on your black dress pants to wipe her tears. “He’s going to kill me!” 

“It’s okay, Jules.” Bending down to comfort her, you wipe her face and stroke her hair. You’ve never seen her this sad, and it made your heart sink. “I’m sure he’ll understand. Things like this happen all the time. It’s okay.” 

She shook her head. “Auntie Moon Soo is coming soon, and I can’t leave without the mp3 player. I can’t.” 

“Why don’t we ask her to come look for it with you?” You asked softly. “That way 3 people are looking for it.” 

Namjoon’s wife, Moon Soo comes out of her van, she’s surprised to see you standing next to Jules. She doesn’t say anything to you at first and tries to reassure Jules that’ll be alright, that they will find it before Jungkook goes home tonight.

When it’s been over 30 minutes, retracing Jule’s steps from her locker to the gym to the playground, she goes to the bathroom, making you and Moon Soo wait outside for her. 

“I’m sorry we had to meet like this in this circumstance,” she said, offering a kind smile. “I heard a lot of great things about you, and I’m sorry things didn’t go well at the dinner with the girls.”

You hear Jules flush the toilet. “It is what it is.” 

“I know what it was like,” she said. “They made it seem like I wasn’t good enough for Joon, and we took a small break too. But at the end of the day, it’s about how you feel about Jungkook and Jules that matters more than their opinions, especially if they brought up Sarah.” 

“I’m almost done!” Jules shouted, turning on the sink. 

“But that doesn’t change the way Jungkook feels about Sarah.” Tears were forming in your eyes, and you bit your lip to hold them back. “But I’m glad you and Namjoon were able to overcome it.” 

“It’s been like what, almost a month? Jules knows Jungkook can easily buy her a new mp3 player, or even a phone, anything she wants, honestly. But think about it...I’m sure she misses you and is using this as an opportunity to spend time with you again.” 

“Can we check out my classroom?” Jules finally opened the door, getting out of the restroom. 

The three of you walk quietly over to her class where she looked through every desk (without touching their things) and looked over to the place where she reads books in the class. She lifted the bean bag in the corner of the room, revealing what she has been looking for this whole time. “Yay!” 

“See, everything is okay.” Moon soo smiled. “Are you ready to go, Jules?” 

She nodded, but then stared at you with her piercing eyes. “Is this going to be the last time you’re going to talk to me?” 

“Of course not, Jules.” You took a breath. “I’m here for you always.” 

“I have to tell you something.” But before she could tell you, she pointed at Moon Soo. “Why didn’t you go to the bathroom when we went, Auntie?” 

Moon Soo raised her eyebrows, then looked down at what Jules was pointing at. She then began holding on to her stomach with a pained look. “My water just broke.”

_______

“Hey!” Namjoon exclaimed, rushing through the hospital doors. Before he goes to Moon Soo’s room, he went towards your direction as you waited outside the room with Jules. “Thank you so much for bringing her here safely and for being there for her at that time. I seriously cannot thank you enough.”

“No worries,” you let out. “I’m glad I was there.” 

He’s about to say something, but you hear Moon Soo scream Namjoon’s name, making him go into the room as quickly as he can. 

Your phone in your blazer buzzed. 

[seokjin]

the whole fam is coming in about 10 minutes 

thank you for taking care of jules

will be there soon and you can leave

“Are you leaving when they come?” Jules asked as she looked down at your phone screen, seeing the texts from. “You’re not going to stay to see the babies?” 

“I don’t know yet.” You lied, knowing you were going to leave once someone is here able to take care and watch over Jules. As much as you wanted to see the twins, you didn’t want to see some specific people. You were doing fine right now in your life and didn’t want to ruin that if you saw Jungkook or some of the girls. “I have a lot of work to do still, Sweetheart.” 

“Will you see the babies with me on different day then?” 

“I hope so.” You couldn’t make an empty promise to her. “Are you excited to have more cousins?” 

She nodded. “I like my small family, but sometimes, I hate being alone. The cousins help me forget that I can’t have any brothers or sisters.”

You sighed, wrapping your arm around Jules. “Never forget that you will always have your family, your uncles, aunts and cousins to support you. They will always be there.”

“Will you?” She asked, looking up at you, once again, her eyes were so piercing.

“I hope so.” You rubbed her back in small circles. 

“I heard what Auntie said when I was in the bathroom,” she said. “I missed you, but I had to find this mp3 player. Jungkook’s new song is on here. I’m always the first to listen, and I didn’t want to lose this song.” 

“That’s good you found it then.” 

She’s about to tell you more, her mouth is slightly opened, but she doesn’t say anything more and started to stare in the direction behind you. Letting go of her, you turned behind, seeing Jungkook walking towards you two. 

He paused, not expecting to see you here, but then continued to walk forward as you looked away, not wanting to meet his eyes. “Are you okay?” 

“I’m hungry,” Jules answered with a pouty look on her face.

He laughed, taking his leather wallet out of his back pocket. He hands her a couple dollar bills, telling her to get something for the three of them from the vending machine. “Go crazy.” 

“You know I will,” she joked. 

There’s awkward silence in the air now, with Jules gone. Jungkook then sat down in the empty chair beside you, with his head turned to you as you looked down at your hands in your lap. He doesn’t know where to start and what words to say. How ironic, coming from a songwriter. “Hey.”

“Hi.” 

“Did you eat yet?” He asked. 

“Nope,” you replied, still not looking at him. “Did you?”

“Not yet.”

“I should get going.” You finally took the first step, grabbing your purse off the ground. 

Before you could take another step, Jungkook reached forward and grabbed your wrist, stopping your movement. “I never loved her, you know.” 

You wanted to shake him off, go on your own way, but you kept standing in front of him, facing away from him. “What?” 

He sighed, wishing he could look you in the eyes. “I never answered you that day because I was too scared to admit it out loud. I never got to tell her either, and I knew she loved me. The thing was I only thought of her as a sister, someone I had to protect. And I was afraid that if I actually told someone that I didn’t love her before she got the chance to hear it from me, I would somehow hurt her even though she’s gone.” 

“Jungkook,” You said this name, but he kept talking.

“I know that’s no excuse, but I am so sorry. I never wanted you to feel like that, and I should have just told you. No one has been competing with you.” He let go of your hand and stood up. “I don’t want you to be Sarah because I love you for who you are. I want you for who you are. My life feels incomplete without you.”

Finally turning around, you stared at Jungkook. It’s the first time finally looking at him up close in three weeks, and he looked like death. Dark circles were under his eyes, his hair was a mess. You could tell Jungkook felt too much.

And he did. For the last three weeks, he got up every morning, trying to ignore the pain he was feeling in his heart. He tried to continue his life like everything was okay, but all he kept thinking about was you. He wanted you to see you when he picked Jules up from school. He wanted to hear you laugh when he watched a movie with Jules. He wanted to you next to him when he was alone on Wednesdays. He wanted to hear you cheer for Jules when he watched her soccer games. He just wanted you. 

With all the pain he had been feeling, he’s been trying to figure out his feelings and all the words he wanted to say to you that night, and now that he was finally letting all of it go, he was crying right in front of you.

“You saw me more than Jule’s guardian. I felt like you were the first person to honestly see me for me. I want to live spending more time with you, watching Jules’s games, hearing all your different opinions and views than mine. And I am so sorry that I damaged us in the process.”

“Hey, Y/N!” Namjoon rushed out of the room. His jaw dropped once he saw you and Jungkook together, looking all sad. Still, his smile on his face reappeared as he asked, “Do you guys want to see the babies?” 

____ 

hi this is so long overdue i apologize, i’ve honestly been stuck :( hope you all have a good day and enjoy permission to dance<33 lowkey not proofread either:/

too young || seven

summary: another hospital visit brings you and jungkook together again.

word count: 1485

genre:  parent!au, single dad!jungkook angst

one || two || three || four || five || six || seven

“Do you want to explain what happened here?” Your mom asked with a look of disgust on her face, examining all the boxes of Chinese takeout boxes all over the kitchen island, paper plates overfilling the trashcan, definitely leaving a distinct odor of grease. “Or should I ask the rats next door?” 

“Real funny, Mom.” You chuckled, turning on the lights for your apartment. “I didn’t know you would be coming up to visit, or otherwise, I think this place would have been cleaner than Marie Kondo’s house.” 

“Well, I was a little worried. You hadn’t picked up my calls for a couple of days.” Your mom takes a seat on your black leather couch, patting the spot next to her. “Come and sit by me. I’ve missed my only child and want to make sure you’re okay.

“Of course, I am okay,” you said, sighing as you took a seat next to her. “There’s no reason for me to be not okay.” 

She raised her eyebrows at you. “Right because seeing Jungkook at the hospital was definitely something to be okay about.”

“I have been a little busy.” It wasn’t a complete lie. 

The last time you had spoken to your mom you had briefly texted her about the whole hospital situation and how you unintentionally ran into Jungkook. She tried calling numerous times after that, but you never picked up. You drowned yourself back into work, not wanting to think about your personal life, barely cooking, eating and showering. 

“Yeah I can tell,” she joked, laughing. “Kiddo, you know it’s okay to cry. You don’t have to hold it all together.” 

“What is there to cry about?” Shrugging your shoulders, you gave a small smile, not wanting any feeling of despair to show on your face. “I’m fine, really.” 

“So you didn’t like him?” 

“Of course I liked him! But come on, sometimes you just have to walk away right?” Your mom was one of the supportive people in the world, but there were times where she would always use logic and tell you to change your path. At the casino, she saw how gambling and not being able to walk away broke people. People had a hard time to let go of things or even people, but you felt conditioned to feel like it was better to walk away.

“Okay.” She nodded slowly. “What are you walking away from?”

“Him.” 

“But didn’t he tell you that he chose you?” 

Your conversation with Jungkook at the hospital replays in your head once more. He told you that he didn’t want you to be Sarah, and that he loved you for the way you were. You were the one who saw him as an individual and gave him the opportunities to prove what a great guardian he could be. You didn’t pity him for sacrificing everything for Jules, but admired him and his heart. 

But at the end of the day, you still weren’t Sarah. 

He never did all those things for you, and you didn’t know what it all meant. 

He kept that information about Sarah private, as if he had something to hide, as if it were true at one point of time. 

“I rather be alone than to not know where I truly stand in his life.” 

She smiled. “But that’s the thing, Kiddo. You always take the risk. Don’t let fear and insecurity stop you now and deprive you of happiness.” 

“But Mom-” You opened your mouth, but no words left. You knew she was right, and it was almost the exact same thing you told Jungkook when he asked you why did you agree to get to know him. “You know I can be happy being alone.” 

“I do, but I also know you were happy with him too.” Her mom instincts kicked in, because even though you did not say anything, she wrapped her arms around you, knowing you needed a hug from the person you knew and loved you. “Misunderstandings happen.”

“I know,” you softly cried. 

“Even if you don’t take the risk, sometimes luck comes into your life.”

Before you could respond to her, your phone started to ring in your back pocket. Pulling away, you wiped your face, making sure there was no visible tears streaming down your face. 

“Who is calling you this late at night?” Your mom asked. 

Grabbing the phone out of your pocket, you shook your head in disbelief after looking at the screen. You handed the phone to her. She looked down and saw the name flashing across the screen: Jungkook. 

"I told you so,” your mom teased, playfully pushing you to the side. “Do you want me to stay or go to the other room?”

“Please stay.” 

You slid to answer the call and pressed the speaker button. 

"Y/N?” He said in a strained voice. “Can you come to the hospital right now? I really need you.” 

_______

Rushing through the hospital doors, you instantly lock eyes with Jungkook, automatically wrapping your arms around him. 

Jungkook sobbed in your arms, speaking so fast that you could barely understand a word he was saying. You could only make out Jules and soccer for the most part. Most of his words were incoherent between the heavy pants and breathes.

“I’m here, Kook. I’m here. I’m here.” You repeated. “It’s okay. I’m here.” 

He held onto you a little tighter, afraid it might be the last time he could do this. “I’m sorry.” 

Pulling away slightly, you looked up at him. His eyes were full of water, making it seem like he could cry forever and the tears could never stop. With your left thumb, you caress his wet cheek, not saying a word.

When Jungkook finally has his breathing under control, he took a deep breath. “Jules had an injury at her soccer game. She ended up tripping on her teammate’s shoe laces and her body had just slammed into the goal post.”

“Did she hit her head?”

“The doctors are looking at her now. It’s worse than a sprained ankle, so she might have fractured or broken her ankle. She could have also tore her knee muscles or something as she still is growing, you know? That’s how it works, right?” He started rambling. “Oh god, what if she can never walk again? Why did I let her play soccer? What if she is in more pain at the doctors? What if they take away Jules away from me?”

“That is not going to happen,” you snapped. “I won’t let that happen.” 

“But how do you know?” 

“You turned your whole life around for Jules, someone who isn’t even your own child. You have given her everything, and the thing is, the world isn’t perfect. Sometimes it is cruel and things like this happen. But one incident, mistake, or whatever, will not make anyone take Jules from you. And it does not define you.” 

His body softened in comfort. “And I thought I had to be the one good with words.” 

You released a small laugh. “I’m an educator, bro.”

Finally, he pulled away, looking down at you. “Thank you for being here.” 

“Anything for Jules,” you said. “Anything for you.”

It isn’t hours later until the doctors come get you and Jungkook from the waiting room. The doctors explained that they performed a procedure to put wires in her ankle bones to help her heal. The surgery happened without a problem, but they had kept her for a while without visitors to monitor her and let her rest. 

They had let you and Jungkook come in when Jules had briefly woke up. 

“Y/N!” Jules’s eyes sparkled once she saw you. “You’re here.” 

“How are you feeling?” You asked sitting down to her left as Jungkook sat on the child to her right. “I’m sorry I couldn’t watch the game.”

She chuckled. “I’m glad you didn’t see me fall.” 

“It’s okay, Jules. I recorded it,” Jungkook joked, taking her small hand to his mouth, giving her small kisses. 

“When can we go home?” She asked.

“Soon,” he promised. “Soon, but for now, get some rest, okay. I want you to be okay.” 

“I’m okay,” she replied. “Can you just sing the songs for her?” 

“Not now.” 

“Please,” she begged. “I’m the one in the hospital bed.” 

Jungkook turned his head to look at you. He smiled slightly, looked back at Jules and caressed her hair. “The mp3 isn’t here.” 

They brought up the mp3 player once again, leaving you confused. “Why do you need it?” 

“I recorded your favorite book for you to listen to, so whenever you miss me, you can just listen to it.” He stared at you with his beaming eyes, not wanting to look at anything else but you. “There’s about 30 songs on there. And I sang all of them. And they’re all about you.”

_______

hi i want to apologize because it has been SO LONG maybe 2 years(?) that i have written. tldr; i struggled during undergrad but now i graduated and will be taking a gap year and want to continue writing :) 

it is crazy how i started this in high school and now i have graduated college! my writing has gotten so much better i promise. but also sorry because i want better and too young done asap so not proofread and not written the best it could be 

too young | eight

summary: jungkook proves to everyone that he cares about you and his daughter, jules the most. 

word count: 3,083

genre:  parent!au, single dad!jungkook fluff

one || two || three || four || five || six || seven || eight 

“Do you know what time Jungkook is getting here?” Jules asked, sitting down on one of the office chairs. Without any hesitation, she undid her braid quickly and started messing up her hair. “Or is someone else supposed to take me?”

“Didn’t lunch just start for you?” You looked at the clock behind you, the long black minute hand just reaching the same place as the short hour mark. “I’m sure he will be here soon.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he forgot,” she mumbled under her breath.

“He’s coming,” you assured Jules. “Be patient.”

“But are you sure he’s coming?” Unlike the first time you met Jules, she looked at you with a look of confusion on her face. She was clenching the white straps of her purple backpack as if she was afraid to lose the bag. Jules had been in your office for at least five minutes, asking every thirty seconds to ask if her guardian was here. “What if he forgot, again?”

“He didn’t forget.” It used to be normal for Jungkook to be late whether that be ten minutes or an hour and a half. You remember how nonchalant and unimpressed Jules used to be when you told her one of her uncles was on her way instead of her guardian. “Why are you in such a rush?”

“Because I want this stupid thing off now!” She gestured to the black ankle brace. It had been a month since the hospital visit and Jules had been counting the days she could go back on the field to play soccer. She reached to take one of the velcro straps off on her brace. “Do you know how annoying this has been?”

“Hey!” you exclaimed. “You know you aren’t allowed to take it off before your appointment. The doctor needs to make sure it has healed correctly and everything. Then, the doctor will take it off for you.”

“By the time he gets here, the doctor’s office will be closed until next year,” she pouted, placing her hands back onto the backpack straps. “Why can’t Uncle Tae get me? Why can’t you take me to the doctor?”

“Because I’m at school,” you deadpanned. “And I want to be here.”

“I do too. You can just take me,” she whined.

“No, I can’t.” You couldn’t help to roll your eyes. "Because Jungkook is coming.”

“Yeah, right.” Jules threw back her head in frustration and groaned loudly. “Then where is he?”

“Right behind you,” Jungkook said, appearing with a smile on his face. “Are you ready, Kiddo?”

Without saying a word, Jules got up on her two feet and rolled her eyes. Still holding onto the straps of her bag tightly, she first looked out of the office, staring at the kids in the cafeteria as if she were searching for someone specific. She then in a haste left the office, stomping her feet on the ground, making her footsteps heard through the entire building.

“This is the first time I’ve seen her with an attitude.” You and Jungkook both looked at each other, realizing you guys both said the same thing at the same time.

“Did something happen between you guys this morning?” You asked. “Was she like this before school?”

“She seemed fine this morning when I dropped her off at school,” he replied, crunching his eyebrows together. “She was super excited for her appointment today, so maybe her excitement just turned into anger...Right? Kids and their emotions these days.”

But even before, on the days when Jungkook told Jules that he would pick her up and he still didn’t show, Jules never showed any sign of any anger or displeasure. She stayed patient, understanding that even if Jungkook didn’t come, she would always see him at home.

“Why did she think you weren’t going to show up though?”

Before he could say anything, Jungkook’s phone started going off, ringing so loudly that he jumped a bit. He reached into his right beige trenchcoat pocket and pulled out his phone, showing you the screen: Jules was calling.

“Did she say anything to you earlier?” He asked.

“Just that she wanted her brace off,” you confirmed his suspicions. “Maybe it’s nothing, and we’re just thinking too hard about it.”

_________

It was not nothing.

It was definitely something.

Something was off.

Ever since her doctor’s appointment, Jules has tried to convince Jungkook that she was sick and could not go to school. He allowed it for the first day and the second day, but when she asked for a third and then a fourth, he started to think something was going on. Every time Jungkook asked about school, Jules stayed quiet, saying nothing, yet it was louder than what could have been said. During the last week you had seen her, she would always change the subject whenever school was brought up and would ask you to convince Jungkook to not let her go.

“Have you heard anything from school? Teachers? Students?” Jungkook asked over the phone. It had been a week since she got her brace off, and he was worried. He had kept calling you every day during this time always to ask if you had heard anything about Jules and her change in behavior.  “Why doesn’t she want to go to school?”

“Jungkook, no kid really wants to go to school,” you guessed, scratching the back of your neck. “She’s a kid. Maybe, the only thing on her mind is soccer and she wasn’t able to do that for a while.”

“Yeah but Jules never had a problem in school and always enjoyed learning,” he replied. “I just don’t get why she’s avoiding school like it's the plague.”

Sighing, you think about the last time Jules had been in your office and how she was so agitated, maybe even apprehensive about whether or not Jungkook was going to arrive and take her to her appointment. “Well, the last time she was in my office, she told me she had wanted to be at school.”

“Really?”

You winced. “I mean, I said that I couldn’t take her to the appointment because I wanted to stay at school, and she agreed before asking if you were going to pick her up?”

“Wait, she asked you that?” Jungkook was taken aback, sounding like he was offended by what you said. “Why would she think that?”

“Have you been picking her up?” You questioned. “The boys haven’t been picking her up?

“I have been picking her up from school every day,” he answered back. “I haven’t been really late either. But you know how it is with every parent wanting to pick up their kid. The line is so long so I am always going to be the last one there just because I can’t get out of work earlier.”

“Really?” Usually five minutes after class ends, Jules would always come to your office and make herself at home. “I thought you'd been picking her up earlier because she hasn’t come by to my office to see me this week or last week at all.”

“Not even for lunch?” He asked.

“Nope.”

“Are we just being pushy?” Despite not having a face-to-face conversation, you could tell Jungkook was disheartened, thinking what he could have done wrong to upset Jules, for her to act this way. “Maybe she wanted to do something different.”

“That can be true,” you reluctantly answered, releasing a slow sigh. “But let’s think about it, Kook. She’s never lied to you before, especially about this kind of stuff.”

“And she tells you everything too.” His voice trails off into silence. “Does she usually have lunch with you today?”

You answered, “On Fridays at 12 usually.”

“But it’s 1:45,” he replied slowly. “Did she not eat today?”

Your head snapped to the clock hanging on the wall. The time was indeed past the time you usually saw Jules. “I must have lost track of the time. But I had been in my office all day, so I don’t know why she didn’t come in. She comes sometimes and eats in silence if she sees me working.”

“Something is wrong.”

“Hey, I gotta go.” A staff member from the fifth-grade department had knocked on your door. She was hired around the same time you were, letting the two of you quickly bond over a new school environment earlier in the school year. “I’ll see you later for dinner tonight.”

“Hey, Y/N. I think you should look at this.” The staff member took a pause, looking frightened. “It’s…about Jules.”

“Jules? Is she okay?” You asked with urgency. “Jules as in Seo Jules?”

She nodded and gestured for you to follow her into the fifth-grade wing. Taking a left, the two of you entered the bathroom. Without saying a word, she pointed to the middle stall.

Giving her a look of confusion, she pointed down, making you look. There in the stall, you could see a small girl sitting on the toilet, not using the bathroom, and had her legs stretched in front of her, so her feet wouldn’t be shown on the ground. You could recognize those shoes from anywhere: the light-up tennis shoes that Jin bought for Jules that she loved to brag about.

“What is she doing here?” You whispered. “Are you sure it's Seo Jules?”

Jules was 7 and her classroom was on the other side of the building, opposite the fifth-grade wing. At this time, you knew she should have been in class, learning how to spell words, long words that she didn’t know how even to pronounce.

“Hey Jules? Are you feeling okay?” Your colleague called out.

“Um..Yeah.” You heard Jules's voice come through the stall. “Is school almost over?”

“Yeah, do you want to open the door for me?”

Getting off the toilet seat, Jules unlocked the handle and opened the door. She didn’t expect to see you standing there in front of her. She was wearing an oversized grey hoodie that you’ve never seen her wear and some fake black glasses, way too big for her round small face. Avoiding making any eye contact with you, she looked down. “Are you going to tell Jungkook?”

You looked at your colleague, and she understood that it was her cue to leave the two of you alone to have a private conversation. “Do you want me to?”

“Obviously not,” she mumbled under her breath, still staring down at the ground. “I forgot to do my homework, Miss. I didn’t want to get in trouble in front of everyone.”

“Is there something wrong, Jules?” You asked with concern in your voice. “Is that really the reason why?”

“Yes,” she answered quickly. “Please don’t tell Jungkook this time.”

________

“Seo Jules, please come to the front office,” you announced to the microphone of the PA system.

When it happens a second time, you immediately call Jungkook.

The sounds of ringing phones and tapping keyboards filled the air, but Jungkook’s mind was elsewhere. He was sitting in front of your desk, violently shaking his leg with the look of concern on his face. “Is Jules hurt?”

“Jungkook, Jules was found in the library, hiding by the bookshelves during most of her classes today and she was just found there becaus she hadn’t showed up to soccer practice since she got her brace off.”

“What?” He asked in disbelief.

“Hey,” Jules called out as she stood by the door. “Why are you here?”

Jungkook took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool after hearing Jules ask that question. He didn’t want Jules to ever be scare to tell him the truth, and he didn’t want Jules to ever lie to him about something as important as this. “Do you want to tell me why the school informed me that you were hiding in the library? How you haven’t been attending some certain classes?”

“You told him?” Jules dropped her shoulders, feeling betrayed. “Why would you do that?”

“We need to address the issue going on here,” Jungkook said, his tone disapproving.

“There’s no issue,” Jules protested. “I just got a little lost. It happens sometimes.”

“Jules, you were found around the bean bags, reading books,” He pointed out. “I don’t think you were lost. And this isn’t the first time this has happened and I’m only now being aware of it. What if you were really lost? What if the school couldn’t find you? What if I couldn’t find you?”

“It’s not like that!” Jules sighed, looking down. “You won’t lose me.”

“Sweetheart, we know you haven’t been going to soccer practice either,” you said. Jules’s head shot up to look at you. “If there’s something wrong, you need to tell us now.”

Jules sighed, fidgeting with her fingers. “Everyone says I get special treatment because Jungkook is dating my principal.”

Jungkook’s heart sank along with yours. “What is wrong with that?”

“Nothing.” She paused before continuing. “I don’t know. They just think the teachers favor me over them because of Y/N and how we have money to pay them to like me. They just wouldn’t stop, so I just stopped…I rather be by myself than be with mean people.”

Although the most recent break up with Jungkook didn’t make you cry, the realization that Jules was facing remarks at school due to your relationship with Jungkook did. You remember telling Jungkook from the beginning that you strived to create a safe environment for all students, wanting to shape their growth and education. You never wanted them to feel alone like you did while growing up. Jules felt alone.

You had been aware of the potential challenges that could arise from dating a parent of a student but witnessing the treatment and suffering Jules was facing made you reconsider all your choices.

“It’s not your fault,” Jules reassured quickly, reading the expression on your face. “I love you two. I just..it’s just hard right now. I lost soccer for a bit and now I feel like I have nothing.”

“Sweetheart, you know you always have us and your family,” Jungkook reminded her. “Why didn’t you want to tell me? Or Y/N?”

“Because I don’t want you guys to be sad again. I don’t want Y/N to leave,” Jules answered, tears forming in her eyes.

As a reflex, Jungkook picked up Jules and wrapped his arms around her, making Jules feel like she was safe from everything else in the world.

“You can cry,” Jungkook whispered.

And Jules started bawling. “I just want to be unnoticed so I change my hair and clothes. And try not to come in here.”

“It’s okay.”

“And they keep talking about how young you are! ‘Wow he is too young to be a parent. He don’t know what to do.’” She wept. “Like shut up!”

_________

While Jungkook was putting Jules to bed, you couldn’t help but wrestle with the responsibility you played in Jules’s suffering the last few months by breaking up with Jungkook, leaving her, and now, not knowing she was being bullied at school.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?” Jungkook asked loudly, interrupting your thoughts. “Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry.”

He laughed. “For what?”

“That I did this.”

“Stop.” He sighed, running his hair through his hair. “You supported Jules and countless other students! This is not your fault…Just an unanticipated consequence that can be solved.”

“Are we breaking up again?” You asked seriously, not meeting his eyes. “I never wanted this to happen to a student, let alone Jules.”

“Hey, listen to me.” He nudged at your side with his elbow, making you look at him. “The biggest thing I’ve learned from you is that we cannot control how others react, but how we react. Like you never really yelled at me for not picking up Jules. You were accepting and understanding because you knew there was more to learn.”

You nodded, appreciating Jungkook’s words. “But the last thing I want is for her to suffer.”

Still staring back at you, he reached to grab your hand. “Breaking up isn’t going to solve that, you know?”

“Yeah, but-” Jungkook cuts you off.

“Hey, you believed in me as a parent and as a person even when I was too young and too busy with a career,” Jungkook said, choosing his words carefully. “Our relationship has made me better. It has made Jules so happy since the accident. We were alone without you, struggling. And now with you, we have so much love and support.”

You smiled, squeezing Jungkook’s hand. “You gave me so much as well.”

His grip on your hand tightened. “Do you think I’m still ‘too young’ and ‘too dumb’ to be there for Jules and you?”

“Of course not!”

“Personal matters should not affect the well-being of children under their care, and you helped me realize that as a parent,” he said. “You don’t have to give anything up. You don’t have to give up your dream of maintaining a safe environment for kids, and you don’t have to give up on us. Take the risk.”

You’re reminded of your past conversation with Jungkook, still smiling from all that the two of you have learned and experienced. “I am going to talk to the school community about this.”

“I know you are,” Jungkook said. “I love you. I love Jules and we will get this together, one step and one day at a time.”

And when it was the next day, there was Jungkook, balloons in his right hand, leaning his back against his blue minivan in the parking lot, waiting for his child to come out of elementary school. He was hours early, shocking all the parents and teachers. They all wondered what he was doing.

When it was time for lunch, Jules came into your office, and the both of you looked outside the window and saw Jungkook, talking to himself. “Do you know what he is saying?”

“He isn’t saying anything.” She laughed. “He’s singing our favorite song. I just know it.”

He was right, that everything was a process that took day by day, and he was going to start by not letting Jules wait for him ever again.

_____

the end! thank you for reading <3 (i am terribly sorry for the long wait). 

hopefully one day i can rewrite this story and make it into something way better. so crazy to think i started this years ago. i miss bts and can’t wait for them to come back home <3 the best is yet to come :) 

chapter index; too young

you meet jungkook, a single parent who keeps forgetting to pick up his daughter from school. Jungkook, a busy and somewhat oblivious individual, has to prove he is a good parent as you lend a helping hand to help him navigate the challenges and joyful experiences of parenthood. 

Finding joy together through the shared moments, the both of you must learn what truly matters to you as an individual and as a parent before the chaos within familial relationships and personal insecurities destroys everything you guys had built.

pairing | jeon jungkook x reader

genre |  parent!au, single dad!jungkook angst, fluff short story

wordcount |  21,949 

↳   1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 [completed]

a/n: i will admit that i wrote this when i was super young but i loved writing so excuse my attempts of being funny and cringe.