Chapter Text
“C’mon Jungkookie!! Just try it? Pleassseee?”
“No! I already said no, Taehyung, so I’m not gonna!”
The taller boy sighed. Taking his charcoal cookie and staring sadly at it, he nibbled at the edge and immediately spat it out in disgust. Tears started to well up in his eyes and began to spill uncontrollably, Taehyung taking his bottom lip between his teeth to prevent the sounds from coming out. Upon seeing that, Jeongguk got up from his spot next to his friend and stood in front of him, cupping his face in his hands and making the other look into his eyes.
“Don’t cry! You better stop crying, because I’m gonna eat your cookie and you better be smiling!”
Taking the failed attempt at a cookie, Jeongguk gulped nervously before opening his mouth, glancing at Taehyung to make sure he’d stopped crying. He tried to bite into it fast, but it was almost rock-like and took a while before he got a piece off. Jeongguk shut his eyes tightly, preventing Taehyung from seeing the tears threatening to appear and chewed as quickly as he could. After it was finally soft enough to swallow, Jeongguk did so. He turned and smiled brightly at Taehyung, teeth a little black.
“There! See? I ate it. Even though it was still really hard, I could actually chew it this time! That’s called progress, Tae-tae.”
Taehyung looked down at his feet, sweater covered hands rubbing at his eyes to get rid of the tears. He looked back up to Jeongguk and was able to smile back at last.
“Y-yeah…thank you, Jungkookie.”
The smaller boy grinned, throwing his arms around Taehyung and squeezing tightly.
“Anything for my best friend!”
At that, Taehyung froze, making Jeongguk jump away from the embrace. His father’s words began echoing in his head over and over, tears forming and threatening to fall as Taehyung tried to recover from what he was just called.
“I-I’m your…best friend?”
Jeongguk bit his lip. He’d failed. He didn’t know how friendships worked, and he’d trusted too quickly. He gripped the end of his shirt and prepared to open his mouth and apologize for his sudden declaration, until Taehyung returned the hug with just as much force Jeongguk had used the first time.
“You’re my best friend too, Jeongguk!! I’m so happy I can call you that now!”
It was Jeongguk’s turn to be frozen, but it took less time for him to smile again and hug back.
~✧ ❀ ❤ ☆ ✧~
Kindergarten had given Jeongguk a bad first impression until Taehyung came along and changed everything. The nervous boy his parents had forced into the building came out happy and skipping to the car on the first day, and luckily it was his mother who was in charge to pick him up. Jumping into the car, Jeongguk sat and buckled up quickly, humming a tune with a smile on his face.
“Well, you look happy? How’d your first day go?”
“I didn’t like it at first, but Taehyung made everything better!"
“Taehyung, is that your teacher?”
Shaking his head, Jeongguk’s grin spread throughout his face, eyes sparkling in glee.
“No! He’s my new friend!”
At first, his mom was happy to hear it. Jeongguk made a friend? That was amazing! He wouldn’t be alone, he wouldn’t be singled out, he wouldn’t suffer-
But his father.
“…Jeongguk, I want you to understand something, okay?”
Confused, the boy nodded slowly and sat still, a little scared of the tone his mother was speaking with.
“I am so happy you got a friend. I don’t think you could ever understand how much I love hearing that, Jeongguk. I was worried you wouldn’t, but you did! And that makes me proud, okay?”
He nodded again.
“But you can’t tell your father.”
Jeongguk’s eyes visibly widened in fear, tears forming faster than his mother could reach and wipe away before he began sniffling, clutching his pants to keep himself from making noise.
“Jeongguk, you can’t let him tell you that you can’t have friends. You can have friends. It’s a normal part of life and he can’t take that from you, understand?”
Jeongguk didn’t nod this time.
“D-does that mean, i-if dad finds out a-about T-taehyung, he w-won’t let me see him a-anymore?”
The little hiccups that left Jeongguk as he struggled to speak broke his mother’s heart, unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching over with arms outstretched and hugged her son. Softly shushing his quiet sobs, she pet his hair slowly.
“I’m saying it’s possible, Jeongguk. That’s why you can’t tell him. Tell me, okay? Tell me about Taehyung, tell me what you two like to do together, tell me all the little details. Just don’t let your father know. He can teach you other things but your friendships are not his business okay?”
She felt him begin to move away and let go, the small boy wiping his eyes and rubbing his nose with his sleeves. But he nodded, and that was good enough for her.
“I love you, Jeongguk. Your father does too. But do we have an agreement?”
A quiet ‘yes’ left his lips.
“Okay. So tell me, what’s your friend like?”
Almost immediately, the sadness radiating the boy turned to one of excitement, lips no longer trembling. As he spoke, his mother drove. Seeing him so happily talking about someone he enjoys being around was so sweet to her, and even though it had only been the first day, he already had so many things to talk about.
Jeongguk’s mother couldn’t be happier for him.
~✧ ❀ ❤ ☆ ✧~
“So, how was school?”
At some point, the question “how was school” had begun to mean “what did you do with Taehyung?”. School was boring, but Jeongguk liked to learn, so he did comment what he was taught for a few moments before he moved on to the real topic of the conversation. Besides, 1st grade meant him and Taehyung had known each other for a year now. Ignoring the underlying worry she felt at the pit of her stomach, she hoped they could maintain their friendship for years to come.
“It was great! Taehyung made cookies again, and I could chew them this time!”
“That’s really great sweetie. You should ask him to make a lot one day so that I can try them.”
“I did, but he told me he wants to be the bestest cookie-maker before he lets you eat any.”
Chuckling, his mother started the car and began to back out of the parking space, not noticing Jeongguk rolling down the window before hearing him scream.
“BYE TAEHYUNG!!”
The suddenness of his exclamation caught her off guard, almost bumping into a different car that honked in annoyance before driving away. She was about to scold him before her eyes caught sight of a boy not that far away waving both his arms, jumping up and down excitedly.”
“SEE YOU ON MONDAY JEONGGUK!!”
An elderly woman was standing beside him, smiling at the boy and waved a little at Jeongguk and his mother before taking one of Taehyung’s hands and saying something to his ear. He grinned, letting his palms face towards Jeongguk’s direction and created a flower bush similar to the one he’d made the first time. This one was bigger, and Jeongguk gasped in amazement. His mother, however, was shocked. Two individual flowers grew to meet the two in the car, Jeongguk plucking it immediately and waving to Taehyung as he began to walk away.
“Mom, what are you doing? Take the flower!!”
“W-what? Oh, um okay.”
Picking it, she noticed the beautiful little details that were standing out a lot more than a normal flower. The little hairs that made a flower soft were more visible, making the flower look fluffier than normal, the pollen a pastel but bright yellow, the petals easily seeming like cute little blue pillows fit for a mouse.
“Jeongguk, you never told me Taehyung also had a gift…”
The boy in the backseat looked up from caressing the flower, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
“Yeah I did? I told you he gave me a flower?”
His mother laughed, breathy but still amused.
“Well, you didn’t specify that he made the flower he gave you. It’s a very beautiful gift, I can see why the two of you are friends.”
Jeongguk looked offended by that remark, his mother about to ask why his face had contorted that way before he crossed his arms and answered.
“We’re not friends because of our gifts! He told me he likes me because I’m nice and fun to play with and I told him I like him because he’s funny and also because he’s nice! He likes my gift and I like his but that’s not why we’re friends!!”
His mother looked at him, seeing the angry expression he had as he looked away from her and returned to petting his flower.
“Oh. So you two have already shown each other your gifts.”
Jeongguk stayed quiet.
“And you’ve established that you’re friends because you like each other’s personality?”
Had she not been looking through the rear-view mirror, she would’ve missed his little nod.
“Well, that settles it doesn’t it? You two really are best friends.”
At that, Jeongguk looked at his mom, mouth open and ready to talk again.
“That’s right!! I called him my best friend today and he said he was happy that I called him that and that I was his best friend too so yes! We’re the bestest of friends! Oh, and today I helped him with math again…”
While Jeongguk talked, his mother listened. All the way home.
~✧ ❀ ❤ ☆ ✧~
“I’m home!”
Jeongguk’s father dropped his keys into the small dish they kept next to the front door, removing his jacket as Jeongguk’s footsteps began getting nearer and nearer.
“Dad!”
The small boy jumped into his father’s arms, the man catching him easily in his arms. His mother got up from her place on the couch, smiling at the duo.
“Ah, you’re getting heavier by the day Jeongguk! Are you growing or eating too much?”
Jeongguk giggled as his father tickled his tummy, kicking his feet in glee and begging for him to stop. His mother interfered, placing Jeongguk back on the floor and gave her husband a kiss.
“Enough playtime, there’ll be time for that after dinner, okay?”
“So how was school, Jeongguk?”
There was a notable difference between when his mother said it to when his father did. Jeongguk never told his father about Taehyung. “How was school?” would always be “how was school”.
“It was okay. There are a lot of kids who don’t understand some of the lessons though. My teacher tries to get them to catch up with the rest of us but we always have to wait for them.”
At that, Jeongguk’s father smiled. A perfect opportunity.
“Well, you wouldn’t have that problem if you were in homeschool, Jeongguk.”
There was the clanking noise of silverware hitting a plate, which came from his mother, who was now glaring at the man before her.
“Don’t start with this again."
“I’m just saying! If there’s kids who can’t keep up with Jeongguk, it won’t be beneficial for him. He needs to stay constantly learning, being stuck on one lesson just because some kids are too dumb to understand shouldn’t mean the whole class needs to stay at their level!”
Jeongguk’s mother scoffed, about to retort with an argument before Jeongguk pushed his chair out and slammed his hands on the table.
“DON’T CALL TAEHYUNG DUMB!”
While his mother turned wide eyed and looked towards her son in shock, the anger that had just left Jeongguk was replaced instantly with fear and regret.
He’d just yelled at his father.
He’d just mentioned Taehyung, in front of his father.
He messed up.
“…what did you say, Jeongguk?”
Jeongguk sat back down, eyes downcast and hair covering his face.
“Jeongguk. Look up, look at me, and repeat what you just said.”
He didn’t listen.
“Now.”
The thing about Jeongguk’s father when he was angry, was that he was calm. The cool rage that radiates off of him was what scared Jeongguk the most. Now, he was terrified, but he had no choice but to look back up.
“I said…don’t call T-taehyung dumb…”
His father leaned in, eyes staring intensely at Jeongguk. Swallowing hard, Jeongguk worked up the courage he needed to say exactly what needed to be said.
“Taehyung is my friend.”
At that, Jeongguk’s father leaned back into his chair, pinching the wrinkle on his forehead as he sighed deeply. His mother cleared her throat nervously, shooting a quick glance at Jeongguk to leave the room. Just as the boy was about to walk past his father’s chair, a large hand grabbed his arm and kept him in place, his heart beginning to race in fear.
“Stay.”
“Oh, please, let him go. We need to talk about this-“
His father snapped his head around to look at his mother, that calm rage radiating and making Jeongguk more anxious to leave the scene.
“We need to talk about this, the three of us.”
So Jeongguk obediently climbed back onto his chair, silent tears falling as he bit his bottom lip to keep it from wobbling too much. His mother sighed, her turn to have her face in her hands as she opened her mouth to speak again, cut off by his father.
“What did I say about kids at school, Jeongguk?”
He remained silent.
“What did I say, Jeongguk?”
“…that I shouldn’t be friends with them.”
“And why’s that?”
“…because…I can’t trust anyone.”
“And why can’t you trust anyone?”
Jeongguk stayed quiet. He’d had enough, enough of his father trying to keep him “safe”. Enough of his father keeping him from meeting any of his family. Enough of his father insulting his only friend. He’d had enough of it all.
“…because you don’t want me to.”
“Excuse me?”
Tears that were out of fear just moments before were now those of anger, raising his head to stare right at his father, the man who had the power to keep him from ever seeing Taehyung again. Even though he had so much on the line, he needed to do this.
“Because of you! You don’t let me be normal! You lie and say it’s to protect me but I don’t believe you anymore!”
Jeongguk had to pause because of a hiccup that broke through his throat, mixing with a sob that left him shaking. Both of his parents were in shock, so he continued.
“I want to have friends! I want to be normal! You make me feel like I can’t be that, and I don’t like it! I don’t care if you’re scared, I’m NOT! I WON’T STOP BEING TAEHYUNG’S BEST FRIEND JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK HE’S DUMB!"
And with that, Jeongguk jumped out of his seat, running to his room to scream into his pillow. He wasn’t the type of kid to express himself often, and he knew that everything he said would most likely have consequences. He didn’t care though. If anything, the knowledge that his father would most likely get him out of school, away from ever seeing Taehyung again was enough to make him cry, and he did. He fell asleep sad for the first time in his life.
~✧ ❀ ❤ ☆ ✧~
Jeongguk awoke to the feeling of a hand playing with his hair. Yawning and doing his best to open his swollen eyes, the boy was able to make out the figure of his mother.
“Mom…?”
She smiled, nearing her face to his to kiss his tear-stained cheeks.
“Hey, sweetie. Are you feeling better?”
Jeongguk was about to ask about what, but he remembered. Remembering just made his eyes well up once more, making him bury his face back into the pillow.
“Oh, Jeongguk come on. You slept for 3 hours, it’s time to get up.”
“I ‘ont wanna.”
His muffled voices cute, Jeongguk’s mother smiling softly at the sight.
“Your father and I talked, Jeongguk. He has something he wants to tell you.”
At that, the boy, peeked out from his pillow, hiding again.
“I ‘ont wanna see ‘im.”
“Do you think I would be here so calmly if I didn’t think that what your father has to say was gonna hurt you?”
Jeongguk thought for a moment. He guessed that was true, so he sat up, his mother helping him off his bed as he rubbed at his eyes. She held out her hand, the boy taking it and squeezing tight. Jeongguk got more nervous as they walked towards their living room, wanting nothing more than to run back to the safety of his room. Once there, he hid behind his mother’s legs, still not wanting to look his father.
“Jeongguk?”
“Jeongguk, just hear what he has to say.”
Peeking out to sneak a glance at his father, Jeongguk took notice of how different the man’s features were compared to earlier. He wasn’t angry, and that left Jeongguk relieved enough to step out from behind his mother. He still kept his eyes downcast, however.
“Jeongguk, can you sit with me over at the couch?”
The boy silently walked over and sat, his father in pursuit and sat not too close, knowing the state his son was in.
“I wanted to apologize.”
Finally, Jeongguk looked up. His mouth was slightly open, big front teeth peeking out as he tried to look for any signs that his father could be tricking him, but there weren’t any.
“As much as I wish I could protect you from everything, that’s impossible, and I do need to let you be a normal little boy. You have that right, and I wanted to say sorry for calling your…friend, Taehyung?”
Jeongguk nodded a little too hard.
“For calling him dumb. I shouldn’t say bad things about people I don’t know, now should I?”
Jeongguk could finally smile again as he knew what his father was getting at.
“I’m not going to take you out of school, or keep you from hanging out with your friend. Instead, I’m going to let you be you, does that sound good?”
Jeongguk jumped into his father’s arms, repeating the same word over and over out of happiness that he wasn’t going to take Taehyung away from him.
“Yes! Yes yes yes yes yes yes! Thank you, dad! Thank you so much!!”
Jeongguk’s mother finally sat next to the two, grinning as she poked at her son to look at her.
“You know what that means? Taehyung can come over for playdates now.”
Today had easily turned out to be the best day of Jeongguk’s life.
~✧ ❀ ❤ ☆ ✧~
“Hey, Taehyung, do you wanna come over to my house tomorrow?”
The boy looked up from his lunch, mouth stuffed with sandwich and flower crown falling to his eyes, but the happy sparkle could clearly be seen along with the shock that widened his eyes in a way that made Jeongguk giggle.
“Eh?!”
Both boys began excitedly planning out their date, laughing and playing their day away.
Jeongguk knew he could never have asked for a better first friend than Taehyung.
(Taehyung felt the same)