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Your most memorable Halloween? It was when you were in middle school.
Going from house to house in the neighborhood, trick or treat, candy, lots of candies. Though some were stored away until next Halloween because your mom is a dentist. No bad blood with the mom, just a little sour because all of your cousins and friends were allowed to chew the most indulgent peanut butter, chocolate, caramel, marshmallows and you’re not.
But still, it’s all good, you understand your mom’s reason. You were wearing braces, it will stick and it’s fine because now at the ripe age of middle twenties you can inhale chocolates on a daily basis if you’re not under anyone’s supervision. Sue you, you didn’t get to enjoy it when you were a kid.
That day began like a normal Halloween, wearing your favorite cheese costumes. Nothing extra, just an upside down triangle cardboard on your body, with holes imitating a real slice of cheese, wearing a tight yellow jumpsuit. At first glance you look like SpongeBob without the square, and you also looked like Bruce lee. Too big for you but your mom looks very satisfied as she puts in on you.
“Not too much candy, okay baby.” You mom softly comforted you because you were sulking when Suri shuffled into your house with your aunt, she was biting on a bar of Mars. All caramel and sticky gooey. Smothering her teeth dark brown as she chewed loudly. You want some but your mom frowns, looking very guilty that she’s the one placing the braces on your teeth. Your teeth are stubborn; it took you years to take it off. and you don’t want her to be upset.
You were walking with Suri, the moms were trailing closely from behind. Suri was wearing herself as an olive by the way. Your mom and your aunt were taking lots of pictures. Squealing at how cute the two of you were. Well you need a pastrami now to complete the set.
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“Why are you telling me your Halloween memory? I’m still not gonna open the damn door!” Jungkook grunt, crossing his arm like a sulking child. After consuming half of the sofa with his huge body, he practically ran to the door the moment he heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet.
Stands up leaning his back on the door. For a whole fifteen minutes. Meanwhile you were sitting with excitement at the door. Bowl of candies ready on your lap. In this house we give away as many candies as the kids need!
But not with Jungkook’s attitude.
“Why are you so mean?! Just let the kids get their candies!” You huff. Fingers playing with overflowing candies in the bowl. Poor candies, waiting for their kids. Picking up a Reese’s, you popped it in your mouth.
“Yofgh a paaawty poiwperGgok,” you scolded him, chewing the peanut butter.
Jungkook grimaces at the way you are still talking with a mouth full. Not having it, he squeezed your cheeks together.
“Chew, swallow, then you can talk.” He grunts.
“Whaaat?” You love annoying him so you chewed loudly, purposely showcasing your brown teeth. Jungkook snaps and he flicked your forehead.
“The beauty of Halloween is grownups allow kids to do whatever they want or else they’re gonna be like me.” You snickered.
Looks like Jungkook still wanna listen to your story at the way he loosen up tilted his head in wonder.
The story was actually told in hopes he understands why you don’t want any kids to be sad as you were when they cannot have candies. But Jungkook apparently hates Halloween. Or maybe he just hates kids, you don’t know. Either way, he’s been yelling “NOBODY’S HOME!” so that no one can come any closer.
“What happened?” Jungkook eyes softened and you smirk, he likes storytelling. Maybe Jungkook is just curious about you and every story you told him makes him feel so close to his mate.
So what? But you didn’t need to know that. He’s too cool to admit he’s whipped.
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“Trick or treat!” You shouted with glee and Suri was grinning wide, showing off her chocolate tainted teeth. Lucky!
This house was the last one in the neighborhood, situated at the very end of the road but it is so lively! With bright lights and the decorations is so cool! There’s hanging spiders and fake tombstones around the yard. You loved it. The owner of the house was a toy store owner. You loved it even more. Because he knows you can’t eat too much sugar, sometimes he slips one or two little toys in your pumpkin bucket.
“My favorite,,,,umm cheese? And olive? Oh blimey! We have a set of scary platters over here!” He’s really good at acting. You bought it at the time. High pitch squeaking and squealing and giggling as he scooped a handful candy into Suri’s basket. You were bouncing waiting for your treat.
“My sweet stinky cheese, I am so sorry I forgot to get you toys this time.” Apologetically, he squatted down to your level. He cooed when your lips were trembling and your eyes were filled with tears. He glanced behind you to see if your mom was looking or not, and to his relief your mom was chatting with the other kids parents.
So he whispered, “just a few candies won’t hurt, humm?” He squeezed your hands. Pouring a less amount of candies than Suri’s into your bucket. “Shh,” he placed his finger on his lips. A sweet secret!
But Suri, oh Suri was a little snitch when she was younger. You love her, she’s the only female cousins out of your many cousins, your partner in crimes! Your better half! If you dumb she’s the dumber!
She babbled with her full mouth, smelling the sweetness wafting the moment she opened up her mouth. “You cannot eat those____, remember!”
“I knowwww, but I’m gonna keep it until I can eat them,” you pouted. Securing the bucket closer to your chest. No one can steal them from you. But Suri is a bigger girl than you.
“Gimme some, so auntie won’t get mad at you,” she reasoned. Ridiculous!
“No!” You whined, already losing as her hand was already in the bucket. “Suri, no! Those are mines!”
“____, I am helping you. It’s okay,” she patted your back. Liar! Liar! Liar! Those were your candies! But thinking about it now, what Suri did was so cute. She doesn’t want your mom to feel upset every time she has to store away the candies. At the end of the day you were only allowed to eat one, if you whine harder maybe three.
“Bad Suri!” You throw your bucket on the ground, stomping away from her, everyone was so mean! Your mom! Suri! Toy store uncle! Your auntie! For letting Suri eat all the candies in the world!
The echoes of Suri’s voice were left unheard because you were so seething with rage. One thing about Suri is that she gets scared easily. She will never follow you into the dark. Passing the toy store owner house, you can see bushes and darkness.
Maybe if you sulk and be gone for a while Suri will call your mom, everyone will coax you with candies. That was your plan. Nuh uh. Not happening. Turns out Suri thought you left her and she has a short memory.
She later admitted that she was trying to chase after you but her bucket fell off, scattering the candies on the ground, mixed with yours. So, priorities, right? She needs to pick up the candies. And the her little brain forgot about you. Too occupied with candies.
“Mommy?” You called out. Sitting down behind a bush was a bad idea. No one can see you, not even with your bright cheese costume.
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“I still cannot believe your costume is cheese,” Jungkook’s booming laugh is distracting. “I really wanna imagine that!” Maybe he didn’t need much to imagine, it’s planted in his head. The whole image of you, upside down triangle, yellow all around.
“Okay continue,” he raises his hands. Because you’re not laughing and he bites his lips at your sharp glare. He was already sitting down on the floor. Eyes gazing up at you who was sitting on a high chair.
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The rustling in front of you jolted you from standing up.
“H-hello?” You stammered. Could be a cat, or just the wind. “Is somebody there?” Partially afraid of if there’s actually someone lurking, another part is more afraid if no one is answering. Your worst nightmare, ghost! On nights like this! Halloween was the day the dead and the living mesh together! Oh no, with a whimper, you tried to crawl out of the bush with your weak knees.
The whole costume was poked by the branches and the dirt but you have zero care about it now. “I’m gonna go politely, don’t hurt me.” You grandmother once said if you are lost in the woods, or when you’re all by yourself and you can sense something else is with you, just politely walk away. Respect it and it will never bother you.
“Ouch!” A boyish voice suddenly reached you. Out of nowhere a man in black costume emerged from the bush. All black from head to toe, thick black boots and they make a thumping sound as he walks closer, with a beautiful face, angry red colored swishing tail that looks really real because it moves! What a powerful costume! And he is so tall!
You gapped at the man, he was rubbing the back of his head. Before his eyes suddenly feel on yours, all wide and shocked. Nose scrunched as if he smelled something. He took another sniff to make sure and you were not blinking.
“Taehyung you stupid! Really, mortal realm?! And it’s the wrong year!” The man shouted at no one, because the only person there was you. On your hands and knees, ready to crawl away before he showed up.
“Ugh!” He rolled his eyes and he looked at you one more time.
“H-hey? Are you lost too?” You timidly ask the man, he couldn’t be lost because he is definitely older than you. He should be the one that lost a child.
With a smirk he bent down. “You’re so,,,small?” He quirks his head to the side. “Aren’t you the one who is lost?” He chuckled darkly.
“Yes,” you breathed out. Scrapping the dirt on your knees you attempted to stand up. After pressuring your legs for quite some time, they felt tingling. The man noticed that and he offered his hand.
“You’re hiding from everyone. Isn’t it?” The man guessed. It’s like he can read your mind. Your eyes however fixed on the tail. It’s like it has a life of its own.
“Girl,” his voice was low and stern. The attention was back on his face. Surprisingly you’re not really scared of him.
“Yeah, they don’t want me to eat candies,” you pouted. Blinking rapidly so you’re not crying in front of a stranger.
“You’re a brat aren’t you?” He asked. Though his tone is more leaning to curiosity, he sounded like he is scolding you.
“Hey! I am a good girl! I do my homework on my own!” You pulled your hands off of his grasp. Without realizing you felt so safe when he holds your hand. Like a grownup you’re familiar with.
“You kinda are when you whine about the stupid candies.” He offered his hand one more time. “They make your teeth rotten and you’re gonna look like a zombie!” He childishly spooked you. You don’t like zombies so the thought brought shivers to your body. And the man chuckled as your body wiggled with disgust.
“But I really wanna taste one,” you whispered. Not noticing you were already in front of the Toy Store uncle house, the lights were blinding and making it hard to see your savior’s face. You squinted your eyes but then you gave up. Only staring at your careful steps.
“What is it that you want, hum?” The man heard you and his deep voice asked as if he doesn’t want anyone to hear.
“Reese’s,” you smacked your lips.
He stopped his track and felt the back of his pants. There’s so many pockets and he acted silly by making a shocking face as he felt something. You giggled at his actions, he must be a clown. With his hand still engulfing yours, he shows up his free hand, palms up and this time full of Reese’s!
You gasped and jumped in joy. “Again! Again! Do it again!” You chanted.
He flicked your forehead, “A brat, confirmed.” He placed the chocolate on your smaller palms.
“Thank you! This will be my favorite candy ever!” You sing. The man just grunts, “just don’t eat it all the time.”
“Huh-” you already popped one into your mouth.
He shakes his head. “Go, your mom is looking for you.” He pushed you back lightly, a careless girl you are, you stumbled forward and he was ready to catch you but you grinned with chocolate teeth.
“I’m okay now, clown! Wait, What is your name?” You giggled.
“Clown?! You are so gonna get it an you don’t need my name. We’ll meet again,” he waved at you.
You really need your glasses because you can’t see his face clearly as you waved back at him. “And there will be more Reese’s?” You shouted with glee.
“Plenty.” He laughed.
“___! You left me!” Suri’s wailing was heard from behind you. Instantly you ran up to her. She was holding two buckets and this time each bucket was equally full.
“I was actually waiting for you to look for me,” you mumble, grabbing one bucket that she thrusted to you.
“Are you okay? I won’t eat your candies, I promise. We’ll store them together and eat them together. Once your braces are gone,” she sobs, wobbled closely to you because her olive costume is so round.
“I’m okay, someone helped me. Here, he gave me so many Reese’s.” You poured some into her bucket.
“Huh? You were all alone ___ just now?” Suri hiccupped.
“No, there’s someone-” you stopped as you looked back to no one. No one was there. Maybe the man walked away. Weird.
“Let’s go home.” Suri poked your costume.
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“That’s it? The story of how you feel in love with Reese’s?” Jungkook fake yawn. “No fun,” throwing one of the chocolate wrappers into the bowl.
You and him are now sitting on the sofa, eating the candies, since no one knocks on your door. “It’s sweet. Someone so nice letting me eat chocolate. I’ll remember it forever.” You yawn, a real one unlike Jungkook’s. Yawning is really contagious even if it’s fake. Now you’re sleepy. Rubbing your face with the sleeves of your fluffy yellow sweater, your eyes are getting heavy.
“Just gonna take a nap, wake me up if there’s someone at our door.” You muttered, hands still cradling the bowl.
“Pass me the bowl,” Jungkook asked but you shot your hazy eyes open. He flinched.
“Never! You Halloween hater!” You barked at him. “They’re safer with me,” you calmly close your eyes back. Now starting to doze off.
“Once a brat, always a brat. Confirmed.” Jungkook chuckles. Making sure you’re really sleeping so he can take the bowl and place it on the table. He sits next to you and he smiles. He can smile, yeah, for you.
“I see you still like yellow, you stinky cheese. And Reese’s,” Jungkook speaks softly to sleeping you. Eyeing the bowl with too many Reese’s in it. “You’re smart, you know the brand name at that age. Making it easier, I can just whip it out for you.” Jungkook shakes his head.
Remembering the day he met you a few years earlier than he should. All because Taehyung was drunk and they time traveled back in the past. There he met you, sniffling and whimpering behind the bushes, in your ridiculous cheese costume. Eyes wide as you look at him in wonder. Younger you will never believe you’re fated to one of the demon princes.
Jungkook was actually feeling fuzzy at that time. You were so small. But you’re smart. He needs to get you out of the dark, that’s all he can think about at that time. You gotta be safe until he can meet you again when he’s supposed to. Out of all day to stumble upon you, it was Halloween and he was so lucky. He showed in his devil form. Tail and all.
You’re definitely not joking when you said Reese’s will be your favorite candy forever. Judging by the stock up on the shelves, this Halloween bowl. You love Reese’s and Jungkook bask in it. He was the one that gave you the candy.
“Clown?” He comes closer to you sleeping form on the sofa, rubbing your forehead with his thumb. “What am I gonna do with you?” He breathes out.
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Jungkook’s deep eyes can burn the doors down as he stares angrily at it. You’re still sleeping from the sound of your snoring filling the living room. With a heavy fluffy blanket over your body, the one Jungkook draped a moment ago before he sensed something about to happen.
As he expected, there’s knocking on the door. You told him sometimes kids are pranksters. They love knocking on doors and just disappear.
But that is what humans conclude. Some prankster. But this is Jungkook. He knows better.
With an authoritative aura, he steps behind the door.
“You dare knock on the prince’s door, lost soul?”
He opened it, eerily and very creepy as the creek of the door screamed. No one is there but Jungkook can see what normal human eyes cannot see.
“You’re dead years ago. Whatever unfinished business you had left you are never allowed to interfere with the human. And you’re making a mistake knocking on my door.” Jungkook is clearly annoyed at the thought of having to deal with such petty things.
“This is why I hate Halloween and this is why I don’t open the doors. Lost souls like you love this day, right?” He sighs.
“Scram off lost soul and don’t you dare look at her. She is my mate, you wanna suck her energy? I’m gonna put you down in hell right away. Maybe prince Hoseok can do something with you? He tortures souls for fun. Sinners or not.” Jungkook cracked his tattooed knuckles. Eyes turning red and the tail is begging to come out. But Jungkook cannot be that today. It’s gonna take some time to calm the tail back and you’re gonna see it when you wake up later. Jungkook is not in the mood of explaining.
“Get away,” he slammed the door. Loud. But you’re still sleeping. Good, this brat will still be sleeping even if the roof falls on her. He laughs to himself.