Work Text:
“You know I have deadlines to meet right? It’s a really crucial time and-”
“Stop lying, you literally just told us over dinner last week that you can come over any time since Christmas season isn’t hellish for the publishing company. Please, Taehyung? It’s just a little over a day, you can even write at home if you’re busy for real. Yewon is a good girl, she doesn’t need too much to keep busy and entertained,” Eunjin, Taehyung’s sister, pleads over the end of the phone line.
“..Fine, fine. I know that — You’re lucky I adore Yewon and would literally die for her. When do you need her home?” Taehyung clicks his tongue and presses the loudspeaker option on his smartphone before he puts it down and scrolls away on his laptop.
“I’ll bring her to you before I leave for work. You can bring her home by lunch the following day.” There’s a hopeful tone in Eunjin’s voice that Taehyung can recognise.
“Gosh, that’s so early. I better be getting free sampyupsal and a drink after this,” Taehyung sighs heavily and leans on his comfy leather chair.
“Yeah, I promise I’ll treat you out for dinner or something before Christmas. Thank you, thank you. I really owe you for this one.”
“Take care of yourself, you’re working too hard again,” Taehyung says with a smile.
“Yeah, I’ll try,” Eunjin laughs, “Thank you, really.”
“Oh - and Eunjin?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s Taehyung-oppa for you.”
And that’s how Kim Taehyung, 26, writer and soon-to-be novelist, is spending a day with his niece Yewon at Mecenatpolis, waiting to see the mall Santa who seems to listen and maybe grant the Christmas wishes of children every year.
Taehyung has intended to just spend the day home with Yewon, maybe let her watch TV and they could play some board games that she brought along with her to Taehyung’s apartment — maybe just watch movies too to easily let time pass. But no — Yewon had other plans in mind.
“Uncle, can we see Santa today?” Yewon asks while chewing on a grape-flavoured gummy.
“Huh?” Taehyung asks in confusion, putting down his phone to turn his full attention to his niece.
“Mom always brings me to umbrella mall to see Santa — can we go together this time?” Yewon says with enthusiasm glistening through her eyes. Taehyung can quite literally see sparkles surrounding her with excitement and hope peeking out.
Maybe it’s not a bad idea, especially going out with his five-year-old niece to go see Santa. That’s not a difficult task for a very single uncle like Taehyung to do, right? That’s nice too, having some bonding time with his little girl — one he likes to call his own child. It’s one too that Yewon has been doing on an annual basis, so she might know just what would be going on at the mall.
Except this year is a different case.
Taehyung slowly walks along the row of shops with his hand holding Yewon’s free hand while she sips on her warm Hibiscus tea from Illy Cafe and admires the large Christmas decors that add to the usual colourful umbrellas that hang in the centre of the shopping mall. It’s mostly quiet, soft festive music playing over the speakers of the mall that’s echoing in the large space.
Taehyung loves Christmas — not because it’s close to his birthday but because he just likes looking at how establishments and the streets do the most with decorations. Christmas always happens on winter, on Taehyung’s favourite season when he can bring out his favourite coats and scarfs to wear with his growing collection of berets. He feels like the main character of a movie that’s set to meet their loved one on Christmas Eve — maybe the main character of a romance novel he’d write in the future. Except he’s been wishing for that every year that he thinks it’s starting to get ridiculous in his part. Screw his hopeless romantic ass always wanting the same thing from what he reads and watches.
“What are you going to wish to Santa, uncle?” Yewon innocently asks as she sips on her tea and looks up at Taehyung.
Taehyung smiles, briefly letting go of Yewon’s hand to pat her head instead, “Uncle is a grown-up now so he can’t ask Santa for something. Santa will listen to good boys and girls like you though.”
“Why? Was uncle not a good boy this year?” Yewon asks with eagerness, more eager than she should be. Taehyung laughs and shrugs.
“Uncle tried his best this year, maybe Santa will grant a wish?” Taehyung ruffles Yewon’s hair and laughs more when she whines in protest of her hair getting messed up.
Taehyung looks up when he hears a loud voice in the middle of the solemn shopping mall that’s softly playing a playlist of an orchestral version of famous Christmas songs on loop. From a distance, he sees a petite boy? a grown man? whining in his oversized elf costume, the solid green elf hat nearly covering his eyes. It’s quite adorable from Taehyung’s vision — his myopic vision that is.
“There isn’t much going on yet. It’s literally a dead hour, I’m pretty sure kids would come later,” a much taller and grown man wearing a similar elf costume says, trying to calm the latter down.
“What do you mean more kids would come later? Hyung, it’s getting late, of course the parents wouldn’t bring their kids to such a quiet mall catered to rich people especially at a time like this? Ugh, this is annoying,” the shorter man (Taehyung confirmed he had to be a grown man with that glimpse of muscle he saw in the stranger’s calf) complains, crossing his arms and tapping a foot rapidly on the marble flooring.
“Just wait a bit, yeah? Just a few more hours of this and you can go home,” the taller man reaches and taps the shorter one’s shoulder as encouragement and support.
“God, please. I don’t know why I signed up for this in the first place when I have other jobs I can attend to. What is this elf job anyway? We just fucking stand beside Santa all day — and for fuck’s sake, Santa isn’t even real!”
Taehyung’s eyes widen and he looks at Yewon right away after the man across nearly yells the last words. He panics when he sees Yewon’s eyes widening as well and immediately frowning in concern, in confusion. Taehyung quickly kneels in front of his niece to cup her ears, cheeks and then running his hands on her side as a form of comfort.
“Don’t listen to that elf, okay? He’s just being mean. You’ll get to meet Santa and — ”
“Uncle, is it true?” Yewon’s pupils are dilating and there is a big pout now on her face, lips also wobbling.
Taehyung’s face falls at the fact that his niece heard everything that that tiny elf said a few metres away, not exactly inviting other people into the conversation with his co-worker but still letting everyone around at the centre of the mall hear him. Taehyung turns his head and glares at the elf in question, their eyes briefly meeting and it takes a while before the elf registers what’s happening — what his outburst has led to. He notices Yewon audibly sobbing now, eyes shutting hard while her tears flow continuously.
“Oh my god, Jimin - what have you done,” the taller elf whispers in disbelief, staring at Taehyung and Yewon from a distance.
“I don’t know. I don’t know, fuck — hyung, what do I do-” Jimin, the guilty elf, grabs a fistful of his co-worker’s sleeve in worry and panic.
“Her guardian is literally burning you in hell with his eyes. Imagine the headline for it — Christmas elf gets dragged to hell by a good-looking man at a shopping mall in Seoul,” the man snickers and then pats Jimin’s shoulders again.
“Seokie-hyung, you’re not even helping at all. The little girl is crying louder now, what do I do?” Jimin looks really worried now, hands tugging at his elf hat in anxiety and fear.
“Well, what else? Go and comfort her before you get filed with a complaint about unprofessionalism in the workplace,” Hoseok laughs and grabs at Jimin’s arm to push him towards Yewon who is now getting her tears and snot wiped with Taehyung’s handkerchief while she violently hiccups.
Jimin drags his feet towards the pair, stopping right behind Taehyung who doesn’t notice him approaching.
“Uhm.. sir?” Jimin croaks out, calling the attention of Taehyung who’s busy trying to cool down his niece’s heated cheeks.
Taehyung turns his head right away, his eyes turning into a frown and then glare in a split second, “What is it?”
Jimin bites his lip at the coldness in his tone, feeling even more guilty at what his outburst caused to a little girl and her dad or uncle. He fidgets with his fingers and then takes off the elf hat that’s still messily covering his head.
“If you don’t have anything better to say to make my niece feel better, please just leave. I can handle this on my own,” Taehyung callously, quickly looking away from Jimin and pushing away the damp hair strands of Yewon from her face. Jimin momentarily thinks it’s an adorable sight before his mind wanders back into this reality he’s stuck in. The reality where he has to deal with a child he accidentally broke the heart of and her very angry, stupidly handsome uncle.
“I- I just, I wanted to apologise about what I said — and my language. I know I’m in the middle of working and shouldn’t have yelled out something like that so negligently. I must have — I must have upset your niece so much with what I said, it was so irresponsible of me; I’m so terribly sorry, sir,” Jimin rambles with a shake in his voice, the guilt and remorse obviously there. He bows 90 degrees, forgetting about his elf hat and only remembering it when it falls to the floor. Jimin quickly picks it up in sheer embarrassment of the whole situation.
If there is anyone Jimin thinks he should never allow being the cause of someone’s tears, it’s his parents first and children second. And he blew it up today, while he was literally working. Only because he was so tired of not being useful and being incredibly idle since the mall opening hours. Park Jimin thinks he deserves a spot in hell for making a little girl cry.
“Please apologize to my niece, she’s the one you upset. She was so excited to see Santa today,” Taehyung sighs, getting up to give space to Jimin so he can personally talk to Yewon.
Well, now that just makes it even worse. The poor little girl just wanted to see Santa and Jimin ruined the whole thing. This is possibly the worst workday Jimin’s had and he has gone through quite a lot of jobs and bad days at work. He must have fucked up so badly to even think that. Jimin slowly walks closer and kneels in front of Yewon, grabbing her tiny hand.
“Hi, it’s the Christmas elf. I’m so sorry about what I said. This brother elf was just a little mad at Santa about something,” Jimin says with a much softer tone now, his usually soft voice even warmer than it was when he spoke to Taehyung. It mildly takes the latter by surprise.
Yewon stares at Jimin and sniffs, her tears now slowly drying up after Taehyung’s efforts. “Was brother elf naughty this year?” She asks with a tiny voice, hiccuping between every two words.
Jimin offers a smile, so endeared by the innocent question and being reminded about why he decided to take this side job in the first place. He takes Yewon's hand, strangely only a little smaller than his — a 26-year-old, but that's beside the point. Jimin rubs his thumb over Yewon's hand and takes a free hand to her head, patting it gently and letting his fingers card through her smooth hair strands that are tied in a twin tail.
"Hmm… maybe, and it made brother elf sad. He tried his best."
"Uncle Taehyung said that too," Yewon perks up. Jimin’s eyes widen and he looks up at said Uncle Taehyung who is mirroring the same expression.
“Did Uncle Taehyung do something bad too?” Jimin asks with a grin now, eyes still on the latter who’s standing with crossed arms now. Taehyung’s mouth goes slack at the impromptu question, Yewon shrugging and looking up at Taehyung.
Taehyung frowns and stomps to grab at Yewon’s arm to pull her from her spot, “Come on, Yewon, let’s go find Santa ourselves.”
“Wait, sir-” Jimin quickly stands and tries to reach for Taehyung’s shoulder.
“What is it? Are you going to say something reckless again?” Taehyung sounds a little more annoyed this time, holding onto Yewon’s arm firmly like she’ll disappear if he lets go for a second.
“Can we — can we talk this out? Can I perhaps — make it up to you and your niece with something? Maybe a meal? Please?” Jimin asks with sincerity in his voice, hand still trying to reach out for Taehyung who looks ready to walk away in a second.
Taehyung stares at Jimin for a relatively long couple of seconds as if he’s considering the offer until he lightly squeezes Yewon’s arm and turns to get moving.
“Uncle said we’ll have cheese Tteokbokki for dinner!” Yewon shouts and looks directly at Jimin, smiling widely. Taehyung’s eyes widen and he tries to shush her, eyes rapidly turning to his niece and then at the good-looking boy in his green elf costume. He half regrets looking up because now Jimin is looking at both of them with the brightest, most hopeful smile Taehyung thinks he has ever seen from someone after his beloved niece.
“I know a good Tteokbokki place in the corner street outside!” Jimin half yells to match with Yewon’s enthusiasm, smiling even wider when Taehyung completely stops walking.
Will Taehyung’s pride and initial annoyance over the inconvenience that this pretty boy caused win over free dinner that Taehyung doesn’t have to worry about anymore? The latter sounds very tempting considering Yewon seems pretty set on having Tteokbokki, but Taehyung didn’t even plan to invite anyone in on his little pre-Christmas date with his niece and he’s not sure she would like that eit-
“Let’s go with brother elf, uncle!! He’s nice!” Yewon yells happily and lets go of Taehyung’s hand, running to Jimin and hugging him for some reason. Oh, children — just easily hugging anyone even if they made them cry minutes before.
Jimin laughs and returns the hug of Yewon, rubbing her back with his hand. His laugh grows as Yewon swings her body and jumps around him, chanting ‘Cheese Tteokbokki’ repeatedly. Taehyung stands still on his tracks, not realising he’s smiling widely now at the sight. He tries to ignore how adorable the latter sounds with his squeaky laugh that seems to radiate even more with a child wrapping his body — Taehyung’s niece of all children.
“Yewon, you don’t just go with anyone, that’s dang-”
“Oppa said he can bring me to Santa!” Yewon is full-on yelling now, more excited than she was before they got to the mall earlier in the day. Jimin laughs and nods, caressing her hair while trying to adjust the oversized hat on his head.
Taehyung is left speechless now — it seems like this young man is trying to undo the whole disaster he just caused earlier. It’s nothing wrong really, but Taehyung has not completely processed and moved on from the stress he felt from it especially when he has never dealt with an ordeal such as his niece crying in public. It was quite a lot for him — a single gay man who loves children but hasn’t experienced having to make them stop crying in public spaces like a quiet mall where literally anyone could hear. It might be the ease in solving his problems that Taehyung is now walking up to the pair with a small smile on his face or the meeting of a very pretty man who is apologetic for causing trouble and wants to treat him and his niece out — Taehyung doesn’t know but he sure will not admit to the latter ever.
“Sir, I’m definitely willing to take her to Santa,” Jimin is still rubbing Yewon’s back and playing with her hair, face beaming and hopeful that saying ‘no’ now would mean Taehyung is a party pooper, crushing the spirit of not only Yewon but of Jimin’s as well. Kim Taehyung is not that kind of person.
Taehyung sighs, nodding and putting his glasses up briefly to rub at the bridge of his nose, “Please do so.”
And then he watches everything unfold after that, this Jimin boy in an elf costume who was complaining minutes ago about this side job to now eagerly bringing Yewon to the other side of Christmas display where Santa Claus is found sitting on a giant red velvet chair.
“Say hi to Santa, Yewonie!” Jimin says enthusiastically, his tone shifting to a livelier, more comical way. It must be the elf role taking over him, Taehyung thinks. Not that it should even matter to him anymore.
Yewon is smiling and laughing now, which is what matters to Taehyung. She’s bouncing on Santa’s lap and clapping to the little acapella singing segment of the Christmas icon and the elves, Jimin included. Taehyung instinctively pulls out his phone to record the whole thing happening and remind himself to send it over to Eunjin later on, letting her know how things are going on his little playdate with Yewon. Nevermind the bit where he also agreed to let Jimin treat them for dinner.
You better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
They’re all singing and clapping together, three elves in particular dancing to the song. Taehyung recognises one of the other elves being the guy Jimin was talking to earlier, leading the dance and interacting the most with Yewon. Taehyung briefly zooms the camera on Yewon, showing her singing along to the famous jingle and swaying excitedly — she looks like she’s trying to follow the dance. Taehyung smiles and zooms out, slowly moving the camera to the left and right, not realising that he’s zooming in on one particular elf that’s dancing with huge movements to let his tiny body keep up with the choreography. When Taehyung realises it, he automatically zooms out in mild panic as if anyone has caught him in the act.
The singing and dancing after a minute or two and the elves walk behind Santa, letting Yewon talk to him about whether she has been a good girl or not, and the wishes of the five-year-old this year for Christmas. Taehyung doesn’t hear what his niece wishes for since she whispered it to this mall Santa. He’s typically not a nosy person but now Taehyung wants to ask later when they get home what it is that she asked for.
When Taehyung’s eyes roam around, his gaze stops at Jimin who’s looking at Santa and Yewon endearingly. Who would have thought this is the same guy who was whining about this same job in the middle of it all? He looks like he’s absolutely enjoying this whole thing like he didn’t just say something so mean like Santa not being real. Maybe it’s true, but kids will eventually realise that while growing up. Taehyung learned that knowing whether Santa is real or not indicates when a child is grown. He wrote about it before on a short he submitted to a magazine a couple of years ago, a piece titled ‘I Outgrew Santa’, where he wrote about how he felt when he found out Santa wasn’t real and that he only shows up to children because only children believe in him. Taehyung stares at the sight now of Yewon enjoying her time speaking to this stranger dressed as Santa and accompanied by his elves; how he wishes he could believe that Santa would fulfil his requests again.
“Sir? Taehyung-ssi?” Taehyung snaps out of his thoughts and stops recording the video, keeping his phone away in his pocket and turning to see Jimin smiling at him.
“Uh, yes?” Taehyung fixes his glasses and stands upright, caught off-guard and attempting to get himself together.
“Could you and Yewonie wait for me here for a bit? My shift ends in 15 minutes,” Jimin offers a smile and lightly tiptoes.
Oh right. The dinner date thing, or whatever that’s called.
“You can call it a treat, sir,” Jimin laughs, taking a hand to cover his mouth and nose by instinct. Jesus, did Taehyung say that out loud?
“Right. Yeah, we can wait here, no big deal. Yeah,” Taehyung rambles and nods quickly, glancing at Jimin and then at Yewon who’s still sitting on Santa’s lap and singing songs with the other two elves.
“Yewon-ah! Not done yet? You’re taking up all of Santa’s time,” Taehyung calls and then laughs when he gets a headshake from Yewon. She doesn’t seem to want to leave Santa’s lap. Santa laughs as well at the exchange, patting Yewon’s arm.
“It’s alright, Santa will be calling it a day as well — doesn’t hurt to sit with a lovely girl like Yewon for a little longer, right?” Santa says gently and laughs when Yewon swings her legs and bounces, excitement and contentment written all over her face.
Taehyung watches his niece and the mall Santa talk and sing for the next few minutes until he feels a light tap on his shoulder, hastily turning in surprise to see Jimin smiling at him, now dressed in a cute black Nomad sweatshirt that has big smiley faces on each of the sleeves and a pair of straight-cut black slacks. Taehyung gulps and stares at Jimin’s torso and then up at his face, chuckling when he notices Taehyung looking up and down at him.
“You okay, Taehyung-ssi?” Jimin laughs and tugs at the handle of his black, leather sling bag. This man is quite classy - Taehyung notes mentally.
Taehyung is shaken from his string of thoughts and clears his throat, nodding and returning a smile, awkwardly glancing at Yewon who is getting up at her feet now and waving Santa goodbye.
“Brother elf is here!!” Yewon yells when she approaches both Taehyung and Jimin, Jimin laughing and crouching in front of the little girl to pat her head.
“It’s Jimin-oppa now,” Jimin laughs and caresses Yewon’s head, his fingers lightly scratching at her scalp and then the long and soft strands of her pigtail. Taehyung looks away briefly, the endearment already growing at the scene in front of him.
Yewon smiles widely, leaning to the touch of Jimin and lighting up when she remembers the plan. “Jimin-oppa is coming with us?”
She flails and skips to grab Taehyung’s hand while still tightly holding Jimin with the other, Jimin laughing at the anticipation and eagerness of the child who is now quite literally dragging two grown men with her out of the mall.
“Cheese Tteokbokki with Uncle Taehyung and Jiminie-oppa!” Yewon chants and skips with tiny hands still grabbing the two, helplessly jogging to keep up with the five-year-old. Taehyung glances at Jimin and gives him a weak smile that reads ‘I’m so sorry for this’, Jimin shaking his head and smiling, putting up a hand to gesture an ‘It’s okay’ to Taehyung. It’s quite ironic that it’s now Taehyung who is apologising for the whole enthusiasm of Yewon about getting a dinner treat from a new friend who literally just made her cry at least 30 to 40 minutes ago. It’s also ironic that Taehyung just agreed to all this.
They slow down and Jimin leads Taehyung and Yewon to the restaurant a few blocks away from the main entrance of the shopping mall, entering with a smile on his face when they push open the door to the establishment. A bubble pop song by a popular idol girl group is blasting when they enter, the lady behind the cash register putting up a hand towards their direction and waving at Jimin.
“Jimin-ah!” The young-looking lady waves and walks out of her booth and to Jimin. They seem to be extremely familiar with each other, Taehyung quietly tailing behind the latter.
“Seunghee - this is Taehyung-ssi and his niece, Yewon,” Jimin introduces them to each other and Taehyung bows, holding Yewon close to remind his niece to bow as well.
“Oh~ brought a new friend here, huh? You’re making me feel bad for not paying you a little for the recommendation,” Seunghee sing-songs and earns a laugh from Jimin who is shaking his head and hand.
“It’s nothing, we just wanted Tteokbokki and I instantly remembered you~” Jimin teases and walks over to the nearest vacant table, Taehyung and Yewon following after him.
“Ah well, Taehyung-ssi, we’ll give you the best Tteokbokki you’ve ever tried in Seoul,” Seunghee winks and laughs when Taehyung smiles and bows, muttering “That would be amazing.”
Seunghee leaves the table for a bit to let the three decide on their order, Jimin handing over the menu to Taehyung. “Seunghee is my high school friend, she co-owns this place. It was a pleasant surprise when I found out she has a business here near my side job,” Jimin says.
Taehyung nods and hums, opening the menu and glancing at it and then at Jimin who’s watching him with a hand under his chin. “Would you like to pick your order first?”
Jimin smiles, “I get the usual here — Fire Tteokbokki.”
Ah. So he’s one of those people.
“Why? What does that mean?” Jimin is grinning now, leaning closer to hear what Taehyung has to say. Damn it, did he say that out loud again? He really needs to be careful when he voices his thoughts.
Taehyung stutters out, “I — Uh, I just. You know, those people who like to voluntarily burn their mouths with the fire noodles or anything like it. Why do people who like spicy food enjoy pain like that.”
The last bit of Taehyung’s words come off more like a mutter to himself than an answer to Jimin and the latter laughs, throwing his head back. “You don’t like spicy food? That’s cute.”
Taehyung’s eyes widen and he looks at Jimin who is smiling at him with eyes looking like moon crescents. It’s a little bit hard not to stare. He gapes for a bit at the man in front of him until-
“Uncle, where is the Cheese Tteokbokki here?” Yewon loudly asks while she leans to look over at the menu Taehyung is holding, the call breaking his trance and now Taehyung looking at Yewon with a sudden alert expression.
“I — Uhm,” Taehyung looks down at the menu and flips through the pages, Jimin staring at them with a soft look in his eyes.
“I think the Rose Tteokbokki will be okay for Yewon,” Jimin suggests like a trained staff at the restaurant.
“Do you have the entire menu memorised and taste-tested?” Taehyung jokes with a grin and his eyebrows raise when Jimin shrugs, “Kind of? I’m pretty sure I tried everything off the menu. I come here a lot.”
Taehyung slowly nods, expression taking the suggestion into consideration, “Guess I’ll trust it then.”
Jimin laughs at the comment, pointing at the menu, “They have the ordinary Cheese Tteokbokki here and that one’s hella good but I feel like that might be too much for Yewon. Don’t worry, the Rose one is creamy and has its fair share of mozzarella too.”
Taehyung chuckles at the detailed information, flipping through the pages some more to browse, “You really do seem to know everything from this menu, Seunghee-nim really should consider getting you as an ambassador or something.”
The exchange of laughter doesn’t stop until they finally decide on Jimin’s suggestions, Taehyung saying he’d have to blame the latter if anything goes wrong. Jimin acts out something between faux-pained and nervous, saying that “it’s too much pressure for a guy like him who just likes to share good food.” They settle for a Rose Tteokbokki and Sotteok Sotteok, Jimiin telling Taehyung that ‘he’s considerate of non-spicy food lovers’. Taehyung laughs at that and shakes his head, commenting “You don’t have to brag that you can eat spicy well.”
Their conversation flows smoothly, Jimin every now and then bringing Yewon in as well to ask her about her hobbies or what she likes to do. Taehyung smiles particularly when Yewon says she thinks Jimin looks like Pororo, the famous penguin character that she likes to watch every morning before she heads for school. Jimin laughs, commenting that he gets told quite a lot that he looks like he has a beak; Taehyung doesn’t disagree. Yewon also points at Taehyung and happily says ‘Uncle Taehyung looks like Poby!’, earning an even louder laugh from Jimin. Taehyung sighs in defeat at the claim and endearingly pats Yewon’s head, muttering, “If you say so, sweetie.”
“That’s the polar bear isn’t it?” Jimin asks while wiping the little tears that started forming in his eyes from laughter. Yewon responds with a loud ‘yes’, tiny hands tapping on the table and adding, “He likes to take pictures just like Uncle Taehyung!”
Jimin raises an eyebrow at the information, nodding in approval, “A photographer, huh.”
“It’s more like a hobby. I do it for fun,” Taehyung shyly admits.
“Jimin-ssi,” Taehyung sips on the cup of service water and calls the latter at the mention of jobs.
“Hm?” Jimin looks up from his phone that he was typing away from.
“You said earlier in the mall that you could’ve been attending to your other jobs. Do you mind if I ask what other jobs you do? Or is it similar to the Christmas elf job?” Taehyung asks, and he doesn’t know why he’s nervous about asking these kinds of things but he felt the need to ask anyway since he’s having his and his niece’s meal paid tonight.
It doesn’t seem like a problem for Jimin because he’s chuckling at the embarrassing memory now, the outrage from hours ago flashing in his mind right away, “I’m surprised you heard all that. But no — I do other stuff. I’m a choreographer and part-time teacher.”
Taehyung’s eyes widen, the full-time writer in him shocked at all the other things Jimin does apart from playing as a mall elf in the afternoons. His stupor seems to be evident when Jimin’s chuckle grows into a giggle, waving him off.
“I’m a full-time professional choreographer but sometimes I tend to have big gaps between projects so I fill that in with teaching at a kindergarten,” Jimin proudly says and briefly bows when the restaurant server comes with their food.
Taehyung lights up at the mention of Jimin working at a kindergarten, the thought of it just adding to the adorable image Taehyung has witnessed at the mall of Jimin in an elf costume dancing to Christmas jingles. He lightly drags the Rose Tteokbokki to the centre and mixes the hot dish, muttering ‘wait, darling’ as he takes a small bowl to fill for Yewon. Jimin also takes the plate of Sotteok Sotteok and puts two sticks on Taehyung’s plate before he puts some on his own.
“What do you teach?” Taehyung asks, his interest on Jimin piquing more as if it already hasn’t since he saw his closer interaction with Yewon.
“The usual stuff, but I like to go and do more of storytelling since I’m not regularly there,” Jimin bites on a tteok covered in a thick sauce.
Taehyung smiles as he tends to Yewon and helps her cool down the Tteokbokki. No wonder Jimin looked even more horrified out there when he realised Yewon heard him ranting. It was just totally out of character for him to offend a child like that. Taehyung may not have known Jimin longer than five hours but he at least knows Jimin is typically gentle and loving with children; that’s apart from the deep yearning Taehyung has felt at the sight of a pretty boy genuinely enjoying his time with a child. That’s apart from every little thing making Taehyung think that he found a potential date — a Christmas fling of some sort. That’s apart from —
“Do you read children’s books in class? I really like writing children’s books,” Taehyung blurts out, catching Jimin off-guard and making the latter laugh at the admission.
“Yeah, I do bring in children’s books to read. That’s amazing, Taehyung-ssi. Would be nice if you could let me have a read sometimes,” Jimin goes with the flow of the conversation, mischievously winking at Taehyung when he looks up and makes eye contact.
Oh well, great. Taehyung just ended up making this seem like the awkward Tinder dates he has gone to before except this one is worse because he’s sitting with the prettiest boy he’s seen in a while and his favourite niece.
“I love uncles’ stories! He writes well!” Yewon chews on a tteok and claims, Taehyung bashfully smiling at the compliment from his niece and mumbling ‘thank you, dear’.
Jimin looks at them with fondness, eating some more from the skewer and considering for a second before he asks, “Can you tell me a story your Uncle Taehyung wrote and then I could tell you one that I read too?”
And so Yewon enthusiastically tells the entire story of one of the children’s books Taehyung wrote — one of the first ones he wrote and published after graduating from university. She tells Jimin about ‘My Unmoving Friend’, the story Taehyung wrote about a boy who built a snowman over the course of the winter break and seeing a friend in it, a company of some sort throughout winter when snow didn’t stop falling nearly every day. It’s a story Taehyung is proud of - not because it gained some traction but because he personally feels for that story. It’s not something he directly experienced but is definitely something he knows other kids probably have. Taehyung doesn’t realise he’s watching Jimin’s reaction to the story as Yewon shares it by memory with a little help from the author himself when she misses a few words from it. Jimin is smiling with a very soft expression on his face, nodding and biting on the tip of the now-empty stick of the Sotteok Sotteok. Nothing is worse for Taehyung’s fragile gay heart than a pretty boy who loves children and loves a good children’s story, both of which are Jimin.
“That’s beautiful,” Jimin comments, picking up another stick to eat, “I would love to see or better yet have a physical copy of this.”
Taehyung smiles and dips his head, not knowing how to take compliments, “Thank you. I’m especially proud of this piece since Yewon has it nearly memorised.”
Jimin laughs at that and nods, “You should be, she’s also good at retelling the whole thing even if I haven’t personally read it from your words.”
Jimin also tells a story he’s read. It’s not his original story — it’s ‘Thumbelina’, but he’s telling it really enthusiastically like he’s at his part-time job and it’s got Yewon giggling and nodding along to Jimin when a scene in the story gets her even more hooked. He makes gestures to get the five-year-old react more and adds in sound effects when it applies and even a 26-year-old like Taehyung is watching and listening very attentively — and he doesn’t even fancy that fairytale. Either Jimin is a good storyteller or Taehyung is just absolutely gay, or both. Taehyung will not admit that the latter is strongly felt as he sits on this Tteokbokki restaurant but that’s pretty much what it is.
The night goes on that way until the ringtone customised for Eunjin rings on Taehyung’s phone, catching his attention. He sees the time on his phone read ‘20:07’ and he mildly panics at how much time passed before he picks up.
“Yeah?”
“It’s not ‘yeah?’ Taehyung, you haven’t updated me in hours! How are you and Yewon? Did you take her to see Santa?” Eunjin is yelling at the other end of the phone line, even catching Yewon’s attention as she recognises her mother’s voice.
Taehyung weakly smiles at Jimin’s direction and puts away the phone lightly from his ear, “Uh- yeah, yeah. Sorry, we just got a little bit busy with window shopping here and there but we’re having dinner right now — Yeah, sorry. I know, I know. I’ll be taking her home right after we get done here.”
Jimin watches Taehyung in silence, getting a few bites of the Rose Tteokbokki that they ordered mainly for Yewon. The little girl is looking at Taehyung, asking if it’s her mother and if she can talk to her. Taehyung hands over his phone when Eunjin asks for Yewon, his niece immediately squealing at the voice of her mom.
“Yes, mommy! I met Santa because of Jimin-oppa! He’s my elf friend! Yes! We’re having lots of fun, the Cheese Tteokbokki is yummy too!” Yewon is practically yelling at Taehyng’s phone, recalling her entire day to Eunjin while Taehyung looks at her cautiously and then at Jimin who is watching her in amusement.
They finish up after Taehyung puts down the phone, apologetic for cutting the dinner short and Jimin shaking his head in understanding. When Jimin pays for the bill and shortly chats with Seunghee in the process, they head out and bid Jimin’s friend goodbye.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realise the time and Yewon should be in bed soon,” Taehyung apologises again, now carrying Yewon who’s rubbing her sleepiness away.
Jimin smiles and reaches out to rub Yewon’s head, “It’s no problem. We really should be heading home, it’s late to be out at this hour with a child. Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Yewonie~ Taehyung-ssi too~”
Taehyung smiles widely and looks at Yewon who is barely reacting now after a long day of running around and also playing with Santa, “Say bye now to Jimin-oppa.” Yewon weakly waves a hand at Jimin’s direction, Jimin laughing and waving his hand back at her.
“I’ll see you around, Taehyung-ssi?” Jimin takes a first step away from the door of the restaurant, Taehyung nodding lightly and biting his lip in thought.
“Uhm, Jimin-ssi? It might be too soon but can I get your number?” Taehyung calls out instantly looks at the floor in a rush of nervousness after the sudden courage he built.
Jimin stops on his tracks and smiles widely, nodding. He walks closer to Taehyung and sticks a palm out so as to ask for Taehyung’s phone, the latter quickly fumbling for it. “Thank you,” Taehyung mumbles and smiles when Jimin returns his phone.
“No thank you ,” Taehyung looks up at Jimin in confusion, “You know, for giving me a chance to make it up. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight if you rejected my offer.” Jimin admits and bows. Oh right. The events today. The whole Santa thing — that’s what started this whole Jimin thing.
“Anyway, I’ll be on my way. Have a good night, Taehyung-ssi.”
“Good night.”
You (22:34)
jimin-ssi?
hi this is taehyung from today
i just wanted to say thank you for the treat
and for making yewon happy
Park Jimin (22:40)
oh that was fast ㅋㅋ
hello taehyung-ssi
it’s no problem, i’m just happy i could sleep well tonight ㅜㅜ
taehyung-ssi are u not happy as well?
Taehyung stares at his phone. The whole thing really was to make it up to Yewon, nothing to do with him except for the fact that he didn’t have to worry about dinner and the horror that is Yewon possibly crying for the whole day and not wanting to see Santa anymore. There was absolutely no plan of him talking further with this pretty boy who nearly ruined the day but only made it better if not the best for Taehyung and Yewon.
You (22:44)
i am
my niece’s happiness is mine too
so thank you
Park Jimin (22:45)
ah i’m glad (^^)
What was meant to be some kind of accidental meeting or hangout for that matter turns into several days of nonstop texting and Taehyung anticipating every message from Jimin while he works on his second draft of the novel he’s writing. He spends most of his days chatting with Jimin about their daily lives, Taehyung even asking what Jimin thinks Taehyung should get for Christmas with it only being about a week away. They also chat about trivial things about themselves that somehow didn’t get brought up in their first meeting.
You (17:09)
no way
you’re a 95 liner too?
you’re apparently uncle jimin
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
pororo 🐧 (17:12)
ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
why are you laughing if we’re in the same boat ㅋ
that should mean it’s okay for me to call you taehyungie, right?
The first time Jimin calls Taehyung ‘Taehyungie’ during a call, Taehyung is sure he sinks somehow on his work chair, physically melting at the way his name rolls on Jimin’s tongue. It’s not really anything special - it’s just his name — but it still feels different from when he was addressed as Taehyung-ssi the first time they met. The first time they met; it feels like months ago when it’s only been more than a week ago. Or something like that. Time doesn’t even exist anymore.
Time sure doesn’t exist anymore when Taehyung gets invited by Jimin two days later to join the little Christmas party at the kindergarten that Jimin works at, Taehyung being able to see firsthand how Jimin tells a story to a bunch of children younger and the same age of Yewon. He watches in awe as Jimin reads a Christmas-themed story to the class and glances every now and then at Taehyung to smile the brightest smile Taehyung has ever seen. Taehyung is convinced that Jimin is the star on his Christmas tree this year.
You (21:56)
yewon couldn’t wait for 12, she opened her gifts
ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
pororo 🐧 (21:59)
omg
did she like it?
You (22:01)
she loved it
Idk if she’ll figure that i crammed the entire thing in 4 nights
but she yelled “uncle taehyung is the best!”
so i guess either way its a win
pororo 🐧 (22:05)
aww cute
she’ll love the story for sure
you’re a great writer
You (22:07)
you havent read my stuff
pororo 🐧 (22:08)
i would still know
you talk with a lot of love and compassion
anyone would appreciate that (^^)
or else you wouldnt be able to write for kids ㅎㅎ
When the clock strikes 12, Taehyung hugs and kisses his parents ‘Merry Christmas’, rushing like a child under the Christmas tree to open some gifts. He doesn’t have as many gifts as a five-year-old Yewon does but it still excites him that his parents still like to put gifts under the tree for him, Eunjin, and their youngest brother Jeonggyu, even if they’re all in their 20s. They settle down on the dining table to have their Christmas feast, Taehyung pulling up his phone to see a message from Jimin.
pororo 🐧 (00:05)
you’re probably busy with your family
but
merry christmas taehyungie (^^)
Taehyung smiles at the message and the timestamp, seeing that Taehyung must have been one of the first Jimin decided to greet. They’ve only known each other for at least two weeks now but the instant attachment and endearment that Taehyung has for this man is off the roof.
You (00:07)
merry christmas jiminie :)
i hope you spend your christmas well
pororo 🐧 (00:08)
would be better if u were here to spend it with me
pororo 🐧 (00:10)
just kidding
Taehyung is staring hard at his phone screen, mind short-circuiting at Jimin’s last message. It’s quite obvious at this point that they have quickly grown a liking for each other, but Jimin’s boldness still gets Taehyung’s heart racing and mind going blank especially when he suddenly goes for it. And of course, Taehyung with his deep gay yearning that has been knocking on his insides for the last years and most especially this year, decides maybe it’s good if not only one plays the bold, confident gay role in this cute little romance holiday movie.
You (00:13)
actually
will you be free around 9 tomorrow?
Other people might not find it so ideal to be at a downtown corner Tteokbokki place especially on a Christmas date but Taehyung told Jimin he preferred to meet the latter somewhere they were both familiar. The only other time they have personally met was at the school Jimin works at, and the rest of their time was spent on text or call since Jimin is a very busy person, a workaholic as Taehyung called him. But Jimin seems totally fine with just eating his usual Tteokbokki, saying meeting up with Taehyung alone is nice; adding a wink emoji to his reply.
Taehyung and Jimin are seated at the corner most spot of the restaurant, quietly eating the original Cheese Tteokbokki that Jimin has mentioned the last time they were there. Taehyung coughs on his first bite, complaining that it’s too hot and Jimin laughing oh so softly and quickly pouring some water on Taehyung’s cup, “Told you it was going to be much for Yewon, but didn’t think you’d have the same tastebuds as her.”
“I kind of just drank with my workmate Hobi-hyung that you already met and my other friends who live alone since you know, I can’t just quickly teleport to Busan,” Jimin laughs and chews on a tteok as he shares what he was doing the night before on Christmas Eve.
Taehyung also shares that what he’s been doing seems particularly like his family’s tradition, following what families in other countries like to do on Christmas. Christmas isn’t particularly important in South Korea, at least not as important as Chuseok or the New Year. But somehow Taehyung’s family started adopting this cute little Christmas feast since they liked the idea of gift-giving.
“That’s really cute, keeps your family even more close-knitted, huh?” Jimin smiles, taking another bite of the Tteokbokki.
They spend most of their night talking and drinking, talking about their previous Christmases and also what they were like in high school. Jimin’s learned that Taehyung’s entire family moved from Daegu once Taehyung started going to university, Taehyung’s parents wanting all of them to move together. Ever since then, Taehyung didn’t completely live alone in Seoul when he had his family to go home to every week from the university dorms. Taehyung’s also learned that Jimin majored in contemporary dance but adapted to other types of dance and took it from there to become a choreographer by profession. Jimin even promises that he’d let Taehyung watch him dance in the future.
It’s quarter to midnight when Taehyung and Jimin leave the restaurant, Taehyung standing on the corner of the door to pull out something from his sling bag.
“This isn’t much but — I hope you like it,” Taehyung hands over a flat and square material wrapped in a Christmas-designed gift wrapper, Jimin’s eyes widening at the surprise.
“Oh my god, I wasn’t prepared for anything like this — I’m so sorry I don’t have anything with me,” Jimin gasps and accepts the present, looking at it and then at Taehyung in shock. Taehyung laughs softly and shakes his head, “It’s not much, I just thought of giving that to you.”
“Oh, oh my gosh, can I open it? I’m curious now,” Jimin asks and starts to rip out the corners where the wrapper is taped when Taehyung nods and watches Jimin in anticipation.
When Jimin fully unwraps the present, he sees the words ‘ My Unmoving Friend’ in bold red and a tiny ‘by Kim Taehyung’ under the title. It’s the hardbound version of the children’s story Yewon shared in the restaurant, the same one that Taehyung said he’s proud of writing. Jimin’s jaw drops, pleasantly surprised at the gift.
“Oh my god, Taehyung! This is perfect! Thank you!” Jimin almost yells and pulls Taehung in a tight hug, the layers of clothing in this winter season making it a little difficult for both of them but they manage.
“I hope you can read it in class next time,” Taehyung mumbles with a big smile on his face.
Taehyung doesn’t know if this little story of his with Jimin would ever make it in his dozens of stories he’s writing, but he sure as hell knows it’s something eventful and funny; especially when he realises that had it not been Yewon wanting to see Santa, Taehyung and Jimin would not have met. Probably it’s their own unique gay Christmas love story.
Taehyung leans and plants a soft kiss on Jimin’s forehead — it’s cold but their bodies pressed together is somehow coping.
“Merry Christmas, Jiminie.”