Chapter Text
Jeongguk loves taking walks through Yongsan park this time of year, near the end of March. The cherry blossom trees are just beginning to bloom, and the weather is absolutely perfect—breezy but not cold enough to require bundling up.
He loves walking outside at this time of night, too. It’s late enough in the evening that the sun is mostly set, but not late enough that the entirety of Seoul is asleep already. It’s a very lazy time of day, a calm ambience blanketing the city as the crickets begin to chirp.
Whenever Jeongguk goes on walks this time of night—which is frequently these days—there aren’t too many people out. For the most part, all the families are already settled into their homes, leaving only the lone restless adults to walk the sleepless streets.
Which is why Jeongguk is caught off guard when he sees a little girl running around in the grass, coming right at him, her raven curls bouncing as she giggles.
“Hello!” she greets, her little hand waving wildly at Jeongguk. “I like your hair!”
Jeongguk smiles. His life is so fast-paced and intense, it’s not very often that he gets to interact with innocent little children, who speak their minds so simply and easily.
“Why, thank you,” Jeongguk says, crouching down to be eye level with the child as she stops in front of him.
“‘S pink, like cherry blossoms! My favorite flower and color!” she exclaims, beaming as she bounces up and down.
Jeongguk chuckles. “It is pink. That’s one of my favorite colors, too.”
The girl’s smile only brightens at that statement, and she claps her hands in excitement. Jeongguk smiles back, until he remembers that they’re in a huge park at night and this girl’s parents aren’t anywhere to be seen and suddenly he’s very concerned.
“Hey, sweetie, where are your parents?” Jeongguk asks gently, watching the girl play with his hair, her eyes wide in awe.
“Appa is here somewhere,” she answers, still running her fingers through Jeongguk’s hair. Jeongguk’s concern only grows. Somewhere. That could be anywhere.
His worry doesn’t last long, however, when he hears a man’s voice a short distance away.
“Areum!” the man yells, his voice sounding frantic. He comes into Jeongguk’s view a moment later, his face immediately flooding with relief as he spots them.
“Oh my god, Areum,” he says in exasperation as he finally reaches them, bending down to pick the girl up as she giggles. “Appa told you to always stay close, remember baby? No running off,” he scolds gently as he strokes her hair.
The first thing Jeongguk notices about the man is that he’s incredibly handsome. He’s a good few inches shorter than Jeongguk, but still broad, his black knit sweater hugging his shoulders nicely. It’s hard to really appreciate his features given the dim lighting, but the overhead street lamps cast a pretty glow on his fair skin. His eyes are small and slanted, and his gaze intense, but not in a way that lacks warmth. His tongue darts out to wet his pouty, doll-like lips as he stares at his daughter in concern.
“Sorry, Appa,” the girl, Areum, says as she places both hands on her father’s face, squeezing his cheeks. It’s Jeongguk’s laugh at the adorable interaction that finally reminds the man of his presence, his eyes going wide as he takes in Jeongguk’s appearance.
Here it is. The part where Jeongguk is recognized. He’s wearing a face mask and his most inconspicuous outfit, but with his level of fame, it’s inevitable sometimes that he’ll be noticed. The man, however, strangely doesn’t mention it.
“Hi,” the man breathes out. “I’m so sorry about her, I swear I’m not an irresponsible parent who doesn’t keep track of his kid, I just—God, I looked away for two seconds to take a phone call and she—”
Jeongguk cuts off his nervous rambling with a chuckle. “Hey, it’s okay, I believe you. I’m not a parent myself so I can’t judge. Besides, Areum and I were just having a conversation about our favorite colors, weren’t we?” Jeongguk says, the little girl giggling when he winks at her.
“Appa, he has pink hair! My favorite color pink!”
Yoongi chuckles at her excitement, his eyes sparkling with affection.
“I see that, baby. It’s very pretty, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and soft!" Areum exclaims, much to her father’s dismay.
“Min Areum!” he says with wide eyes. “Tell me you did not run up to a stranger and touch their hair.”
Jeongguk laughs again when Areum pouts adorably. “It’s okay, I don’t mind. It’s refreshing being around a child, honestly, they’re so open and unafraid of what people think. That’s pretty rare to be around in my life. I’m so used to people walking on eggshells around me…” Jeongguk immediately wants to kick himself for over sharing. The man is gonna think he’s just another typical self-absorbed celebrity, going on and on about himself when no one even asked.
But the man just smiles kindly, albeit a little confused, like he doesn’t really know what Jeongguk is talking about. Does he… not know who I am? Jeongguk thinks.
“Well then I’m glad. Although we will be having a talk about stranger danger later…” the man says, narrowing his eyes at his daughter. “Oh, um, no offense,” he adds on, looking at Jeongguk apologetically.
“None taken,” Jeongguk reassures with a smile.
“I’m Yoongi,” the man says after a moment, bowing as best he can with a child in his arms.
Jeongguk debates for a moment, wondering if he should make up a name, but he decides against it. Most non-fans only know him by his stage name anyway.
“Jeongguk,” he says, returning the bow. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Yoongi opens his mouth to say something else, but his daughter interrupts. “Appa, can Gukkie play with me?!” she asks, her eyes wide and hopeful. Jeongguk can’t help but smile at the cute nickname.
“Yah! Be polite,” Yoongi scolds his daughter.
Jeongguk smiles as Areum pouts, looking down at the ground.
“Sorry, Ahjussi,” she mutters, still not looking at Jeongguk.
Jeongguk makes a face at the sound of the honorific. “You don’t have to call me that, sweetie, I don’t care about formality. Jeongguk is fine.” He’s so used to everyone being uptight around him, too afraid of disrespecting him in some way if they don’t treat him like he’s royalty. He hates it. Sometimes he just wants to be Jeongguk, nothing more.
Areum’s face lights up again, and Jeongguk chuckles because kids are so adorably simple. “Okay, Jeonggukkie! Play with me!” she exclaims, pointing in the direction of the nearby playground.
“Aish, child,” Yoongi scolds again, frowning as he shakes his head. “We don’t even know this nice man, I’m sure he has much more important things to do.”
Jeongguk chuckles. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind—I work too much, anyway. I’d be more than happy to play with you, Areum,” Jeongguk tells her, smiling at her overjoyed expression. His eyes go wide when he realizes that perhaps Yoongi doesn’t want some strange, random man he found in the park playing with his child.
“Uhh, I mean—I-If that’s okay with you, Yoongi-ssi,” Jeongguk stutters out, already feeling his face heat up. “I promise I’m not a weirdo,” he adds thoughtlessly, immediately wanting to smack himself over his stupidity.
Yoongi narrows his eyes. “That’s exactly what a weirdo would say.”
Jeongguk swallows nervously, opening his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Yoongi just blinks at him. “Uh, I—”
Jeongguk is interrupted by the sound of giggles. “Appa,” Areum whines, “that’s mean!”
Yoongi immediately breaks into a smile, teeth and gums on display as his eyes sparkle with mischief, and Jeongguk lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “You’re right, baby,” Yoongi says to his daughter as he tickles her side lightly, causing her to laugh even louder. He then turns to Jeongguk. “I apologize, Jeongguk-ssi, I was just joking. You should’ve seen the look on your face, though. Priceless.”
Jeongguk scoffs, shaking his head. “Thanks,” he deadpans. Yoongi smirks at him.
“Appa, let me down!” Areum requests. “Let’s go play!”
“Okay, okay,” Yoongi says, setting Areum on her feet and watching as she immediately runs toward the nearby playground.
Yoongi and Jeongguk both chuckle in endearment, the two of them slowly following behind, a safe distance between them.
“You don’t have to stay, you know,” Yoongi assures, serious this time. Jeongguk glances over to see the small but genuine smile on his face. “We’re just some random people you met in a park. If you need to get going, I understand. Areum will get over it quickly.”
Jeongguk smiles at the mention of the girl, who’s already begun climbing on the jungle gym.
“No, no, it’s okay,” Jeongguk says honestly, “it really does sound fun. She’s adorable.”
Yoongi chuckles, his eyes fixated on the playground as he nods. “I’m afraid she gets that from her mother.”
Jeongguk immediately wants to disagree, wants to tell the man that he and his daughter have the same heartwarming gummy smile. He simultaneously feels a small pang of disappointment at the mention of the girl’s mother. Of course this man is happily married, he literally has a child. Why does Jeongguk feel disappointed?
He swallows it down, however, and smiles as he watches Areum beaming while she plays. “Ah, well, I’m sure her mother is beautiful then.”
When Yoongi doesn’t respond, Jeongguk looks up at him. He has a small, wistful smile on his face as he watches his daughter. “She, uh… she was, yes.”
“Oh,” Jeongguk breathes out, a frown replacing his smile. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Yoongi shakes his head as they reach the playground, the small smile still on his face as he waves dismissively. “It’s alright. It’s been a couple years, we’re fine now.”
Jeongguk nods, although he can’t help the concern that remains on his face. He finds it strange, the small swell of pride he feels in his chest for this complete stranger he met only a few minutes prior. He can’t imagine losing a spouse and then having to raise a child completely on your own. “I’m glad,” he answers honestly.
“Gukkie, come push me on the swing!” Areum calls out, gesturing for Jeongguk to follow her.
“Manners, Areum,” Yoongi immediately scolds. “What do we say when we ask for something?”
“Pleeeease,” Areum responds, jumping up and down as she runs up to Jeongguk, her eyes wide and mouth forming a little pout. “Please push me?”
Jeongguk smiles. “I’d be happy to.”
Areum shrieks, satisfied, and Jeongguk gasps in surprise as she grabs his hand and pulls him toward the swing set. For a little girl, she’s surprisingly strong.
Jeongguk spends the next few minutes helping Areum swing, both of their giggles echoing in the serene silence of the park. Jeongguk looks up at one point to see Yoongi leaned against the frame of the swing set, his arms crossed, watching them with a fond smile.
Areum then gets off the swing and grabs Jeongguk’s hand, dragging him over to the edge of the grassy field next to the playground. She crouches down, Jeongguk following suit when she tugs on his arm. Jeongguk looks back at Yoongi in question, who’d followed them over, but he just shrugs with a knowing little smile.
“Help me look for bugs, Gukkie!”
“I— what?” Jeongguk asks, looking at Areum in surprise.
Areum looks up at Jeongguk, her expression suddenly serious. “ Bugs, Jeonggukkie. B-U-G-S, bugs. Do you know what they are?”
Yoongi snorts behind Jeongguk, who turns around to look at him in question. Judging by the unsurprised expression on Yoongi’s face, Jeongguk is guessing this is not uncommon for his daughter.
“I do know what bugs are, Areum,” Jeongguk says patiently. “Sorry, I was just surprised. What are we looking for?”
That question is all it takes for Areum to completely light up, that adorable gummy smile appearing on her face as she begins explaining to Jeongguk the different types of bugs to look for.
He’s genuinely surprised by how knowledgeable she is on the subject—she even names some of the scientific names for the insects, although she struggles to pronounce them, and it’s clear to Jeongguk that this is a subject she spends a lot of time learning about.
“I read a lotta books,” Areum says proudly when Jeongguk asks where she learned everything. He watches her in amusement as she holds her hand up to her face, nearly going cross-eyed as she watches the little purpleish beetle crawling around on her fingers.
“And watch a lot of nature shows,” Yoongi helpfully adds, and Areum nods in agreement. Jeongguk looks back to see that Yoongi had plopped down on the curb a few feet away from them, happily watching as his daughter goes on and on about what’s probably one of her favorite subjects.
“Oh, yeah?” Jeongguk asks curiously. “Maybe I need to read some of those books. You make these bugs sound really cool.”
Areum beams at him. “You can borrow my books! They even have pictures of all the bugs if you don’t know how to read. I know you will like them!”
Yoongi snorts again over the implication from his daughter that Jeongguk doesn’t know how to read. “Sorry,” he apologizes quietly, but Jeongguk just shakes his head with a smile before turning back to Areum.
“Luckily, I do know how to read. But I’d enjoy seeing the pictures, too.”
Areum spends another ten minutes digging through mud and grass and pulling out various types of small bugs, Jeongguk watching in fascination as she gives him textbook information about all of them. He also laughs so hard his eyes water when Areum chases her father around with a pill bug, telling him to pet its back as he yells “get that thing away from me!”
Clearly Areum didn’t get her fascination for bugs from her father.
After she gets tired of chasing a now-breathless Yoongi, she runs back over to the swings and asks Jeongguk to help push her again. Yoongi shakes his head in disbelief and complains over the fact that his daughter so easily abandoned him after tormenting him with a “scary bug,” as he calls it. Areum just giggles in response.
Areum then insists on helping Jeongguk swing, and both he and Yoongi laugh as she struggles to push him. She gives up after a minute, claiming Jeongguk is just “too heavy” to help, and runs over to the monkey bars. Yoongi takes a seat on the swing next to Jeongguk, beginning to rock back and forth slowly as they both watch her.
“This is exactly why I take her to the park most nights,” Yoongi tells him. “She has way too much energy. I don’t know where she gets it from, honestly.”
Jeongguk chuckles. “Can she give some to me? I’m always tired.”
Yoongi scoffs, looking over at Jeongguk with a brow raised. “Are you kidding? If anyone’s getting that child’s extra energy, it’s me— her poor, tired thirty-two year old father who’s working his life away,” he jokes, although there’s obvious insecurity behind his words.
Thirty-two years old, Jeongguk thinks, my hyung. Jeongguk doesn’t know why, but he suddenly wants Yoongi to know how old he is. Wants to prove to him that he’s a mature adult, too.
“Alright, fine, but only ‘cause you’re older. You need it more than me,” Jeongguk teases.
“Older, hm?” Yoongi asks with a brow raised. “I thought you looked like a baby.”
Jeongguk scoffs. “I am not a baby, I’m twenty-three years old.”
“Aish,” Yoongi replies with a wince. “Definitely a baby. I could practically be your father.”
“I don’t think that’s physically possible,” Jeongguk mutters, suddenly feeling defensive. “And I’m not that young, I’m literally old enough to be your daughter’s father.”
Jeongguk snaps his mouth shut, his eyes going wide as he feels his face heat up. Why the hell can he not stop saying stupid things around this man? He’s not usually this easily flustered. Stupid, stupid, he thinks, squeezing the chain straps of the swing as he frantically tries to come up with something to say to distract from his blunder.
But Yoongi just chuckles, calm as ever. “I suppose you’re right,” he says, his voice contemplative. “Although just barely. She’s a whole five years old.” He sighs then, shaking his head. “Damn, when did that happen? Feels like she was born just yesterday. Time isn’t real, I swear.”
Jeongguk smiles in relief, grateful that Yoongi didn’t dwell on what he’d said. “I feel that,” he agrees. “Sometimes I wish things could just… slow way down.”
And Jeongguk really does. His life is so fast-paced—always running from one interview or performance to the next, his schedule packed full, barely ever a moment to himself. It’s why he treasures his nightly walks so much, whenever he can squeeze them in—it’s the only time he gets to feel like a regular person.
“Yeah,” Yoongi agrees, sounding distant. “I wish that, too.”
There’s a lull in the conversation then, both of them just watching in silence as Areum runs around giggling, her energy levels seemingly not having dwindled in the slightest. Jeongguk really is jealous.
He thinks back on Yoongi’s words from a minute prior, suddenly curious.
“So, what is it that you do, while uh… ‘working your life away?’” Jeongguk asks, echoing Yoongi’s phrasing.
“Oh,” Yoongi says, seemingly surprised that Jeongguk asked. “Nothing too exciting. I’m a chef.”
“Ah,” Jeongguk replies, pointedly ignoring the way his brain immediately conjures a very attractive image of the older man in an apron, his hands flexing as he chops vegetables smoothly. “That’s pretty cool. Do you like it?”
Yoongi tilts his head, thinking for a moment. “I like cooking. Have for a long time. That’s kinda why I decided on the job, because I knew it was something I’d be good at.” He pauses for a moment, Jeongguk waiting patiently for him to continue. “But I don’t like the hours, and the actual job itself can be grueling, demanding... It’s exhausting, honestly. And I don’t get to spend nearly as much time with Areum as I’d like.”
Jeongguk studies his features, watches the way the corners of his mouth tug down in a frown as he watches his daughter longingly.
“That must be hard,” Jeongguk replies quietly.
Yoongi nods, looking pensive. “It is sometimes.” He shakes his head then, seeming to snap out of his thoughts. “But it pays the bills, and keeps my baby fed and healthy. That’s what really matters.”
Jeongguk nods, suddenly feeling horribly guilty. He has everything he could ever want—all the belongings that money could buy, the entire world at his fingertips—and here this man is, raising a daughter on his own, working hard every day just to make ends meet. Jeongguk wishes he could take back every time he’s ever complained about anything. Most people never even come close to being as privileged as he is.
“What do you do?” Yoongi asks, breaking Jeongguk out of his thoughts.
Panic. This man can not know what Jeongguk does for a living, not after that. It’ll just look like Jeongguk is bragging, pretentiously flaunting his wealth in front of this man who’s worn down and tired from working as hard as he does.
“Um…” he begins lamely, “I’m, uh, a vocal coach. At an entertainment company.”
Well, at least half of that isn’t a lie. Jeongguk does work at an entertainment company.
“Ahh,” Yoongi says with a nod, looking impressed. “So what I’m hearing is you sing like an angel.”
Jeongguk chuckles, shaking his head. “I’m alright, I guess. I’m lucky enough to do something I’m passionate about for a living.”
Stupid mistake number three. This is exactly what Jeongguk was trying to avoid— bragging about his perfect life. How fucking self-centered can he be?
But Yoongi just smiles at him kindly. “That’s great, Jeongguk-ssi. I’m happy you’ve found your passion. Especially so young, that’s pretty rare.”
“Jeongguk,” he replies without thinking. Yoongi looks at him in question. “Um, you can just call me Jeongguk. And, uh, thank you,” Jeongguk adds on. “I do feel pretty lucky.”
Yoongi nods, the smile never leaving his face. “Alright, Jeongguk. You can call me hyung, then.”
Jeongguk doesn’t know why warmth spreads through his chest upon hearing his words. He’s about to respond, but Yoongi continues, shifting in the swing to get more comfortable.
“So, I’m guessing you get to work with all kinds of famous singers, huh?”
Jeongguk freezes. If only he knew.
Jeongguk doesn’t know how Yoongi doesn’t know who he is—JK is currently one of the most famous idols in South Korea—but he supposes between his work hours and raising a kid he probably doesn’t have much time to himself, and why would he spend that limited time keeping up with random famous people?
When Jeongguk doesn’t respond, Yoongi chuckles. “That’s alright, you don’t need to tell me. I’m sure you’ve signed all kinds of confidentiality agreements, hm?”
Jeongguk nods, hoping Yoongi can’t sense how nervous he feels.
“Yeah,” he replies. “I do. And yes, unfortunately I’m not able to talk about it in much detail,” he says sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.
“That’s okay,” Yoongi says with a reassuring smile, “I’m not nosy.”
And thank god for that, Jeongguk thinks. He doesn’t know why he’s so intrigued by this random man he met in the park, or why he’s already so drawn to him in the short while they’ve been talking, but he finds himself disappointed when Yoongi tells him he needs to leave.
“Shit,” he mutters, looking at the time on his phone. “It’s later than I thought. Unfortunately I think we need to get going. It’s past her bedtime.”
“Oh,” Jeongguk says softly, trying to hide his disappointment. “That’s alright, I should probably get home, too.”
And it’s not a lie. Jeongguk does have a full schedule tomorrow—no performances, but he does have a meeting with his company, an interview, and a photoshoot—a particularly busy day, even for him.
There’s a quiet voice in the back of Jeongguk’s head, telling him to ask for Yoongi’s number, to not let him go and suggest meeting up again, but he quickly shuts it up. What business does he have with some thirty-two year old non-famous single father? Why the hell would Yoongi want to hang out with someone like Jeongguk, whose lifestyle is so wildly opposite to his—which he still doesn’t even know?
So, Jeongguk tries his very best to stamp out that disappointment in his chest as he says goodbye to Yoongi and a pouty Areum, crouching down to let her pet his pink hair one last time.
He feels another wave of sadness wash over him when he looks up to see Yoongi watching them, his eyes practically disappearing as he smiles at the interaction between his daughter and Jeongguk.
You’ll never see that smile again, Jeongguk’s mind unhelpfully supplies.
“Bye bye Areum, it was lovely to meet you,” Jeongguk says, waving at her as she takes her father’s hand. “And you as well, Yoongi hyung,” Jeongguk adds politely, giving Yoongi a small smile.
“It was nice to meet you too, Jeongguk-ah,” Yoongi replies, Jeongguk’s stupid heart fluttering uselessly at the affectionate nickname. “I’ll see you around, yeah?”
I doubt it, Jeongguk thinks, not wanting to get his hopes up, but instead he nods. “See you around. Have a nice night.”
And after one more gummy smile from Yoongi and a high five from Areum, both of them make their way down the path. Jeongguk feels like a creep watching them disappear into the night, but he just can’t help it. Why does he feel so sad?
Get it together, Jeongguk, he thinks. You’re a fucking celebrity. You don’t even have time to date, let alone dating a single father who very clearly sees you as a kid.
Once the pair are no longer in sight, Jeongguk sighs, shaking his head as he turns to walk back to his apartment. It’s then that he realizes that he never took off his face mask—Yoongi doesn’t even fully know what Jeongguk looks like.
Just another reason for Yoongi to forget about him, as he rightfully should.
∘◦❀◦∘
It’s a good while before Jeongguk is able to make it out of his apartment at night again—his company agreed to a last minute performance without even asking Jeongguk first, so his previous couple weeks were spent working his ass off to prepare for it. Every night he had come home and basically fallen asleep immediately, his mind and body too exhausted to even think about going out again.
So one night, after the performance is over with and things have settled a bit, Jeongguk slips on a coat and face mask and leaves his apartment. He’s immediately annoyed by the excited thrumming in his chest, by the way it increases in intensity the closer he gets to Yongsan park.
There’s one thing that’s remained a constant in Jeongguk’s mind over the last couple weeks—the image of a certain handsome, dark-haired single father.
Jeongguk has not been able to get Min Yoongi out of his head, no matter how hard he’s tried. He’s thought about him through all his rehearsals, while he gets ready in the morning, immediately after performances… it’s pathetic, really, because he knows that there’s no way in hell the man is thinking about him in return.
I wonder what Yoongi is doing right now, he’d think. Has he been taking Areum to the park every night? Has he been managing his work hours alright? I bet he’d love a break right now. He deserves one.
Yoongi, Yoongi, Yoongi, that’s all his stupid mind wants to focus on.
So, he really can’t help but get his hopes up as he walks to the park but, just as he suspected, he really shouldn’t have. Yoongi and Areum are nowhere to be found.
Jeongguk walks around for a good hour or so, telling himself that he’s simply enjoying the scenery and the scent of cherry blossoms in the air, though he knows that’s not the full truth. He fully feels like a creep when he even goes as far as hanging around the playground for a bit, sitting idly on the swing as he thinks. It just feels eerie, though, without the deep, soothing timbre of Yoongi’s voice and Areum’s contagious giggles.
With a sigh, he finally stands, accepting defeat as he makes his way back toward his apartment. He should take this as a sign, probably, that he and Yoongi just aren’t meant to cross paths again. Why would they be? What use could Yoongi have for Jeongguk in his life? Jeongguk would only complicate things, he knows this.
He walks home on autopilot, not even really paying attention to his surroundings as he trudges through the park, his hands shoved in his coat pockets. He decides to stop at the convenience store by his apartment on a whim, realizing he hasn’t eaten in several hours. His stomach grumbles right on cue.
He pulls open the door, the familiar jingle of the welcome bell and white, artificial lights immediately welcoming and soothing him. It’s been a while since he’s been here, definitely more than a couple months. At one point it really felt like a second home—it’s never too busy, so he didn’t have to worry about being recognized. He’d just sit at the little table in the corner, absentmindedly watching late night customers as he snacked on instant noodles, or whatever else his stomach was in the mood for.
Jeongguk is too in his head to notice the bell jingling against the door a second time, or the soft footsteps approaching his left side, or the arm reaching for the specific cup noodles he was also reaching for at the exact same time.
“Oh! I’m so sorry, you can—” Jeongguk freezes when he finally meets the stranger’s eye. Yoongi.
“Holy shit,” Yoongi mutters, his eyes wide, “Jeongguk-ah?”
“Hi, Yoongi hyung,” Jeongguk responds, softer this time. They stand there staring at each other for a moment, Jeongguk belatedly realizing that Yoongi’s hand is still on the noodles, and Jeongguk’s hand is resting on top of Yoongi’s.
Jeongguk shakes his head, pulling his arm back as he blushes again. When is that going to stop happening?
“Um, sorry, I know there’s only one spicy chicken flavored left. You can have it,” Jeongguk says politely.
Yoongi seems to snap out of his haze as well, blinking a few times as he takes the noodles off the shelf before extending them toward Jeongguk.
“No, no, I can just get a different kind. You have them,” he says with a smile.
“I can get a different kind too,” Jeongguk reassures, “it’s alright, hyung, really.”
Yoongi just chuckles, and Jeongguk’s heart skips a beat when Yoongi reaches out, gently grabs Jeongguk’s hands and sets the noodles in his palms.
“You were here first, Jeongguk-ah, please take them.”
Jeongguk narrows his eyes and shoves the noodles back toward Yoongi. “Your hand touched them first.”
Yoongi opens his mouth, looking like he wants to object again, but instead he just smiles, finally accepting the noodles from Jeongguk with a small bow. “Alright, fair enough. Thank you.”
Jeongguk smiles in satisfaction, his heart feeling warm that he was able to make Yoongi happy. He grabs a different flavor of noodles—one he doesn’t like as much, but Yoongi doesn’t need to know that—before turning to the older man, who’s still standing there watching him with a smile.
“It’s been a while,” Yoongi says. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
“Ah, yeah,” Jeongguk says, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand. “Work got really busy, so I haven’t been able to get out at night. Have you and Areum been going to the park still?”
Yoongi nods, and Jeongguk follows behind as he makes his way to the register. “Yeah, we’ve been going almost every night. Honestly, ever since we met you, she’s been insistent that we go every day,” he says with a chuckle, turning away from Jeongguk to watch where he’s going. “I guess you made quite the impression.”
A giddy smile creeps onto Jeongguk’s face as he watches Yoongi, and he’s grateful that his back is to Jeongguk so he can’t see it.
“Well, the feeling is mutual,” Jeongguk says honestly as the two of them reach the register. The cashier greets them both, and Jeongguk gestures for Yoongi to go first, who thanks him politely.
Yoongi turns around after a moment and holds his hand out in front of Jeongguk. “I can get yours, too,” he says with a smile.
Jeongguk immediately shakes his head. “No, no, I can’t let you do that. It’s cheap, I don’t need you to pay for it.”
“Exactly,” Yoongi says, gently taking the item from Jeongguk and passing it to the cashier. “It’s cheap. Let hyung buy it for you.”
Any argument that Jeongguk was going to make immediately dies out at the sound of Yoongi calling himself Jeongguk’s hyung. The younger man is a pathetic cocktail of apologies and stuttered ‘thank-you’s as Yoongi pays, bowing profusely in gratitude and then suddenly fighting the urge to scream because holy shit Yoongi put his hand on my shoulder Yoongi is touching me right now.
“Jeongguk-ah,” Yoongi interrupts with a chuckle, “It’s okay, I don’t mind. You can thank me by eating well, okay?”
“Okay,” Jeongguk mutters lamely, swallowing hard because Yoongi’s hand is still resting on his shoulder, his touch burning his skin even through the fabric of Jeongguk’s coat.
“You eating here?” Yoongi asks after a moment of silence, Jeongguk finally letting out a breath when he removes his hand.
“Yeah,” Jeongguk confirms, “I always sit at that little table over there in the corner.”
Yoongi grins. “Me too. Wanna share it?”
Jeongguk has to suppress the loud, happy sound that threatens to escape his throat, simply nodding in response because the sight of Yoongi’s gummy smile has rendered him speechless once again. They walk over to the counter then, both of them adding water to their noodles and sticking them in the store-provided microwaves. They wait in comfortable silence as they prepare their food, settling down at the table in the corner once they finish.
Jeongguk watches in confusion as Yoongi pulls Jeongguk’s cup toward himself and slides his own over in exchange.
“What are you—”
“I’m good with any of the flavors,” Yoongi interrupts, not unkindly. “So you take the one you wanted.”
Jeongguk’s heart flutters when he sees the genuine smile on his face, but he frowns a moment later when he finally processes his words.
“No, hyung, you paid for them, it’s only fair if—”
“Too late,” Yoongi says after shoving a big bite of noodles into his mouth, his voice muffled from the action.
“Oh my god,” Jeongguk mutters, unable to help dissolving into a fit of giggles over the sight of Yoongi’s cheeks stuffed full like a little chipmunk. “That is so not fair.”
Yoongi joins in laughter when he finally swallows the bite, a smug grin already on his face.
“Hyung privileges,” he says simply.
Jeongguk snorts. “That doesn’t even make sense, I’m the only one who gained something here.”
“Jeongguk-ah,” Yoongi says as he schools his expression, mock reverence in his voice. “What I gained is the absolute joy of hearing the sound of your laughter, which is so much better than spicy chicken noodles.”
Jeongguk bursts into laughter again, shaking his head as Yoongi watches him in amusement. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” Yoongi responds nonchalantly. “But as your hyung I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to eat instant noodles you do not like.”
Jeongguk scoffs. “I literally told you I like any of the flavors.”
“Oh, hush,” Yoongi says lightheartedly, waving his chopsticks at Jeongguk. “Just let me treat you.”
Jeongguk smiles shyly, shaking his head as he finally takes a bite of his noodles. He can’t deny that the familiar taste of his favorite flavor only bolsters his good mood, and he decides to give up on arguing.
“Alright,” Jeongguk says quietly, a soft smile on his face. “Thank you, hyung.” Yoongi smiles in satisfaction, opening his mouth to say something, but Jeongguk interrupts him. “But next time I get to treat you,” he adds seriously, pointing at him with his chopsticks. His eyes go wide when he realizes that he just implied there will be a next time, which is very unlikely.
But, as always, Yoongi doesn’t react like he’d said anything out of the ordinary. “Okay, deal.”
Jeongguk is finding that he really likes that about Yoongi—he never makes him feel dumb for anything he says. Although Jeongguk’s charisma has improved tremendously since he’d debuted at seventeen, he’s socially awkward at heart, naturally introverted and anxious about the way he’s perceived. If Yoongi notices, though, he doesn’t let on. He’s a very calming person to be around, and Jeongguk appreciates it.
“So how’s work been?” Yoongi asks after a moment, pulling Jeongguk from his thoughts. For a moment Jeongguk is confused, knowing Yoongi isn’t aware of his celebrity status, before he remembers the lie he’d made up on the spot that first night they met. Right. As far as Yoongi knows, Jeongguk is a vocal coach.
“Oh, uh…” Jeongguk trails off, willing his brain to come up with a lie quickly. “It’s been alright. Pretty busy, because a couple of the artists I work with have had shows to prepare for. It’s why I haven’t really been able to get out much, because by the time I get home I’m exhausted and just fall right into bed,” he explains with a nervous chuckle. It’s a half-truth, at least.
Kind of.
Yoongi nods thoughtfully. “I can relate to that. I’m so ready for bed by the time I get home, I don’t know where I even get the strength and energy to take care of Areum. My love for her fuels me, I guess,” he says with a lazy smile, and Jeongguk has to resist the urge to coo over the adorable sentiment.
“Love is a powerful thing,” Jeongguk agrees, not even stopping to consider whether or not that’s a weird thing to say.
Yoongi hums, nodding. He tilts his head after a moment, looking contemplative. “You must not have been a vocal coach for very long, hm? I imagine the schooling is pretty extensive, and you’re so young. How’d you manage to land the position that you did?” Yoongi’s tone is inquisitive, rather than interrogative, but Jeongguk still panics internally.
“Oh, um… yeah, it hasn’t been very long,” Jeongguk starts apprehensively, decidedly ignoring the schooling comment. He doesn’t want Yoongi asking even more questions he can’t honestly answer. “And as far as the position… I just got lucky, I guess. They had an opening and I decided to go for it. Somehow I landed it.”
Jeongguk feels like an asshole watching the awe in Yoongi’s features, knowing he’s reacting to a complete lie. But it’s for the best, he thinks, because he doesn’t want to make Yoongi uncomfortable in any way over his true identity. It’ll only unnecessarily complicate things.
…At least that’s what he tells himself.
“Wow, Jeongguk-ah, you must be a musical prodigy or something. You gonna sing for me?” he asks teasingly, although Jeongguk can’t tell if he’s seriously asking.
“Uh…”
“Kidding, kidding,” Yoongi says, taking a bite of food as he smiles at Jeongguk. “Although I definitely wouldn’t object to listening if you ever wanted to grace my ears with your talent. I can appreciate good music.”
Jeongguk sees an opportunity to change the subject, and he takes it.
“Oh, yeah?” he asks, trying to sound nonchalant. “What kind of music do you listen to?”
He genuinely is curious, considering Yoongi obviously does not know who he is. Maybe he doesn’t listen to the kind of music Jeongguk makes—mainly pop, with a touch of R&B.
“Ah, I unfortunately don’t have many opportunities to just sit and listen to music,” Yoongi explains. “And even when I do, Areum always convinces me to put on the music she likes, which is—luckily—still very much aimed toward little kids. I’m so not ready for the day she becomes obsessed with some popular idol boy,” he says with a chuckle, and Jeongguk stiffens, holding his breath.
Fuck. Shit. This is awkward.
Before Jeongguk can say anything, Yoongi continues on. “I mainly like rap, though, to answer your question.” Jeongguk raises his eyebrows in surprise, genuinely not expecting the answer. He hates that his brain immediately screams ‘ that’s really fucking attractive’ at him. Not helpful.
“Really?” Jeongguk asks.
Yoongi nods. “Mostly older stuff though, probably artists that your generation aren’t as into. Epik High, Dynamic Duo, 2Pac, Eminem… you know, that kinda stuff.” Yoongi grimaces after a moment. “I just made myself sound really fucking old again, didn’t I?”
Jeongguk frowns. Another age difference comment. Why is Yoongi acting like they’re twenty years apart, rather than just nine? Why can’t he see that they’re not that different?
“I like Epik High,” Jeongguk mutters almost defensively, unable to help pouting. It’s the truth—Jeongguk grew up in a very musical household, and they’re just one of many artists that could often be heard in his home, played by Jeongguk’s siblings or parents. “And I like rap and hip hop. We’re not that different, you know.”
Yoongi smiles at him, looking endeared. “You’re right, sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you’re not into real music or anything like that, I’m not a snob. I just figured we would’ve grown up listening to different things.”
Jeongguk shakes his head. “My family loves music. My parents and siblings and I would all listen to all different kinds of genres, both newer and older artists. I just love music, regardless of its age or style.” Jeongguk feels a hint of sadness upon mentioning his family, who he hasn’t talked to in several years. It’s his own fault, he knows this, so he has no right to be sad about it.
His parents never wanted him to become an idol, but it was always his dream, so he pursued it anyway, against their wishes. He couldn’t bear the look of disappointment and concern they’d give him every time he’d returned home, so he eventually just stopped contacting them altogether. He texts his siblings occasionally, maybe a couple times a year, nowhere near enough to have a close relationship with them. He regrets letting himself drift apart from them all, but there’s not much he can do about it now. They wouldn’t want to see him, anyway.
“Ah, you have siblings?” Yoongi asks, because of course he does. Jeongguk nods, having to suppress a grimace. It’s honestly hard to talk about them, and he fears that his voice may waver embarrassingly if he does. Yoongi seems to pick up on his discomfort, and thankfully doesn’t press.
“How’s your food?” Yoongi asks instead, and Jeongguk breathes out a sigh of relief at the subject change.
“It’s good, hyung,” Jeongguk answers honestly, and Yoongi beams at him. “Thank you again.”
“Of course,” Yoongi responds, his expression friendly. Jeongguk takes a moment to study his face, to take in the soft curve of his round face, the depth of his warm, honey-filled irises. He wouldn’t mind getting lost in those eyes. Jeongguk shakes his head after a moment, realizing he’s been staring at Yoongi a bit too long to be normal. Yoongi doesn’t seem to notice, though, having already returned his attention to his food.
They sit there in silence for a moment, which normally Jeongguk wouldn’t mind, except that he feels like it’s his responsibility to fill the space this time. Yoongi is the only one who’s asked any questions this entire time, always the one to initiate a new conversation, and Jeongguk feels horribly boring. Especially because he’s trying desperately to prove to this man that he’s mature and interesting and worth talking to and he’s fucking it up so badly—
“You know, Areum actually drew a picture of you,” Yoongi informs him casually, interrupting Jeongguk’s spiraling. The shock from Yoongi’s words successfully distracts him from the fact that, once again, Yoongi was the one to come up with a new topic of conversation.
“She did?” Jeongguk asks in surprise.
Yoongi nods, chuckling. “She’s obsessed with your hair. Asked me to buy her some new pink colored pencils so she could, in her words, ‘get Jeonggukkie’s hair just right,’” Yoongi says in endearment. “My little artist.”
Jeongguk’s face flushes, probably turning a similar shade of pink as his aforementioned hair.
“Did you?” Jeongguk asks, a little shyly. “Buy her new pencils?”
“Of course,” Yoongi says, smirking. “You think I can say no to that kid?” He laughs softly, shaking his head. “Besides, I just had to help her do your hair justice. It is a really pretty shade of pink. You match all the cherry blossoms,” he explains, gesturing toward the window, in which the flowery trees are just barely visible under the dim streetlights.
Jeongguk’s face is practically on fire at this point, not expecting all the praise, and he looks down at his noodles in hopes of hiding his blush.
“Ah, well,” Jeongguk mumbles, trying his best to prevent the giant grin that threatens to creep onto his face. “I appreciate it. I’m happy my hair could inspire Areum.”
“Oh, she was inspired, alright,” Yoongi says with another laugh, and Jeongguk gets the feeling that there’s a joke behind his words that he’s not in on. He doesn’t comment.
Yoongi sighs. “Aw man, I wish I’d taken a picture of the drawing so I could show you. It was super cute.”
Jeongguk has to stop himself from pouting again, because now he really wants to see the drawing. He feels weirdly honored that this random little girl liked him enough upon first meeting to talk about and even draw him. “I would’ve liked to see it,” Jeongguk agrees.
“Next time, yeah?” Yoongi says, and Jeongguk’s stomach flips. “Maybe by then she’ll have drawn even more.”
Next time…
What does that mean? Does Yoongi think they’re going to meet again? Does Yoongi want to see Jeongguk again? Or is it just hypothetical—a simple, lazy afterthought that Jeongguk shouldn’t read into at all? He wants to ask, he really does, but he stops himself.
“Yeah, next time,” he agrees wistfully.
It’s then that he registers that he and Yoongi had both finished their food, and his stomach clenches in anticipation of the goodbye that’s soon to follow. He doesn’t want to say goodbye yet. Talking to Yoongi like this, so casually in the cozy corner of a convenience store, almost like old friends—it’s such a breath of fresh air. It makes him feel normal in a way that he rarely gets to experience. It makes him forget that he’s JK, South Korea’s superstar; forget that he can never have the normalcy that he’s been craving for years.
But Yoongi has a daughter and a life; a real, normal life, one that Jeongguk has no place in. So, Jeongguk immediately shuts down the spark of courage that tells him to ask Yoongi to hang out longer, or ask for his number, or something to keep from losing him forever.
And just as Jeongguk had been anticipating, Yoongi sighs, stretching before checking his phone for the time.
“Ah, speaking of Areum, I should probably get back to her. My best friend was nice enough to watch her for a while so I could have some alone time, but he’s probably just as exhausted as I am,” Yoongi explains.
Jeongguk nods, swallowing the lump in his throat. “Yeah, I’ll let you get back to her.” They both stand then, pushing their chairs in and discarding their trash. “Thanks again for the food, and the company,” Jeongguk says kindly.
“No, thank you,” Yoongi counters, a look of gratitude on his face. “This was really nice. I don’t have many opportunities to just… sit and talk with someone who isn’t five years old.”
I wasn’t very interesting company, Jeongguk thinks regretfully, wishing that he had been less awkward and more talkative. Part of him wonders if Yoongi is just being nice, because that’s just how he is. But the look he gives Jeongguk seems sincere, so maybe he wasn’t as boring as he thought.
They exit the store together, Yoongi politely holding the door open for Jeongguk, before turning to face each other.
“Do you live nearby?” Yoongi asks, and Jeongguk’s heart skips a beat because for a split second he thinks that Yoongi is implying he wants to come over. But that’s stupid. Of course he’s not.
“Mhm,” Jeongguk replies with a nod. “I’m just a couple blocks east. What about you?” he asks quickly, not wanting Yoongi to ask more specific questions that might give away his wealth.
“Yeah, I’m close. I’m a few blocks that way,” Yoongi says, nodding in the opposite direction. We only live a few blocks apart, Jeongguk thinks excitedly, before shutting down the thought. It doesn’t matter because this is the last time they’ll see each other.
“Ah, that’s good,” Jeongguk says awkwardly, not really knowing how to end the conversation. Yoongi does it for him.
“Well I’d say goodbye for good, but somehow I have a feeling we’ll run into each other again. So I’ll see you around?” Yoongi asks with a smile, Jeongguk hating the way the words made his heart swell in excitement.
“Yeah, I’ll see you around,” Jeongguk replies, although he makes no move to turn and leave. Yoongi doesn’t either. He continues staring at Jeongguk with his stupidly pretty smile, his warm, captivating eyes. For a moment it feels like Jeongguk is on a date, waiting in anticipation for something to happen, but of course that’s not the case. Yoongi is just some man, a near stranger who clearly has no interest in Jeongguk other than as a casual acquaintance.
Yoongi nods once before reaching over and patting Jeongguk’s shoulder gently. “Get home safe, Jeongguk-ah.”
“You too, hyung.”
Jeongguk forces himself to turn and walk away, not sparing another glance at the handsome single father who won’t seem to leave his mind.
∘◦❀◦∘
Jeongguk sees Yoongi again about a week later. Areum is with him this time, and he hears her before he sees her, immediately spinning around when he hears her distantly familiar squeals of glee. He’d been taking a stroll through Yongsan park for the fifth time this week, hoping—as always—that he’d get lucky and run into exactly who he wanted to.
And this time, he was lucky.
“Gukkie!” Areum cries, running up to Jeongguk and throwing her arms around Jeongguk’s legs.
“Hi, Areum,” Jeongguk replies just as enthusiastically, reaching down to pet her hair affectionately. She pulls back after a moment, jumping up and down as she reaches out for Jeongguk, wordlessly asking him to pick her up. He hesitates for a moment as he looks up at Yoongi walking toward them, wondering if that would be crossing a line, but the older man’s face is perfectly relaxed and cheerful as he nods at Jeongguk in greeting.
Jeongguk bends down, lifting Areum up into his arms as she eagerly wraps her arms around his neck in a hug. Jeongguk pats her back, rocking them back and forth as Yoongi catches up to them.
“Hi, Jeongguk—”
“Your hair,” Areum squeals, cutting off her father’s greeting. “I missed it!” she says happily, running her hands through the strands as Jeongguk giggles.
“Ah, I bet you did. I heard you drew a picture of it, is that right?” Jeongguk asks, his heart fluttering when Yoongi subtly winks at him.
“I did! Appa even got me new pencils,” she says excitedly, tugging on Jeongguk’s hair gently.
“Areum, stop touching this poor man’s hair,” Yoongi scolds, chuckling as he reaches over to pull Areum’s hand back. Jeongguk tenses slightly when Yoongi’s arm brushes against his own.
“Sorry,” Areum says with a pout. When Jeongguk sets her back down on the ground, her face lights up again. “Appa! Show him the picture!”
“Oh, that’s right,” Yoongi says happily, “I actually took a picture to show you.” Warmth spreads through Jeongguk’s chest as Yoongi pulls his phone out of his pocket, trying not to freak out over the fact that Yoongi took a picture in assumption that he’d see Jeongguk again. Jeongguk’s eyes go wide when he focuses on the screen, because for a five year old, the drawing is good. Areum had drawn Jeongguk’s figure in a more complex way than just a simple stick figure, and her coloring is almost completely inside the lines. She drew Jeongguk in the all black outfit and face mask that he wore when they met, and sure enough, his hair is a scary accurate rosy pink.
“Did you do this all by yourself?” Jeongguk asks Areum in awe.
“Appa helped!” Areum says excitedly, looking at her father.
“Oh?” Jeongguk asks, raising a brow. Yoongi shakes his head.
“I barely did anything, baby, I just helped you with the outline a little bit. You’re the one who colored it so beautifully,” Yoongi says encouragingly, patting her head.
“Well either way, it’s amazing,” Jeongguk says honestly, still looking at Yoongi’s phone screen. “You got the hair just right, Areum.”
Areum beams at Jeongguk, looking incredibly proud over the compliment.
“Thanks! Wanna be a artist when I grow up,” she declares confidently.
“Oh, yeah? Well you definitely have the potential to be one,” Jeongguk says honestly.
“I agree,” Yoongi adds on with a smile. Jeongguk opens his mouth to say something but is immediately interrupted.
“Gukkie, let’s go play!” Areum exclaims, grabbing Jeongguk’s hand and attempting to pull him in the direction of the playground.
“Hey, hey,” Yoongi warns, taking Areum’s arm and gently pulling it from Jeongguk’s hand. “You didn’t even ask Jeongguk-ah first. And you need to stop just grabbing people, my love, it’s rude,” Yoongi scolds, but he chuckles good-naturedly. Jeongguk can’t help but laugh too. Areum is absolutely adorable.
…And so is her father, but Jeongguk isn't going to think about that.
“I swear I try to teach her manners,” Yoongi tells Jeongguk, shaking his head.
Jeongguk chuckles. “That’s alright, it doesn’t bother me. And I’d be more than happy to play with you, Areum,” Jeongguk says to the little girl, who immediately squeals and reaches out for Jeongguk. He holds out his hand, laughing when she takes it and pulls him down the path, and Yoongi jogs to keep up with them.
Once they finally reach their destination, Areum once again makes Jeongguk push her on the swings, and he happily obliges. They make their way around the various playground equipment, from the swings to the seesaw to the monkey bars, and Jeongguk is living for it. He never gets to just let go and have innocent fun like this, because his career choice forced him to grow up faster than he should’ve, so it’s incredibly refreshing. Once Areum busies herself with swinging again—this time on her own—Jeongguk tells Yoongi as much.
“Is it pathetic of me to say this is the most fun I’ve had in months?” Jeongguk asks, looking at Yoongi with a brow raised. Yoongi looks down as he chuckles, using his foot to draw lines in the sand absentmindedly.
“Nah, not pathetic,” he assures, looking up at Jeongguk after a moment. “It is a little sad, though. Why don’t you have any fun? Don’t you like your job?”
Doesn’t he? He got everything he always wanted as a kid, all of his dreams achieved by his early twenties. So why does his life not feel ‘fun’?
Jeongguk contemplates for a moment, then shakes his head. “It’s not that I don’t like it. It’s just…” he trails off, trying to figure out what to say to not give too much away. “I don’t know, I guess it’s just really stressful. There are aspects of it that I like, but in general it’s just… too much a lot of the time. Even though it’s something I enjoy, it still feels like work, so I can never really just let go and have fun with it. I don’t know if that makes sense.”
Yoongi nods. “No, it does. I’m definitely not under as much pressure as you are, but I can relate to that feeling of just… trying to get through it. Even if it’s not all that enjoyable most of the time.”
Jeongguk immediately feels guilt surge through him, thinking about how he has the audacity to complain about his job which gives him everything he wanted in life, when Yoongi is working his ass off just to afford to take care of his little family. How selfish can Jeongguk be?
“But you’re young, Jeongguk-ah,” Yoongi says, interrupting Jeongguk’s thoughts. “You deserve to have fun. Maybe you can try to make more time for it?” Yoongi pauses for a moment. “I know that’s much easier said than done, but it’s something I wish I would’ve tried harder to do at your age.”
“You’re young, too,” Jeongguk immediately says, frowning. “You still have plenty of time to find something you really love to do.”
Yoongi chuckles. “Yeah, I suppose I am still young. I love Areum to pieces but I feel like she aged me by twenty years. I don’t have much time to myself these days.”
Jeongguk frowns again, looking down at the ground as he thinks. He can’t imagine how stressful it would be to have to raise a child completely on your own. He wishes more than anything that he could help, that he could ease even a tiny bit of the weight on Yoongi’s shoulders.
“You mentioned a friend earlier, is he not able to watch Areum so you could have some alone time sometimes?” Jeongguk asks gently.
Yoongi makes a face. “Ah, that man is so busy as it is. He works just as much as I do, if not more, and he already picks Areum up to take her to daycare almost every day. I don’t feel right asking him to do any more.”
Jeongguk wants to disagree, wants to tell him that as his best friend he’d probably want to help Yoongi so he could have some time to relax, but he knows nothing about him, so it’s not really his place to say. There’s also a small voice in the back of his mind telling him to offer to watch Areum for Yoongi, but he ignores it because he’s still a near stranger to the man and he doesn’t want to come off as creepy or ill-intentioned.
“Yeah, makes sense I guess,” Jeongguk says quietly, not really knowing what else to add. He feels useless once again, not having anything meaningful to say in response.
“I’m happy you could have fun with Areum though, Jeongguk-ah, you made her day by agreeing to play with her. I know you’re busy, so thank you for taking the time.”
“Are you kidding?” Jeongguk says lightheartedly. “This made my day. Thank you for letting me crash your walk.”
Yoongi smiles at Jeongguk, a look of warm sincerity on his face. Jeongguk can’t help but smile back. “You didn’t crash anything,” Yoongi says. “If I’m being honest, I kinda hoped we’d run into you. I have fun talking to you. I hope that isn’t weird to say.”
Jeongguk’s stomach erupts in butterflies at the confession, and for a moment, there’s a spark of hope in his chest telling him that maybe Yoongi is flirting with him.
No, he’s getting ahead of himself. He shouldn’t assume things, especially because he doesn’t even know if Yoongi is queer. He had a wife, so he’s most likely either straight or bisexual, but Jeongguk won’t let himself create false hope. He very clearly has no shot with the man, so he shouldn’t even entertain the idea.
That doesn’t stop the rosy blush that appears on his cheeks, however. He’s surprised, once the words really sink in. Yoongi has fun talking to Jeongguk? He enjoys himself? Jeongguk was convinced that Yoongi was just being nice by talking to him, that he couldn’t possibly find Jeongguk interesting—Jeongguk who can hardly carry a conversation with this man because of his nerves and anxiety.
“That’s not weird at all,” Jeongguk says, perhaps a bit too ardently. He clears his throat. “I mean, I feel the same way. So if it makes you weird, then I’m weird too.” Jeongguk snaps his mouth shut. Out of all the things he could’ve said, he chose to say that?
But Yoongi just chuckles. “Okay, we’ll be weird together then.” Jeongguk nearly melts on the spot.
It’s then that Areum finally seems to tire of the swings, and she runs up to the two men. Yoongi waves at her. “Hi honey—”
“Appa, can Gukkie have a sleepover with us?”
For the very first time since Jeongguk met the man, Yoongi finally seems to lose his composure. He accidentally chokes on his spit, coughing as he looks at his daughter with wide eyes. Jeongguk freezes, his eyes also going wide.
“I…” Jeongguk trails off, not knowing how to respond. What he wants to say is that he would be thrilled to have a sleepover with Yoongi, but of course he’d never admit to that.
“Uh, honey…” Yoongi finally says after he catches his breath, wiping a tear from his eye. “That’s not…” he trails off, looking at Jeongguk as if to say ‘help me out here,’ and holy shit he is blushing. Yoongi’s fair skin looks absolutely stunning dusted a light shade of crimson, the color accentuated by the warm street light overhead. For once, Jeongguk takes the lead.
“I’m sorry Areum, I can’t do a sleepover tonight,” Jeongguk says regretfully. “I have to get up early for work.”
Areum pouts for a moment, her shoulders slumping, before she gasps, her face lighting up again. “Tomorrow?”
Yoongi shakes his head frantically, finally having composed himself. “Areum, Jeongguk-ah can’t do sleepovers. He’s very busy and I’m sure he’d rather sleep in his own comfortable bed at his house.”
I’d rather sleep in your bed, Jeongguk thinks, watching the blush finally fade from Yoongi’s cheeks.
Over the last few weeks Jeongguk’s thoughts regarding the older man have been largely innocent, but he’s only human. And Yoongi is unbearably hot. So if Jeongguk got off a couple times thinking about Yoongi’s big hands gripping his waist as he fucks into him relentlessly, about how he’d sound groaning into Jeongguk’s ear as he fills him up… no one needs to know.
But Jeongguk also does have innocent daydreams revolving around Yoongi, his mind wandering in rehearsals sometimes, wondering what it would feel like to hold Yoongi’s hand, or cuddle up next to him on the couch while they watch a movie with Areum.
In other words, Jeongguk is down horrendous. Completely and utterly whipped for this man who he’s now seen a grand total of three times. Pathetic.
“Aww,” Areum whines, the adorable pout reappearing on her lips. “But I wanna play more with Gukkie.”
Yoongi sighs, ruffling her hair. “I know, sweetheart, but unfortunately adults have very busy lives and don’t have time to play as much as they want to. I’m sure we’ll run into Jeongguk again, though, right?” Yoongi asks as he looks up at Jeongguk, giving him a wink. Oh, how Jeongguk would love nothing more.
“Yes, we can play a different day. So don’t be sad, okay Areum? Maybe you can draw more pretty pictures and show them to me next time.” Areum lights up at that suggestion, and she eagerly agrees. Before Jeongguk can really stop to think, he turns to Yoongi. “Actually, do you think you could send me the picture you took of her drawing? It was so cute, I wanna look at it again.”
Once it sinks in what Jeongguk had just said, that he is essentially asking for Yoongi’s number, he panics. “You totally don’t have to!” he adds on, shaking his head with wide eyes. “I completely understand if you don’t want to give your number out to some random stranger you ran into in the park, if that makes you uncomfortable in any way then just forget I asked and—”
Jeongguk is interrupted by Yoongi pushing his phone toward him, the contacts app already open. “I’d be happy to send it to you. Just put your number in.”
“Oh, o-okay,” Jeongguk stutters, taking the phone from Yoongi, goosebumps erupting on his skin when Yoongi’s hand brushes against his own. Jeongguk enters his number in a daze, willing himself to not drop the phone no matter how shaky his hands feel. He returns it to Yoongi when he finishes.
“Perfect,” Yoongi says with a smile, taking a moment to type something, Jeongguk’s phone vibrating in his pocket right on cue once he finishes.
Holy shit. Jeongguk asked for Yoongi’s number. Yoongi gave it to him. Jeongguk has Yoongi’s number.
He bites the inside of his cheek to prevent the deranged, elated smile that’s trying to creep onto his face, not wanting to make his hopeless crush on Yoongi obvious in any way—though he might’ve already failed at that.
“Uh, thanks,” Jeongguk says, unable to look Yoongi in the eyes.
“Of course,” Yoongi says easily. “We should probably get going, but I’ll see you around?” Yoongi shushes Areum’s immediate protests.
“Yeah, see you around,” Jeongguk replies, finally working up the courage to smile at Yoongi. The happiness he feels is reflected on Yoongi’s face, and the sight warms his heart even more. “Bye, Areum,” Jeongguk adds on, crouching down to pet her hair before he’s pulled into a hug.
“Bye, Gukkie, I’ll miss you,” Areum says sadly, her arms still wrapped around Jeongguk.
“I’ll miss you too, sweetie,” Jeongguk says honestly, “but we’ll see each other again.”
Areum finally pulls back. “Promise?”
Jeongguk simply holds his pinky out in response, Areum smiling as she hooks her own little finger around it. “Pinky promise.”
When Jeongguk stands up and turns to Yoongi, that fond smile is still on his face. Jeongguk loves how much Yoongi smiles when they’re together—he’s not sure if that’s a common occurrence in his day-to-day life, but a tiny, selfish part of him hopes that he smiles extra when he’s with Jeongguk.
“Alright, baby, let’s get going,” Yoongi says to Areum, taking her small hand in his own. “Bye, Jeongguk-ah.”
“Bye hyung, bye Areum,” Jeongguk says, waving at them as they begin to walk away. This time he does linger, watching them make their way down the path, and his heart skips a beat when Yoongi turns back to look at him once he’s almost out of sight. He looked back, Jeongguk thinks, maybe that means he likes me?
He shakes his head, quickly ridding his mind of that thought as he turns to walk toward his apartment. Of course Yoongi doesn’t like him. He needs to stop getting his hopes up.
Once he’s about a block away from his apartment, he remembers that Yoongi had texted him, and he eagerly pulls his phone out of his pocket. There are three messages.
Unknown Number - 7:42 PM
[image attached]
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Unknown Number - 7:46 PM
Good thing I bought her those colored pencils. She made your hair look almost as pretty as it does in real life.