Mine (Jikook/Kookmin)- Complete

26

"Jae, let’s get your Appa," Jungkook suggested gently, hoping it might soothe Jae’s restlessness. It was already past 11 p.m., far past Jae’s bedtime. Lately, whenever Jimin had night shifts, Jungkook was the one who took care of Jae, making sure he felt safe and loved. Tae and Hobi helped out sometimes when Jungkook had to work, but Jae had developed a strong bond with his Kookie Appa. Usually, Jae enjoyed being with him, but tonight was different.

"No," Jae replied, surprising Jungkook. This answer was unusual. After spending the entire evening whining about wanting to go and see his Appa, Jae suddenly said no when Jungkook was finally ready to take him.

Jungkook furrowed his brow, confused by the sudden change of heart. "Why not?" he asked softly, kneeling down to be eye-level with Jae.

Jae shifted uncomfortably, his small hands tugging at his shirt. "Appa will be mad," he muttered.

"Mad? He won’t be mad at you, Jae," Jungkook assured him. "You know how much your Appa loves you."

But Jae shook his head, his little face scrunched up in worry. "Appa said Jae must sleep before 9," he explained, looking guilty. "But now it's 11. Appa said Jae needs to be a good boy and sleep early."

Jungkook’s heart softened. Jae’s sense of responsibility, even at his young age, was both adorable and heartbreaking. He was so afraid of disappointing his Appa, even over something as small as staying up late.

"Appa won’t be mad at you for this, I promise," Jungkook said, ruffling Jae’s hair gently. "He understands, sometimes it’s hard to sleep."

But Jae still seemed troubled, biting his lip nervously. "Yeah, sometime, it's hard to sleep early. Kookie Appa, Jae can’t sleep," he confessed, his voice lowering to a whisper. "Jae can’t get over the  gummy worm..."

Jungkook blinked in surprise. "The gummy worm?" he repeated, confused for a moment.

Jae nodded eagerly, his eyes wide with sincerity. "It’s calling Jae every time Jae closes his eyes!" he said, his little hands gesturing dramatically. "The gummy says, 'Jae, come get me! I'm a tasty worm. Come to me, Jae... come…'"

Jae's excitement was contagious, his entire body animated as he spoke. His little hands waved around energetically, his eyes wide with joy, and his mouth couldn’t stop moving as he eagerly explained the details of the "talking" gummy worm. It was as if every fiber of his being was bursting with happiness, completely absorbed in the moment.

Jungkook couldn't help but smile, watching Jae closely. The way Jae expressed himself reminded Jungkook so much of Jimin—the same adorable habit of using his whole body when he was excited, especially when something made him happy. It was as if Jae had inherited not just Jimin's charm but also his gestures, unknowingly mimicking his Appa in the most heartwarming way.

Quietly, Jungkook reached for his phone, recording the scene before him. He captured every enthusiastic gesture, the giggles, the wide eyes, and even the way Jae was bouncing on his toes while describing the "tasty worm" gummy that had stolen his attention. The video was pure gold, a perfect blend of cuteness and innocence.

With a soft chuckle, Jungkook sent the recording to Jimin, knowing how much it would make him smile after his long shift. As he hit send, he could already picture Jimin’s reaction—the wide grin, the way he’d laugh, and the proud sparkle in his eyes as he saw their little boy being so much like him.

Jungkook looked down at Jae, who was still buzzing with excitement, unaware of the precious memory they had just created.

Jungkook stifled a laugh, realizing now that Jae’s imagination had run wild. "So the gummy worm is talking to you, huh?" he asked, smiling at how serious Jae was about it.