Through The Eyes Of A Child - Book 1

Too Soon?

Banishing nerves wasn't something he'd become very successful at recently but he needed to do that right now. Jungkook spent snack time with Tae on Wednesday and they'd arranged to meet for milkshake the very next day because they were both free. When he'd dropped Minjun off yesterday, Namjoon and Jin had quizzed him and told him not to overthink everything. Jungkook explained he was worried that Friday at the centre would be awkward if their date didn't go well and he was concerned about the impact on Minjun. What Jungkook hadn't expected was the roar of laughter, they'd sat him down and spoken to him at length about the positives to dating Tae and should things go wrong then he'd simply have to drop and go. The couple were incredibly touched that the young man was thinking of Minjun and he really was like a third parent but it wasn't his responsibility and they needed him to know that his life didn't revolve around being a parent at this stage of his life.

He doesn't recall the last time he looked at himself properly in the mirror but that's what he was doing this morning as he was getting ready for the date. They'd agreed to meet at the small coffee shop in town and it was stupid to be so indecisive over what to wear to somewhere he's been a million times before. In the end, he went with simple, black jeans and a white t-shirt with the addition of a short sleeved checked shirt over the top. He'd fastened and unfastened the buttons at least twenty times, along with tucking it in and subsequently leaving it hanging. The final result was open and loose when it came to the time he needed to leave.

Tae had arrived early, he didn't like being late ever and was usually awake in time to hear the dawn chorus so he could meditate in relative peace on the balcony of his small apartment. This morning he'd needed a bit longer on the balcony, the early morning breeze ruffling his hair and the windchimes gently serenading him along with the birds alerting everyone to the fact that morning had arrived. He usually had a handle on his feelings, it could be quite daunting dealing with a class of kids or a group of parents so he'd taken up meditation to calm himself at times when his nerves may have gotten the better of him. In the years since then he has delved into the world of spirituality, crystals, chakra and many other things. His little balcony is his place of zen and peace which he utilises several times a day, usually sitting cross legged on his beanbag with a cup of chamomile tea. He likes to teach the kids about the senses and enjoys seeing their faces when they play with things like sand, foam and slime. His favourite thing to do is painting using hands and feet, which always requires a lot of planning and a warning sent out to parents but it's worth it. His parents were reiki practitioners and his Father taught Taekwondo, a big focus on mind, body and spirit in his childhood home which he has adopted into his adult life too.

The teacher is the very definition of a people person, not in the sense of partying or having lots of friends but he just likes people. He loves learning about what makes someone tick and loves being able to help others. The nerves he'd felt first had vanished, he hadn't given his outfit too much thought, opting for forest green loose fitting trousers and a pale pink button down shirt, completing the outfit with a fluffy cardigan made by a friend with the wool from his alpacas. His hair was freshly dyed on Monday evening and was a brighter bubblegum pink than it was before, it needed cutting but could wait. On Tuesdays and Thursdays he wore contact lenses, preferring glasses when at the centre with the kids because he has experienced losing a lens in a pot of paint and it was a nightmare. All the relaxation techniques he'd used this morning weren't really that much use at the moment though because he didn't know whether he should keep looking at the cafe door or not? It was an unnecessary awkwardness and so he angled his head in a position where he could look up over his glasses when someone entered, while reading his book.

The cafe was quite quiet, there was a slight buzz from the people that were there and the sounds of the staff using various machines. When Jungkook arrived, Tae had only been seated for fifteen minutes but the teacher would say it felt longer since it had taken some time to decide where he should position himself. They both smiled when they clapped eyes on each other and it was slightly strange to see the other outside of the environment they have become accustomed to.