A Still Day or A Hurricane | Jungkook

Part 16

Mi-Sun wanted a yogurt drink and marshmallow pies, so the supposed trip to the department store was delayed because of a stop at the supermarket. The little girl was crying then, impatient since Jungkook got caught in traffic then had to find a parking space, prolonging the time she'd finally have what she's craving.

He made it up to her by placing her on his shoulders, her tiny hands gripping his hair as she squealed at being tall and able to see more snacks from up there. She ended up asking for more, leaving with a bag full of pepero, mochi cakes, and banana milk, at Jungkook's expense.

For convenience, Jungkook suggested for Eun-jung to just buy her haul at the nearby department store. It's the one he'd gone to multiple times with you, the arrangement of the aisles and the stores now imprinted in his mind.

"The bath and grooming stuff are on the left, so are the other practical ones like swaddle blankets and strollers. The entire right side is where the toys are, arranged by age; there's more on the floor below. All the clothes are on the third floor; you'll go crazy in there. And then—"

"I didn't know you had a part-time job here, Kook," Eun-jung laughs as she heads to where the infant tubs are, immediately finding one that she likes.

"I... uh, I don't," he scratches the back of neck. "Just thought you should know so we don't waste time here."

"Shopping is never a waste of time, lil bunny. The point is, why do you know? None of your friends have kids, at least the ones I know. Unless... Jaehyun has a kid?!"

"Nah," Jungkook shakes his head, his fingers grazing the spa-like tub you were thinking of getting. "His girlfriend broke up with him and he's still in the moving on phase."

Eun-jung expects him to say more, but Jungkook doesn't. He just helps her navigate through aisles upon aisles of baby things, eventually going to the floor above for some clothes that she also buys for Mi-Sun.

"Kookie, look!" The little girl squeals, showing off the heart-shaped glasses she put on.

"Ah, Sunnie, that's adorable!" He kneels in front of her. "This flower one looks pretty, too. You like this?"

He puts on the eyewear on her and turns her towards the mirror, and his heart melts at how sweetly she smiles.

"Mommy, I want this! And this, too," she lifts the first one she got.

"Alright, honey. Give them all to Kookie. He'll pay for them."

Mi-Sun's face lights up even more. "Yay, Kookie. I want this, too."

She takes his hand and leads him to the bag section then 'oohs' when she finds the one she'd seen earlier. It's a glitter rainbow crossbody bag, and Jungkook thinks it's a perfect fit for her, too.

"And I want this, too," she continues, scurrying to another aisle after placing the bag of her choice in Jungkook's hand. "And then that one, Kookie, and then..."

"You coached her, didn't you?" He scowls, and Eun-jung feigns innocence.

Jungkook doesn't mind, though. This is his favorite thing to do whenever he's with his nieces and nephews. There's a certain joy he gets from seeing their faces in wonder whenever they walk around a store, and the smile on their faces is unmatched, as is his, given that whatever he buys for them is something they chose.

"She remembers you whenever she plays with her princess castle, you know, the one you got her?"

"Yeah, she named the princess' dog, Kookie," he laughs, recalling the shopping spree he took her to when they visited him last year. "She was so excited about that."