Purple Tiger [Taekook] ✓

Chapter 1

Jungkook tries to maintain his relaxed and friendly facial expression as the director of the kindergarten "Magic Castle", who he estimates to be in her late 50s, escorts him out the door. While she can't stop raving about her cute goblins, dwarfs, and fairies, all nicknames for children and teachers, Jungkook still tries in vain to find something magical in this kindergarten. Even the director with her dark dress and big wart nose reminds him of the witches from his childhood books.

Also, the small rooms seem cramped and the chosen decoration is loveless, if the crumpled paper airplanes on the ceiling and the artificial flowers in the ugliest vases of all time can be called decoration at all.

The garden is dominated by withered flower beds and is just as uninviting as the rest of this kindergarten. In addition, the playground should be checked for safety as soon as possible, as fragile as everything looks there. The tube slide, which gives the impression of having once been red, is faded by the sun so that it could provide good material for a color discussion: Pink? Maybe salmon? Or rather rose? In any case, the dark streaks on the plastic slide tell numerous stories of children who probably played on this playground decades ago.

Jungkook's conclusion: There's no way his daughter is setting foot in this kindergarten!

The witch lady, whose name he has already forgotten, can brag as much as she wants about the facility but it wouldn't change his mind. Sadly, this is the second kindergarten in a row that has been a total flop. If the third kindergarten tomorrow also turns out to be a disaster, he really has a problem.

"Thank you very much for taking your time and showing me everything," Jungkook says with a polite nod. In truth, he can't wait to finally leave the premises.

"You're very welcome. You'll get back to me if there's further interest?"

At the sight of that put-on smile Jungkook would love to roll his eyes. But that wouldn't suit his character. He wasn't raised that way. So, he just plays the same game and stays friendly.

"I will. Have a nice day!"

"Likewise!"

Then, he turns his back on her and the corners of his mouth drop rapidly. Stress hormones start dancing in his body, causing a feeling of nausea in his stomach. After all, he just wants the best for his daughter...is that really too much to ask?

[Later - Jungkook's parents' house]

"Daddy's back!" Yuna exclaims euphorically as she notices the sound of the doorbell. The little bundle of energy runs her bare, dainty feet across the cold tile floor toward the front door. Socks would be a torture on this hot summer day.

"Not so fast, honey!" her grandmother calls after her from the garden.

Yuna is good at only hearing what she really wants to hear, so she just keeps running and yanks open the big wooden door.

"Dad!"

She jumps up and wraps herself around Jungkook's neck. He already knows this warm greetings and forms almost automatically a seat with his muscular arms for the little angel. Grinning broadly, he gives her a kiss on her cheek and enters his parents' house. Every time he enters his old home, he is reminded of his childhood by the happy memories that surround this building. Jungkook often feels bad because he couldn't give Yuna the same carefree childhood. Of course, she's still a child at the age of four, but many things could have been different in the past few years. Fate doesn't always treat you well - Jungkook knows best.

"Hey, little tiger. How was it with grandma and grandpa?"

He tries to hide his disappointment about the last kindergarten visit but Yuna notices it anyway. Hiding something from her? Impossible.

"Daddy, are you sad?" she asks with a cute pout.

"Dad is fine, don't worry."

Still holding her in his arms, he takes off his brown leather shoes and continues to talk.

"But I asked you a question. So, tell me about your day."

"Grandma and I gave a poor snail water in the garden."

Jungkook has to grin and continues down the hall.

"That's very sweet of you."

"Also, we watched butterflies together. The yellow ones are called brimstone butterflies, the red ones who has eyes on their wings are called peacock butterflies, and the white ones are cabbage white butterflies. Grandma told me all that."

"Now you know even more than I do. What about grandpa?"

"Well, what do you think? Of course, he was asleep."

Obviously, he still does. When they enter the living room, he's fast asleep in a position where Jungkook would have thought sleeping is impossible. Taking a nap on a sofa is amazing and Jungkook misses it sometimes. The good thing is that grandpa isn't really sensitive to noise, so they don't need to feel guilty about laughing and talking.

From the living room it goes directly into the garden. The door is open and Jungkook has already recognized from afar through the large window that his mother welcomes him with a bright smile. He, however, loses his smile as the cobblestones, warmed by the sun, suddenly feel like fire under his feet.

"Damn, they're hot!"

Reflexively, he takes another few steps back so that his feet are safe again on the cold floor.

Despite wearing black wool socks, he clearly felt the heat attacking his skin within a few seconds. Yuna can't help but giggle.

"And you walk around barefoot?" Jungkook asks horrified.

"Outside, she wears her sandals. Don't worry, grandma is taking care," his mother answers lovingly. Judging by the dirty rubber gloves, she was weeding before.

Yuna's sudden puppy-dog eyes reveal her next question even before she uses words.

"The kindergarten wasn't good, right?" the disappointment is clearly reflected in her voice.

"Sweetheart, I'd like to wait for tomorrow before I make a decision."

"Why can't I accompany you?"

At first, Jungkook takes a deep breath. It's indeed a valid question.

"Well..."

"She's right..." Grandma interjects "...just take her with you tomorrow."

"I don't think I can."

"Why not?" Yuna throws into the room.

The whining has started, which Jungkook doesn't like at all. Admittedly, he has a hard time saying "no" to his daughter and sometimes he hates himself for it.

"Yuna, I'd have to clarify that first," he tries to soothe her.

"Good idea! There's a phone next to you, why don't you just call the kindergarten?"

As usual, grandma is on Yuna's side, while Jungkook just wants to spare her sights like today's kindergarten. But can things ever get worse? In fact, tomorrow's kindergarten is the only hope for anything reasonable.

"All right."

Jungkook concedes defeat and sets his daughter back down, who looks at him expectantly. Reluctantly, he reaches for the phone.

"Then, I'm going to make a phone call now."

[Kitchen]

Jungkook hates making phone calls. Secretly, he wishes with every single beep that no one will pick up. But for Yuna's sake, he stays on the line a little longer...until a deep and calming voice shows up:

"Kindergarten "Rainbow", you're talking to Kim Taehyung, how may I help?

Cover made by @_BLACKSPADESZ