The Bangtan Baby

Bora's First Christmas

The Kim/Chu household was a little bit different than normal households in Seoul, South Korea. While most Koreans didn't go all out for Christmas, Grace grew up in England with an English mother and Korean father so she had all the full experience of Christmas. Even in Germany, they went all out.

So that tradition continued when they moved back to Korea, when Grace joined the boys in the dorm for the first time, when they moved to their subsequent dorms and into her own home and finally the home she shared with Seokjin and their eight-month-old daughter.

Bora was crawling up a storm and had nearly started to form words, nearly getting there but not quite making it. The lights on the Christmas tree always caught her attention and her small fingers played with the baubles that she could just about reach but her father always swooped in before she could pull it off.

It was like having a second Min-ji at times. The cat had calmed down since his first Christmas, having knocked down the tree and everything with it. The more it appeared, the more he grew bored of it until he liked to sleep underneath it so his long tail could swish at the lights.

"My Bora, are you ready for your first Christmas?" Seokjin asked, adjusting his grasp so he was more comfortable holding the eight-month-old. Her fingers reached up and grabbed hold of his nose, giving it a squeeze which made her laugh. "I'll take that as a yes."

"Come here you little rascal, I hadn't finished putting on your shoes," Grace sighed as she finally spotted where her daughter was. "Don't you want to see the Seoul Lantern Festival? That should tire you out."

It was a little struggle to get shoes on and to get her wrapped up in a coat with some gloves and a little hat but as long as she was in her father's arms, she was quiet and content. After a 15 minute drive and a 10 minute search for a parking space, the couple with their daughter were walking along the Cheonggyecheon Stream.

They were masked up, hats on, and no distinct tags that shouted they were part of BTS. No bodyguards to give it all a way - just a young family enjoying what Seoul had to offer for Christmas.

"At least she's enjoying herself," Grace chuckled from where she was resting her head against Seokjin's arm, their daughter still in his grasp. Bora's tiny eyes were taking it all in but every now and then she would close them, have a five second nap then they would pop open when there was a new sound.

"Just wait until everyone arrives for Christmas, she won't know what to do then," Seokjin grinned. They had planned a not-so-traditional Christmas dinner with both sets of parents, Seokjin's brother and his wife with their two sons and the rest of Bangtan. All boys forgoing any schedules or events to spend time with Bora, to experience her first Christmas with them.

Jungkook had already made plans to take over his room again on Christmas Eve, having bought everyone matching pyjamas (a photo which would later be uploaded to social media and spread like wildfire over how cute it was).

"Come on," Seokjin groaned and adjusted the now heavy child. "Let's get this tuckered out one home and get wrapping presents."

"I think your more excited than you let on," Grace chuckled as she reached over to adjust the hat that kept sliding off.

"Excited to see my daughter's first Christmas? You must be kidding. I want to see Jungkook's face when he realises he got a lump of coal."