Playing Pretend (Taekook)

1. some things shatter, some things bloom

It's a sunny day.

Taehyung opens the window and breathes in the pleasant breeze that passes by. He cannot help but smile at the way it gently caresses his skin and brings forth the gentle aroma of freshly bloomed flowers from the garden right outside. He wonders if he can plant some daisies as well. He needs to talk with teacher Ahn regarding the flowers.

"Ah, Taehyung-ssi." The person in question calls his name, walking inside the classroom. "Are you done with the morning preparations?"

Taehyung nods and opens the other window as well, before walking over to help Teacher Ahn, or Ahn Hyun Woo, his colleague and friend, with placing the colouring books on each table. "I think the kids will love the day activities today. I'm pretty sure even the quiet Sohee will be engaging with the colouring class. Thanks for helping me."

Hyunwoo smiles and hands Taehyung the basket of colour paints. "I only hope it won't be as messy." He even makes a face and that makes Taehyung chuckle.

"It's fine if they do. Children will learn through the messes they create. It's a beautiful part of growing up. We should be happy to witness that growth, don't you think?"

"Maybe I would be a 100% happy if I had your patience to deal with children." Hyunwoo nudges Taehyung's shoulder, who waves him off with his hand. "I do love my job, and I do love children. But they can be a bit...much, sometimes."

"And that's why we need to have patience." Taehyung laughs.

"Well, true."

It's not like Taehyung did not have days when he's exhausted to the bone after a day's worth of work. He's a pre-school teacher and knows it's a profession that can be taxing at times because of having to deal with children most of the day. But he loves his job and he has always been passionate about working with children for as long as he can remember, so maybe he does not really have much to complain about what he does.

"Did you hear the rumours?" Hyunwoo suddenly asks, bringing Taehyung out of his thoughts.

"What rumours?"

"Apparently a few parents saw suspicious figures loitering around a few blocks away from this school. With the media reporting about recent kidnappings, the parents are a little worried about the children around this area. Especially because there's a school here."

Taehyung frowns. "That's concerning." He had not seen any suspicious figures, but the kidnapping cases had been apparent on the news, so he does get a little worried about the rumour.

"The school director has asked for an emergency meeting today. Do you think it could be about that?"

"Maybe. We should be cautious as well."

-

The last student had been picked up by his father and Taehyung waves him goodbye with a smile. He has no expectations about how the rest of his day will go as he chats with his colleague as they clean up and prepare for the next day, as he waves them goodbye and goes towards his small apartment a few blocks away from the school. His daily routine is pretty monotonous but Taehyung does not have any regrets. That particular day though, Taehyung receives a call from one of his closest friend—Jimin, something about wanting to meet if he is free. Taehyung agrees, of course. It had been long since they had seen each other anyway.

"Why do you look like that?" Is the first thing Taehyung says when he enters Jimin's cute little cafe and sees him manning the register.

Jimin pouts at him in greeting, and Taehyung chuckles handing over a cupcake he had picked up for Jimin on the way.