Should Be You | Jikook ✔️

Chapter 1

The afternoon was slowly turning into evening, and the bright sunlight had dimmed into a warm amber color that gently spread across the empty playground. The laughter and noise that had filled the area earlier had disappeared, and most of the children had already been picked up by their parents or guardians. Only a few children were still there, scattered quietly around the space, including Ahrin and Jungwoo, who were sitting close together on the wide concrete steps in front of the school building. Jimin stood a short distance away, his eyes moving between the remaining children and the school gate, making sure everyone stayed safe and calm while waiting for the last of the parents to arrive. He had been standing there for some time, his hands lightly folded in front of him, occasionally glancing at his watch to check the time, but he remained focused on the children, watching their quiet movements and small conversations while the sky continued to darken little by little.

Jungwoo was sitting on the steps with his knees pulled tightly to his chest, his arms wrapped around them, and his eyes focused on a small spot on the ground in front of him. He had tripped and fallen earlier while playing, and although he was no longer crying, his face still showed signs of discomfort and unease. He remained quiet, not speaking or looking up, as if he was still processing the scare from earlier. Beside him, Ahrin sat with her legs swinging gently and her body slightly turned toward Jungwoo.

She had not stopped talking since they sat down, her voice clear and cheerful as she described what she had done that day, including what she ate for lunch, the game she played during recess, and the funny thing her seatmate said in class. Every few sentences, she paused to look at Jungwoo, her face hopeful, waiting to see if he would say anything back. Even though he didn't answer, she kept talking, trying to lift the quiet mood with her lively presence and determined to make him feel better without directly asking what was wrong.

"Jungwoo, did you know I found a ladybug today?" Ahrin said with excitement, her voice slightly louder than before as she leaned a bit closer to him, her eyes wide and filled with energy. "It was on one of the flowers near the swings. I named her Dotty because she has so many dots on her back! Do you like ladybugs?" She waited patiently, her hands resting on her knees as she looked at him with interest.

Jungwoo lifted his head slightly, giving her a small nod. "Yeah... they're nice."

Ahrin's face brightened even more at his reply, and without missing a beat, she continued, her words coming quickly as if the idea had just formed in her head. "Maybe we can look for more ladybugs tomorrow! They like to hide in the grass, you know. We could even make a little house for them with leaves and sticks. What do you think?" She tilted her head slightly, watching his face for a reaction.

Jungwoo's lips curved into a tiny smile at her suggestion, and he nodded again. "That sounds fun..."

Jimin stood quietly nearby, his arms loosely crossed as he watched the two children on the steps. A faint smile touched his lips as he observed Ahrin's gentle persistence and Jungwoo's slow but genuine responses. He knew Jungwoo wasn't the most talkative kid—most days, the boy would mumble a quiet goodbye and slip away without much more—but now, here he was, nodding along to Ahrin's chatter, even managing a small smile. It was the kind of thing that didn't need any big moment or grand gesture—it was just honest, simple, and real. Jimin felt something warm in his chest. Moments like this reminded him why he cared so much about being here.

Their conversation continued, light and full of little plans about ladybugs and leaf houses, when the sound of quick footsteps suddenly pulled Jimin's attention toward the school gate. He turned his head and spotted a woman hurrying toward them, her breath uneven, like she'd been rushing for a while. Her eyes swept across the quiet playground, scanning desperately until they landed on Ahrin. The relief on her face was instant—her shoulders dropped, her pace slowed just a little—but that moment of calm was short-lived. Worry crept back in just as quickly. She didn't take her eyes off her niece, her steps gaining speed again as if she needed to close the distance fast, maybe to make sure Ahrin was really okay, maybe just to feel her close. Jimin straightened up slightly, ready to reassure her if needed, already familiar with the mix of emotions that came with late pickups and long days.