𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐠𝐚'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝 [𝗄𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗏]

Chapter Seven

~~~

The sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, casting warm, golden rays across the room.

The children were seated at their desks, heads bent low as they immersed themselves in their drawings. Laughter and whispers filled the air, a symphony of innocence and joy.

Yet, amidst the vibrant activity, Jeongguk sat silently at his desk, staring at the blank sheet of paper before him. His small hands clutched the pencil, but his mind was clouded with hesitation.

What could he draw when nothing felt familiar? Nothing felt like his.

"You know Mrs. Han will get upset if you don't draw something," a soft voice whispered beside him.

Jeongguk's head turned slightly, his wide eyes meeting the kind gaze of a boy sitting next to him. The boy's cheeks dimpled with a small, encouraging smile, his messy hair falling over his forehead.

"Okay," Jeongguk replied quietly, his voice barely audible as he dropped his gaze back to the blank paper.

"Are you the new kid? From Luna's house?" the boy asked, tilting his head as he studied Jeongguk's profile.

Jeongguk's heart thudded. So they already knew who he was. The weight of their expectations, their curiosity, made him feel even smaller.

"Yes," he whispered again, his cheeks turning pink.

The boy grinned, his teeth bright against his tanned skin. "Wow, you're lucky. He's so... cool. And so pretty, isn't he?" The boy placed a hand over his mouth, laughing softly so the teacher wouldn't hear.

Jeongguk turned toward him, frowning slightly. "What do you mean? He's our Luna, you—"

"I'm Mingyu," the boy said, cutting him off before Jeongguk could finish. "And you're Jeongguk, right? I heard about you. I'm an alpha."

Jeongguk blinked, a little startled by Mingyu's confidence. After a moment, he nodded. "Yes, I'm Jeongguk."

Before he could say anything more, Mrs. Han's voice rang out. "Okay, children, it's time to pack up. Bring your drawings tomorrow!" She smiled warmly before stepping out of the classroom as the bell rang, signaling lunch.

Mingyu turned back to Jeongguk, his expression cheerful. "Do you have lunch? Did you bring anything to eat?"

Jeongguk's shoulders sagged a little. He shook his head. It was his first day, and he hadn't thought about things like lunchboxes or sandwiches.

Mingyu didn't hesitate. With a quick, practiced motion, he pulled his lunchbox from his bag and opened it. "Don't worry. We can share."

Jeongguk's eyes widened slightly. "You don't have to—"

"I want to." Mingyu smiled again, breaking his sandwich in half and handing a piece to Jeongguk. "Here, take it. We're friends now, okay?"

Jeongguk hesitated, but the sincerity in Mingyu's smile warmed something inside him. Slowly, he reached out and accepted the sandwich. For the first time that day, a small, shy smile spread across his face.

"Thank you," he said softly, his voice laced with gratitude.

And in that small moment, in the warmth of a shared lunch and a newfound friendship, Jeongguk felt something he hadn't felt in a long time—he felt seen.

He wasn't just the new kid or the boy from Luna's house. He was Jeongguk, and someone wanted to be his friend.

~~~

As Taehyung stepped out of Namjoon's office, his purpose clear—picking up Jeongguk from school after long hours of work—he felt a slight buzz of anticipation.

"Take care, son!" Namjoon called out warmly as Taehyung closed the glass door behind him.

Walking toward the elevator, Taehyung acknowledged the bows of the employees with polite smiles, even though the deference always felt a little unnecessary to him.

The constant respect as a Luna-to-be was something he had grown accustomed to, but not something he particularly enjoyed.

Once outside, he slid into his sleek car and started the drive to Jeongguk's school. The thought of seeing his six-year-old mate after hours apart filled him with an inexplicable warmth—and, as always, a faint guilt.

Pulling up in front of the school, the guard opened the car door for him and bowed, as usual.

Taehyung offered a small smile in return, resisting the urge to tell him for the hundredth time that such gestures weren't necessary.

He stepped out and leaned casually against the car, scanning the school gates. The area was crowded with parents coming to pick up their children, but the moment people noticed him, they instinctively stepped aside, creating a clear path for their Luna.

He shook his head softly at their overly reverent behavior, choosing instead to wait like everyone else.

Inside the schoolyard, Jeongguk was saying his goodbyes. "It was nice meeting you, Jeongguk," Mingyu, his classmate, said brightly before running toward his mother.

Jeongguk noticed the smile on Mingyu's face falter as he approached the woman, but being a child, he didn't linger on it.

Instead, his eyes immediately found Taehyung near the gates. His heart swelled when he saw him.

Hyung came to pick me up, just like other kids' parents do.

A shy but genuine smile spread across Jeongguk's face as he neared Taehyung, who was scrolling through his phone, completely unaware of the small boy's approach.

"Hyung," Jeongguk whispered softly, just loud enough for Taehyung to hear.

Taehyung looked up and, seeing Jeongguk's beaming face, immediately pocketed his phone. He knelt down to greet him, his expression full of warmth. "Hello, Gguk," he said tenderly.

For a moment, Jeongguk just stared at him, Mingyu's earlier words echoing in his mind:

He's so pretty.

Jeongguk let his gaze travel over Taehyung's face—the way his soft, brown hair fell perfectly around his sharp yet delicate features; the slight shimmer of his glossed lips that seemed to always hold a comforting smile; the way his almond-shaped eyes sparkled with kindness.

Indeed, Taehyung was beautiful, and Jeongguk found himself mesmerized.

"I guess you're doing okay," Taehyung said, standing up when he noticed Jeongguk hadn't responded.

Opening the car door for Jeongguk, Taehyung asked gently, "Did you have lunch? I'm so sorry, I forgot to pack something for you."

"It's okay, Hyung. Mingyu shared his lunch with me," Jeongguk replied softly. It was the longest sentence Taehyung had ever heard from him, and for a moment, he just stared at the boy in disbelief.

"Hah? Mingyu? Who's he?" Taehyung asked, a curious smile on his face.

"My classmate. He came out with me, but you were busy with your phone, so you didn't notice," Jeongguk explained matter-of-factly. His words flowed so naturally, it caught Taehyung off guard.

"Oh, sorry about that. I'll meet him tomorrow then," Taehyung said with a chuckle. "Hey, want to grab something to eat on the way home?"

Jeongguk nodded shyly, but his smile didn't waver. Taehyung's chest filled with warmth. It was such a small thing—hearing Jeongguk talk more, seeing him open up—but it meant the world to him.

Maybe bringing him to school wasn't such a bad idea after all.

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