Canvas of love

Bitter Beginnings, Sweet Endings (2/2)

Later that afternoon, Taehyung decided to take Jungkook to the mall for a shopping.

He had been feeling a deep sense of sadness for Jungkook after their earlier conversation that morning, where he had asked Jungkook to show him what clothes he owned. To his dismay, Taehyung discovered that Jungkook barely had any decent clothing to his name. The young boy only possessed a single pair of well-worn shoes that he had been wearing and no skincare products for his baby-soft skin. As Taehyung looked at Jungkook's meager belongings, a pang of heartache washed over him. It was clear that no one had taken the time to care for Jungkook properly.

While rummaging through his limited possessions, Jungkook shyly showed Taehyung his one cherished friend, Mr. Bunbun, a fluffy bunny stuffed toy.
Jungkook hesitated before introducing it, his voice barely above a whisper as he explained that the soft toy had been a gift from his parents.
The innocence in Jungkook's eyes brought a small smile to Taehyung's face, yet the sight of the tattered toy deeply tugged at his heartstrings. It was worn and faded, a stark reminder of how neglected Jungkook must have felt during his time living in his uncle's house before their marriage.
In that moment, Taehyung realized the extent of Jungkook's struggles and the emotional scars left by a troubled upbringing.

At Mall

Tae stepped out of the car in front of the bustling mall. He walked over to the passenger side, where he found Koo struggling with his seatbelt. A smile spread across Tae's face at the sight; Koo's brows were furrowed in concentration, and his lips were formed into an adorable pout as he tugged at the stubborn strap.

"Lemme help you, Kookie,"
Tae said gently, reaching in to assist.

With a deft movement, he unclipped the seatbelt and helped Koo out of the car, noticing how the little one's eyes sparkled with a mixture of frustration and determination.

As Koo hopped down and adjusted his little shirt, he mumbled,
"Sowwy, Dadda..."

The words were barely audible, but Tae caught the hint of sadness in his voice.

"Why are you sorry?"
Tae asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Koo pouted even more, his round eyes casting downward as he replied,

"Koo uelesh..."
His voice trailed off, revealing his feelings of inadequacy.

Tae felt sad hearing Koo speak so lowly of himself. Crouching down to Koo's level, he said gently,

"It's okay, Kookie. I wasn't always good at this either. When Dad first bought his car, I struggled with the seatbelt too. Once, I couldn't get it off and ended up cutting it with scissors!"
He chuckled, hoping to lighten the mood with the memory.

Koo's eyes widened in surprise, and then he burst into giggles.

"Weally???? Dadda sho dum!"
His laughter was infectious, ringing like music in the air, and Tae felt his heart flutter at the sound. It was a beautiful melody, one that filled him with warmth and joy.

Tae chuckled softly, his own smile widening as he held Koo's tiny hand in his. With a gentle squeeze, he led Koo toward the entrance of the mall.

Tae spent the day shopping for Koo, excited to find items that would bring him joy. He carefully selected colorful shirts, cozy sweaters, cute shoes and skincare products for him. With each choice, he felt a growing warmth in his chest, a blend of affection and protectiveness for Koo.

Koo, with his bright eyes and round face, closely followed Tae, gripping the corner of Tae's coat. His awe-filled gaze reflected innocence and trust, softening the hearts of those around them. Passersby couldn't help but smile at the genuine connection between the two.