if i had a daughter 》 Park Jimin

a dream

The soft, warm light of the late afternoon stretched over the quiet coastal town, casting a golden glow on everything it touched. Jimin and Jungkook sat side by side on the sand, looking out at the ocean, its endless waves mirroring the emotions neither dared to voice. They had decided on one last trip before they enlisted in their military service, just the two of them, to laugh, reminisce, and avoid thinking about what lay ahead.

"Can you believe it's our last weeks as... civilians?" Jungkook murmured, pulling his knees to his chest.

Jimin chuckled softly, looking down at the sand between his fingers. "I know."

Jungkook gave him a small smile, and they sat in companionable silence for a while, letting the steady sound of the waves fill the spaces between them.

After a few moments, they decided to walk along the shore, chatting about old memories and silly moments shared over the years. They laughed and reminisced until a sudden voice interrupted their thoughts.

"Look, umma! Look at the shells I found!"

Jimin turned toward the voice and saw a little girl, no more than three or four, holding up a shell to her mother, her face lit up with pride. Her giggles were contagious, her joy as pure as the ocean breeze. She bounced toward her mother with a shell in each hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Jimin felt his heart catch in his chest, struck by a surprising warmth and softness he hadn't expected. The scene was so simple, yet so beautiful: a child and her mother sharing a moment of pure, innocent joy. For reasons he couldn't fully explain, he was mesmerized. He could imagine himself, one day, with a little girl like her, sharing moments of laughter and care.

Jungkook, noticing his friend's distraction, nudged him with a soft chuckle. "Hyung, you're staring."

Startled, Jimin blinked, then laughed a little. "Am I?" He turned back to the little girl, who was now examining a flower with rapt attention, her tiny fingers reaching out to touch the delicate petals.

"She's cute," Jimin admitted, his voice softened with awe. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like... to have a family of your own?"

Jungkook's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Whoa, hyung! Are you thinking of becoming a dad already?"

Jimin chuckled, a touch of color rising to his cheeks, though his gaze lingered on the girl. "I don't know... maybe? I've never thought about it much, but... watching her, it's different. I think..." He trailed off, the weight of a new dream settling deep in his chest, its roots taking hold before he fully realized it was even there.

"Maybe one day," Jimin said, almost to himself. "It would be nice to have someone to come home to... someone who looks at you like that, with so much trust."

Jungkook, ever the playful younger brother, leaned in and whispered, "Jimin-ssi, are you saying you want to settle down?"

Jimin gave him a playful shove but couldn't deny the warmth that spread through his chest. "I think... I'd want her to feel safe. I want to give her everything—stability, love, everything she deserves."

As they walked back, Jimin couldn't shake the feeling. That small, innocent encounter with the little girl had awakened something in him. His heart felt lighter but full, as if he had just discovered a hidden part of himself. It lingered in his mind like the lingering warmth of the setting sun. The realization felt surreal, yet entirely genuine: he wanted a family, a daughter perhaps, someone he could love unconditionally.

"Hey," Jungkook put a hand on his shoulder. "You'd make an amazing dad, Jimin-ah. And who knows? Dreams have a way of coming true."

Jimin took a deep breath, a sense of calm washing over him. He held onto that moment, a little spark of hope igniting in his chest.

~

A few weeks later, the bustling streets of Seoul felt far less comforting than the peaceful ocean waves he had left behind. The weight of military service loomed ever closer, yet amidst his own nerves and preparations, his thoughts kept drifting back to that moment on the beach. The little girl's face, her laughter, and the way she clung to her mother... it lingered in his mind like a memory he couldn't let go of.

And so, on an afternoon when his schedule finally allowed it, he found himself standing in front of an adoption agency. He hadn't told anyone, hadn't planned this visit, but he felt a pull—a quiet but undeniable tug that led him there.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside. The lobby was modest but warm, decorated with soft colors and photographs of children—bright, smiling faces filled with hope and innocence. A woman at the front desk looked up and greeted him with a gentle smile.

"Hello, how can I help you?" she asked.

"I... I was wondering if I could get some information on adoption," Jimin replied, his voice steady but his heart racing.

"Of course," the woman said, her eyes kind. "Are you interested in applying?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation, surprising even himself with the conviction in his voice. "I know that it might take time. I still have to serve my duty... but when I'm done, I want to be ready. I want to give a child the love and care she deserves."

The woman's smile deepened, understanding in her gaze. "That's very admirable of you. There are many children who would be blessed to have a parent like you."

Jimin filled out the initial paperwork with a strange sense of peace. As he signed his name, he felt a quiet certainty, a new purpose that had rooted itself deep within him.

Once he had completed everything, he thanked the woman and left, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. When he stepped out onto the bustling street, the city seemed somehow quieter, as if his heart had found a way to drown out the noise.