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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Author
It's dinner.
Just a dinner.
I'll be fine, I tell myself as my conscience screams at me that I'll screw it up somehow.
I'm not nervous at all, I say as my hands shake.
I got this, I try to convince my ever-so-embarrassing self.
"Mr. Kim!"
Surprised at the sudden voice, I jerk, making some of the coffee in my mug spill onto my desktop. I look down at the young student standing beside me, staring up at me with large eyes.
I clear my throat before speaking. "What do you need, Taehyung?"
He points over at the shelf. "Could you help me get some markers? I can't reach them."
"Oh, yeah. Sure." I get to my feet and follow the boy to the shelf filled with craft supplies. I grab a box of markers and hand them to him.
He gives me a big smile. "Thanks, teacher!"
"You're very welcome." I glance over to one of the more empty tables. Seokjin's son sits on one side, looking sadly at the two best friends on the other side laughing with each other. I look back down at my student. "Hey, Taehyung, could you do me a favor?"
"Of course!"
"Please go over and play with Jimin. He looks lonely."
Taehyung turns and gazes at the smaller boy. "That's Kim Jimin? No way! He's so cute."
I chuckle. "Yes. Very cute." He gets it from his father. "Could you be his friend? I can guarantee you he wants to be yours."
"Okay!" He hurries over and sits beside Jimin. He definitely shocks the older boy, but Taehyung continues to talk nonsense, and in a few seconds Jimin is grinning.
The sight makes my heart swell. I'll tell Seokjin about this tonight.
The day goes by rather quickly, and I'm torn between being happy or terrified that I'm only a few hours away from my first date with Seokjin, a man who I've had a crush on since Jimin's first day in my class.
I remember seeing the boy for the first time, how shy he was. Every single time his father tried to tell him to let go of his leg, Jimin would only cry and hold on tighter. It took nearly twenty minutes until Seokjin could leave.
For the rest of the school day, Jimin said nothing and refused to look at me. I was hurt, really. He also hated me for the next few weeks which made it especially hard to teach him a new lesson everyday.
But, as we got further along, Jimin started to stop acting out and participate in class. I was surprised when I walked into the classroom and the young boy stood beside my desk, homework in hand. Turns out, he had become very good friends with an older student a grade above him named Hoseok. The two hung out together at recess and lunch, and the first time I saw Jimin smile was when his hyung told him a joke.
The two are still friends, but since Hoseok is in another grade, they don't see each other. It seemed to be going fine, but Jimin eventually started to retreat back into his shell. It was painful to watch such beautiful smile change into a frown.
I couldn't be happier Taehyung came to this school.
The bell rings before I know it, and the hair on my arms stand up straight. Already?! I stand and clear my throat before explaining, "Okay, class, be sure to clean up your tables. Your parents should be here soon."
I help my students put the supplies away and pack up their own belongings. Parents start to enter to grab their kid and leave. Some thank me but others don't give me a second glance. Rude, I think to myself. Most of my students have left by this point.
"Yoongi-hyung!"
I look over to see Taehyung running across the room to hug an older man, one with bleached hair and a short stature. He smirks and pats the boy on his head. "Hey, kid. You ready to go?"
"Yeah!" He runs over to grab his backpack and his craft from his personal cubby. Jimin, from his spot at the table, watches him, his full lips pouting.
"Teacher!"
My attention diverts to Taehyung. "Yes?"
"Can you get my lunch box please?" he asks, standing on his tiptoes and pointing to a top shelf. I look at it in confusion. How'd it get up there? I retrieve it for him. He smiles wide and waves before running back to his hyung.
It's hard to miss the sad expression on Jimin's face as he leaves.
I go over and kneel next to him. "He'll be back tomorrow. Then you two can hang out all day," I try, hoping it'll cheer him up.
It doesn't. He turns his head slowly toward me and gives me a nod. Tears well up in his eyes.
"Let's get you packed up, okay?"
Nodding again, he holds out his short arms to me. I comply and scoop him up before setting him on my hip and carrying him over to his cubby.
"Tae, what are you-get back here!"
The two of us turn toward the commotion to see Taehyung running back into the classroom. "Hyung, I have to said goodbye to my friend!"
Jimin starts to squirm in my hold, telling me he wants to be let down. His feet touch the floor and Taehyung embraces Jimin in a big hug that makes me smile. "Sorry, Jiminie! I forgot to say bye." He pulls back and waves, says, "I'll see you tomorrow, best friend!" then runs off toward his hyung, who is also grinning at the boy's action. The two disappear out into the hallway again.
I glimpse down at Jimin.
He has the biggest smile I've ever seen. He looks up at me. "I have a best friend" is all he tells me.
"Yes, Jimin. You do." I hand him his backpack. "Now, lets get you packed up. The sooner you get home, do your homework, and get to sleep, the dinner you get to see him."
I've never seen a child pack up faster.
Eventually, Jimin is the only one left. From my spot at my desk, I glance at the clock. He's twenty minutes late. I hope he's alright.
Jimin stares down the door, as if challenging it to open.
"Jimin, did your father tell you about any plans he had today?"
He shakes his head. "No. Not until his date."
My face heats up. "His...his what?"
He tilts his head to the side. "His date with you. That was all he talked about yesterday. This morning too." He looks down at the table in confusion. "I don't think my daddy has been so excited about something before."
