Comfort | Taekook

Six

"Kookie!"

"Honorifics, Jinnie." Jungkoook said, smiling at the little girl. She giggled happily and completely ignored his comment, running and enveloping him into a hug.

"I had the best day today! Jiminie took us to the local market and we all got to see stores and lots of different colored foods! It was a lot of fun, and a lot funner than the store Daddy takes me to."

"I see."

"Did anybody see the drawing I made for you?" Jungkook flinched at the sudden question, but he forced a smile to his face, nodding.

"Of course. And they all loved it, promise."

"Really?" Jinnie squealed.

"Yes." Jungkook nodded. "They said that you were such a gifted artist, and that it was a beautiful drawing. The colors really drew everyone's eyes. They couldn't take their eyes off of it. I had some people that even wants the drawing for themselves, it was so good, but I didn't give it away. It's too special."

Jin-ho 's attention was suddenly snatched by another little girl, yelling for her to come and play. She nodded and ran off, leaving Jungkook to his own devices.

He stood and walked over to the front of the classroom, finding Jimin talking to a little boy. The teacher finally stood, done helping him with spelling, and turned. "Jungkookie!" Jungkook smiled, accepting the hug the man gave him.

"Hyung."

"My PA meeting starts in an hour, you're okay with staying with the kids until Mrs. Eun arrives?"

"I always am, you know that."

"Do you need some money for the bus?"

"You know I don't." Jimin sighed.

"Jungkook, you know I don't like you walking home every night. I can give you the change for the bus fare, I really don't mind."

"I-it's Fine."

"It's not. You don't live in the best of neighborhoods, either, and I would feel nicer knowing you're getting home safer."

"Mr. Kim has been giving me rides, these past few days." Jungkook finally admitted. "When he comes late from a meeting. He took me to school, today, too." Jungkook felt his cheeks heating up at that.

Jimin gave him a suspicious look, his eyes narrowing. "He's been what?"

"I-is there something wrong with that?" Jungkook asked, suddenly growing worried.

"No. But Taehyungcan sometimes get ahead of himself. He doesn't always think things through. When's your birthday again?"

"N-next year. September."

"You're turning eighteen?"

"Yes."

"Okay..."

"W-Why?"

"No reason. But you're a senior this year, right?"

"Yeah. I graduate after this year!" Jungkook smiled at that.

"You've always been smart, Jungkookie." Jimin ruffled the boy's hair. "And what college did you decide on?"

"Oh...I'm going to the community one for now. I-i have to save up..."

"Jungkook..." Jimin sighed. "You told me that you got accepted into all of the Uni's you applied to."

"I did! B-but I can't afford them right now..."

"Won't your father pay for college? Surely he wants you to succeed. I know that your family is tight for money right now, but surely—"

"I wouldn't want him to worry." Jungkook quickly explained. "I'm saving up myself for college. It might take awhile, but I'll get there. Right now I'll just get my generals done...maybe get a job doing construction or something."

"Construction?"

"It pays well. Better than a convenience store job or something." Jungkook shrugged, looking down.

Jimin bit his bottom lip, feeling bad for him. He knew Jungkook had it rough at home, although he didn't know the full extent.

He felt bad. He knew how much Jungkook wanted to be a teacher, how good he was with kids, and how happy it made him. But at this rate, it looked like Jungkook was just pushing it off, because he couldn't afford it. He was letting things like money stop him.

"Did you ever think of a loan?"

"I-I don't want a loan...not a big one, anyway. M-maybe once I have some more aged up I can think about getting a loan..."

Jimin nodded along. "Jungkook, if you ever need help, you know you can call me. I'd be glad to help—"

"You've already done so much for me, Hyung. Really. You let me come and help you with the kids and help with lessons sometimes, and that's more than I could ever hope to expect. Thank you, really." Jungkook didn't want to take advantage of the man's kindness. He already felt bad, how much he relied on Jimin as it was.

So he simply smiled and brushed off the topic, the third time Jimin had tried starting the conversation. Jungkook didn't want to tell Jimin just how bad he had it, he didn't want anybody to find out.

Jungkook distanced himself, helping out another child with some book, helping him to read through it, effectively cutting off Jimin's chances of trying to spark up the conversation again.

Finally, the teacher had to go to his meeting, so he said his goodbyes to his students and headed off.

Jungkook greeted the parents who came to pick up thief children with a smile, keeping everybody else entertained until their parents came.

Mrs. eun came in last, as always, smiling and thanking jUngkook for staying so late.

Finally, it was just him and Jin-ho, who was quietly coloring in the corner.

"Is your daddy coming soon?"

"Oh, he said to just wait until everyone else was gone and then to come out. I'm supposed to wait and come out with you! Daddy already told the desk lady, so let's go!"

"O-oh..." Jungkook felt his cheeks heating up at that fact. Jin-ho grabbed her bag and her coat, grabbing Jungkook's hand then and skipping out of the classroom.