Jungkook sat in his room, perched on the edge of his bed with his legs swinging back and forth. The day’s events played on a loop in his mind, especially the moment when Y/n had boldly pushed him into the pool.

No one had ever stood up to him like that, especially not another child. His small brow furrowed as he tried to comprehend how a girl, a mere five-year-old, could have the nerve to defy him.

It was fascinating. Everyone else he encountered, from maids to playmates, always gave in to his demands, bowing to his will, but not her.

He muttered to himself, deep in thought, "She must have her name on a bigger plane than mine. That's why she can do that. No other reason." He pouted slightly, feeling a pang of jealousy at the thought.

He couldn't imagine any other explanation for her audacity. She had something that made her special, something that allowed her to stand up to him without flinching.

For the first time, someone had challenged him, and instead of feeling angry, he felt... intrigued. Who was this girl who dared to oppose him?

He continued to pace, his small feet making soft thuds on the plush carpet, when his mother, Mirae, walked into the room. She had a gentle smile on her face, though her eyes showed traces of the day's weariness.

Behind her followed one of Jungkook’s many maids, a young woman with a cheerful disposition, always ready to work for her young master.

"Jungkook," Mirae called softly, watching as her son froze mid-step. "Let’s get you ready. Our neighbors, the Lee family, have invited us over for dinner."

Jungkook stopped in his tracks, his expression immediately shifting to one of displeasure. "I don’t want to go," he declared, crossing his arms stubbornly.

His earlier thoughts were quickly forgotten as the prospect of a boring dinner replaced them.

Mirae sighed but didn’t press further. She knew her son’s moods all too well. "Please get him dressed, Minji," she instructed the maid, giving Jungkook one last look before leaving the room.

Minji, the maid, approached Jungkook with a smile. She began sifting through the closet, picking out a few outfits that would be suitable for the evening.

"How about this one, Master Jungkook?" she asked, holding up a navy blue suit with a matching bow tie.

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed as he snatched the suit from her hands, tossing it onto the floor with a huff. "I’m not going. I don't care about these stupid clothes."

Minji’s smile didn’t falter. She had been through this routine many times before. “Oh, but it’s such a lovely suit,” she said, picking up another outfit. “And wouldn’t you want to look your best tonight?”

Jungkook just shook his head, tossing aside every piece of clothing Minji presented to him.

Seeing that the usual coaxing wasn’t working, Minji decided to change tactics. She leaned down closer to Jungkook, her voice soft and slightly teasing.

“You know, we’re going to the home of that girl from earlier. The one you called your ‘little one.’ I bet she’d love to see you dressed up nicely.”

Jungkook froze, his hands still in the middle of tossing another shirt.

His cheek puffed out as he processed what Minji had said, trying to hide his sudden interest. He didn’t want to admit that he was actually curious about seeing Y/n again. He quickly put the shirt back down, trying to play it cool.

“It’s not because of her. I just don’t want to look like a slob, that’s all,” he muttered, pretending to examine one of the shirts he had thrown aside.

Minji chuckled softly, catching on to his act. She carefully picked out the discarded navy suit and laid it out on the bed. “Of course, Master Jungkook. But I’m sure she’ll think you look very handsome in this.”

"Will she?", he asked with big shiny hesitant eyes.

Minji smiled before nodding her head.

Jungkook hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. He allowed Minji to help him into the suit, though he kept his expression as neutral as possible.

He wasn’t doing this because he cared about what Y/n thought—at least that’s what he told himself. But as Minji adjusted his bow tie, she couldn’t help but notice how he was unusually cooperative today, despite the earlier fuss.

“You’re growing up so fast,” she said with a smile as she finished getting him ready. Jungkook just huffed in response, though a small, proud smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Once he was dressed, Mirae returned to the room, smiling softly at her son’s transformation. “You look very handsome, Jungkook,” she said, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

Jungkook didn’t respond, but the pleased look in his eyes was undeniable. He followed his mother out of the room, and they made their way to the Lee household, which was just a short walk down the street.

When they arrived, they were warmly greeted by Haneul and Minjun, both of whom were pleased to see the Jeon family at their door.

“Welcome!” Haneul said with a bright smile. “We’re so glad you could join us for dinner.”

Mirae returned the smile, exchanging polite greetings with both Haneul and Minjun. “Thank you for inviting us. Jungkook and I are looking forward to it.”

Jungkook, meanwhile, stood silently by his mother’s side, his eyes scanning the interior of the Lee household.

It was a cozy home, different from the grandeur he was used to, but there was something warm and inviting about it. He spotted a few toys scattered in the living room and guessed that Y/n must be nearby.

As the adults continued their pleasantries, Haneul bent down to Jungkook’s level, her voice playful.

“Y/n is in the other room, Jungkook. Why don’t you go say hello? I’m sure she’d love to see you.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes slightly at her tone, thinking to himself that he wasn’t going because she told him to.

No, he wanted to see his little one on his own terms.

Without another word, he turned and dashed off toward where he assumed Y/n would be.

Mirae watched him go with a small, fond smile before turning back to Haneul and Minjun.

“He’s very eager,” she said, and they all shared a light-hearted laugh as they moved to the living room to continue their conversation.

Jungkook found Y/n in a playroom, surrounded by a few of her toys. She was sitting on the floor, playing with a set of building blocks, her concentration focused entirely on her creation.

Y/n looked up when she heard footsteps, her expression shifting from surprise to a slight frown when she saw who it was. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, her tone filled with a warmth of typical greeting.

Jungkook walked over to her, his hands in his pockets as he tried to act casual. “Yeah, it’s me,” he replied, attempting to sound nonchalant. “What are you doing?”

“Building a castle,” Y/n said matter-of-factly, returning her attention to the blocks.

Jungkook watched her for a moment before sitting down across from her. “It doesn’t look like a castle,” he remarked, raising an eyebrow at her construction.

Y/n shot him a quick glare. “It’s going to be a castle. You just can’t see it yet.”

Jungkook smirked, leaning back on his hands. “We’ll see.”

Jungkook watched her silently for a few moments, the gears in his young mind turning as he tried to understand what made this girl so different.

"Hey," Jungkook said suddenly, breaking the silence. Y/n looked up from her blocks, a curious expression on her face. "Where's your plane?"

Y/n blinked at him, confused. "My what?"

"Your plane," Jungkook repeated, as if it were the most obvious question in the world. "The one with your name on it. Where is it?"

Y/n stared at him for a moment, her small brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of what he was asking. "You mean... an aeroplane?" she asked slowly.

"Yeah," Jungkook nodded, his gaze intent. "You must have one, right? With your name on it?"

Y/n tilted her head, still puzzled by his question. "I wish I could sit on one of them," she said, her voice filled with longing.

"But they're so tiny, you know? You see them in the sky? They’re so tiny. How can anyone even sit in them?"

Jungkook stared at her, completely baffled. He thought back to his own plane, the one with "J-Jeon" written on it. Sure, it wasn’t as big as the commercial planes he saw at airports, but it wasn’t tiny.

But if Y/n was saying that aeroplanes were small—so small that she couldn’t fit in them—was she mocking him?

Did she think his plane was too small? His little five-year-old ego bristled at the thought.

He frowned, his mind racing with thoughts of how he would prove her wrong.

"Okay," he mumbled to himself, barely loud enough for Y/n to hear. "I’ll see her big plane one day. Then I’ll ask Grandma to get me one that’s even bigger."

Y/n, completely unaware of the thoughts running through Jungkook's head, reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bar of chocolate. "Here," she said, extending it towards him. "Want some?"

Jungkook looked at the chocolate skeptically. It wasn’t like the ones he usually had—those were imported from Paris, wrapped in shiny gold foil.

This one had "Dairy Milk" written on the wrapper, and he had never seen anything like it before.

He hesitated, his hand hovering over the chocolate as he debated whether or not to take it.

Seeing his hesitation, Y/n smiled and wiggled the chocolate closer to him. "It’s really good. I promise!"

Reluctantly, Jungkook reached out and took the small piece of chocolate. He unwrapped it slowly, as if expecting it to be something strange, but when he took a bite, his eyes widened in surprise.

It was delicious!

The sweetness melted on his tongue, and before he knew it, he had finished the piece and was looking at Y/n for more.

Y/n giggled at the eager look on his face and handed him another piece. "See? I told you it was good."

Jungkook nodded, already reaching for the next piece of chocolate. "It’s really good," he agreed, savoring the taste. He had never had anything like it before, and he quickly found himself wanting more.

Y/n beamed, pleased that he liked it. "We can share it," she said, breaking off another piece and handing it to him. "I have more, too. I’ll give you some from my stash later."

Jungkook’s eyes lit up at the word "stash." He had plenty of his own secret stashes of toys and sweets back home, but the idea of sharing someone else’s stash was something entirely new.

He looked at her with a newfound sense of appreciation. Not only had she stood up to him earlier, but now she was sharing her precious chocolates with him—chocolates that he had never even tasted before.

"Really?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe.

"Really," Y/n nodded, smiling brightly. "I don’t usually share my chocolates with anyone. But I’m sharing them with you because you like them so much."

Jungkook felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words. No one had ever shared something so willingly with him before. Sure, he had everything he could ever want, but this... this was different.

Sharing felt like... caring for the first time, for Jungkook.

As Y/n rummaged through her stash, she suddenly looked up at him, her expression turning serious. "But you can’t tell my mom and dad, okay? If they find out, they’ll take all my chocolates away."

Jungkook looked at her, surprised by her sudden change in tone. He glanced around the room, as if expecting her parents to appear out of nowhere, and then quickly nodded. "I won’t tell," he promised.

Y/n held out her pinky finger to him, her eyes wide and serious. "Pinky promise?"

Jungkook hesitated for a moment, staring at her outstretched pinky. Something about the gesture made him feel... warm.

Slowly, he extended his own pinky and linked it with hers.

"Pinky promise," he echoed, feeling a strange sense of contentment as their fingers intertwined.

Y/n smiled brightly, satisfied with their agreement. "Good! Now we’re officially secret chocolate buddies!"

Jungkook couldn’t help but smile back, he didn't understand why but he was really enjoying this loving company of Y/n.

Just then, they heard Y/n's mother, Haneul, calling them from the dining room. "Kids! Dinner’s ready!"

Y/n quickly stuffed the remaining chocolates into Jungkook’s suit pocket, her movements swift and secretive. "You can have the rest later," she whispered, giving him a wink.

She then paused, looking at him curiously. "Why are you wearing such fancy clothes at home anyway?"

Jungkook blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her question. He looked down at his navy blue suit, the one he had been so proud of earlier. "This is what I wear to parties," he replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

Y/n tilted her head, her eyes narrowing in thought. "But... is it comfortable?"

"Comfortable?" Jungkook repeated, his brow furrowing. He had never really thought about it before. Comfort wasn’t something he usually considered—he just wore what he was told looked good.

"Yeah, you should wear something comfy!" Y/n said with a nod, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Jungkook blinked at her again, processing her words. Slowly, he nodded his head in agreement, even though he wasn’t entirely sure what she meant. "Okay," he said simply.

With their new understanding in place, the two of them waddled down to the dining room, Jungkook’s suit pockets stuffed with chocolates.

As they entered the room, the delicious smell of food filled the air, and the table was laden with a variety of dishes, all of which looked incredibly appetizing.

The adults exchanged warm smiles as the children approached the table.

“Come, sit down,” Haneul said, gesturing to the empty chairs next to her.

Y/n immediately took the seat closest to her mother, and Jungkook followed suit, sitting down next to her.

As the adults began to serve dinner, the two children exchanged a quick glance, both of them remembering their secret stash of chocolates tucked safely away.

As dinner began, Y/n couldn’t help but notice that Jungkook seemed unsure of what to eat. He kept looking at the different dishes, his little brow furrowed in concentration.

Seeing his hesitation, Y/n decided to take charge. She picked up a piece of her favorite dish—a small dumpling filled with vegetables and meat—and placed it on his plate.

“Try this,” she said, her voice filled with excitement. “It’s really good!”

Jungkook looked at the dumpling, then at Y/n, who was watching him eagerly. He hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether to eat something that had already been touched.

But Y/n’s enthusiasm was contagious, and he found himself wanting to make her happy.

He picked up the dumpling with his fork and took a small bite. To his surprise, it was delicious.

“It’s good,” he admitted, giving her a small nod of approval.

Y/n beamed with pride, pleased that he liked it. She quickly picked up another piece of food—a small piece of grilled fish—and placed it on his plate. “Here, try this one too!”

Jungkook hesitated again, his mind recalling the food tasters back at home. They would always taste a fresh piece of food before serving him a new portion.

But here, Y/n was already biting into her food and then placing what she liked on his plate.

There was something genuine about the way she shared her food with him, like she truly wanted him to enjoy the meal as much as she did.

Jungkook nodded, still chewing. “It’s not bad,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant, but a small smile tugged at his lips. He reached for another piece of the fish, this time helping himself to a larger portion.

Y/n giggled, pleased that Jungkook was enjoying the food. She turned her attention to the next dish, a bowl of stir-fried vegetables. “And this one is good too! My mom says it’s healthy.”

Jungkook wrinkled his nose at the sight of the vegetables. He had never been a fan of greens, preferring more indulgent foods.

But something about the way Y/n spoke about the dish made him curious again. He picked up a small portion and placed it on his plate, giving it a tentative taste.

To his surprise, it wasn’t as bad as he had expected. He found himself taking another bite, and then another. Y/n watched him with a pleased expression, clearly happy that he was enjoying her favorite foods.

“This one’s good,” Jungkook admitted, pointing at the bowl of vegetables. “You should have some more.”

Y/n chuckled and took a bite from his plate. “We can share!” she said brightly, her eyes shining with excitement.

As the meal continued, the two children fell into an easy rhythm of sharing food. Jungkook would try something new, and if he liked it, he would put some on Y/n’s plate.

She, in turn, would smile and thank him, sometimes teasing him about his cautiousness when trying unfamiliar dishes.

“You’re so picky,” Y/n teased as Jungkook hesitated over a bowl of kimchi.

“I’m not picky,” Jungkook protested, though his expression betrayed his uncertainty. “I just don’t like things that are too spicy.”

“Well, kimchi is a little spicy, but it’s really good,” Y/n encouraged him. “Just try a small bite.”

As they ate, Mirae, Jungkook’s mother, looked on with a soft smile, happy to see her son enjoying himself.

She turned her attention to Y/n and asked gently, “Y/n, dear, which school do you go to?”

Y/n looked up from her plate, her eyes brightening as she answered politely, “I go to Busan Elementary School. It’s not too far from here.”

Mirae nodded, noting how well-mannered the little girl was. “That sounds lovely,” she said, glancing at Haneul. “We’ve just moved here, and I’m still looking for a school for Jungkook.”

Haneul smiled warmly. “It’s a big decision. Where are you thinking of enrolling him?”

Mirae hesitated for a moment before mentioning the name of a prestigious private school in the area.

“We’ve been considering Daehan Academy,” she said. “It has excellent reviews and seems like a good fit.”

At the mention of the school’s name, Jungkook’s expression shifted into a pout.

He didn’t like the sound of that. He had been hoping to attend the same school as Y/n, especially after today.

Haneul nodded, impressed. “Daehan Academy is a wonderful school. Very expensive, but definitely one of the best in the country.”

Jungkook’s frown deepened. He wasn’t interested in how expensive the school was—he wanted to go to school with Y/n. He made a mental note to talk to his grandmother about changing his school enrollment.

Surely, she would understand his reasoning, especially if he explained that it was what he wanted.

As the conversation continued, Haneul asked casually, “And what about Jungkook’s father? What does he do?”

The question made Mirae stiffen slightly, her hands pausing mid-movement. For a moment, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air. “He… runs a small business in London,” she said, her voice carefully measured.

She tried to shrug off the topic quickly, not wanting to delve into any details.

Haneul and Minjun exchanged a brief glance, sensing the tension but choosing not to press further. The topic was quickly changed, and the adults resumed their conversation.

Once the children finished their dinner, Haneul turned to Y/n and Jungkook with a warm smile. “You two can go play in Y/n’s room while we finish up here.”

Jungkook and Y/n eagerly agreed, quickly slipping away from the table. As they left, Mirae shifted the conversation, asking Haneul about a scar on her forehead that she had noticed earlier.

“Oh, that,” Haneul said, her tone becoming more subdued. “I got it in an accident a couple of years ago, while I was returning from London. It was pretty bad, and I ended up with memory loss.”

Mirae’s eyes widened in surprise. “Memory loss?”

Haneul nodded, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the scar. “When I woke up, I didn’t remember anything. Not even my marriage or Y/n.”

Minjun shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his hands clasped tightly together. “She doesn’t remember, but she’s still Y/n’s mother and my wife,” he said, his voice a little too pressed.

Haneul reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “Easy, darling,” she said softly.

“I’m not questioning our marriage or whether Y/n is my child. It’s just… losing my memory was a huge shock. But over the last two years, we’ve rebuilt our lives together.”

She paused, her gaze distant as she recalled the long journey of recovery. “The doctors said there’s little chance of me recovering my memory, but in a way, it’s been a blessing. I’ve found love for my husband again, and though it was hard at first, everything started feeling right.”

Minjun relaxed slightly at her words, though there was still a hint of tension in his posture. “It’s just… it’s been difficult for both of us,” he added quietly.

Haneul nodded, understanding his concern. “But we’re here now, and I’m happy. I may not remember everything from before, but the love I feel for my family is real, and that’s what matters.”

Mirae listened intently, her heart going out to the couple. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for them, especially for Minjun, who had to watch his wife struggle to regain her sense of self. “You’ve been very brave,” she said softly. “Both of you.”

Haneul offered a small, appreciative smile. “Thank you. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve made it work.”

The evening drew to a close, the warm ambiance of the Lee household slowly fading as the dinner concluded. The adults shared a few final pleasantries, but the earlier conversation had left a lingering tension in the air.

Jungkook stood by the door, half-listening to the adults as they wrapped up, his mind elsewhere. He was still thinking about Y/n.

Mirae noticed her son’s distraction, but she didn’t comment on it. She was too focused on the strained look on Minjun’s face as he stood close to his wife, Haneul.

There was a protectiveness in the way he held her arm, his grip just a little too tight, as if he feared she might slip away from him at any moment.

Haneul seemed to notice too, her expression softening as she reached up to place her hand over his, trying to reassure him.

“It was so lovely to have you both here tonight,” Haneul said warmly, though her eyes flickered with concern as she looked at Minjun. “We must do this again sometime.”

“Yes, thank you for having us,” Mirae replied with a gracious smile. “Jungkook had a wonderful time, didn’t you, darling?”

Jungkook didn’t respond right away, still lost in his thoughts. He was imagining what it would be like to stay over at Y/n’s house, to sleep in the same room as her and wake up to play together.

The idea was so enticing that he barely noticed when his mother called his name again.

“Jungkook?” Mirae prompted gently, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

Jungkook blinked, snapping out of his reverie. “Oh… yes, I had fun,” he said, though his voice was distant.

Haneul smiled, her attention briefly diverted from Minjun. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, Jungkook. Y/n had a great time too.”

Y/n appeared from around the corner, a shy smile on her face as she waved at Jungkook. “Bye, Jungkook. See you soon?”

Jungkook’s heart swelled at the thought of seeing her again, and before he knew it, he blurted out, “Can I stay here tonight?”

The room fell silent for a moment, everyone turning to look at the young boy. Mirae was the first to respond, her voice gentle but firm. “Jungkook, it’s getting late. We need to go home.”

“But I want to stay here,” Jungkook insisted, a stubborn pout forming on his lips. “I want to sleep in Y/n’s room.”

Mirae sighed, crouching down to his level. “Sweetheart, I know you had a great time, but we can’t stay here tonight. You’ll see Y/n again soon.”

Jungkook’s frustration grew, his eyes filling with determination. “But I don’t want to wait. I want to stay now!”

Minjun and Haneul exchanged a quick glance, the tension from earlier creeping back into the atmosphere.

She placed her free hand over Jungkook’s head, ruffling his hair gently.

“Maybe another time, Jungkook,” she said softly. “It’s important for you to get a good night’s sleep in your own bed.”

Jungkook frowned, his mind racing to find a way to convince them to let him stay. He didn’t want the night to end, didn’t want to be away from the one person who made him feel… different. Special, even.

Mirae, sensing that a full-blown tantrum was imminent, quickly thought of a compromise. “How about this, Jungkook?” she suggested.

“Tomorrow is Sunday, so you’ll have the whole day to play with Y/n. We can come over in the morning if you’d like.”

Jungkook hesitated, his pout deepening as he considered the offer. The idea of spending the entire day with Y/n was appealing, and it was enough to make him reconsider his demand.

He still wasn’t happy about leaving, but the promise of seeing her again so soon softened the blow.

“Okay…” he muttered reluctantly, though the disappointment was clear in his voice.

Mirae smiled, relieved that the situation hadn’t escalated. She stood up, taking Jungkook’s hand in hers. “Good boy. Now, let’s say goodbye and thank Y/n and her parents for having us.”

Jungkook nodded, though his gaze was still fixed on Y/n. “Goodbye, Y/n,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Y/n’s smile widened, and she waved again. “Bye, Jungkook! I’ll see you tomorrow too!”

With that, Mirae and Jungkook made their way to the door. Haneul and Minjun followed them, Haneul offering a warm farewel while Minjun remained unusually silent, his focus entirely on his wife.