Jingles

Jikook —♡

All it took was a children's Christmas choir concert to reassure single parent Jeon Jungkook that the word 'family' didn't mean who you have obligations to, but rather the people that you love
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A gathering of people stood outside the big light blue building all mixing and mingling among familiar faces to pass the time. The usually plain painted brick school was adorned with reefs and garlands, all holding different colored lights and ornaments. The windows of the building were covered with stickers of snowmen and reindeer, Santa-themed name tags taped to them as well, each student's name placed somewhere along the glass.

As a certain man opened up his Mercedes car door, he looked at the group cautiously. This wasn't his scene, not by a long shot. He lived a lifestyle of adult excitement and constant adrenaline. Every few months was a big world tour to places other's only dreamed of visiting. Almost every night was a new show bustling with excitement and screaming fans. Though he already broke the old bad habits of never ending partying and occasional narcotics, it was still nothing even close to a tame lifestyle.

It was almost funny the way this man had the courage to stand in front of hundreds of thousands of people singing his heart out with the most vulnerable lyrics normal people would be too afraid to even speak aloud on practically a daily basis, but he was feeling unnerved by even being here, knowing he didn't fit in.

Nevertheless, the man took long strides towards the school, not missing the way some heads whipped around to follow his movements. He stood a bit away from the different clumps of people, but not too far away from the big closed doors at the entrance. He could almost feel the open, un-hidden stares in his direction, trying his best to just focus ahead at the doors to try and mentally urge them open as fast as possible.

"Mom," A young teenager tugged on her mother's coat, refusing to remove her lingering gaze. "that's Jeon Jungkook! Can I ask him for an autograph?"

Jungkook shifted on his designer shoes, reaching into the back pocket of his blue ripped skinny jeans the cold air was currently torturing him for wearing, a bad decision on his part. His black painted fingers pulled out a pack of white sticks, taking one out and placing it between his lips. He knew it wasn't the best look, but he didn't feel comfortable. He needed to calm down.

"Absolutely not, look at him smoking a cigarette at an elementary school!" The women looked down at her daughter disapprovingly. "I don't know who this guy is, but you don't need an influence like that."

"But his music is really inspiring-" "I said no."

It was chilly standing out here. The weather forecast had mentioned it snowing a little later tonight, but Jungkook hadn't thought much when he threw on his hole-filled jeans and a t shirt, only protected by his favorite black leather jacket and a beanie on his head. He hadn't even thought about packing gloves, so he was more than relieved when the two white doors at the front of the building opened up suddenly, two staff members smiling wide as they held them open for the group all waiting outside. "Please come in, the concert will be just ahead. Feel free to sit wherever you'd like."

Though that little unnerved feeling was still there, Jungkook wasted no time throwing down his cigarette and stepping it into the cement. He quickly picked it up from the ground and followed the families of the other kids inside of the school, throwing away the crushed up stick on his way in. A women handed him a set list, which he pocketed, not caring about anything other than getting in to find a good seat.

Some people were blocking his way, chatting away after just recognizing each other, but he side stepped out of the way, jogging up to the very front of the makeshift concert room. He stole a spot at the very first row of seats closest to the stage not even caring about the way he probably claimed a chair a couple people were already headed for. As soon as he got seated he stripped himself of his leather jacket, showing off his plain black short sleeved shirt tucked into his tight jeans with a black belt. Jungkook quickly slipped off the strap around his neck that was hidden under his jacket previously, taking hold of the camera attached instead. Jungkook knew that some of the parents and their older kids close to him were undoubtedly giving judgmental looks at the sleeve of tattoos adorning his right arm as he fidgeted with the equipment, but he payed no mind, only focusing on getting the settings just right to make sure when the concert started he could record it all.

A loud gasp made a lot of the closer rows look up, a little girl peeking behind the red curtains on the small stage with wide eyes. "Yeona darling, it's not time to go on yet." A bright voice whispered to the girl behind the scenes, but it was no use. In no time at all the young girl's pigtails were bouncing up and down as she ran down to the front row as fast as her little feet could carry her.

"Daddy!"

Jungkook grinned as the six year old jumped into his strong arms and attacked him in a crushing hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck and put her tiny face right in front of his as if she couldn't believe the man in front of her was actually real. "Daddy, you're here! Mommy said you weren't in Korea."

The tears falling from her long eyelashes made pure warmth build up in the man's chest. Though it had been quite awhile, he was so glad to be holding the little girl in his arms. Even though he spent so much of her younger years not as involved as he should've been, he had been trying hard to make it up lately. She was everything to him. So much more than money or fame. She was his home. "Daddy's taking a break from work, baby."

"For how long?" She whispered, wide eyes looking up at him as if he were a superhero who had just saved the entire world. The same way she always looked up at him.

He placed her back on the ground, carefully making sure not to let the forgotten camera in his hand hurt her. "However long you want, princess."

The six year old sobbed at the words, hugging onto his leg lovingly. "I missed you, dad."

"I missed you so much more." He sighed a little guiltily.

"Yeona, it's almost time to sing, angel." Jungkook looked up from his daughter as the same soft voice from earlier called out to her. A smiling stranger walked up to the little girl looking as friendly and perfect as imaginable.

Jungkook couldn't help but take in his appearance, he looked so shining compared to all of the other middle aged workers at the school. He looked young and elegant, blonde hair gelled back in a neat put together style that perfectly complimented his chiseled, very defined features. Soft round honey brown eyes filled with extreme gentleness and patience, thick but sculpted eyebrows, a nose with the cutest slope he's ever seen, and lastly some of the plumpest pink lips he's never gotten the chance to kiss. The man wore a red cardigan tied around his shoulders with a white polo along with black slacks and black dress shoes. Though he was usually probably a little too protective of his daughter, he couldn't find it in himself to stop the man from reaching out and holding hands with his daughter's much smaller one.

Yeona pouted at the young man, pointing to Jungkook hesitantly. "But my daddy's here..."

The blonde met eyes with Jeon Jungkook, a big smile raising on his lips. "I can see that. So don't you want to go on stage and be a big superstar just like him to make your daddy proud?"

Jungkook hadn't heard a grown adult call him 'daddy' to his face before, especially a man, but he didn't find himself objecting to that either.

"You'd be proud?" The little girl looked up at him again, holding the other man's hand tightly the whole time. "So proud." He agreed, watching determination fill his tiny princess's eyes instead of the tears from before.

"Lets go then, I need to make dad proud!" Jungkook couldn't even give her a wave before his daughter was off, dragging her teacher away promptly, making both of them laugh.

Though he was apprehensive to come here in the first place, he was so glad he did. He was supposed to be in Europe right now doing a show at this exact moment, yet, when he got the call from his ex that her and her new husband had to go out of town for a family emergency the same week as their daughter's Christmas show, he couldn't not cancel the tour. He knew this was the right decision the moment his little girl ran off that stage into his arms.

For the last year he had been getting fairly close to Yeona, his short half hour visits of the past every so often turning into having the little girl stay with him at his big luxurious apartment for as many days as he could have off whenever he was in Korea. Though that was few and very far between. Sometimes he'd still have to go months without seeing her in person, staying up at ungodly hours of the night overseas facetiming her on her mother's phone. It wasn't a big deal being away when he wasn't as involved, but now that he was trying to be the father he wasn't ready to be before, the distance felt like too much. It felt like he was missing something he absolutely needed from his luggage every plane ride. It made him feel guilty to have his loving fans screaming out his name at all these concerts, knowing these strangers have gotten to know him more than his own daughter.

Jungkook didn't know when, but somewhere along the way of forcing himself to try and be there for his daughter his feelings of parenthood started changing. It started to feel instinctual. He no longer questioned simple things or felt anything other than adoration for his little princess. It stopped feeling like babysitting the child of somebody else and more like understanding that the privilege of being around her was the biggest treasure in the world. He used to be so possessive and selfish, getting upset but biting his tongue when she touched or moved his belongings, but along the way of truly connecting with Yeona nothing superficial mattered anymore. She was his whole reason for being. She could never do wrong in Jungkook's eyes. Ever.

That was the main reason he was struggling so much with his career lately. On the outside things were going better than ever, not a seat ever open in his concerts and constant media attention. His bank account will filling up and up, but all he could find himself doing with it was transferring it over to Yeona's mother, putting it all in a college fund and extra spending money for doing well in school or doing something good that called for a reward since he wasn't able to be around for times like that.

Yeona's mother was very cautious when Jungkook first started asking to keep her overnight, nervous of his rockstar lifestyle that split their family up in the first place. Luckily her new husband urged her to trust him, and it was more than evident he had changed for the better when she did. The Jungkook who used to come around high as a kite, money and ego making him carry himself around like he was too good for the world in his early twenties when Yeona was first born was completely gone. The man he was now was still learning many things, occasionally still making mistakes time to time, but always trying his best in order to become the person his daughter needed in her life. This man was ready to be the parent he wasn't before.

As much as Jungkook loved his job, his loved his little girl more. The same day he told his company he was dropping out of the world tour he discussed a lot of things with them. He was only twenty five, he had his whole life ahead of him and so much further he could easily climb up in the industry if he kept on, but he couldn't keep doing that to himself. Every moment away from Yeona felt wrong.

That day he decided to take a break, at least until the end of the holidays where they would hold a big meeting about what he wanted to do next. He had a few weeks to think about it all, but he couldn't right now. Not when he was about to see his baby girl sing on stage just like him for the first time.

"Attention everyone!" A women in her sixties stepped out in front of the crowd of parents and families. Everybody around the brunette father quieted down, focusing on the sweet looking grandmother. "I know everyone's excited to see their little loved ones sing some carols tonight, but before that I just wanted to thank you all for coming and give a very special shout out to Mr. Park for arranging all of this." Her shaky hand not holding the microphone pointed to the stage where the charming blonde from earlier walked out, a massive smile on his face as he gave a little bow. "Let's get this concert going."

Mr. Park clapped happily, stepping down off the small stage and taking a seat on his knees on the tiled floor below front and center just enough where the kids would be able to see him clearly but he didn't get in the way of anyone's view right before the big curtains pulled apart. Jungkook lifted up his camera in his steady hands pressing record, watching as a bunch of children filled the wide frame. A harmony of instruments played from the sound system above as the students all held jingle bells in their hands. They watched the handsome teacher animatedly, waiting until his fingers counted down before starting to sing.

The group was usually pitchy or flat, saying the wrong words and sometimes singing too early or too late, but none of that was important. Jungkook's eyes were trained on Yeona, filming her whole outfit on that stage as they sung 'Jingle Bells'. She was wearing a white fluffy dress with white stockings and white flats, a halo hovering over her head with a wire she had obviously made herself. It was no wonder that man called her an angel. She was watching her teacher in focus, singing the words he was mouthing out to them in case they forget right on cue. Jungkook zoomed in on her face, catching the huge smile that erupted on her mouth when Mr. Park gave them the signal to wave around their bells. She switched her gaze to him excitedly, jumping around as she shook the bells just like her classmates.

Jungkook zoomed out, staying focused on his daughter with a big grin on his face the entire time. He couldn't wait to go home and save this to his computer. Maybe even get her to sing like this in his recording studio so he could use it on his next track. Little did he know, a pair of eyes watched him admiringly as he payed attention to the performance.

A few more songs went by, each one lifting everyone's spirits more and more. It felt all too soon when the music stopped and the children stopped jingling their bells through the numbers. The whole room burst into applause after their final song, only quieting down when the principal came back up to the front, the blonde teacher standing up with her. "Everyone please give it up one last time for the choir class of 2020!"

Jimin walked up the stage again with the children, making them all crowd around him. Jungkook who had lower his camera to clap lifted it up a final time, filming the group bow with the grinning man as everyone once again burst into cheers. He was going to transfer this straight to a hard drive as soon as Yeona fell asleep tonight.

Once again the music started up in the background, playing merry tunes softly as the kids on stage ran off to go see their families. Jungkook was able to prepare himself this time as a tiny weight was thrown into his arms, wrapping them around the small body as soon as it hit against his chest. "Daddy! Did you watch me?!"

"You were amazing, baby," Jungkook breathed out, letting the girl place her head on his shoulder, obviously being tired from the concert. "You sing even better than me. You were a real superstar."

She jumped back looking at her father as if he was crazy. "No way dad, no one sings better than you!"

"I agree."

Jungkook looked up at the words, meeting eyes once again with that perfect looking man. Yeona reached out from his hold, lifting her hand to a hi-five which Mr. Park gladly returned. "Dad, this is my favorite teacher!" If Jungkook gave his daughter any of his traits, he could at least say it was his good taste. The said man reached out a hand to him making him move Yeona more to his left hip so he could meet it. "Park Jimin."

"Jeon Jungkook." His eyes studied the male up close now that there wasn't a rush. He thought back to what Jimin had just said a moment ago, it just now registering in his head. "You're a fan?"

The blonde leaned back on his heels, closing his eyes and rubbing the back of his neck in a little embarrassment, the smile never leaving his thick lips. "I try not to play favorites with my students, but Yeona talks about you constantly. She shows me your videos on YouTube during free time." He laughed wholeheartedly, looking at the girl in the man's arms nodding in agreement. "You know she also brought your album to show and tell?"

Jungkook looked at his daughter with confusion, not remembering giving one to her mother. "Where did you get an album, baby?"

"I did chores for a whole week so step dad would get it for me." The warm feeling in Jungkook's chest multiplied. If he was alone right now he had no doubt he would've secretly shed a couple tears, he couldn't believe there was ever a time he didn't claim this little girl as his own. That he used to deny reporter's claims right to their faces. He was so thankful to have Yeona in his life.

"You did a really great job raising her, Jungkook-ah." The brunette could only shake his head, a grateful smile on his face. "I didn't raise her. She raised me, actually."

Jimin motioned towards the camera he noticed Jungkook filming with earlier during the performance. "Would you like a picture?"

The parent nodded enthusiastically, maneuvering around to hand over the now prized possession to the teacher. He showed him how to focus it and where to press for the photo before backing up towards the stage, the scenery of Christmas trees and holiday themed props in the background. He moved Yeona up to his shoulders, making the little girl squeal. She held onto his tattooed hand looking down at him while Jungkook looked up, matching her expression. Jimin smiled as he pressed the button, a flash of light shining on the two before the image popped up on the little screen.

Jungkook walked back over to Jimin with Yeona still sitting on his shoulders, looking at the camera that was handed back to him. He smiled at the picture. He was going send it off to be printed and framed as soon as tomorrow. Yeona looked at it happily. "Can we send it to mommy?"

"Of course." Jungkook grinned. "Thank you for taking it."

Jimin waved his hand. "It was nothing. Send it to me if you really want to to thank me for it, I'd love to put it in the classroom." His charming eyes fluttered so prettily at Jungkook that he couldn't even think about refusing. God, this man was gorgeous.

"Give me your number." He spoke out not missing a beat. He towered over the teacher with his own height, even more so with the little monkey on top of him. It made the man look so cute in comparison.

"Jimin-ssi!" The two men's heads turned as his name was called. The principal and some of the staff were waving him over to take some photos of their own and talk to some other parents.

The light music was still playing over the speakers, the glittering Christmas lights making the almost hidden lighter hues in Jimin's eyes shine bright while he looked away. Many of the families were starting to take off, some sticking around to talk to the music teacher or help their kids that also performed get all bundled up for the cold weather, but the majority heading out the building. Jimin looked back at Jungkook and Yeona with a forced smile, knowing this would be the end of their chat.

"I suppose I have other duties at the moment, but it was lovely talking, Jungkook."

Just as he was about to walk away Jungkook reached his arm out, tattooed skin taking hold of the other's beautiful blank hand. "Are you..." He didn't know why he reached out. He didn't even know what he was trying to say. All Jungkook really knew was this man looked at his daughter in such a similar way he did himself. It was very clear they were close, and that meant something to him. "Are you doing anything after this? Yeona and I were going to watch Christmas movies at home and drink hot chocolate."

Jimin's lips perked up in thought, a pink flush spreading across his face in a subtle way, but he held his composure completely. "I like hot cocoa. Wait for me?" The blonde teacher watched the mesmerized nod the handsome brunette gave him before walking off with a little wave of his hand. "I'll see you soon then, Jeon Jungkook."

The spell Jungkook had felt like he fell under seemed to break as soon as Jimin's stunning smile was faced away from him, joining the other school staff. As he felt a little tap underneath his chin he looked straight up to the little girl sitting on his shoulders, one hand still holding his left one and the other resting on his beanie. She looked down at him knowingly, smile brighter than ever. "Daddy, you were looking at my teacher the same way mommy looks at my step dad."

With a bright red face Jeon Jungkook lifted his daughter from his shoulders to the ground, slipping back on his leather jacket and sitting down in the chair he was in before and pulling Yeona into a hug and tickling her sides as she wrapped her arms around him too. "You better be nice to me if you any marshmallows in your hot chocolate, you little bully."

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