Chapter Text
“Yuri, come on. I don’t have time for this today.” Taehyung says, standing outside of the bathroom door.
“I don’t wanna go.” His daughter retaliates for what feels like the millionth time that morning. “I’ll just stay with Grandma again!”
Taehyung throws his head back impatiently. Yuri has been told over and over again for the past few weeks that she would be attending Kindergarten for the first time today. It’s not like it was the first time she was hearing it, she just decides to make it difficult for both Taehyung and herself the morning of.
Taehyung sighs and leans his forehead on the door in front of him. “Yuri, Grandma can’t stay with you today. It’s time for you to start school, we’ve been over this.”
There’s no response this time around, indicating Yuri has nothing to say to her father’s reply. Yet, the five year old seems to have no plans of unlocking the door anytime soon. Taehyung glances at the clock and sees she has to be at the school in less than half an hour from now.
He officially loses his patience, and he scrounges around for a key to the bathroom. He doesn’t understand why out of all times, Yuri decides to isolate herself now. She usually doesn’t act up like this, but he knows one thing: he isn’t going to let his daughter be late to her first day of school, upset or not.
He locates a key in one of the handy drawers and goes to turn it in the doorknob of the bathroom. The key becomes successful in unlocking the door, and he cautiously enters the small bathroom. He spots Yuri in the corner with her knees to her chest and her head down, presumably crying.
He lets out a small huff and his shoulders sink. He doesn’t mean to make Yuri upset, but he thinks back to how scary the thought of Kindergarten can be to five year olds and how reluctant they can be to attend–Yuri is no exception.
“Yuri,” Taehyung softly says as he kneels down to her height. “Yuri, look at me.” He says with purpose, but his tone is still gentle.
Yuri hesitantly raises her head to meet eyes with her Dad. Her eyes are red and puffy, and small tears still escape her ducts and roll down her face.
“Tell me what’s wrong, sweetheart. I can’t make you feel better if you don’t use your words.”
Yuri lets out a wet sniffle and she runs her sleeve across her nose, discarding some snot. “I just… don’t wanna go. I just wanna stay at home like I do every day. Why can’t I? I’ll be good and won’t cause any trouble.”
Taehyung sighs as a small, sympathetic smile appears on his face. He pulls a loose strand of hair behind his daughter’s ear and wipes away stray tears on her face with his thumb while Yuri leans her face into his hand for any amount of comfort she can receive.
“It’s not about that, baby. I know you’re always good no matter where we are, but everything is different this time. You’re getting big, and it’s time for you to go to school.”
Yuri lets out a sigh, and it’s a sigh of defeat. The young girl realizes at this point, she has no choice. She's enrolled in Kindergarten, and she must go just like everyone else.
Taehyung stands her up, and puts his hands on her shoulders gently. “Now, we’re gonna be late. Can you go get your bag and shoes on for me?”
Yuri then rushes out of the room obediently with no other words said. Taehyung stands up and exhales deeply, now left alone with his thoughts. Even though he had been preparing himself for this day ever since Yuri was a baby, he would never be fully ready to leave her for hours-on-end. She would always be his baby no matter what, and he would never not feel protective of her.
Taehyung also hates doing this alone. The only other people that are alongside him in looking after Yuri from time-to-time or actually have a major role in her life are his parents, his sister, and his longtime friend, Jimin. They suffice, but it still feels like extremely empty company for a girl who deserves endless love within her life.
He finishes gathering up all of his supplies he needs for work today, and goes to the front entrance of the house. Yuri is finishing pulling on her bright blue sandals, and her backpack is next to her on the floor. Taehyung stands her up once her shoes are on, and places the straps of her bag on her shoulders. He then takes her small hand in his, and locks the door behind him as they walk out to the car together.
Yuri sits in the backseat and stares out the window contemplatively as the car drives at a steady pace. Taehyung glances back at her through the rearview mirror, studying her. The young girl seemed to always have a look on her face like she had a million things swimming in her mind, and she probably does, Taehyung guesses.
He turns his eyes back to the road and Yuri turns her head to face forward after a minute of silence to pose a question.
“Daddy?” Yuri speaks while twiddling her thumbs.
Taehyung immediately reverts his eyes back to the mirror. “Yeah?”
“What’s school like?”
Somehow, Taehyung sees this question coming from miles away. Fortunately, he has a simplified answer for it.
“Well,” he starts. “It’s anything you make it, I think. It’s a place where you learn, and make friends, and grow as a person.”
“What will I do when I’m there?”
“You’ll start out easy. You’ll play outside, draw, color, and you already know how to read and write.”
“Yeah, you taught me that.” Yuri says and smiles to herself.
“I did so that you could be good to go for when you do it in class.”
A few silent seconds go by and Yuri presses her lips together nervously. “Daddy?”
“Yes, Yuri?” Taehyung answers again, patiently.
“If I don’t like school, do I have to go again?”
Taehyung chuckles at his daughter’s cuteness. “Yes. It’s required for everyone your age and older to go to school.”
“Why?” Every five year old’s favorite word…
Taehyung sighs deeply. “Because you want to know things, don’t you?”
“Can’t you just teach me?” Yuri asks smartly.
“I can’t teach you everything, sweetheart. Trust me, if I could, I would.” Taehyung sees Blueside Elementary School come into view and turns into the parking lot, and parks in front of the doors before getting out and coming over to Yuri’s door.
“Let’s go.” He says, lifting her from the seat and holding her hand while walking inside.
They head into the entrance of the building and Yuri grips her Dad’s hand tighter when she becomes surrounded by the unfamiliar atmosphere. It’s evident that she doesn’t want to be here, and Taehyung has to hold himself back from scooping his daughter up into his arms and holding her tightly, telling her she doesn’t have to go if she doesn’t want to, but that would be nothing but counterproductive. He needs to allow Yuri to experience things on her own for once and find her own way without his help.
Walking into the front office, the receptionist looks up at the pair and offers a warm smile.
“Hello,” Taehyung greets. “Kim Yuri, it’s her first day of school.”
“Ah, yes. We’ve been expecting you. Are you excited for your first day, Miss Yuri?” She asks looking over the desk at the young girl.
Yuri retreats and hugs Taehyung’s leg, attempting to hide her face as much as possible. Taehyung runs his hand through her hair consolingly.
“Sorry, she’s a little timid.” He apologizes.
“Not a problem,” the woman replies sweetly. “First day nerves are expected. I can lead you down to Mister Kim’s classroom if you’d like.”
Taehyung raised his eyebrows in question. “That’s strange, I’ve never met a Mister–”
“Yes,” The woman interrupts. “Mister Kim is brand new to our school. You must’ve met Mrs. Yeon the other week.”
Taehyung nods in affirmation.
“Unfortunately, Mrs. Yeon had to change arrangements for her position this year; she’ll most likely be back next year. Principal Jung basically looked for the best of the best for this teaching job, so I wouldn’t worry about the sudden switch up.”
“Thank you for the information.” Taehyung responds.
“Of course. Now, shall we walk?”
Taehyung and Yuri are led out of the office and they follow the woman down to the Kindergarten hallway that has artwork of nature neatly painted on the walls.
“From what I know, Mister Kim is a very generous person, very good with kids, also very good-looking.” The woman giggles and smiles to herself.
Taehyung doesn’t retain a lot of what the woman is telling him. Instead, he focuses on the shaking Yuri at his side. He runs his thumb across the top of her hand soothingly, notifying her that he’s still by her side.
“Here we are,” the woman says arriving at the classroom door. Inside, children circle the tables and talk while their bags are placed neatly in cubbies. “Allow me to go notify him that you’ve arrived.”
The woman walks into the room and Yuri stares nervously at her surroundings. Taehyung remains holding his daughter’s hand while he sees her teacher stand up from his desk and come over to where they’re standing. The receptionist bids her goodbye and starts on her way back to the front of the school.
The man is dressed in a white button up shirt with the cuffs of his sleeves neatly folded, gray dress pants, and he has his chestnut hair brushed away from his face, revealing his forehead, and many other nice-looking features. He has beautiful, smooth, lightly-tanned skin, and also has glorious, chocolate brown eyes that are so easy to get immersed into. Taehyung doesn’t realize that he’s entranced with the man’s looks until he sees the man bowing, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Hello,” He greets. “I’m Kim Seokjin.”
“Hi, I’m Kim Taehyung, Yuri’s father.”
Seokjin smiles warmly at him and nods. “Pleased to meet you,” he then kneels down to greet his new student. “You must be Yuri.”
Yuri nods shyly at him, still hugging Taehyung’s leg and examines him closely, like she’s unsure of whether to trust him or not.
“Wonderful, we’ve been expecting you. Whenever you’re ready, come join us at any one of these tables.” He then glances at Taehyung, signaling for him to start on his way out.
“Yuri,” Taehyung says and kneels down to meet eyes with her. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Daddy, please don’t go.” Yuri desperately pleads. Taehyung can see the despair in his daughter’s eyes and he knew this was gonna be the hardest part of the entire process: leaving.
“I have to, baby. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Yuri’s lip visibly trembles. “Do you promise?”
Taehyung’s eyes soften, and he nods. “I promise.”
Yuri lets go of her Dad’s hand reluctantly. She holds back the sob sitting in the back of her throat, and holds out her arms so Taehyung can give her a tight squeeze and kiss on the forehead. “I love you,” he stands up and looks into Seokjin’s eyes. “Take care of her.”
“Of course.” He reassures him.
With no other words, Taehyung leaves, unable to look back at Yuri and see her crying. He would see her later, and he had to remind himself of that. Yuri was safe, she was in the care of someone he had met for ten seconds, but deep down, he somehow knew he could trust him.