Chapter 1 – The New Boy

The first day of kindergarten was supposed to be exciting.

For most kids, at least.

Not for Taehyung.

Tiny hands clutched the hem of his oversized cardigan, the sleeves nearly swallowing his fingers. His shoes made the softest squeak as he stepped into the brightly colored classroom, but his presence was louder than any noise could be.

The room buzzed with giggles and chatter. Crayon drawings taped to the walls, little plastic chairs scattered like candy drops, and that unmistakable scent of glue sticks and apple juice lingered in the air.

But when Taehyung walked in, everything slowed. Heads turned.

He was small—smaller than most boys—and delicate, like a glass ornament in a world of tumbling blocks and racing cars. Soft brown curls framed his porcelain face, and thick lashes brushed against flushed cheeks as he looked down, too shy to meet anyone’s eyes.

Even his uniform looked different on him. The sweater draped loosely over his narrow shoulders, and the bow around his collar was perfectly tied, unlike the lopsided mess on everyone else. He looked like he’d walked out of a storybook.

Some thought he looked like a girl. Others thought he looked too pretty to be real.

But Jungkook—the messy-haired boy with skinned knees and untied shoes—thought he looked... magical.

From his seat by the window, Jungkook had been building a tower out of wooden blocks, but it all collapsed when he saw him.

The new boy.

His eyes widened, lips parting just slightly. For some reason, his heart skipped.

Taehyung’s gaze lifted for just a second, as if sensing the stare. Their eyes met—only briefly—but it was enough to make something flutter quietly between them.

Jungkook didn’t know what it was.

He just knew he wanted to stare longer.

“Who’s that?” someone whispered.

“A new kid, I think.”

“He looks weird. Like a doll.”

“Is he a girl?”

Jungkook’s brows furrowed.

The whispers annoyed him.

Taehyung clearly heard them too. His shoulders tensed, and he took a step back, clutching his bag tighter. But the teacher—Miss Han—gently guided him forward with a warm smile.

“This is Kim Taehyung,” she announced softly. “He just moved here. I want everyone to be kind, okay?”

There was a chorus of half-hearted okay’s. Some kids looked bored. Some giggled.

But Jungkook sat up straight.

“Taehyung, would you like to sit by the window?” Miss Han gestured toward the empty seat—right next to Jungkook.

Taehyung blinked.

He looked like he wanted to vanish.

Still, he nodded shyly and tiptoed toward the desk. His movements were graceful, quiet. Like he was afraid of taking up too much space.

When he sat down, his backpack neatly tucked beside him, Jungkook could barely breathe.

“Hi,” Jungkook said, smiling.

Taehyung glanced at him—quick, unsure—but didn’t speak.

“I’m Jungkook.” The younger boy offered a hand, even though it was still sticky with glue from art time.

Taehyung looked at it.

Then back at Jungkook.

Then down again.

He didn’t shake it.

Jungkook flushed, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “It’s okay,” he mumbled. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”

Taehyung’s lashes fluttered. His lips parted a little, like he was trying to say something, but nothing came out. He only gave the tiniest nod.

But it was enough to make Jungkook smile again.

Later, during playtime, everyone scattered into their friend groups.

But not Taehyung.

He sat alone near the bookshelf, running his fingers gently over the pages of a picture book he didn’t really read. He wasn’t sure how to join in. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to.

But then—Jungkook was there.

Again.

Dropping beside him on the floor, cross-legged and curious.

“Do you like tigers?” he asked, pointing at the cartoon animal on the page Taehyung had been staring at.

Taehyung blinked.

He gave the tiniest nod.

“I like lions,” Jungkook whispered, as if it were a secret. “But tigers are cool too. They look like they have fire on them.”

Taehyung’s lips twitched.

Almost a smile.

“You wanna draw one with me?” Jungkook asked. “I have orange crayons. I’ll let you use the good ones.”

Taehyung looked at him.

Jungkook’s eyes were so wide. So full of light. There was no teasing in them. No whispering or laughing like the other kids.

Just soft sincerity.

Taehyung gave another small nod.

Jungkook grinned so hard his cheeks hurt. “Cool! C’mon! I’ll show you my tiger voice.”

He jumped up, already growling like a tiny beast.

Taehyung followed, slow but curious, hugging the picture book to his chest.

That afternoon, the two of them sat side by side, scribbling orange stripes on paper, giggling over wobbly paws and crooked fangs.

It was the first time anyone heard Taehyung laugh.

And Jungkook’s ears turned bright red.

Miss Han watched from her desk and smiled to herself.

“They’re going to be trouble,” she whispered.

But even she had no idea how deeply tangled those little hearts would grow.

In another corner, a pair of sharp eyes watched.

Park Jimin, already too clever and confident for five years old, tilted his head curiously from where he sat with his art project. His gaze lingered on the two boys—one loud and bright, the other quiet and soft.

He didn’t say anything.

Just noted the way they looked at each other.

And filed it away.

That night, Taehyung curled into bed with his stuffed bear, whispering a soft “goodnight” into the silence of his new room.

But in his mind, he could still see that boy’s smile.

The one who said tigers looked like fire.

And maybe…

Maybe today wasn’t so scary after all.

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