Chapter 5 – Strawberry Milk

Kindergarten wasn’t supposed to be complicated.

But to Taehyung, everything felt like a delicate balance.

A step too loud, a glance too long — and suddenly all eyes were on him again.

So he moved softly.

Spoke rarely.

And carried kindness like it was armor.

Today, he clutched a small pink box of strawberry milk in his hands, chilled from the fridge at home, condensation clinging to the sides like tiny crystals.

His mother had packed it with love, “Give this to someone who makes you smile today,” she had whispered, brushing his hair behind his ear.

So he’d thought of Jungkook.

Always Jungkook.

The boy with messy bunny teeth and too much energy and fists that balled up when someone hurt him.

The boy who didn’t flinch at his quietness.

The boy who tied his shoelaces like it was second nature.

Taehyung walked into class a little earlier than usual, heart fluttering, fingers wrapped tight around the cold carton.

Jungkook was at the back, stacking building blocks into an unsteady tower, tongue sticking out in concentration.

Taehyung approached slowly.

Like a secret.

Like a soft thought.

He placed the strawberry milk beside Jungkook without saying anything.

Jungkook paused.

Then looked up.

Taehyung didn’t say a word.

Just smiled — small and shy, like a morning sun peeking through curtains.

Jungkook blinked at the carton. “Is this for me?”

Taehyung nodded once, eyes dropping to his shoes.

There was a beat of silence.

Then Jungkook lit up.

Like the brightest part of spring.

“Whoa! Strawberry’s my favorite! How’d you know?”

Taehyung mumbled, “I didn’t… I just hoped.”

Jungkook beamed, cradling the milk like it was treasure.

“You’re so cool,” he said, and it made Taehyung’s ears go pink.

From across the room, Jimin watched them.

He was already drinking his own milk — chocolate, like always. But he frowned slightly, chewing his straw.

Taehyung looked like he wanted to disappear and glow at the same time.

Jungkook suddenly stood up and ran to his own bag.

He rummaged through it and pulled out something.

A slightly crumpled chocolate milk carton.

He rushed back and placed it in front of Taehyung.

“Here! Trade?”

Taehyung looked at it in surprise. “But this is yours…”

“Yeah. And now that’s mine,” Jungkook grinned, lifting the pink carton in triumph.

Taehyung held the chocolate milk with both hands like it was delicate.

Their fingers brushed again — brief, fluttery contact.

Neither said anything about it.

Jimin walked over slowly.

“What’s with all this milk swapping?” he teased, raising a brow.

“Taehyung gave me strawberry,” Jungkook grinned. “And I gave him mine!”

“Strawberry’s kind of sweet,” Jimin said, voice light but gaze unreadable.

Taehyung tensed, suddenly unsure.

“Yeah,” Jungkook nodded, not noticing the shift. “So is Tae.”

Taehyung’s eyes widened. His heart forgot how to beat.

Jimin’s smirk faltered just a little.

But he nodded. “Guess that makes sense.”

Then he turned away.

Quiet.

Just for a moment.

Later that day, during art time, Jungkook sat beside Taehyung, swinging his legs under the table. He was humming under his breath, painting with big swooping strokes.

“I’m gonna draw the milk you gave me,” he announced, making a pink square with a heart on it.

Taehyung peeked over and saw that his name was scribbled across the top — ‘Tae’s Milk 💖’

He smiled, biting his lip.

Then, slowly, he picked up a brown crayon.

And drew a chocolate carton.

On his, Jungkook’s name sat in shaky capital letters.

Jimin saw it all.

He didn’t say anything.

But when it was his turn to draw, he quietly added two strawberry cartons and one chocolate.

And right in the center…

A sun with three stick figures underneath it — one with floppy hair, one with bunny teeth, and one with a cheeky smile.

He smiled down at it.

Even if the light was tilting a little now, he wasn’t about to step out of the sun.

Not yet.

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