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jeonsyn · 4 days ago

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Since Day One

♡ pairing: pre-k teacher!jimin x pre-k teacher! f. reader

♡ genre: single dad au, fluff, crack, enemies to lovers, 18+

♡ wc: 16k

♡ summary: Being a Pre-K teacher is no easy feat, but Jimin is always up for the challenge. However, on his first day on the job, he makes an enemy in the parking lot before he even sets foot inside the building. Looks like this school year won’t be all sunshine and rainbows after all.

♡ warnings: mention of nervousness, snippy!Jimin, angry!reader, food mention, angst, lots of pettiness in the workplace, pranks in the workplace, meddling mother, mention of minor injuries

♡ part of @btsfests "Daddy's Home Fest"

♡ Date: April 6, 2024

Jimin had gotten the call early in the morning. He was distressed as he got his four-year-old daughter, Harin, ready for school.

The sun barely rose over the horizon as Jimin scrambled out of bed. He had missed the first day of school yesterday, but he had only gotten hired today. Harin had missed the first day due to a mishap with the moving company misplacing all her boxes of clothes, something they had found when the school day had ended.

Jimin had called the school, assuring them Harin would be in tomorrow. The secretary assured him it was fine, there were a few children who missed the first day, seeing as it was a half day to get the children situated and have an orientation. Nothing too big ever occurred for those few hours the school was open.

Jimin was surprised when he got the call in the morning informing him that he had gotten the Pre-K teacher job. He knew school started the day before, and he hadn’t been selected. He was offered higher pay and figured the person originally hired for the position had dropped out at the last moment.

Jimin didn’t care. He loved teaching and he was determined to make this move back to his hometown work no matter what. Harin’s mother, Mia, had given him full custody shortly after Harin’s birth when the two split less than amicably. Jimin sometimes wished the relationship had been salvageable but knew in the end, there was no point in trying to get Mia to stay with him or with Harin, which she very much had no interest in raising.

That was all water under the bridge for Jimin. He was doing an astounding job raising Harin and now that he was moved closer to his parents, who lived right across the street, he knew he could handle everything life would throw at him.

The elementary school he attended as a child was just down the road from his childhood home and his home with Harin. His next-door neighbor was one of his childhood best friends, Yoongi, and his parents’ neighbor was another friend named Jungkook, and his boyfriend Seokjin.

Jimin hadn’t had time to meet the rest of his neighbors, but the neighborhood seemed lively. Children ran around in the evenings, people walked their dogs, and some pushed their cats in strollers down the sidewalk.

Yoongi and his wife, Bree, had a daughter a year older than Harin. Her name was Lila, and she had been around to play with Harin yesterday after school. Jimin was grateful Harin had at least one friend here already. Seokjin’s nieces and nephews visited in the summer, but by the time Jimin moved in, the kids had already gone home to prepare for the new school year.

Nerves filled Jimin as he packed Harin’s unicorn lunch bag. He used the sandwich cutter to shape the sandwich into dinosaurs. He packed her some fresh fruit, vegetables, and a small pack of gummy bears.

Harin was excited to go to school. She had gotten up earlier than her alarm, ran around the room to get her clothes on, and woken Jimin up. Jimin kissed her cheek before taking her to his bathroom to sit her on the counter.

“What should we do to your hair today?” Jimin had asked her as she picked out a scrunchie that matched her outfit.

“Ponytail,” Harin had stated as she stared at her reflection. Jimin nodded as he grabbed her hairbrush, gently brushing her hair as Harin asked about her lunch and snacks. Jimin replied as he stared at his daughter’s reflection. She was a little mini-him. Her features reflected his so much, and for that he was grateful. He knew that was something he’d have to work on eventually, but for now, he focused on his daughter and his first day at the elementary school he attended as a child. He was a little apprehensive of seeing some of his teachers as co-workers but there were a few that he was eager to see once again.

Once Jimin finished brushing Harin’s hair he sent her to the kitchen table for breakfast while he got himself ready. He changed his pajamas to black slacks, a light-blue button-up shirt tucked into his pants, and a black leather belt. He rolled the sleeves to his elbows and grabbed a black blazer from his closet.

Jimin’s coffee waited for him in his blue travel mug, a little sweeter than he’d like but he could get through his day a little easier with some coffee and a chocolate chip muffin.

Before Jimin knew it, he was running late.

It took Jimin a few minutes to get his belongings and Harin’s in the car before he led his daughter to the backseat to strap her into her booster seat. Jimin made sure his daughter was secure before he got into the driver’s seat.

Jimin cursed to himself. How could he be late on his first day? This wasn’t the first impression he wanted to give the staff or the principal.

The call had been last minute, but he thought he could show up early enough to meet some of the parents of his new students.

Damn, tomorrow he’d have to try again.

Jimin was confused when he arrived at the school. A line wrapped around the building as parents dropped their children off. Jimin had to make a left-hand turn to get into the line, which would make him cut people off and nobody would let him in. His daughter is none the wiser as she sings along to a song on the radio, rapping along at the correct parts. Jimin would have been impressed if it hadn’t been for his friend, Namjoon, babysitting and teaching her all the curse words in one day.

Sighing, Jimin shakes his head at the memory.

It had taken a few days for Harin to understand those words weren’t for her to say, much less at school. Namjoon had profusely apologized, but now Jungkook and Seokjin were on emergency babysitting duty if needed. However, Jimin was impressed that Harin had most of Cypher Pt. 3 down. Yoongi, Namjoon, and Hoseok, another of Jimin’s friends who was a baker in town, had been rappers in the underground for most of their youth and the Cypher Collection lived on in their playlists. Part 3 just happened to be his and Harin’s favorite.

Jimin had attended all their shows with all their other friends until the three decided to focus on their personal lives. Yoongi still wrote and produced on the side, often flying across the country to studios with Namjoon, who also did features when he wasn’t writing and producing alongside Yoongi.

A loud honk startles him out of his thoughts. He waves apologetically as he turns his black Nissan Rogue into the school parking lot. Jimin taps his fingers on the steering wheel while he waits for his turn to drop off his child.

Just because Jimin was running late, didn’t mean Harin had to. He figured he could drop her off in line and then rush to the staff parking lot on the other side of the loop. He’d have to break into a run to get to the office for his badge, clock in, put his lunch away, and haul ass to his classroom.

Jimin hoped his Teacher Assistant was there already. He’d apologize to them profusely and offer to buy them lunch tomorrow.

“Harin, make sure you grab your backpack,” Jimin reminds her as he pulls up for his turn. A staff member opens the backdoor, unbuckling Harin’s seatbelt.

“Good morning,” they greet him as they take Harin’s pink backpack and help Harin onto the sidewalk.

“Bye, Daddy!” Harin waves as the staff member helps her put her backpack on.

“Bye, baby! I’ll be right down the hall, okay?” Jimin calls as he waves, and the back door shuts as his daughter is taken inside the school.

Relieved, Jimin checks his mirrors before pulling off the curb. All he had to do was park and haul ass to the office. He could do it. He had about five minutes to accomplish it and he hoped it would go smoothly.

Jimin pulls into the staff parking lot with ease. He sees one spot open and drives toward it, putting his signal as another car arrives in front of his vehicle with its blinker on.

However, Jimin arrives first and takes the spot. The car waits for a moment before driving away. Jimin doesn’t pay them attention as he gathers his belongings and coffee. He puts his blazer on as quickly as possible and pockets his car keys after he looks at the vehicle.

When he rounds the back of his car, he bumps into someone, spilling his warm coffee on their clothing.

“You did that on purpose!” The woman screams. “You took my spot and now you’re throwing coffee on my dress!”

Jimin is taken aback.

“It was an accident,” he explains as he pats his pocket for a handkerchief but must have forgotten it in his haste to leave home.

“Everyone knows I park right there every day! You took my spot!” The woman stomps her heel and Jimin rolls his eyes, which upsets the lady more.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?!” She asks, shocked.

“Yes,” Jimin shrugs. Normally he’d be an adult about the situation. Maybe he’d offer to get her dress dry-cleaned or buy her a new one. He did feel bad about it, but he was already having a bad morning and she was making him late with her screaming.

“I’m late,” Jimin states as he walks around her, ignoring her calls, insisting he move his vehicle.

“What a grouch,” Jimin utters as he walks toward the school's front office. Hopefully, he wouldn’t see her again any time soon. She must be one of the parents parking where she shouldn’t. Even if she claimed to park there daily, Jimin didn’t care.

Not today.

“I am so sorry,” Jimin apologizes as he enters his classroom. The Teacher's Assistant is already in class, helping children put their belongings in their cubbies that were assigned yesterday. “It won’t happen again.”

“No worries,” the man smiles as he helps a child remove their backpack. “It happens. I heard they called you this morning, so I understand. I’m Kim Taehyung, your Teacher Assistant.”

“Park Jimin,” Jimin introduces himself, shaking Taehyung’s hand firmly.

“Nice to meet you,” Taehyung says genuinely. He shows Jimin to his desk, and the list of their students' names and where they will sit unless he’d like to make changes. Jimin shakes his head.

“This is the schedule. It usually doesn’t change unless there’s an assembly or fire drill. Lunch is from 11 to 11:30 and recess is from 11:30 to 11:45. Then we pick them up and they have their bathroom break until 12. Nap is from 12 to 1:30 and then they have Center Time before going home at 3. Bus students leave at 2:50 and Car Pick-up at 2:55.” Taehyung said as he explained the schedule.

“Thank you. How would I get ahold of my daughter? I think she’s with a Miss Sweetheart?” Jimin tried his best to remember Harin’s teacher, wishing he had been able to meet her this morning but it seemed like everything that could go wrong, did. He’d just have to hope he could meet her at lunch today.

Taehyung chuckles. “The students and parents call her Miss. Sweetheart. She’s lovely. The best teacher you could get for your little one, but I am biased because she’s my best friend.”

“Oh? I’d love to meet her,” Jimin says as he grabs the breakfast cart. Taehyung helps him distribute the cereal packs and milk, helping the students one at a time until they’re all situated.

“You’ll love her!” Taehyung gushes as he tells Jimin Miss Sweetheart’s real name. Jimin does his best to memorize it as he sits at his desk to do attendance. Taehyung keeps a close eye on the children as they eat their breakfast.

“You could go across the hall to let her know your daughter should come to your room for pickup instead of heading outside. It might make it easier to get out of here after you complete your after-school duty,” Taehyung said as he helped a child open their carton of orange juice.

“Yes, that’s not a bad idea,” Jimin notes as he rises. “Right across the hall?”

“Yup,” Taehuyng nods. “She’s got her name on a giant wooden pencil sign. You can’t miss it.”

Jimin nods as he heads out of his classroom. He leaves the door open, so he can rush back if needed.

As Taehyung said, Miss Sweetheart’s name is on the pencil outside the classroom. The door is open and he can hear the soft chatter of the children.

Jimin knocks lightly and a woman with short black hair and sunkissed skin looks up. She’s wearing a long dress with a black cardigan and matching glasses. Her makeup is minimal, but pretty nonetheless. She’s a few inches shorter than Jimin, he notes. Her smile is warm and bright, dazzling as she quirks her head. Jimin thinks she’s beautiful.

“Hello, can I help you?” She asks as she walks toward the door. “I’m the Teacher's Assistant, Mrs. Gonzalez.”

“Daddy!” Harin shouts when she spots her father. Mrs. Gonzalez steps aside once she spots Jimin’s faculty badge.

“Hey, baby,” Jimin waves awkwardly. The students are all watching him instead of eating their breakfast. Jimin feels his cheeks grow warm as he clears his throat. He doesn’t spot anyone else in the room with Mrs. Gonzalez, so he turns to her again.

“Sorry for interrupting,” Jimin apologizes. “I’m Park Jimin, the new Pre-K teacher across the hall.”

Mrs. Gonzalez nods.

“I’m also Harin’s father,” Jimin explains. “I just wanted to ask if Harin could be sent to my classroom instead of the Pick-up area after school.”

Mrs. Gonzalez smiles. “Sure, that’s not a problem.”

“Thank you so much,” Jimin sighed in relief before wishing her a good day and heading to his classroom. He shuts the door and thanks Taehyung as the two have their breakfast and the kids finish up.

Across the hall, Miss Sweetheart returns to her classroom. “Well, Lupita, I did the best I could to get this coffee stain out but it looks like I’ll just have to bear and suffer with it today. I’m packing extra clothes tomorrow to keep in my car.”

Lupita smiles sympathetically. “I’m sure tomorrow will be better.”

You nod, smiling as you return to your desk.

“Oh, before I forget. Harin’s father would like her sent to his classroom instead of Pick-up,” Mrs. Gonzalez informs you. You nod and write it on a notepad on your desk so you don’t forget.

“Thank you, Mrs. Gonzalez.”

The end of the school day arrives faster than Jimin thought it would. He ate his lunch in his classroom to review the lesson plan for the week. One of the Pre-K teachers had provided them until he could do his own. He was grateful for the help, especially tossed into this on such short notice.

Jimin had other interviews lined up and was bummed about not getting a job offer at the elementary school where his daughter would be attending. It had been his first choice, so he didn’t care about the underlying circumstances of how he got the job, he was just happy that he did.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Taehyung tells Jimin as he grabs his belongings and escorts the children who are walkers to the correct area. Jimin waves, grateful he doesn’t have after-school duty today. He’s scheduled for tomorrow, so he’ll pack his daughter extra snacks. Overall, it wasn’t a bad day even after the events that occurred this morning. He hoped he could apologize to that woman sometime, but he wouldn’t let it stew.

“Daddy,” Harin says as she pulls on his shirt. “I wanna go home. Lila’s waiting.”

“I’m going, love. Let me just grab my stuff, okay?”

“Okay, Daddy!” Harin twirls around once. Her hair didn’t make it the rest of the day. Her scrunchie clings loosely to her black hair as she twirls again before growing dizzy and giggling.

Jimin shakes his head as he smiles at her sweetly. He takes her backpack from her and takes her hand. He leads her out of his classroom, locking the door and heading for the office.

With ease, Jimin clocks out as he says his goodbyes to the staff.

Harin claps when she sees the car, allowing Jimin to place their belongings in the trunk before he scoops her up and helps her into the booster seat. He hands her a bottle of water and checks that she’s secure before rounding the vehicle and climbing into the driver’s seat.

Music plays softly in the background from the radio. Harin drinks some water and then puts the bottle in the cup holder of her seat.

“Did you have a good day at school, sweetie?” Jimin asks as he safely pulls out of the parking spot and the parking lot.

“It was the best!” Harin exclaims in excitement. “We had cereal for breakfast and chicken nuggets for lunch! I made two friends, Beth and Hilario! They’re tall like Uncle Kookie!”

Jimin laughs. He’s sure two four-year-olds aren’t that tall, but he listens intently and asks more about her day.

“And Miss Sweetheart is so nice! She’s my favorite ever! She’s funny and pretty! I like her!”

“That’s good, baby. I’m glad you like your teacher,” Jimin states honestly. He had worried Harin would have a hard time on her first day of school. He worried she wouldn’t like it, or her teacher would be mean, or she’d cry all day for him. Harin did well when left with family or friends but Jimin was still worried. It was a lot of changes for her all at once, and though they were changes made for the better, he couldn’t help but worry.

Jimin had a much larger support system now that he was back in his hometown than when they lived an hour away. He had hoped it would make parenting a little easier with his parents nearby. He was doing fantastic even if he couldn’t see it, but the extra help and support would be nice.

The moment Jimin parks in his driveway, Harin tugs at her seatbelt until Jimin opens the door and unclips it. He helps his daughter out of the car, and she runs next door to Lila, who plays on the front porch while her mother and Yoongi watch her.

“Harin!” Lila screeches. The two girls hug as Jimin shuts the car door and opens the trunk. He grabs his bag and Harin’s. He shuts the trunk and rounds the vehicle as Yoongi waves.

“Hey!” Jimin greets as he meets Yoongi halfway. Harin and Lila run around the front yard, giggling as they chase each other.

“How was your first day?” Yoongi asks his best friend.

Jimin sighs heavily.

“That bad, huh?” Yoongi smirks.

“No,” Jimin chuckles as he runs a hand through his long black hair. “This morning started rocky, but it was fine once I got in my classroom.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Yoongi asks as Lila runs to him and clings to his leg before Harin does the same. The girls tug on his pants, wanting him to join the chase.

Yoongi laughs, patting both girls on the head. “In just a minute, okay?”

“Okay!” They chirp as they take off running, squealing in delight when Jungkook crosses the street to join them. The three run around in circles and Yoongi turns back to Jimin.

“We were running late,” Jimin recounts this morning’s events as Yoongi follows along, nodding his head and grimacing when he gets to the part about spilling coffee on a stranger.

“Tomorrow’s another chance to get it right,” Yoongi states.

“Ever the wise man,” Jimin laughs. Yoongi cracks a smile as the girls run up to him with Jungkook in tow.

“Play with us!” They plead.

Jimin gets down to their level, a smile on his lips.

“I have to put our bags inside and change. I’ll come to join you in a few minutes, okay?”

“Yes, Daddy,” Harin nods as they pull Yoongi and Jungkook toward the giant oak tree to climb.

“Take your time, man. We’ve got this,” Yoongi assured him.

“Thanks, Yoon. I need to get dinner started but I’ll come back out as soon as possible,” Jimin says as he steps toward his house.

“Don’t worry about it,” Yoongi grins, patting Jimin on the back and turning to the girls. Jungkook has both in the tree and Yoongi’s heart nearly falls out of his chest as he rushes over in a panic.

Jimin shakes his head. Jungkook’s adventurous streak had been an influence on both girls. Something Yoongi and Jimin loved and hated.

Oh, well.

Jimin smiles brightly as he pulls into the parking lot earlier than yesterday. He parks in the same spot as the day before with a smirk.

Harin gets out of the car by herself but has to wait for Jimin to open the trunk to get her backpack. Jimin figures it would be best to walk his daughter in himself. After all, he’s not the only teacher with children at the school.

Just as he thinks that another teacher pulls in and gets out with her two children, her badge around her neck on a lanyard. Jimin takes his daughter’s hand and walks her across the parking lot, noticing as the car from yesterday pulls in.

With a friendly, yet devious grin, Jimin waves at the woman behind the wheel, noticing how she clenches her hands and shoots him a glare.

Humming to himself, Jimin crosses the drop-off area safely with Harin at his side. He’s in a joyous mood all the way into the building after clocking in and taking his daughter to her classroom.

“There’s coffee and muffins in the lounge if you want to head up there,” Taehyung informs Jimin as he walks into the classroom with his backpack over one shoulder and an iced coffee in one hand with a banana nut muffin sitting on the lid.

“I could use some coffee,” Jimin muses as he removes his black leather jacket and drapes it over his desk chair. “Had to skip it this morning to get here earlier than yesterday.”

Taehyung nods as he sets his belongings on his desk, a mouthful of muffin in his mouth.

Tae swallows and nods. “Go for it.”

Jimin thanks him as he heads out of the classroom. Only a few kids are playing on the carpet for Circle Time, and Taehyung watches them while Jimin heads off to the lounge, greeting a few teachers and faculty as he heads to the teacher’s lounge.

The lounge isn’t as small as the one in the last school he worked at. There are three TVs mounted on the walls, a treadmill near one TV, and a set of weights beside it for those who want to remain active on their breaks.

There are two industrial-size refrigerators on one wall, with enough room for everyone’s lunch and all the food and drinks provided by the school. Several tables litter the rest of the room, along with a plush gray couch with blue cushions and a large island beside the sink and cabinets filled with mugs and travel cups.

Just like Taehyung had said, there’s a bountiful array of muffins, cookies, and breakfast sandwiches on one table beside a note that says Faculty, please enjoy.

On the counter by the sink, several sleek appliances sit ready to be used. Among them is the iced coffee machine beside a Keuring. Jimin grins as he grabs a cup and makes his coffee, waiting for it to brew while he picks out a chocolate chip muffin.

The smell of his hazelnut coffee makes his mouth water as he takes a bite of his muffin. He moves closer to the coffee maker and waits for it to finish brewing.

Once he’s got it ready to go, he turns to look for a lid, only for him to bump into someone. A bit of his coffee ends up on the person he bumped into, and he nearly curses.

“Really? Again?!”

Jimin freezes. He feels his blood run cold. Though she’s looking down at the stain on her dress, he recognizes the dress’s pattern from this morning, and the annoyance in her voice is the same as yesterday.

Fuck, Jimin had done it now.

“I’m sorry,” he apologizes as he grabs a lid for his coffee.

“Do you have it out for me?” She hisses as he dabs at her dress and finally looks Jimin in the eye.

Jimin is too stunned to speak. He licks his lips before trying to think of a response. When none comes, it enrages her even more.

“First, you took my parking spot yesterday and today. Then you spilled your coffee on me twice. Should I expect this to become a daily occurrence so I can send you my dry cleaning bill?!”

Jimin blinks. He’s still unable to think clearly. He apologizes again before he steps around the woman and heads to his classroom with his coffee in one hand and a muffin in the other.

The end of the school day comes faster than Jimin expected. He’s tired and a little sleepy. His daughter is delivered to his classroom as he’s getting his students ready to go to the car pickup area.

“Miss Sweetheart is so nice! Today we colored and went over numbers,” Harin smiles as she holds Jimin’s hand on the way outside.

Jimin has Harin sit where he can see her and wait for the other students' names to be called.

Harin takes her homework out. She’s ahead of some kids in her class because Jimin teaches her at home. She can spell her name, write her name, and read a few sight words. She had even memorized his phone number and Jungkook’s in case of an emergency and now she just had to learn her new address.

Yoongi would have a time when Jimin told him about today.

Jimin truly felt awful about spilling his coffee on this woman twice but he had apologized, right? It was an accident… though he also stole her parking spot twice in a row now.

Grimacing, Jimin focuses on getting the students to their parents’ vehicles. He’ll have to talk to his friends this weekend and get advice on what to do. The last thing he wanted was to make an enemy at his school.

“Miss Sweetheart!” Harin shouts, smiling and waving at a woman who approaches while Jimin gets a student into their car. He shuts the door and waves before he heads back to his daughter, now that he’s done with his after-school duty.

For a split second, Jimin panicked when Harin’s belongings were left on the ground but his daughter was nowhere in sight. Ice builds in his veins as panic sets in and he looks to the left and right.

It’s not until he hears Harin’s tinkling laughter that Jimin calms down, rushing to her side.

“Harin!” He exclaims, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. “Baby, you know better than to run off without telling me.”

“Sorry, Daddy,” Harin frowns. “I just wanted to say bye to Miss Sweetheart.”

Jimin sighs as he scoops his daughter into his arms and finally turns to his daughter’s teacher. His smile is wiped off his face and yours when your eyes lock.

“Miss Sweetheart,” Jimin says through gritted teeth as you scowl.

“Mr. Park,” you growl with a blink of your eyes. Your favorite student’s father just happens to be the obnoxious (gorgeous) man who has been making your first week of the school year absolute hell.

“You’re Harin’s teacher,” Jimin is dumbfounded as he shifts Harin’s weight in his arms.

“Yup,” you affirm in a clipped tone. “And you’re her dad.”

“That’s me,” Jimin nods. He can’t help but notice how beautiful you are when you’re not seething. Maybe if he hadn’t been in such a rush both days, he would have noticed how beautiful your eyes are, or how cute your nose looks when it’s scrunched in disgust aimed at him.

Fuck, he’d fucked up majorly. His daughter had nothing but praises for you and now you hated him, maybe even loathed him. The last thing he wanted was to have an enemy in school. He didn’t want his coworkers to hate him and he’d fucked up royally only two days into his school year.

“Daddy, I wanna go,” Harin chimes as she wiggles in her father’s hold until Jimin sets her down. Harin grabs her belongings, stuffing her homework folder in her backpack before zipping it close and running back to her dad.

“Bye!” Harin shouts, waving excitedly at her teacher.

Jimin watches as Miss Sweetheart bends down to eye level with Harin. She coos at his daughter and Harin hugs her tightly, saying bye once more before going to hold Jimin’s hand.

You rise to your full height, nodding at Jimin before you head inside the building to get your belongings.

Jimin sighs in relief. At least you weren’t taking his faux pas out on Harin.

He was thankful for that.

“You what?” Yoongi laughs so hard his stomach hurts as he bangs his fist on his thigh.

“Shhh,” Jimin hisses. He had just gotten Harin to bed and he’d be damned if Yoongi woke her up.

“Man,” Yoongi rasps, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Talk about bad luck.”

Jimin rolls his eyes. “You’re telling me. How do I fix it?”

Yoongi smirks, shaking his head. “First, offer to pay for her dry cleaning.”

Jimin nods.

“Then, quit parking in her spot. Official or not, she said she had it first.”

Jimin pouts. “But it’s a good spot.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes. “And she’s Harin’s teacher. Let her have the spot, she’s been there longer than you. Didn’t you say you wanted this to go smoothly?”

“Yeah,” Jimin huffs. “I’ll fix it tomorrow. I don’t need anyone hating me. You should have seen the scowl she had on her face when she realized I was Harin’s dad.”

Yoongi chuckles. “I’d have paid money to see that.”

“Go home,” Jimin sticks his tongue out at his best friend, playfully pushing him toward the front door.

Yoongi laughs, patting Jimin on the shoulder as he takes his leave.

“Oh,” Yoongi snaps as he turns around. His left hand grips the doorknob as he meets Jimin’s gaze. “Don’t forget Sleepover Saturday. Bree’s taking the girls to get mani-pedis so pack an overnight bag for Harin.”

Jimin nods, blinking away the tears that sting the corners of his eyes.

“Tell Bree, thanks. I appreciate her including Harin,” Jimin swallows thickly. He knows Harin will ask soon why she doesn’t have a mom like Lila, and Jimin hasn’t quite figured out what to tell her yet.

“No problem, Chim. You know we love her as our own,” Yoongi said as he opened the door and headed out with one last wave.

Jimin sniffles as the door shuts and he sits on the couch until he dozed off for a while.

Someday Harin would start asking questions about her mother, and Jimin didn’t want to hurt her with the truth.

He wishes things were easier to explain, to assure Harin wouldn’t feel unwanted but Jimin wasn’t sure how. It wasn’t Harin’s fault that Mia had no interest in being a mother. It was Mia’s decision.

Jimin doesn’t know what he’ll do. Maybe he can ask his friends on Saturday night. After all, it takes a village to raise a child, at least that’s what the saying was.

Jimin had a pretty darn good one.

Hopefully, that would be enough to break his daughter’s heart with the truth. Hopefully, Jimin and his family could piece it back together again.

That never worked for Humpty Dumpty though.

The next morning, Jimin pulls into the parking lot. He’s still trying to gauge what time he should arrive at school to get Harin to class, clock in, get his coffee, and get situated before class starts.

Today is no different, except in Jimin’s parking spot sits Miss Sweetheart’s car.

He scoffs, rolling his eyes as he parks beside her. He’s arrived early enough to take someone else’s unassigned spot.

Harin waits for Jimin to get her out of the car before getting her backpack from the trunk. She’s too excited to wait for lunch and opens her kitten lunch bag to get her pudding cup out.

Despite Jimin’s best efforts, he finally gives in and takes the chocolate pudding cup from his daughter to open it.

Jimin stops in the middle of the parking lot to peel back the foil wrapper, grunting when it doesn’t come off easily. He tries again, too focused on the wrapper to notice you walking behind him to cross the lot and get to the school.

“There!” Jimin exclaims as he pulls the wrapper off the plastic pudding cup and the cup goes flying in the air just as you go to pass him.

It lands on your chest.

Chocolate pudding smears on your white blouse and black scarf.

You close your eyes and count to ten, then fifteen, and twenty as the cup falls at your feet.

“Mr. Park,” you seethed as you opened your eyes and glared at him. “I would appreciate it if you could keep your drinks and food off my clothing.”

“I-I’m so sorry.” Jimin is quick to say but you raise your hand to stop him.

“Keep your apologies. I will send you my dry cleaning bill at the end of the week. Or, if this continues, I’ll add up the total until the end of the semester. Whichever you prefer.”

Jimin scoffs. “It was an accident. I apologized.”

“Daddy, there’s a car,” Harin tugs on her father’s pink button-down shirt and Jimin nods as he leads his daughter out of the parking lot.

You turn to go back to your car to change your top. You should keep several outfits on hand for the rest of the school year if you have to be near Mr. Park.

Taehyung has decided to remain neutral. He likes Jimin quite a bit. He’s one of the best teachers he’s ever worked with sans Miss Sweetheart.

Jimin’s not all that bad once you get to know him. He and Jimin just click. They read each other well and anticipated the other’s needs. Tae could see them being close friends outside the workplace.

However, Taehyung still struggles with his loyalty to you. All week he’s heard of this awful teacher taking your usual spot and spilling coffee on your clothing.

Taehyung tried to tell you they were accidents from how you retold the stories but you can be hard-headed when you want to. For now, Taehyung plans to stay out of the squabble you’re having with this stranger. The new year just started. It was too early to make enemies or pick sides in battles that didn’t pertain to him, even if you were his best friend.

Today, you texted Taehyung earlier than usual. You pick up your coffee order and his, park in your usual spot, and head into the building.

You take your time making copies, drinking your coffee, and eating breakfast. By the time Taehyung joins you in your classroom for an early morning chat, you’re in a fabulous mood.

“So it turns out my mortal enemy is the dad of one of my star students,” you state as you cross one leg over the other. You’re looking down at the attendance sheet sitting on your desk. You were still working on learning every student's name and it was easier than waiting for your computer to wake up and log in.

“Really?” Taehyung’s brows disappear under his hair. He lifts his coffee to his lips and takes a sip.

“Mhm,” you nod. “His name is Park. Saw him yesterday on duty.”

Taehyung’s face pales and he nearly spits out his iced white mocha coffee.

There were only two Parks this school year, and one happened to be female.

“First name Jimin?” Taehyung asks nervously, needing confirmation.

You look at your file, finding Harin’s name and her father’s name.

Park Jimin.

“Yeah, how’d you know?” You raise a brow at your best friend as you tap your pen on your desk.

“That’s my teacher,” Taehyung admits ruefully. His hopes of friendship wither away as your eyes widen and a frown mars your beautiful face.

“Ah!” You scream, stomping your foot. “He’s made my life hell these past few days!”

“Look, I’m sure you two can work past this. You said he apologized, right? Forgive him,” Taehyung advises as you glare at him.

“Tae, he did it twice. Twice!”

“I’ll talk to him,” Taehyung suggests but you shake your head fiercely.

“No. You don’t need to get caught in the middle of this. You’re stuck with him eight hours a day. I can’t make it awkward for you. It’s fine. I’m a grown woman. I can handle this cordially,” you sigh as you close your file and send Taehyung on his way. The students and Mrs. Gonzalez should arrive soon. The last thing you need is to make a spectacle.

Taehyung gives you a knowing look and you roll your eyes before dismissing him.

He pauses at the door, a smirk on his lips.

“Cordially.”

Jimin is surprised his eyes don’t get stuck in the back of his head from how hard he rolls them. He had come early as usual but not early enough.

He scoffs when he sees you parked in his spot. However, he refrains from cursing in front of his daughter. Instead, he parks in the empty spot beside your car and grumbles obscenities while rounding his vehicle.

It wasn’t even about the parking spot. Jimin didn’t care where he parked as long as there was room for his car. How you had reacted on his first day was what had driven him mad and he dived right into pettiness.

Though he still felt a little awful about the coffee spills; Jimin seemed to care less and less as you accused him of doing it purposely and now taking the time to come in earlier than him just to spite him. He knew it wasn’t a coincidence. How could it be when the two of you had stepped on each other's toes all week?

Tomorrow would be Friday, and he’d have the weekend to relax.

Surely, this little feud wouldn’t extend past the first week of school?! You were both adults and though Jimin could admit it was fun to ruffle your feathers each morning, he had to remember that Harin liked you.

Despite the irony of you being called Miss Sweetheart, when you had been anything but toward him.

Jimin doesn’t let his thoughts sour his mood as he walks Harin to class before he sets his belongings on the cluttered desk and informs Taehyung of his whereabouts.

“I’m gonna make a coffee in the lounge and clock in.”

Taehyung nods, waving Jimin off as a few students trickle in. Not enough to be out of ratio, but enough to warrant his full attention.

Jimin says his good mornings on his way to the lounge. He makes sure to clock in first and avoids the gazes of his fellow faculty.

He knows they stare because he’s hot. Jimin prides himself in his appearance, he kind of has to keep up with Jungkook and Harin, the two love run at the park whenever possible. Harin and Lila, keep Jimin and all his friends in shape, from playing tag, to hide and seek, and now climbing trees.

Jimin knows it won’t be much longer before Harin asks for tumbling classes, ballet, soccer, ice skating, bowling, and rock climbing courses. So Jimin does his best to keep in shape and do his skincare because Jungkook and Hoseok showing up at his door with baskets full of products isn’t on his calendar anymore. He’s got his bathroom counter littered with items and a printed-out sheet of how and when to apply them.

Today, Jimin wears a white button-down shirt with the first two buttons undone. He's tucked his shirt into his black slacks and wears his favorite black leather belt. His hair is perfectly styled and shows his forehead. It draws the attention of a few teachers who giggle when he passes by.

Jimin’s eyes seem to sparkle when he spots the coffee maker, only to frown when he spots you beside it.

Jimin notes the way you tense when you realize who’s standing beside you. It's easy to tell you're taking your time on purpose. You hum to yourself as you look at the pods remaining on the stand. There’s only one hazelnut left and you note Jimin muttering how he hopes you won’t take it.

Grinning, you take the pod and insert it into the machine, waiting for the coffee to brew while you hum to yourself.

Jimin bites his tongue, annoyance bubbling in his chest.

The coffee aroma fills the lounge. It brightens your smile just a bit as your coffee finishes brewing into your cup. Humming, you grab the creamer and pour some into your cup, setting the bottle on the counter before going to grab a spoon to stir your coffee.

Jimin taps his foot, frowning. Heat eats at his neck, and his shirt feels too stuffy.

You pay him no mind as you raise your cup to your lips, tasting the sweetness before deciding a little more creamer is needed. You circle the spoon in your cup, ignoring Jimin’s pointed looks. If his eyes could light you on fire, you have no doubt you would be.

“Oh, I should make a cup for Taehyung,” you muse as you reach for another pod.

“He has coffee,” Jimin huffs, the tapping of his foot on the linoleum growing louder.

“Hmm, I’ll text him,” you take your phone out of your pocket and take your time typing up a message, making a show of deleting and retyping it a few times.

You sip your coffee as you wait for a response. Jimin glares, his arms crossed over his chest and his jaw taut. If you didn’t hate him so much, you could admit he was gorgeous. From his lean body to his plush lips that you’d be lucky to kiss.

You take another sip of your drink, hiding your smile behind the mug as your phone buzzes.

“Oh, must be Tae,” you grin, eyes wickedly shining as you read the text. “Oh, I guess he’s still got the coffee I bought him this morning. How could I have forgotten?”

Jimin growls, stomping his foot like a petulant child.

“All yours, Mr. Park,” you smile smugly as you step aside.

Jimin mutters something under his breath as he goes to make his coffee. You bite back a laugh as you head for the door.

“Class starts in a few minutes. Don’t wanna be late again,” you call over your shoulder, noting the way his shoulders tense.

“Thanks for the reminder, Sweetheart,” Jimin grits, eyes like burning coal when he looks at you.

“No problem, Park.”

Hours later, Jimin lines up his students. Taehyung hands them their name badge to hang around their neck while they play outside. Though Jimin and Tae have been doing well learning and memorizing names, their class heads to the playground with Miss Sweetheart’s classroom.

By the time Jimin’s class makes it outside, your class is already running around, laughing and shouting on the playground.

Jimin’s kids get excited, smiling as they approach. A quick review of the playground rules is given before Jimin sets them free.

Taehyung watches the students, calling attention to inappropriate behavior while Jimin looks for his daughter.

Harin is running around with a few kids, laughing as she runs around the playground before climbing up the steps to use a slide. Jimin relaxes once he spots her and he keeps an eye on his students while Taehyung and Mrs. Gonzalez chat over their paperwork.

Miss Sweetheart watches her students, ignoring the heat of Jimin’s gaze.

You weren’t happy that you had to share your time outside with the annoying man but you had promised Taehyung you’d be cordial and other than your little petty tirade this morning, you were going to try her best.

Taehyung had texted you once Jimin had come back to the classroom with his coffee in hand. He had not been amused at your shenanigans and you had promised to do better.

But you’d still out petty Jimin when the opportunity presented itself.

“Miss Sweetheart!” You look up as you come out of your reverie.

“Harin!” You grin as you open your arms and get down to her level. She smiles as she jumps in your arms, holding a tiny dandelion in her hand.

“For you,” she squeals as she hands you the weed. You smile, thanking her with a hug before setting her down.

“It’s pretty,” you say as she holds your hand. Harin was so sweet and smart. She loved to help you and Mrs. Gonzalez. You adored her already and it amazed you how sweet she was when her father got on your nerves but you wouldn’t let your personal feelings with her father get in the way of your relationship with Harin or any of the other students.

Jimin tries not to panic when he doesn’t see Harin. His heart beats rapidly, his brow shines with cold sweat and his hands clench into fists as he looks for his daughter and doesn’t find her.

Slowly, Jimin rounds the playground, relaxing once he spots Harin with her teacher. The two are smiling and Harin is quick to hug her, clinging to her as they both blow on the dandelion before Harin runs off once again to join her friends.

When your gaze meets him, he doesn’t look away. His eyes are stormy as he watches you for another moment, studying you before turning his attention back to the students.

Perhaps you weren’t as bad as he thought.

That wouldn’t stop him from being petty though.

“So I’ll swing by after school to pick up the girls,” Yoongi reminds his best friend, Jimin, after school.

Harin and Lila are already running around in the front yard. Bree and Seokjin chat on the front porch and Jungkook has his dog, Bam, on a leash.

“Tomorrow?” Jimin asks for confirmation.

“Yes,” Yoongi nods. “Bree, Jungkook, and Seokjin are going to that new pizza place with the arcade. We talked about it in the group chat.”

Jimin takes his phone out of his pocket. He goes to his messages and sees the muted symbol for the group chat. He has 157 unread messages.

“Damn,” Jimin says as he quickly skims through the messages until he reads about the pizza place. Namjoon and Hoseok have work to do, but Jungkook and Seokjin are excited to go. Jimin knows it’ll probably turn into some sort of competition between them and Yoongi will end up carrying the girls’ prizes.

“I’ll meet you there,” Jimin nods. “You can take Harin after school and I’ll come home for a change of clothes.”

“Sure thing,” Yoongi agrees before Harin and Lila cling to his legs.

“Come play, Daddy,” Lila tugs on her father’s hand while Harin takes the other one.

“Come on, Uncle Yoongi! Uncle Koo wants to race with Bammie!” Harin giggles as she tugs her uncle.

“I’ll change and be right out,” Jimin tells Harin as the three take off after Jungkook.

Bam barks excitedly as they run and eventually, Harin ends up being carried by Jungkook while Yoongi carries his daughter on his shoulders.

Jimin chuckles as he heads into his home to get changed. He knows his parents will be home from work soon, and he’d like to say hi to them before dinner.

Despite living across the street, it had been hard for Jimin to see them between work and making dinner. There were still boxes that needed to be unpacked in his home, and he was hoping he could get them unpacked while Harin had her sleepover next door.

Another race starts when Jimin joins his family outside. The girls have lost interest in racing and Bammie runs with them in the front yard while Jimin catches up to Yoongi and Jungkook, cackling when he runs past both of them to the end of the block and back to his house.

“Cheater!” Yoongi shouts as he comes in third place. Jimin huffs a laugh as Jungkook sits on the grass, groaning when Bam goes over to lick his face.

“Wanna go again?” Jimin goads and Yoongi flips him off.

Jimin cackles as he shakes his head, calling Harin over to go home.

“We’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

Jimin is earlier than usual.

Harin is just happy to be at school. She follows Jimin to his classroom and helps him set out the morning exercise on everyone’s desk.

Today, they’re going over the letter A.

For a moment, Jimin feels bad getting to school so early, especially because Harin was now involved in his pettiness without knowing so. He could have asked Yoongi to drop her off with Lila, but he was already picking up the girls after school and Jimin didn’t want to wake up the Min household for his petty dealings.

Today, he had parked his car in his usual spot. He was proud of himself for getting to work early. Very few people littered the halls and he was able to get his hands worksheets printed and his coffee made before other faculty crowded the lounge.

Harin sat at his desk with her breakfast. She sang to herself as she swirled her cereal in its plastic container. The bright colors stood out against the white bowl as Harin went in for another mouthful.

All Jimin had to do now was wait for class to start.

Fumes escape from your ears as you pull into the parking lot.

It was Friday. The last day of the school week and the first day of your weekend once the school bell rang.

You were in no mood to pull into the lot and see Park Jimin’s car in your spot. You had been here at the same time as yesterday but it seems like the evil villain has decided to best you.

No matter, on Monday morning you would win once and for all. Besides, how long could you keep this up before the principal got involved?

Monday would determine the true winner.

Despite Taehyung’s best efforts to not get involved in your revenge plan, he ends up involved.

Taehyung asks Jimin to go to lunch with him to celebrate surviving their first week of the school week.

It hadn’t been too hard to convince Jimin, especially when Taehyung mentioned the restaurant down the road offered all the teachers and faculty a forty percent discount if they had their badges.

All you needed was for Tae to get Jimin out of the classroom long enough for you to sneak in and get to his computer.

You sit on his desk chair, looking around until a pink sticky note catches your attention.

Password: 1994Jimin!

Okay, after your scheming was done, you’d get Taehyung to give Park a lesson in cyber security.

Logging in is easy and it only takes you a few minutes to take a screenshot of his desktop and add little photos of his icons before moving everything into a file you disguise as a flower.

While you finish up, your eyes scan Jimin’s desk. Beside the mousepad, there’s a pink photo frame with Harin smiling.

Beside it, there’s a frame with a photo of Jimin and Harin. You note there’s no mother in the photo, and you recall Jimin’s paperwork only including his parents and a man named Jungkook in case of an emergency.

You could admit Jimin was hot. He was beautiful in an ethereal way and his voice sometimes made your heart do flips. You could find him attractive if he didn’t annoy the fuck out of you. Which is why you’re currently changing his desktop to prank him.

No matter how many times he clicks on the desktop’s icons, nothing will open until he figures out they’re all just images. Nothing will launch, and hopefully Taehyung can give you a detailed recounting of Jimin’s annoyance.

Smiling, you bask in the genius of your plan. After all, you weren’t trying to harm Jimin in any way. You know the coffee incidents were accidents but you were so far in this now you kind of just rolled with it.

It had been a long time since someone got under your skin like this, and maybe you were being immature but you liked pushing Jimin’s buttons. You liked to make him tick. You liked the way his jaw grew taut, his eyes dark as he stared at you, almost as if seeing into your soul.

You could admit to yourself that maybe you had a teeny, weeny, minuscule crush on the (assumed) single dad Pre-K teacher.

But for now, that would stay in the vault.

You log out of the computer as soon as you’re done, cackling for a second before running out of the classroom. You have a quick snack at your desk, and text Taehyung a thumbs up.

[You]: All clear, Tae

[Tae]: 👀

Jimin huffs, his brow furrows as he clicks on the web browser icon.

“Why won’t you open?” He grits his teeth as he runs a hand through his black hair. It’s a little longer than normal, but with the move, the new job, and the new enemy across the hall, he hadn’t had a chance to get it cut.

Taehyung works on his paperwork on his desk. It’s nap time for the kiddos, and he’s using the time to get some work done before the weekend.

He goes over the lesson plan for next week, one from his best friend. Hopefully, by next week, Jimin will have his lesson plan ready to get them along.

“What is wrong with this thing?” Jimin huffs, his jaw is taut and his eyes blaze with frustration. The clicking of his mouse fills the classroom and a few students stir in their sleep.

Finally, Jimin decides to restart his computer. He clicks on the menu and sees a new folder. When he opens it on his screen, he frowns.

There’s no way in hell!

Jimin curses in his head, nearly growling as he figures out what’s going on.

“Who would have done this?” Jimin utters as he changes his background wallpaper and his icons back to the way they were.

Surprisingly, the web browser finally opens and he’s able to log onto his account to input grades and open the new lesson plan for the following week.

Jimin will spend his weekend working on his lesson plans and hopefully have a few weeks of them ready by the time Monday rolls around.

“Tae?” Jimin asks as he looks up from his screen. “Was Miss Sweetheart in here?”

“Not that I know of,” Taehyung lies smoothly. “Is something wrong?”

Jimin shakes his head. “No, not anymore. My computer was just acting funny.”

“Oh, do you need to use mine?” Taehyung offers and Jimin shakes his head.

“I got it. Someone just changed all my icons and desktop wallpaper. Nothing worked,” Jimin shrugs as he finishes his work and puts his computer to sleep.

“Huh, weird,” Taehyung responds before going back to his work. He feels the heat of Jimin’s stare but ignores it as he sends a strongly-worded, yet professional, email to Miss Sweetheart.

Jimin doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out you were behind his computer debacle. Your little prank caused him to lose valuable time he could have dedicated to paperwork and lesson plans.

So, he thinks of a plan to get back at you because it’s not enough for this to die out in the first week. Nope, Jimin won’t be the one pulling out first. If it’s a prank war you want, then that’s exactly what you’ll get.

Jimin is glad he doesn’t have after-school duty today as Harin gets delivered to his classroom. Mrs. Gonzalez and you take his students to the pick-up area and the walkers.

His genius plan will go through the weekend. He let the secretary know his car wouldn’t start and he’d move it on Monday afternoon.

The secretary had left a message for the principal and custodian, and Jimin was on his way out the door to the pickup area. A sadistic smile on his lips.

Jimin waits outside the school with Lila and Harin. Both girls are talking about their day as they wait for Yoongi’s SUV to pull up.

Yoongi does a double take when he spots Jimin with his daughter and “niece.”

The teacher on duty opens the doors to the SUV and Jimin helps Harin into her car seat while Yoongi buckles Lila.

Jimin climbs into the passenger seat and waits for Yoongi to join him.

Once the doors are shut and locked, Yoongi pulls off from the curb.

“Something you wanna tell me, Chim?” Yoongi asks as he lowers the music on the stereo.

“Nope,” Jimin says, popping the p.

“Uh-huh,” Yoongi scoffs. He keeps his eyes on the road as Lila and Harin giggle in the backseat.

“Just remind me to grab my car keys on Monday morning,” Jimin states as he looks out the window as Yoongi turns onto their neighborhood.

Yoongi clicks his tongue but says nothing else as he pulls into his driveway.

“You left your car at the school for the weekend to make sure you got the spot on Monday morning?” Jungkook is flabbergasted as he takes a bite of his pizza.

Seokjin took the girls to the arcade section of the pizza joint after they rushed through their dinner.

Bree had joined them, getting into a competition to see who could win the biggest prize, her or Seokjin.

Seokjin wasn’t one to lose a challenge, so Yoongi knew his wife would be occupied for a while.

“I mean, when you say it like that, it sounds stupid!” Jimin exclaims, feeling heat rush to his cheeks.

“Because it is stupid,” Yoongi rolls his eyes. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Look,” Jimin tries to defend his decision. “It’s just for Monday. She’s been on my nerves since school started. You know what she did today?”

Jungkook shakes his head, already invested in this conversation so he can relay the details to Seokjin at bedtime. He slurps some cheese from his pizza as Jimin continues.

“She changed the shit on my computer so nothing I clicked opened. I spent too much time figuring out what was wrong,” Jimin huffs with a roll of his pretty brown eyes.

“That’s pretty funny,” Yoongi chuckles. “I’ll have to pull that one off on Namjoon.”

Jimin scowls. “Hello?! She’s doing all this because of an accident!”

“Well,” Jungkook pipes in as he wipes the grease from his lips with the back of his tattooed hand. Yoongi and Jimin grimace, handing him napkins in unison.

Jungkook rolls his eyes but accepts the napkins. “You didn’t have to retaliate, Jimin. You could have ended this early on.”

Yoongi nods. “He’s right, you know?”

“Too bad,” Jimin shrugs. “I already left my car in the lot and I have plans for Monday.”

Yoongi groans. “Can’t you just let this go?”

“No,” Jimin states firmly. “I intend to win this.”

“What’s her name, anyway?” Jungkook asks as he takes another slice of pepperoni pizza from the tray.

“Miss Sweetheart or something,” Jimin shrugs. “She’s Harin’s teacher.”

“You’re doing this to Harin’s teacher?” Jungkook’s eyes widened in surprise. “The one she never stops talking about?”

For the first time, Jimin feels shame. He nods, sighing heavily.

“Maybe I can apologize one more time. I mean, Harin does like her.”

“Sounds like your best idea yet.” Yoongi nods in agreement.

Jungkook slurps cheese loudly off his pizza, chewing obnoxiously before Jimin excuses himself from the table.

On Monday, he would make amends.

Sunday morning comes sooner than you’d like. You skipped your jog the day before but you had promised to climb out of bed and head out.

You jogged on the sidewalk, your water bottle in your hand and your phone strapped to your arm. The morning was rather cool, the last bit of summer just barely clinging on.

A few cars drove by on the street, and a few people said good morning as they walked their dogs in the opposite direction. The birds chirped brightly, a rooster crowed in the distance and a few dogs barked in their yards as you jogged by, heading toward the school.

“Is that…?” You come to a full stop when you jog to the parking lot.

The chain link fence is bolted shut like every weekend but a Nissan Rogue sits on the lot. It’s parked in your spot and you scowl.

“Did he leave his fucking car here so he’d get the spot on Monday?!” You screech as you pull your phone out of its pocket and snap a photo.

Seconds after sending it to your best friend, your phone vibrates in his hand.

You don’t bother with a greeting as you seethe, placing the phone to your ear.

“He left his car parked here to beat me on Monday!”

“Sweetheart,” Taehyung sighs, sleepiness evident in his tone. “Don’t you think it’s time to put this behind you? How long are the two of you going to keep this up?”

“Tae,” you huff but he clicks his tongue.

“No! It’s been a week and I’m tired of being caught in the middle. I like him, Sweets. He’s a good teacher and a good friend, potentially. I’m not getting involved in this anymore.”

“I’m sorry, Taehyung,” you apologize, feeling icky about the situation. “I won’t drag you into this anymore, I swear.”

Taehyung remains silent for a few moments as he lies in bed staring at the ceiling. He didn’t miss your double meaning but he was too sleepy to try and talk you out of whatever your plans were.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you like him,” Taehyung says, surprising you.

You guffaw, spitting over yourself as you splutter and walk toward your apartment.

“As if!” You scream in defense.

Taehyung had to pull the phone away from his ear as you continued.

“Why would I ever like someone like him?! Have you lost your mind, Tae?!”

“Someone like him?” Taehyung chuckles. “Devastatingly gorgeous, funny, and with an ass that won’t quit? Since when is that not your type?”

“Tae!”

Taehyung laughs his head off, tells you goodbye through more laughter, and hangs up. Your protest told him everything he needed to know, and perhaps he was right.

Maybe Jimin was a little cute or whatever.

But your anger and annoyance trumped your attraction for the man.

You would win this.

You had to.

Monday morning rolls around and Jimin is more upbeat than usual.

Yoongi drops him off along with Lila and Harin. He gets the girls inside the school before he heads to his car to make sure nothing has happened to it over the weekend.

When he doesn’t notice anything out of place, Jimin hurries into the school.

He’s earlier than usual and he manages to convince the custodian to let him into Miss Sweetheart’s classroom, claiming his daughter left her teddy bear in her cubby.

The students that are early, wait in the cafeteria studying, doing homework, or playing board games while the teachers arrive.

Jimin takes the pack of googly eyes out of his pocket and gets to work.

He’s quick to stick them on the computer screen, the mouse, the mousepad, the stapler, the tape dispenser, the attendance log, the box of tissues, the hand sanitizer, and anywhere he can think of.

Jimin is proud of himself as he gets to his classroom and sets his bag on his desk. He busies himself with his lesson plan for a while before Taehyung and their students arrive.

“Have a good weekend?” Taehyung asks as he settles into his desk.

“It was wonderful,” Jimin answers with a shit-eating grin.

“What the actual fuck?” You’re grateful you’re alone as you step into your classroom.

You’d arrive a little later than usual despite your best efforts to be early. You knew it would be no use trying to beat Jimin to the parking spot since he left his car there all weekend.

You had left him a nice little present on his windshield, a big ole fake dog shit a student left on your chair last year.

You hope it garners the same reaction from Jimin as it did you.

“Oh!” Mrs. Gonzalez exclaims in surprise as she sees hundreds of little eyes staring back at her. “New decor?”

You shake your head. “I came in and it was like this.”

“Interesting choice,” Mrs. Gonzalez says as she goes to her desk to get situated.

Your blood boils in your veins as you stomp to your desk, you didn’t know how but you would make Jimin pay for this.

Who else would have taken the time to annoy you this much?

You pick googly eyes off your mouse, sighing as you see them on just about everything.

They even stare back at you from the monitor.

“You’ll pay for this, Park.”

Harin is talking a million miles a minute as Jimin straps her into her car seat after school.

Today, he’s decided to take his car home. He didn’t want to bother Yoongi for rides to school every morning.

“Daddy, what’s that?” Harin asks with a wrinkled nose. “Is that Bammie’s?”

Jimin is puzzled. He shuts the car door and looks in the direction his daughter is pointing in.

His eyes widen when he spots the pile of shit on his windshield that rivals anything Bammie could have passed.

“Oh! Oh, god!” Jimin gags. He covers his mouth with his hand as he tries not to throw up all over the hood of the car.

How the fuck did someone even get it on the windshield?

Jimin is disgusted as he stares at the pile of shit. He doesn’t have anything to get it off the windshield and using the wipers might just smear shit all over the glass.

He’d have to move it with his hands!

“Miss Sweetheart!” He growls as he shuts his eyes and gets ready to flick the poop off the windshield. He says a quick prayer to whoever and ignores the screaming from his daughter in the car.

“Ew!” Harin screams from her seat.

Jimin is near tears as his hand connects to the poop, and he lifts it.

It’s soft.

It’s fake.

“Thank fuck!” Jimin shouts as he lifts the fake pile of dog shit and gets into his car.

Harin giggles from her seat as Jimin sets the poop on the passenger seat and starts the car.

“Let’s go home, baby.”

Two months later, and you’re still pranking Jimin as he does you.

Taehyung has befriended him, which made it harder to get him involved as he stood firm in his decision not to take sides.

Jimin had agreed to let him stay out of it and you wish you could just cut your losses at this point. It was a stupid parking spot for fucks sake.

However, in some weird way, you liked the attention and detail Jimin would put in his pranks.

Somehow, between planning and scheming, you’d developed a tiny crush on the hot man. You often found yourself staring at him during meetings or lunches shared with Taehyung and Jimin, the only time the two of you would have a truce of some sort because Taehyung insisted on it.

It was Friday the thirteenth of October. Something to make this already spooky month a little more terrifying.

You had your share of bad luck—from arriving late to school to spilling water down the front of your dress.

Mrs. Gonzalez had insisted you take a few minutes to yourself to make your coffee in the lounge. She could tell you needed a breather.

Now, you were waiting for your coffee to brew in the empty lounge. It was too early for anyone to take a break, but too late for anyone to arrive at work. You were grateful for the quiet of the empty lounge.

You open the fridge to steal a cookie from your packed lunch when you spot a chocolate cake. You knew they usually got cakes and pastries for breakfast most weeks and you had been too late in the morning to see the spread but seeing this cake made you ecstatic.

You cut yourself a slice and get your coffee ready. You take a seat at an empty table and enjoy your cake, moaning when the chocolate icing hits your taste buds.

Your day was already brightening up.

“Just about done,” Taehyung informs you as he sends an email to Jimin with the paperwork needing his approval before being turned in on Monday afternoon.

Jimin has headed to the lounge ahead of the two of you to snag a table.

“Ready?” Taehyung follows you out of the classroom toward the lounge. You spot Jimin up ahead speaking with some of the fifth-grade teachers.

“It’s Jimin’s birthday today,” Taehyung says casually as the two of you enter the lounge. You grab your lunch bag from the fridge and hand Taehyung his.

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” you shrug, but Taehyung sees past your fake indifference. He remains silent as he heads for the microwave as you take your usual seat.

Taehyung comes over to your table when his food is done and takes the seat beside you.

“Some of the teachers got him a birthday cake,” Taehyung informs you as he digs into his meal.

“Oh, how nice,” you pretend to be interested but Taehyung rolls his eyes.

“Just admit you like him and let us live in peace.”

“If you already know why do you need to hear me say it? He’s hot, and he’s kinda funny.” You shrug as Jimin enters the lounge.

“The two of you would make a cute couple and Harin adores you,” Taehyung takes another bite of his meal as a few teachers begin singing Happy Birthday.

Someone opens the refrigerator and takes out the box of cake you dug into this morning.

“Oh, no!” You cover your cheeks as heat rises to them and you watch in horror as they open the box just as the song ends and Jimin looks at the cake perplexed.

It’s silent.

Dead silent as realization and shock took over everyone’s face.

“Who cut Jimin’s cake?!” One of the fifth-grade teachers asks in absolute horror.

“Who would cut our Minnie’s cake?” Another asks as they look around the room filled with staff.

A few people shake their heads in disappointment but all you can do is stare at Jimin with wide, horrified eyes.

It was an accident.

A complete accident.

You didn’t know it was his birthday, much less that the cake in the fridge wasn’t some type of teacher appreciation and not a birthday cake.

“You didn’t!” Taehyung hisses as he takes in your mortified expression and how you sink into your chair.

“It’s fine,” Jimin chuckles. “We can still have cake. I’m sure it’s delicious if a piece is already missing!”

The staff laughs as Jimin slices a piece of cake for everyone, including you.

Jimin looks at you with a smirk on his lips.

Taehyung excuses himself as some of the staff leave the lounge to get to their classrooms early in preparation for their afternoon classes. Plus, he couldn’t handle the second-hand embarrassment much longer.

Jimin says nothing for a few minutes, and you pick at your slice of chocolate cake, too embarrassed to finish it.

“Not gonna eat it?” Jimin asks with a raised brow. You meet his gaze and shake your head.

“Not hungry.”

“Still full from the first slice, Sweetheart?” Jimin’s smile widens as you rise from your seat abruptly.

Jimin laughs as you stomp out of the lounge toward your classroom without giving him a parting glance.

Nothing could top this.

Jimin is exhausted when he pulls up to his driveway Friday afternoon.

Harin is already unbuckling herself from her seat when she spots Lila waiting in the front yard. Seokjin and Bree sit on the porch watching Bam run around the tree while Yoongi helps Harin out of the car.

“Hey Princess,” he greets Harin with a smile. “Are you excited for your birthday tomorrow?”

Harin nods, “Grandma is having a party for me and Daddy.”

Yoongi chuckles as Lila comes running toward them.

“Daddy, can Harin sleep over for her birthday tonight?” Lila asks with a pout.

Harin catches on quickly and pouts at Yoongi and her father. “Please?”

Yoongi looks at Jimin, who nods. “Just be home for breakfast, okay?”

“Yay!” The girls take off running toward Bam, laughing when he licks Harin’s face.

“Your mom wanted us to go to her house when you arrived,” Yoongi informs Jimin.

“Let me just change and I’ll meet you there,” Jimin assures his friend.

Yoongi nods as he heads across the street to the Park’s home. Jungkook will meet him there with the last of the party supplies for tomorrow.

Fifteen minutes later, Jimin opens the door of his parent’s house.

“Mom!” Jimin calls as he shuts the front door.

“We’re in here!” Jungkook calls back from the kitchen.

Jimin makes his way through the familiar home until he arrives at the kitchen.

Jungkook is sitting at the table, stuffing goodie bags while Yoongi frosts Harin’s cupcakes and Mrs. Park frosts the cake for Jimin.

“Oh, my baby is here!” Mrs. Park exclaims as she finishes writing Jimin’s name on the cake. She pats her hands on her apron and wraps her son in a tight hug.

“Mom!” Jimin hisses out of breath like a deflating balloon. “I can’t breathe.”

“Well, don’t kill the boy, honey,” Mr. Park chuckles as he enters the kitchen.

Mrs. Park releases Jimin, going to pinch his cheeks instead.

“Mother,” Jimin sighs as he endures the pinching a moment longer before he’s released.

“I haven’t seen you or Harin all week,” she states as she goes back to her frosting.

“We’re still unpacking and Harin is with Lila,” Jimin informs his mother as he leans against the counter.

“They’re having a sleepover,” Yoongi tells Mrs. Park as he finishes the last cupcake.

“Oh, will she still come tomorrow for miyeokguk?” Mrs. Park asks as she sets down a bowl for Jimin on the counter.

“She will,” Jimin promises before kissing his mother’s cheek.

“The weather will be nice tomorrow, so we can have the backyard party after all,” Mr. Park says as he helps Jungkook fill the goodie bags with candies and toys.

“I’ll come around early to set up the tables and chairs. Seokjin can decorate them and when Jimin gets Harin here, we can finish up,” Yoongi tells the group.

“Sounds like a plan,” Jimin slurps loudly.

“Bree and I are taking the girls out, so they’ll be surprised with the decorations,” Mrs. Park smiles as she places the finished cake in a box and puts it in the fridge.

“Thanks, everyone,” Jimin says wholeheartedly. “I appreciate you doing this for us.”

“Nonsense, we’re all glad to have you two back. We missed you,” Jungkook frowns. “It wasn’t the same without you around.”

“Yeah,” Yoongi agrees. “Hoseok and Namjoon struggled the most trying to see us all. They’re so busy.”

“They’ll be here tomorrow though,” Jungkook says as he pops a chocolate in his mouth.

“Good, it’s been ages since we’ve gotten together,” Jimin finishes his soup with one last slurp.

“That reminds me,” Mrs. Park snaps. “I set up a blind date for you, Minnie. Oh! You’ll love her!”

Jungkook giggles while Yoongi smirks, pleased with Jimin’s annoyed expression.

“Mom!”

“No, honey. I’ve already set it up and you can’t get out of it. She’s the daughter of a friend of a friend. She’s a teacher and she’s beautiful,” Mrs. Park rambles on.

“Mom,” Jimin groans as he cards a hand through his hair. “I don’t have time to date right now. Can’t I just enjoy my birthday with you and my friends?”

“One date, Jimin. That’s it,” Mrs. Park is relentless and Jimin knows he can’t break her heart so he begrudgingly agrees to one date.

“You’ll love her! She’s gorgeous!”

“Do you have a picture of her?” Jungkook inquires, grinning like a madman at his best friend’s demise.

“Well, no,” Mrs. Park shakes her head. “My friend showed it to me when we were out to lunch. But she’s beautiful, smart, funny, with a gorgeous smile.”

Jimin sighs heavily, he knows his mother means well but he isn’t interested in going on blind dates. Besides, he was kind of hoping he could eventually gather enough courage to ask you out. He knew he annoyed the hell out of you, and he did his pranks to get a rise from you but he also liked the way you said his name when he irritated you to hell and back. He liked the way you’d stomp your foot or his, he liked the way you only had eyes for him. Sure, it was probably because you were expecting a prank, but he enjoyed the warmth of your heated gaze on him. The way your lip caught between your teeth as you eyed him up and down.

Jimin knew he took up a lot of your thoughts. Taehyung had said so during lunch one day. He couldn’t lie, it stroked his ego a little.

Jimin wanted to be the only thing you filled your thoughts with. He wanted to be someone in your life, even if he was annoying.

Isn’t the line between love and hate rather thin?

The next morning is a blur for Jimin. He’s busy from the moment he wakes up until the birthday party begins.

Harin and Lila are out with Bree and Mrs. Park getting their nails done and getting their outfits on. Yoongi and Seokjin are putting the finishing touches on the table decorations and food table.

Namjoon is setting up the bounce house and Hoseok is inside making sure the Parks’ home is spotless, despite Mrs. Park having already done so.

“Daddy!” Harin shouts as she barrels through the back door straight for Jimin.

He opens his arms and gets down to her level just before she tackles him in a hug. He lifts her easily, spinning her around while her giggles fill the air and she clings to her father. A wide smile is on her face and she kisses Jimin’s cheek before he sets her down.

Lila is in Yoongi’s arms as Bree runs home to get herself ready while Jungkook comes into the backyard with handfuls of presents for Harin, Jimin, and Lila.

“I’m here!” Jungkook exclaims as he sets the gifts down on the table and pauses to open his wallet and stuff a few bills into the money gift box.

Jimin looks around the backyard and smiles, he truly is blessed with the best family and friends he could have ever asked for.

An hour later, the party is in full swing. Harin and Lila run around the yard with some of Harin’s classmates.

Lunch has been served and now children run around, play in the bounce house, and play games with Jungkook, Namjoon, and Bam.

“Hey,” Taehyung greets Jimin after he sets the gifts on the designated table.

“Hey! Glad you could make it,” Jimin grins as he hugs Taehyung. “Food is over there. Help yourself to anything. I’ll introduce you to my friends in a bit.”

“Sounds great,” Taehyung nods as he spots Harin and Lila. He wishes Harin a happy birthday as he heads for the food table.

Mrs. Park welcomes more guests as they arrive. She smiles brightly when she spots the woman she was going to set up with her son.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” She greets the flustered woman. Mrs. Park looks around trying to spot Jimin, but grabs Jungkook’s attention instead, waving him over.

Mrs. Park introduces you to Jungkook, and you smile politely as you’re led to the gift table to drop off the gift. You didn’t have a chance to inform Mrs. Park that you were there for Harin. You don’t know if you should be elated or displeased that your mother set you up with Park Jimin, but this may work out after all. You do like him, and you did have a crush on him.

Oh, Taehyung was gonna have a laugh with this one.

Your cheeks are hot with the thought of Taehyung finding out about your predicament. You barely listen as Jungkook goes on about Jimin.

“So you came for Jimin’s birthday?” Jungkook asks as you reach the table with gifts. You set yours down and shake your head.

“I’m Harin’s teacher. She invited the class to her party,” you explain and watch as the realization hits and he cackles before he looks across the yard and waves someone over.

Not ten seconds later, a shorter man with cat-like eyes joins Jungkook and smiles. “Hello, I’m Min Yoongi.”

“This is the woman Mrs. Park set up with Jimin on a blind date,” Jungkook smirks as you nod.

“Oh?” Yoongi raises a brow. “What do you do?”

“I’m Harin’s teacher,” you explain as realization crosses Yoongi’s face and he too, laughs and shakes his head.

“Small world, huh?” Yoongi grins as his daughter comes over and wraps herself around his leg.

“Come play with us!” Lila exclaims as she tugs Yoongi by the hand toward the bounce house. You’re left alone with Jungkook, who asks you to follow him to greet Harin.

“Miss Sweetheart!” Harin shouts when she spots you, running full speed to hug you. You smile when she hugs you, lifting her in your arms.

“Well, aren’t you a pretty princess? Are you having fun?” you ask as Jungkook leaves your side, most likely to get Jimin.

Taehyung comes over once he spots you, grinning at Harin as she tells you about her birthday. You listen intently, ignoring Taehyung as he tries to tell you something.

“And we got our nails done!” Harin finishes as she shows you her freshly painted nails. They’re a light pink with tiny little stars, perfect for her princess-themed party.

Across the yard, Jimin is crawling out of the bounce house, nearly sick as Yoongi bounces by his feet when they get tangled on the net in search of freedom.

“Hey!” Jungkook can’t help the Cheshire smile on his lips. “The woman your mom set you up is here.”

Jimin furrows his brows in confusion. “What?”

Jungkook nods, resembling a bobblehead. “She’s holding Harin right now.”

Jimin is on his feet in an instant. How could his mother and best friend allow a stranger to hold his child? They knew better.

In his rush to get to Harin, Jimin doesn’t realize who is holding his daughter.

“Miss Sweetheart!” Harin giggles as the two spin in a circle when Jimin approaches and freezes.

You were the one his mother had set him up with?

Had his mother been scheming or was this pure coincidence? Jimin’s unsure but at least the panic in his body has left him as Harin hugs you tight and you spin once more, causing her to giggle.

Jimin can feel his heart pulsing, but not out of fear or panic, but something more. He notes the way you gush over Harin, giggling with her as you bounce her in your arms to readjust her, eager to play with her as Harin points toward the fence where there’s a ‘Pin the tail on the Donkey’ stuck to it.

Namjoon approaches Jimin with Hoseok in tow, the two curious at all the fuss. Taehyung joins the group at Jimin’s side as Yoongi and Seokjin approach while Jungkook tries to wrangle in the kids for the sack race.

“What did we miss?” Namjoon asks as he leans on Hoseok.

“You remember I told you about someone eating my birthday cake yesterday?” Jimin asks his friends and Taehyung bites back a laugh.

“Yeah?” Hoseok states with a befuddled look.

“It was Harin’s teacher,” Yoongi smirks.

Jimin nods. “It was Harin’s teacher.”

“And Harin’s teacher is the woman blindfolded and being spun by Jungkook at the donkey thing,” Taehyung explains.

It’s silent for a moment before they all burst out laughing. Jimin shakes his head as they continue to laugh.

“So the woman you’ve been crushing on lately, and your “enemy”, and the blind date your mom set you up on is Miss Sweetheart?” Yoongi can’t help but cackle as he watches you with Harin.

Jungkook tied himself to you for the three-legged race while Harin and Lila beat them easily. You and Jungkook fall on top of each other, groaning as you get untied and realize you lost.

Jimin and his friends head over to help the two of you up before Mr. Park announces a rematch with the adults and then one for the children.

Jungkook and Seokjin pair up, Yoongi and Bree, Namjoon and Hoseok, and Taehyung, and Mr. Park, leaving Jimin with you.

“You better not lose this round,” Jimin teases as he approaches you.

You glare at him before getting down to tie your legs together. “I only lost because Jungkook is wearing those chunky boots.”

Jimin looks at his best friend and immediately spots the shiny chunky boots that could stomp anyone easily but also trip the muscular man and anyone around him. Jimin had been witness to Jungkook tripping over himself or moving furniture with his colossal shoes.

“Fair,” Jimin acquiesced.

“Is everyone ready?” Mrs. Park asks from the sidelines as the kids move away from the area. The children cheer for you and Jimin. Harin cheers the loudest as the race begins.

Jimin wraps his arm around your waist. “Is this okay?”

You blink.

“Fuck, I should have asked before,” Jimin winces, apologizing before you assure him that it’s fine.

“Go!” Mrs. Park shouts and Yoongi and Bree take off immediately.

Seokjin and Jungkook go down after a few steps due to Jungkook’s boots and Seokjin’s massive shoulders. The two bicker on the floor as they try to get on their feet but fall on each other again.

You and Jimin are doing well. His cologne smells amazing and it makes you a little dizzy. What you wouldn’t give to snuggle into his chest for a while.

Taehyung and Mr. Park nearly pass you as you daydream about Jimin.

“What are you thinking about?” Jimin asks as he looks at you from his peripheral. He noticed the goofy grin on your lips as you kept moving forward.

“Nothing,” you lie, which causes him to roll his eyes at you.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?!” you huff as you bump him with your hip. Hoseok and Namjoon take their turn in passing you as you stop to bicker with Jimin.

Up ahead, Yoongi and Bree are rounding the blue cone set up for the race and are making their way back to Mrs. Park and the finish line. Behind them, Namjoon and Hoseok pass Taehyung and Mr. Park while Jungkook and Seokjin have given up and moved on to prepare the sacks for the sack race up next.

“Jimin!” His mom yells from her spot. “Quit rolling your eyes and get back to the race!”

Jimin sighs.

“You heard her, Jimin!” you exclaim as you move forward, towing Jimin along with you as he mutters under his breath about you and his mother ganging up on him. You bite back a smile as you round the cone and pass by Taehyung and Mr. Park.

You manage to work together to pass Namjoon and Hoseok, but your foot trips Jimin, who goes down like a house of cards with you on top of him.

You both stare at each other in surprise. You admire the curve of his lips, so pretty and pink; kissable. Jimin seems to be doing the same to you as his breath catches in his throat and he admires every bit of perfection that is your face.

“Son! Get up!” Mr. Park laughs as he and Tae race past the two of you, breaking whatever moment you shared with Jimin.

Jimin is the first to recover as he ignores the thundering of his heart to get up and help you to your feet. He brushes himself off as you two stand and hobble to the finish line, coming in last.

“You guys suck,” Seokjin teases as you and Jimin join him and Jungkook. Jimin rolls his eyes and you poke his side.

“Habit of yours?”

“Only when you’re around,” he jokes, sticking his tongue out at you as he bumps you with his hip. Jungkook and Seokjin share a look you miss as you’re handed a brown potato sack.

“My turn,” Taehyung squeezes between you and Jimin, grabbing his own sack and one for Mr. Park.

Mrs. Park smiles as she watches her son interact with you. Yoongi notices her staring and approaches her.

“Jimin really seems to hit it off with her, huh?” Mrs. Park comments as she helps Harin into her sack.

“I’d say so,” Yoongi grins. He’s genuinely happy for his best friend. Jimin deserved a chance at happiness.

“I did good picking her for him,” Mrs. Park states once Harin has hopped off to find Lila and her school friends.

“I’d say,” Yoongi chuckles. “She’s Harin’s teacher.”

Mrs. Park’s eyes widen in surprise as she looks over at you and Jimin. For the first time in a long time, he’s smiling from ear to ear with someone other than his family and friends. Mrs. Park knew not to meddle but she just wanted her son to be happy. She knew family was important to Jimin, one of the values she had instilled in him.

Yoongi and Mrs. Park sit back as the sack race begins and all the children took off hopping forward to win. Laughter fills the yard as they go and some stumble. Miss Sweetheart rushes to them along with Jimin, soothing the children and cleaning skinned knees and bruised elbows.

Once the race for the children ends, the adults get ready as Mrs. Park and Seokjin take the kids to the bounce house.

Jimin and Jungkook get ahead of everyone else. Namjoon tripped over himself, and Hoseok trips over him. Mr. Park and Taehyung go around them, laughing when Jungkook trips over himself and faceplants into the grass.

You reach Jimin easily, smirking when you pass him. He goes faster, catching up to you and bouncing in front of you, causing you to trip and take him down with you when your arms flail.

“You just love being on top of me, huh?” Jimin smirks as you stare down at him.

“Oh, you’d love that,” you retort with a roll of your eyes, but your tummy flips because he’s right. You do like being on top of him.

“I would,” Jimin chuckles as you climb off him and free yourself from the potato sack. Jimin does the same as he takes your sack and his back to the table.

You follow him, standing beside him.

“I’m glad you came. Harin really likes you,” Jimin says absentmindedly as he looks for his daughter across the yard.

“I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot.”

“It’s okay,” you say with a genuine smile. “I can be a bit of a grouch.”

Jimin’s cheeks turn pink as he remembers calling you that the first time he met you in the school parking lot. His ears burn as he apologizes again.

“Come on, let me beat your butt at cornhole,” you laugh as you run in the opposite direction with Jimin right behind you.

It’s been a long afternoon.

Jimin and Harin have been sung to, presents have been opened and children have been picked up by their parents.

Jimin’s friends and parents begin cleaning up the yard, chatting as they go.

You stick around to help Jimin. He stands by the food table putting away leftovers for his friends to take home.

“You sure know how to throw a birthday party,” you comment as you help him put the food away in a container.

“Yeah, I went overboard on her first birthday party. She was Pebbles and Lila was BamBam,” Jimin chuckles as he takes his phone out to show you pictures of Harin.

“She’s adorable,” you squeal. “She’s such a joy to be around. She’s the sweetest little girl.”

“I was worried about her starting school but she loves you so much. I’m glad my shitty attitude didn’t cause waves between you two,” Jimin sighs regretfully. “I was such an ass.”

“I would never let a parent’s attitude toward me influence my treatment of their child. I was an ass, also. How about we start over?” you offer him your hand to shake and he does so with a beaming smile.

“I’d love that.”

The two of you finish putting the food away before Jimin stands in front of his birthday cake. Harin’s classmates had gone for the cupcakes and Jimin’s cake remained untouched.

“Want a bite of this cake too? I’ll close my eyes and you can pretend I’m not here,” Jimin teases, laughing when you shove him.

“It was an accident!” you huff, stomping your foot as Jimin continues to laugh.

You roll your eyes at him and pout.

Jimin cuts a slice of his birthday cake and plates it. He grabs a fork and cuts into the cake, offering you a bite.

You take it but stick your tongue out after.

“Was that so hard?” Jimin smirks and you resist the urge to flip him off.

You take the plate for him and the fork, cutting a small piece to feed him. Jimin opens his mouth to take it, and you smear some of the frosting on his lips.

Jimin licks his lips and your eyes follow his tongue as heat spreads through your veins. Jimin’s eyes lock on yours, eyes dark and hooded as he finishes.

You stand frozen in your spot as he dips his finger in the icing and places it on your lips.

“You’ve got a little something here,” he says as he places his finger in his mouth to suck it clean. He then takes a step forward. You nod as he licks the corner of your mouth before his lips meet yours.

Fireworks seem to go off when your eyes shut, your hands gripping his shoulders as the kiss deepens and your heart thuds rapidly in your chest.

Jimin moans softly as he takes your bottom lip and nips it gently. You moan as he pulls away, body fueled with desire as you stare at each other longingly.

“How about that date?” Jimin asks, his cheeks flushed pink and his black hair falling over his eyes. You could just eat him up.

“I thought you’d never ask.”