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‘You don’t understand…Taemin-ssi.’ Yoongi squinted at the nametag the boy was wearing. ‘It’s really important for me to get that exact Puppy Patrol stuffie. It’s a life or death situation’.
Taemin tried to hide his annoyance. Christmas time was difficult for some people and this guy smelled like black coffee, cigarettes and desperation.
‘I’m so sorry sir, I already checked twice in all of our shops. The toy is sold out.. There’s nothing much I can do, I’m sorry’.
Yoongi tugged his hair like he was about to rip it off. Fuck, fuck fuck, he cursed internally. This Christmas needed to be the best one ever. He owed that to Mina. He was the one who decided he wasn’t in love with his ex anymore. What he didn’t know was that his ex wasn’t in love with their daughter. What he also didn’t know was that his ex didn’t have any trouble moving back to Australia, where he was from and where they legally got married and adopted Mina four years ago.
So it was his fault, as much as his brother Seokjin repeated that Josh leaving them was the mother of all the douchery™ decisions, but it was hard for Yoongi to shake the feeling.. Apparently Josh only agreed to the adoption because Yoongi wanted to be a father and he didn’t want to lose him in case he refused. He ripped apart what they had because he wasn’t feeling the same anymore. After getting her, they started distancing more and more, until he noticed Mina was the light of his life and Josh was simply a roommate.
Maybe he had to try a bit more. Try to keep romancing Josh, to keep the sparkle alive. But he just wasn’t into him anymore, and the situation was killing him slowly.
So over a year ago, a few days after January had started, he sat Josh at the kitchen table and had the talk. Yoongi knew it was going to be a really awkward scene, because how do you explain to someone that you fell out of love with them? But the reality was so much worse.
When Yoongi finally blurted it out, Josh took a deep breath and gave himself a moment of deep thinking.
‘We can fix this. Let’s bring Mina back to Australia. I bet we can argue that we’re getting bullied in Korea for being an homosexual couple and it is not the best environment for her to grow up in. They’ll understand.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘You heard me perfectly. Mina’s the one that’s getting between us. Since she’s here and we came back to Korea so you could open your accountant office, you’ve just lost interest in me. Work and Mina, work and Mina. That’s the only important thing to you, uh?’
‘I’ve been breaking my fucking back to provide for both of you. Josh, you were on board to stay at home to work on your book and take care of OUR daughter.’
‘You mean YOUR daughter. It’s a child I take care of. And I could stop doing it in a heartbeat’. He spitted.
Yoongi felt his stomach drop to the floor. That whole conversation turned into a nightmare.
‘I thought I could learn how to love her the same way you did, but I just…can’t. And seeing her getting all the attention you used to give to me was the last straw, Yoon. It’s her or me. Your choice’.
Yoongi took his face between his hands, looking at him without even blinking. ‘Thanks for letting me know how you think and how you are feeling. Hoped it was sooner, because Mina only deserves people that love her around. It’s her, of course.’
Josh picked up his things the next morning and a couple of months later Yoongi found out he was back in his hometown of Brisbane. He sent the papers resigning to Mina’s custody and the signed divorce papers two weeks later. He never looked back and Yoongi could breathe freely again.
‘Sir, maybe I can help you.’
Yoongi, who was completely spiraling in his darkest thoughts, looked at the guy who approached him, squinting his eyes at his bright dyed bubblegum hair. He was so annoyed and desperate that even a random dude’s hair was bothering him.
‘I highly doubt it.’ Yoongi saw he was wearing the store vest, full of pins and glittery batches. ‘Your colleague checked twice but the toy I’m looking for is completely sold out in all of your shops.’
The employee smiled mischievously. Yoongi thought he looked like the cat who got the milk. Or like a fairy. A fairy with luscious lips.
‘Sorry, I kinda overheard your conversation with my coworker.’
‘Then you know there’s no hope.’
‘Sir, there’s always hope! And even more on Christmas! It's like magic is surrounding us!’
Yoongi chuckled dryly. ‘Yeah, you’ve been watching too many Hallmark Christmas movies, young man.’
‘I’m Jimin. And those movies are amazing.’
‘Listen, Jimin-ssi. I don’t have time to discuss your more than questionable film taste.’ Yoongi looked at his watch. ‘I have exactly two hours to check the other three toy stores in town, to see if they have what I need.’
‘You’re not gonna find it anywhere. It’s the most wanted toy this Christmas, and it's sold out in every shop in Seoul. And not to be that person, but going toy shopping on the 22nd of December is not a clever choice.’
‘Wow, so not only I’m having a breakdown because I can’t find the toy literally anywhere, but I'm also being scolded by a kid with crazy hair. Great.’ He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing.
‘Just listen to me Mr. Grumpy.’ Jimin booped his nose. Did that kid just boop his nose? ‘First of all, I’m twenty five, but thank you for thinking I’m a kid. And second… I have the toy you’re looking for. I bought it for my nephew but I feel it’s gonna be more important for…’
Yoongi could hear celestial trumpets ringing in his ears. ‘Mina, my daughter Mina. It’s our first Christmas without my partner and I need everything to be perfect. For her.’ He blurted out.
‘I’m so sorry.’ The coy smile in Jimin’s face lost force.
‘I’m not, he was a complete jerk.’ Yoongi quickly answered, surprising himself. That was the first time he openly talked badly about Josh. ‘He made his choice.’
Jimin smiled again, warmly, with a twinkle in his eyes. ‘His loss then.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Nothing.’ He coughed. ‘Ok, I’ll tell you what we’re doing. My shift starts tomorrow at 10 am. Can you be at the mall central square at 9:30, Mr. Grumpy?
‘It’s Yoongi, Min Yoongi. And yes, I can. Thank you very much.’
‘Ok, Mr. Grumpy’ Jimin completely disregarded his actual name. ‘It’s a deal, then. And now if you excuse me, I have work to do.’
Involuntarily, Yoongi grabbed him by the arm. ‘Wait, why are you doing this? You don’t have to. Your nephew also wants the toy. Are you a Christmas fairy or something?’
‘My nephew has an uncle who works at a toy shop. He’s literally swimming in toys. And also, I think you need a little Christmas miracle. A fairy miracle, Mr. Grumpy. See you tomorrow!’ Jimin smiled at him brightly and without another word, turned around to the back room.
Yoongi smiled like an idiot for over a minute before he came back to his senses and got out to continue his Christmas shopping.
---
If that morning Yoongi wore his soft green sweater that Jin always told him made him look extra handsome and made a nice contrast with his shaggy dark hair, it was all a coincidence. No other clothes available, nope. And if he also chose to wear a worn-out leather jacket, that was also a coincidence. It was the first jacket he put his hands on that morning. After moving a couple of boxes in his wardrobe.
He looked at himself in the mirror. His bangs were starting to get in the way, but Josh always liked his hair short and well trimmed and this was a bit of a rebellion for him. Who said a forty year old couldn't rock a mullet? Nobody. And if someone ever said that, they could go fuck themselves.
God, why was he so nervous? He asked himself while parking the car in the huge mall lot.
He told himself that it was because Jimin (did he know his surname?) could chicken out and never show up with the toy. And that could potentially ruin Mina’s Christmas.
But the kid worked there, right? Yoongi could easily look for him at the store and make a fuss. And by the conversation they had yesterday, he seemed like a sweet guy who genuinely wanted to provide Mina with her object of desire.
A sweet guy, with a beautiful smile and a flirty vibe. But that wasn’t why he was nervous. No at all, he repeated to himself while he adjusted his bangs again.
He checked the hour and saw he had some time, so he decided to get himself a coffee, more to have something in his hands than to actually drink it. He already had breakfast at home and that much caffeine in the morning would make him sulk all day.
‘Hey, Mr, Grumpy!’ Yoongi lifted his head and saw Jimin running to him, waving and smiling like he was seeing an old friend.
He was wearing tight jeans that didn’t leave much to the imagination and drowning in a gigantic peach coloured sweater His pink hair flopped around his face, like a cotton candy halo. ‘Cute’ Yoongi murmured.
‘Good morning Jimin-ssi. I- I didn’t know if you drink coffee so I got you a hot chocolate.’ He looked at his shoes while tending the to-go cup to the younger boy. ‘You don’t have to drink it if you don’t like it or something.’
‘You got me a hot choco? The best beverage on Earth? And it has pink sprinkles and marshmallows!’ Jimin exclaimed, taking off the lid.
‘I thought it matched your hair.’ Yoongi could feel the tips of his ears becoming absolute fire.
‘Oh, you’re right.’ And then, that smiled. The smile that sold Min Yoongi forever. A smile so big it made Jimin’s eyes disappear completely. ‘That was really cute of you. Am I gonna have to stop calling you Mr. Grumpy?’
‘Uhm, ah…’
Before Yoongi could embarrass himself further, Jimin lent him a huge Christmas bag. He took it and read the tag. ‘To Mina from Santa.’ He tried to take a small peak inside, but the bag was securely closed with a bunch of glittery purple ribbons. Mina would bounce all over the house just by the look of the wrapped present.
‘You didn’t have to…’
‘Take it Min Yoongi. And no peeking, ok? It’s all specially wrapped up. You just need to hide it and put it under the tree before she wakes up on the 25th.’
‘You can call me hyung, Jimin. And thank you for all the troubles. It means a lot.’ He then took an envelope from his jacket pocket and offered it to the other man. ‘I got the liberty of searching how much the toy was on your website and…well I added a little more so you can treat yourself to a good meal, ok? It’s on me, please take it.’
Jimin looked at him with curious eyes. ‘I can’t accept your money. Where’s the Christmas miracle then?’
‘But Jimin, I‘m a complete stranger, you can’t just go and lose your money like that.’
‘I have a discount for being an employee, it wasn’t even that much.’
‘Ok, more money then, and you can splurge and get the fanciest hot chocolate ever, please.’
‘I’ll tell you something, Grumpy hyung. Take the elevator and go to the sixth floor. There’s a big stall from a local charity with volunteers taking clothes, food and toys for the less favored children, so they can have a nice Christmas. Go buy all the books and candy bars you can with that money and donate it. If you get shy, say Park Jimin sent you, ok?’
‘O-ok. You’re sweeter than that repulsive beverage you’re having right now, you know that Park Jimin?’
‘Am I? Well, Christmas fairies have to be like that, don’t they?’ he said while taking his phone off his pocket. ‘Shut, this Christmas fairy is late for work!’ He stood up from the bench they were sitting on and drank the rest of his chocolate as if it was a shot, carefully dropping the paper cup on a trashcan. ‘I need to hurry, thank you for the chocolate!’
‘Have a nice day Jimin, and thank you for making my daughter's Christmas so special.’
‘You’re making them special by looking for the toy she wants all over town. I’m just a coincidence.’
‘More like a Christmas miracle!’
Jimin smiled impossibly wide. ‘Bye hyung! Have a good day and Merry Christmas!’
‘Merry Christmas Park Jimin.’ He whispered to himself seeing him go, heart racing and breath stolen.
---
Christmas went pretty well. Mina forgot pretty quickly about her other daddy not being home with all the fun activities Yoongi prepared for her.
They made Christmas cookies shaped like stockings and Santa hats, roasted chestnuts in Seokjin and Hoseok’s home as the adults got all rosy cheeked with that warm thing they were drinking. Mina thought the smell was disgusting and that “she was really good with her hot chocolate, thank you very much.”
They also went ice-skating much to Yoongi’s despair, who spent more time on his butt than actually skating. But everything was worth it hearing Mina’s excited screamings.
‘Appa, look! Appa I’m skating by myself!’ She was on top of one of those snowman shaped sliders they offer to small children, carefully giving herself momentum, eyes focused and little tongue picking out, the image of perfect concentration.
Yoongi snapped like two million pictures and videos to share with his parents and the Seoks and carefully put the phone in the pocket of his hoodie. How he wished they made those sliders adult size. His butt was sore, and not in a sexy way.
The cherry on top of the holidays was hearing Mina’s happy squeals all over the apartment when she saw the gift Jimin prepared.
Yoongi wasn’t even annoyed about all the confetti, sparkles, and the pink shit that fell out of the bag and no doubt he would be sweeping off the apartment floors for weeks.
Mina’s eyes were like saucers even before she opened the gift.
‘Appa, did you see? Is beautiful!’
‘I see MinMin, did you read the tag?’
She looked for it and with her eyes half closed in deep concentration read slowly, mouthing every syllable: ‘From-san-ta-to-mi-na’.
‘Appa!! Appa, Santa wrote this!’
Yoongi smiled widely, while preparing his phone for what was coming. He didn’t expect to see Mina frowning, little hands clasping each other.
‘What’s wrong MinMin?’
‘How can Santa prepare all of that, appa? He can’t do this for all of the kids in the world, right? Like, kids from Korea, and-and from Australia and…’ She stopped for a moment to gather her breath and think about more countries ‘And kids from Daegu, too. I know he has super special Christmas powers, but how can he work so much? He has his elves, but he would need like millions of them, and In the Christmas movies we see there’s not that many.’
Yoongi panicked for a moment. His baby girl was just six and he wanted the magic to last a little longer. He darted his eyes through the room and a barbie with pink hair gave him an idea.
‘First of all, remember how I explained to you Daegu is a part of Korea? Is not another country baby.’
‘But, like everything is different there appa, uncle Geumjae lives there with Holly and the grandpas, and there’s a huge park with a lake in the middle!’
‘Yes baby, but all of those things are still inside of Korea.’
‘Oh, I see. Then, Brisbane is inside Australia?’
‘Good job baby! My clever MinMin. Brisbane is a city from Australia.’
‘The city where daddy lives now…’
Mina’s face darkened and his chin started trembling. Yoongi panicked.
‘Ok Mina, I have a really really big secret to tell you, but you need to promise me you’re not gonna tell anyone, ok?’
That completely caught her daughter’s attention. There was nothing in the world Mina liked more than when appa or the Seok-uncles told her a super big secret. All signs of the upcoming storm were erased from her little face, which was now curious and expectant.
‘You know the elves help Santa build the toys, right?’ Mina nodded enthusiastically. ‘And then they also wrapped the presents and made sure everything’s ready for the big night. Santa takes out the list and goes over all the children's houses in a single night.’
‘Because he’s super duper magical, appa.’
‘Exactly. But, you know, sometimes that much work is a little overwhelming, and Santa and the elfs need some extra help. And that's when the Christmas fairies come in.’
‘The Christmas fairies? Appa I never heard of them!’
‘That’s because they’re between us, Mina. But they’re on a secret mission, so they can’t say who they are.’
Mina’s mouth formed a perfect ‘o’ shape and her eyes were sparkling with excitement.
‘The Christmas fairies make super special gifts for boys and girls who were especially good during the year.’
‘Appa! That means I’ve been a super good girl this year?’
Yoongi thought about how Josh didn’t even say goodbye to her. About the sleepless nights with Mina cuddling tight against his side, afraid of letting him go. He blinked a couple of traitor tears who were about to spill from his eyes, and smiled at her.
‘Of course Mina! Do you doubt it? You are the smartest girl ever, you’re always helping me tidying your room and making dinner, and I know you help uncles Jin and Hobi a lot too.’
‘And, and Appa, I always eat the brussels sprouts, even if they taste yucky.’
‘See? You were the best girl this year! That’s how I meet the fairy.’
‘You actually met a fairy?’ Mina put his little hands on top of her mouth, a gesture inherited from his father. ‘And how it was?'
Yoongi evoked Jimin’s sweet smile and coily attitude, and sighed dreamily. ‘You see, at first you could have thought that he was a normal retail shop worker. But his vibrant pink hair gave him away.’ Mina was on her tiptoes, as always as she was nervous or enraptured by something her dad was telling her, gift still wrapped but firmly hugged on her arms.
‘Then, he went straight to me and asked “Are you Mina’s dad?” I said I was but he needed confirmation, right?’ Mina nodded energetically, her hands never leaving her mouth.
‘Mina as in MinMin? That’s the Mina who loves purple and blue and loves pancakes with chocolate spread and strawberries, right?’
‘Appa, he knew my nickname and my favorite things! He's a fairy for sure! He’s magical!’
‘I’m telling you, baby. He never showed me his wings, but I could see golden sparks coming off his body everytime he moved. Then, he gave me the bag and whispered “This is a special delivery, from Santa to Mina. She was especially good this year, so she deserves it” ’.
‘Appa and what happened then?’
‘I took the bag and just when I was about to tell him how thankful I was, he disappeared.’
‘Appa, maybe he was delivering more special gifts from Santa!’
‘Yeah baby, he was probably on a rush.’
‘And how he looked? Was he beautiful, appa? Fairies in the tales you read to me at night are always beautiful.’
‘He was, baby. The most beautiful boy I’ve ever seen.’
‘More than uncle Seokjinnie?’
‘Even more, baby. He has the cutest pinkish cheeks, and a beautiful smile. He’s not too tall, but he doesn't need it to be the center of attention.’
Yoongi could see Mina was impressed. She had a crush on Jin since she was a toddler, barely babbling and tending her chubby arms to him everytime he was in her field of view. Every man she ever met, teachers, caretakers, family members, grocery clerks…had to pass the Kim Seokjin test. None of them, till date, have passed it.
‘Appa I want to meet him!’
Yoongi's smile faded a little bit. On one hand he couldn’t lie he wanted to see Jimin again, but how? He was a newly divorced forty year old, what was he expecting? Jimin probably wouldn’t even remember him by now, too caught in the frenzy of the holidays and seeing a bazillion customers everyday. And why would he like being dragged into this charade?
On the other hand, maybe believing there was some magic in this gray and ugly word could help Mina cheer up and keep her good behavior going.
Judging by Jimin’s playful personality, it could work. Maybe he could talk to Mina for five minutes or so, just keep the whole super duper special girl thing going on. Maybe that’s the little push his daughter needed to gain her confidence back. Yoongi hated how after Josh left them, he could see how Mina got more and more withdrawn by the day. Always scared to be left alone for more than five minutes, having heavy tantrums and stopping being the talkative chatty girl she was with everyone.
‘Appa?’
Yoongi snapped from his train of thoughts and blinked a couple times, looking for something to distract Mina with and have enough time for thinking about the whole thing.
‘Baby, aren’t you gonna open it? We started talking about the fairy but we forgot about the super duper special gift from Santa!’ He gasped.
‘It’s true!’ Mina looked at the beautifully wrapped toy, still clutched in her arms.
Destroying the bows and wrapping paper, she finally got to the Paw Patrol talking plush.
‘Santa brought me my favorite!’ She tightly hugged the Rubble stuffed toy and squeaked delightedly when it said one of his lines from the cartoons.
She then proceeded to run all over the house, presenting her new buddy to all her other stuffies, the plants around the house and for some reason, the fridge.
Yoongi smiled at her daughter, thanking mentally who-knows-who for that little ball of happiness and sunshine that gave him the energy to wake up and get out of bed every morning.
He scrolled a bit over his social media, sharing some pics and videos from the previous days and checking on his friends as his daughter roamed around the house. When his butt started to hurt from sitting on the floor for too long, he stood up, stretching and contemplating the total wreck that his living room was.
‘MinMin! Baby, you need to help appa tidy up, ok?’
He heard tiny footsteps coming in. Not a fuss, not a but appaaaa I’m playiiiiing . Nothing. Maybe the super duper special gift was working after all.
‘Sorry appa, I was showing Rubble his new home!’
‘It’s ok baby, we want him to be comfortable, don’t we? What about you get all the gift wraps and I sweep the floors?’
Mina gave him a thumbs up and started diligently picking up the mixture of wrap, tissue paper and bows.
Yoongi was starting on one of the corners of the room when Mina’s screeching startled him.
‘Appa! There’s something in the bag for you!’
Yoongi looked at her confused, and saw a squared envelope on her hand.
‘Look, look!’ She made again that adorable expression she always pulled when she was concentrating and read the name written with neat calligraphy on the front of it.
‘To-mis-ter-gru-grum-py- min-yoon-gi.’
Yoongi took it and opened it with hands more shaky than he'd like to admit.
Inside there was a Grumpy Cat Christmas card with a picture of the cat wearing a Santa hat and the text ‘NO’ in big glittery red letters.
Mina laughed, elated. ‘Grumpy appa! That kitty looks exactly like you when I forgot to brush my teeth!’
Yoongi let a shaky laugh escape from his lips, and exhaling heavily, he opened the card.
‘Dear Grumpy-hyung:
I hope you’re having a good holiday. I also hope your daughter liked her gift and illuminated her Christmas a bit. I don’t know if it’s too much to ask, but could I see a picture of her with the plushie? My number is xxx-xxx-xxx. Sorry if it sounds weird, but it would make me really happy. Having a coffee (and a sweet and nasty concoction for me) with you could also make me really happy. Text me?
Crazy hair kid. ’
Yoongi looked at the card, and read the text again, again and again. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Jimin wanted to have a coffee with him? Him? A divorce man with a child that clearly didn’t have a proper night of sleep in ten years, scruffy, pale and thin? He panicked. Hard.
Apparently, he was caught up on the anxiety spiral for far too long because Mina was pulling on his pajama pants insistently.
‘Appa, appa, tell me what it says.’
‘Err, he gave us his thanks for keeping his secret safe, MinMin. And also he wants to remind you that you’re now on the list of super duper special girls and to keep the good work.’
‘He did?’ Mina’s little chest inflated with pride. ‘I’m gonna be in that list every year so the fairy boy is proud of me.’
‘Are you?’ Yoongi caressed her head. ‘I’m already proud of you, you know?’
‘I love you Appa!’ She hugged his legs and Yoongi melted like butter.
---
Once everything was clean and tidy, they spent the rest of the day chilling and playing with Mina’s new toys. Yoongi kept the card in the front pocket of his pajamas, and he could feel the cardboard burning his chest through the fabric.
He decided he needed to ask someone about the whole situation so he asked Mina to pick a movie for an improv movie night.
‘With popcorn and chocolate peanuts?’
‘With popcorn and chocolate peanuts.’ Yoongi changed his tone to one more serious and pointed at her. ‘But only because it’s Christmas, ok? We need to have some vegetables tomorrow or our tummies will hurt. And you need to promise me to clean your teeth really well, ok?’
‘Of course appa, look at these pearls.’ She grinned and showed them to her father.
‘You’re spending too much time with uncle Seokjin.’
‘He says it’s not enough.’
‘Of course he says that, because he wants to kidnap you and keep it to himself!’ He jumped on the sofa and started tickling her.
‘Stop appa, stooop!’ Mina tried to wiggle out of his reach, but it was a lost battle.
When he was satisfied enough, he brushed her hair with his fingers, tucked her in the sofa with a fluffy blanket and let her roam through Netflix Kids to look for a movie.
‘I’m gonna prepare the snacks and a couple of sandwiches, ok? I’ll be back soon.’
Once Mina’s attention was on the TV, he sprinted to the kitchen and closed the door behind him, heart thrumming. While he was mentally preparing himself, he decided to pop the popcorn bag on the microwave and start toasting the bread.
With everything working on, he decided to text his friends.
Min Yoongi
Ok, something happened and I need advice.
Jin Hyung
It’s everything alright? Are you and Mina ok?? Please don’t tell me Josh showed up from nowhere.
Seokie
That motherfucker, I will crack his spine with my bare hands.
Min Yoongi
No, no, everythings fine!! We’re having a lovely Christmas day.
Jin Hyung
Bby that was so hot, I love when you claw out.
Seokie
Uh? u do?
Min Yoongi
Can you stop flirting for like 5 seconds ffs? I bet you’re cuddling on the sofa right now.
Jin Hyung
Aaaaand you’ll be right.
He’s almost sitting on my lap.
Min Yoongi
Ew.
Ok, anygays, back to me.
Seokie
Yeah hyung, what happened then?
Min Yoongi
A boy gave me his number. A really pretty boy. Young. With an impossible hair color.
Jin Hyung
MIN YOONGI DID YOU CATCH YOURSELF A TWINK?
Min Yoongi
Idk who looks more like a twink of the two of us.
But yes.
I mean, no.
Idk what to do, should I text him?
Seokie
You need to give us more info. How did you get his number? Is he cute? Do you like him?
Min Yoongi
Remember that fucking toy I couldn’t find anywhere?
Jin Hyung
That bulldog one, yeah, the one Mina’s always rambling about.
Min Yoongi
Yeah, Rubble. Get used to it because he’s now a part of the family. I’m sure she’s gonna drag it everywhere. She even presented him to the fridge.
Seokie
Oh, so it’s serious then. We need to keep an eye on him, we didn’t want to repeat the Mr. Hugginton the III debacle. She cried for two weeks straight. Where did she lose it anyways?
Min Yoongi
In the sub. And it wasn’t two weeks, it was three. I’m raising a little drama queen.
Jin Hyung
Excuse me I’M RAISING A LITTLE DRAMA QUEEN. You’re trying to raise a dull little girl, but uncle Seokjin would not allow that.
Seokie
Ok, back to the twink. Tell us everything.
Min Yoongi
Right, so I was in the toy store from the M Plaza right in the center of Seoul, and the clerk was telling me what I already knew, that the toy was sold out everywhere and couldn’t be found anywhere.
Because I’m stubborn af, I was about to leave when this kid that worked there, with the brightest bubblegum pink hair approached me and basically called me grumpy and scolded me.
Jin Hyung
UNPROVOKED?
Min Yoongi
I maybe or maybe not told him that Christmas miracles are bullshit and he had watched too many Hallmark movies…
Seokie
Hyung!!! That’s not nice.
Min Yoongi
Anyway, he told me that he had the toy because he bought it for his nephew, but he wanted to give it to me. I bet he smelled my desperation.
Jin Hyung
Wow, just like that?
Min Yoongi
Just like that, hyung. He’s truly a Christmas fairy.
Seokie
Uuuuh, someone's whipped whipped.
Min Yoongi
I’M NOT! But I had to tell Mina this whole story about how Santa gives super duper special gifts for the kids that behave the best, because the gift was ostentatiously wrapped and she got suspicious and I panicked and remembered Jimin’s hair so I told her about Christmas fairies.
Jin Hyung
That’s actually so cute, Yoongi-chi.
Min Yoongi
I know, but now Mina wants to meet the fairy boy and I’m not sure about what to do.
Seokie
What do you want to do? Do you wanna see him again?
Min Yoongi
Idk. I do. But at the same time, what the hell am I doing seeing a 25 year old?
I was having this whole existential crisis when Mina told me there was something in the bag where the gift was for me.
Seokie
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Min Yoongi
It was a Grumpy Cat card (SHUT UP) with his number on it. He asked for a picture of Mina with the toy if that was ok, and he also said he wanted to grab a coffee sometime.
Jin Hyung
AND WHY IN THE HELL ARE YOU TEXTING US AND NOT HIM????
Seokie
Idk hyung, but by what you told us, he seems like a sweet person. And you seem to like him. So, why not grab that coffee? A coffee is not a life commitment. It’s just coffee. Maybe you get to know each other better and decide he’s not for you. Or maybe it can lead to something else. If you feel like you’re ready.
Min Yoongi
But am I ready? Josh left a year ago. And, ffs, I’m fifteen years older, and I have a daughter.
Jin Hyung
Well, he already knows you’re older and have a daughter, doesn’t he? And that didn’t stop him from giving you his number, so he’s clearly interested.
And about the one who shouldn’t-be-named… he left a year ago, but he left your heart earlier than that.
Min Yoongi
Wow hyung, that’s actually really deep.
Jin Hyung
Go obliterate the twink, have some fun.
Min Yoongi
Yeah, that’s more like the Kim Seokjin I know and love.
I need to leave you guys, I’m making some snacks to watch a movie with MinMin.
TTYL.
He took out the card from his pocket and put it on the kitchen shelf, with his phone on top, away from Mina’s reach. He would think about it later. His priority right now was stuffing his face with candy and popcorn and watching a movie with his daughter while cuddling her as tight as possible.
___
Yoongi was lying on his bed, light on the nightstand still on, hands crossed over his belly, thinking about how much the ceilings needed a coat of paint. He chewed on his cuticles nervously. Fuck the ceilings. He was thinking about texting Jimin.
He looked at the watch on his left wrist, not even wanting to touch the phone, lying with the card on the other pillow of the bed. 00:10, so technically not Christmas anymore. Mina fell asleep half through the movie, but she was so cozy and cuddly against his side, little hands fisting on his pajama bottoms he didn’t want to move her right away, so he finished The Magical Christmas of the Crazy Robot Puppies by himself. It turned out Corgitron 8000 wasn’t as bad as he seemed.
That was around 10 pm, Mina was sleeping in her bed for hours, and after tidying the sofa and cleaning the kitchen, he headed to bed too. But the sleep never came.
Would he disturb Jimin? Maybe he was sleeping after some frenetic days at work. But he was young. Yoongi remembered years ago he never fell asleep before 2 am, always buzzing with energy and unfinished projects.
‘For fuck sake.’ He sat at the edge of the bed, and before he could think about it, saved Jimin’s number and texted him.
Min Yoongi
Hey! Jiminssi? It 's Min Yoongi.
Mr. Grumpy.
I’m late by 10 minutes, but Merry Christmas!
[Photo attached]
You truly made Mina’s Christmas wonderful. She fell asleep hugging Rubble. I’m gonna have a hard time separating them, haha.
So, yeah, Merry Christmas, I hope you had the opportunity of rest and again, thank you for everything!
See you?
See you!*
Sorry, haha wrong punctuation sign.
Yoongi groaned and buried the phone under the covers before he could embarrass himself further. Why? Why does this have to be so difficult? Ugh.
He was about to turn off the light to die peacefully in a spiral of shame when his phone pinged. And then again, and again.
He set aside the covers so fast he almost knocked off every single item on his night stand.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
It’s Jimin for you, hyung.
Merry Christmas!
I was starting to think that my card got lost.
Or you weren’t interested in texting me.
Min Yoongi
Oh, no, no, I’m very interested.
In texting you, I mean.
I just.
Didn’t want to wake you up or anything.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
I’m kind of a night owl, hyung, dw.
How cute is Mina! I could eat her little face!
By the way you can detach the mechanism from the plushie and wash it.
Cold water, NO DRYER!!!!
Min Yoongi
Wow, you’re passionate about your job, aren’t you?
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Do you think being a Christmas Fairy is an easy task?
Not at all hyung >3<
Min Yoongi
Speaking of Christmas Fairies…
I’m maybe in need of another favor.
And I’m so so so sorry because it looks like I’m a constant pain in the ass.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
You're actually a bit of a pain in the ass, but l like it.
Shoot.
How can I help you?
Min Yoongi
So… Mina got suspicious when she saw how the package was presented.
She literally went like ‘Appa, how does Santa and the elves do this for everyone? Never got something like this.'
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
You’re raising a clever girl.
Min Yoongi
I mean, maybe she’s not my child by blood but I discovered the truth about Santa at four and told my older brother about it. He cried the whole night.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Hyuuuuuuuuuuung!
That was so mean!
I see the grumpy title came from far far away.
Min Yoongi
Yeah, thanks for the card. My daughter keeps calling me Grumpy appa and laughing her ass off.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
I already like that girl.
Min Yoongi
Good to hear that because, maybe, if it’s not a big deal, can I bring her to the shop?
The thing is, when she told me that, I panicked big time, but then I remembered you and your pink hair, and made this whole story about Christmas fairies that helped Santa with super duper special gifts for super duper special boys and girls that behaved extremely well during the year.
And now she wants to meet you.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Cute.
So you’ve been thinking about me, hyung? ;)
Yoongi squeaked against his pillow, trying to calm his heart and think about something clever to clap back. Jimin was really straightforward, and he liked that. He wasn’t sure at all about the turning out of this, but he was grateful for Jimin showing his interest so clearly.
Min Yoongi
You, cotton candy, Hallmark movies…a couple of things have been rounding my head, no doubt.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Jerk :P
Some of those movies are actually touching.
But yeah, coming back to what we were talking about, it would be a pleasure to meet Mina and keep going with the fairy scheme.
Min Yoongi
Thank you so much Jimin, I owe you my life.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
What about a coffee?
Min Yoongi
And a coffee. I would maybe even indulge in a cinnamon roll?
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Ah hyung, you know exactly what a boy wants to hear.
These days are pretty busy still because people are returning gifts and all that jazz. What about you two meet me next friday at my lunch break, at the park right outside the mall? At like 1:30 pm?
I mean, if you want to have a snack with me…
I don’t want to sound imposing or anything.
Min Yoongi
Jimin. It’s ok. I really want to see you.
And Mina too.
She’s gonna have a heart attack when she sees the beautiful fairy boy in person.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
You told her I’m beautiful? :)))))
Min Yoongi
I may be a grumpy newly divorce single dad, but I’m not blind Park Jimin ;)
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Uuuh, am I gonna have to start calling you flirty hyung?
Tell me some things about Mina. I need to look good.
Min Yoongi
Oh yes!
Good call!
I told her you already know her nickname is MinMin, her favorite food are waffles with strawberries and chocolate and her favorite colors are blue and purple.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
MinMin?
That’s the cutest thing I heard, hyung. Min Yoongi and MinMin:)
They keep texting back and forth talking about Mina, about Jimin’s Masters Degree on kids with special needs, about their Christmases back in the day when they were kids…
Yoongi suppressed a big yawn and checked the hour. 2:50 AM. They were texting for hours. Holy shit.
Min Yoongi
Jimin, I have to work a little bit tomorrow on some documents for a client before going for lunch with my best friends, you’ll need to excuse me.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
OMG HYUNG
I’M SO SORRY!
Didn't even realize how late it was!
Min Yoongi
I didn’t realize either, dw.
I was having a really good time talking to you.
But I have a little monster that’s gonna jump in my bed in less than 6 hours, claiming for breakfast.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Hahahah, ok hyung!
Good night!
Sleep tight!
Min Yoongi
You too.
G’night.
Jimin…
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Yes hyung?
Min Yoongi
I’m really looking forward to next friday.
Jimin (Toy Fairy)
Me too <3
---
They keep texting back and forth the next few days. Jimin was more talkative at nights, busy little bee he was, but always had a moment to send Yoongi a cat meme or tell him something funny that happened at work.
Yoongi had never slept less in his life, but also had never felt so energized and eager.
‘And I’m really gonna see him appa? Like for real?’
Mina was buzzing with energy since the moment he told her at breakfast they would meet the fairy boy for lunch at the park.
She insisted on wearing her best dress, the one halmeoni gifted her for her last birthday, blue velvet with a smiling sun embroidered in the chest.
They were both carrying bags. Although Yoongi had prepared some egg sandwiches, rice and side dishes, Mina insisted on visiting the convenience store to buy sweets.
‘Appa, fairies like sweet stuff, I read it in one of my books. We need to bring Jimin sweet treats!’
‘Ok baby, but don’t get too carried away, ok? He doesn't have much time and we don’t want his stomach to hurt, right?’
They ended up with a bag full of chocolates, cakes and mochis, anyways. Mina’s logic was overwhelming.
‘We need to choose a bit of everything, because what if we only buy one type of cake and he dislikes it? I don’t want a fairy to be mad at me. He could tell Santa we’re not nice anymore. Also, he’s magical, I’m sure he can eat, like, an entire cake shop and not get sick!’ Mina affirmed, completely convinced of the veracity of her words.
‘But baby, remember something. He needs to go unnoticed. He’s living between us with a special mission for Santa itself.’
‘Oh, I understand appa. He needs to blend with the peasants.’
‘Mina? Where did you learn that word?’
‘Uncle Jinnie taught me. He said he’s a king, I’m a princess and everyone else is a peasant.’
‘And what about uncle Seokie and me?’
‘He said you could be at our service with high honors. Like some bo-body…’
‘Bodyguards?’
‘Yes! Bodywarts!’
Yoongi chuckled, endeared and a bit pissed off with Jin.
‘Guards baby, bodyguards.’
‘You can protect us from the bad guys while we rule the kingdom.’
Yoongi noticed they were approaching the park and started to get nervous, so he kept asking Mina about how they would rule the kingdom.
‘…and appa no kid could be alone, the ones without daddies or mommies would live at the palace under uncle Jinnie supervision, and I would bake them cookies and read them bedtime stories so they never felt sad again, never in their life!’
Yoongi kissed the back of her hand, feeling an absolute rush of love and warmth embracing his soul.
‘Hyung! Yoongi hyung!’
He looked up and saw Jimin waving at them.
Ok, that’s it Min Yoongi. Breathe in, breathe out. You’re doing this for Mina. But please Lord, make them like each other because if this doesn’t work out I’m done with flirting.
Jimin approached them, hair furiously pastel pink under the winter sun, big sunglasses perched on his tiny nose.
‘Hi hyung!’ He chirped, and then crouched down to Mina’s height and taking off his glasses greeted her ‘And you’re no doubt, Mina! Nice to meet you!’ He stretched his hand and waited for her to approach.
Yoongi thought Mina was hiding behind himself like she did this last year with almost everyone she met for the first time. The nonchalant girl that chatted with anybody in sight was gone and bringing her back would take more than a meeting with a pretend fairy. He sighed, pained about the situation and about to hug her daughter and tell her it was ok when he saw her face.
Mina was looking at Jimin, mouth agape, hand suspended half way in the air. Yoongi looked at him questioningly and saw he was wearing glitter on his cheeks and his eyelids were dusted with golden eyeshadow, looking absolutely and utterly breathtaking.
‘Hyung’ he whispered looking at him sideways ‘Did I overstep? I think I broke her.’
Yoongi laughed hard and that noise seemed to bring Mina back to reality. She shook his hand and bowed at the same time.
‘Nice to meet you Mr. Fairy.’
‘You can call me Jimin oppa.’
‘Jimin is a beautiful name, oppa.’
He already had her wrapped around his finger. Yoongi felt relieved but cautious, like he didn’t believe what he was seeing, both of them talking and putting together the picnic blanket like old time friends.
‘Look oppa, we bought you a lot of sweets!’
‘You did? I love them! How did you know?’
Mina rolled her eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world ‘Because you’re a fairy, oppa. And fairies love sweets and cakes. Do you also like mochis, oppa?’
‘Gonna tell you a secret, Mina…’ Jimin lowered his voice and cupped his hands near the girl’s ear ‘My friends call me Mochi as a pet name.’
‘They do?? But that’s like the bestest nickname ever, oppa! Well, calling appa Grumpy Cat it’s also really funny.’
Yoongi choked , egg sandwich threatening to take a wrong turn down his throat.
Jimin covered his mouth,his hand enveloped in various cute looking plastic and silver rings and bracelets, and had the decency to blush, at least a little bit. ‘He does look like a cat, doesn’t he?’ He then looked at Yoongi with the most beautiful and blinding smile he had the pleasure to receive in this life.
His tummy did a funny thing and he thought please, please, let the egg salad be spoiled, please if there’s a God out there don’t make me fall for Park Jimin.
The rest of the picnic went incredibly fast for Yoongi’s liking. Once the awkwardness of the first encounter went away the three of them didn’t stop talking about everything and anything. When Jimin checked his phone and stood up hurriedly Yoongi felt a pang on his chest.
‘I’m so sorry hyung, Mina, I’m like five minutes late for work!’ He grabbed his belongings frantically and bowed to both of them. ‘Important fairy business!’
He left so quickly the day felt somehow colder and darker.
---
‘Appa, when are you giving Jimin oppa’s scarf back?’ Mina asked the next week over her morning cereal.
Yoongi looked at the kitchen counter at the scarf Jimin left at the park and sighed.
‘Soon Mina. Really soon.’
They kept texting the whole week, but Jimin was studying for his partials and their chatting became more sparse. Yoongi suddenly felt weird and inadequate, like he was disturbing the younger man.
Maybe he wasn’t interested at all, maybe he’s a bit flirty with everyone but that’s all, maybe he was just doing him a favor, maybe, maybe, maybe…
Mina broke his train of thought: ‘But Appa, maybe he’s cold, he’s gonna get sick! You’re always telling me that I need to wear my scarf, hat and coat in winter!’ She emphasized her speech by energetically shaking her spoon.
‘Ok, missy. Let’s do something. Eat your cereal before we’re late for the first day of term and I’ll give back the scarf once I drop you off school, ok?’
‘Would you say hi to Jimin oppa from me? Tell him I miss him and I wanna go to another picnic with lots of sweets? Would you appa?’
‘Of course Minmin. Appa will.’
The way to the mall was excruciatingly slow. The streets were a chaos of office workers and parents, everyone coming back to their normal lives after the holidays. And that’s everything, I guess , Yoongi thought. Coming back to reality. I’m gonna give him his scarf back, he’s gonna thank me and then everything will be back to normal. No Park Jimin, no fairies. Just Mina and me, as it should be.
The toy shop was a wreck when he stepped in. He guessed after the busy festivities, the place needed a good clean up and a change of display.
‘Hello? It’s anyone here?’ Yoongi asked, insecure.
Behind a curtain, Taemin appeared with a huge vacuum cleaner.
‘Good morning Mister, sorry for the mess, is there something I can hel-oh it’s you!’ Before Yoongi could react, the other man yelled at his back. ‘JIMINIE, MR. DADDY IS HERE! You can go to the back room, Jimin is doing some inventory.’ With a devilish smile, Taemin left Yoongi while he got himself busy in another corner of the shop.
Yoongi cleared his throat, squared his shoulders and ignoring his flaming red ears went to face his destiny.
‘Hello?’
‘Oh, hi hyung! It’s everything ok?’
‘Yeah, I-i came to give you back your scarf. You left-left it at the park.’
‘Oh yeah! I was missing it in my wardrobe but I wasn’t sure where it was!’ Jimin kept moving boxes here and there, not quite meeting Yonngi’s eyes.
‘Well I had it!’ Yoongi chuckled dryly. ‘I wanted to tell you but uhm, I thought you were very busy the few times we talked this week and I don’t know, I didn’t want to distract you from your exams, so yeah, here is your scarf!’
Jimin took the bag Yoongi was offering and grabbed his hands, squeezing them.
‘That’s what was going on, hyung?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Was that why you were barely talking to me? I thought I did something wrong and you didn’t want to keep going on with whatever this is…’
‘Wait, I thought I did something wrong! You told me you were busy and I understood it at the beginning but then I thought you were ghosting me!’
‘I was just busy, hyung! But talking to you at night was the best part of my whole day!’
‘I’m…I’m an idiot, right?’
‘You and me both.’
Jimin put the bag on a shelf and hugged Yoongi tightly. Timidly, he hugged him back.
‘Hey hyung, look.’ Jimin looked up. There was a mistletoe branch above their heads. ‘Can I?’
‘Please…’
The kiss was more a promise of what was next to come than a proper one. A touch of their curious lips, full of warmness and a hint of chocolate. They rested their foreheads together, giggling softly like two kids sharing a secret.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Of course, hyung.’
‘Why is there mistletoe in the backroom of a toy shop?’
Jimin smiled, a twinkle in his eye. ‘I hung it up all over the shop. I was waiting for you to come back with my scarf…’
‘Park Jimin!’
‘Sometimes you need to push the Christmas magic a bit…’