Chapter 6: 5.Babysitter

“Tae Tae!” Jaybum exclaimed with joy, abandoning his father and running straight to Taehyung. He wrapped his tiny arms around Taehyung’s leg, grinning up at him with sparkling eyes.

Taehyung, caught off guard by the sudden affection, crouched down to hug Jaybum. “Hey, Bun!

How are you?” he asked, pinching the boy’s chubby cheek with a fond smile.

Jimin, who had been lingering by the doorway, watched the scene unfold with amusement and curiosity. He had been tasked with keeping Jaybum busy during the interviews but hadn’t been able to stop the boy from running into his father’s office.

“Tae Tae, will you play with me?” Jaybum asked, his voice hopeful. “I have lots of colors, and we can paint!”

“I… um…” Taehyung hesitated, glancing back at Jungkook, who was staring at them both with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

“Bun,” Taehyung tried again, “why don’t you paint with your Uncle Chimmy? It’ll be more fun!”

“No!” Jaybum pouted. “I want you! Me, you, and Chimmy Uncle can paint together!”

“But, Bun, I have to go…” Taehyung started, his resolve wavering when he saw the boy’s eyes fill with tears.

Big crocodile tears rolled down Jaybum’s cheeks as he choked out, “Chimmy Uncle… Tae Tae…”

Jimin stepped in, his tone gentle. “Taehyung, if you don’t mind, could you spend some time with him? I promise it won’t take long.”

Taehyung sighed, his heart softening at Jaybum’s teary face. “I… okay, fine,” he relented.

In an instant, Jaybum grabbed Taehyung’s hand and pulled him out of the room, his earlier tears replaced with excitement as he dragged Taehyung toward his coloring supplies.

Jimin followed behind them, leaving Jungkook standing in the middle of his office, dumbfounded.

“Chim, what the hell was that?” Jungkook asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Jimin stopped at the door, glancing back at his cousin with a sly smile. “I’ll tell you later.”

And just like that, Jungkook was left alone, utterly confused about how his son had formed such an instant bond with the fiery vampire who had just stormed into his life.

Jaybum tugged Taehyung eagerly into his personal room, a cozy space brimming with toys, books, and colors. The walls were painted with cheerful murals of animals, and the shelves were lined with neatly organized toys.

It was clear Jungkook had gone out of his way to ensure his son had a safe and happy place to spend his time.

“Tae Tae, look!” Jaybum beamed, holding up a brand-new set of paints. “Dadaa bought me this yesterday!”

Taehyung crouched to Jaybum’s level, admiring the vibrant colors. “Wow, Bun! It’s so beautiful! You’re so lucky!”

Jaybum’s face lit up even more at Taehyung’s excitement. “Let’s paint together!”

Before long, Taehyung, Jaybum, and Jimin were all seated on the floor, surrounded by scattered coloring sheets and paint supplies. Laughter and giggles filled the room as they worked together on an elaborate masterpiece that included flowers, a sun, and what Jaybum insisted was a rocket ship.

“You’re really good with kids,” Jimin remarked, his eyes crinkling as he smiled at Taehyung over Jaybum’s head.

Taehyung returned the smile, his gaze softening as he looked at the boy coloring between them. “Yeah, I’ve always been fond of kids. They’re so pure and full of life.”

Jimin nodded, his mind whirring with thoughts. There was something about Taehyung’s easy connection with Jaybum that felt special.

After a moment, Jimin broke the comfortable silence. “So, what brought you here today?”

Taehyung let out a soft sigh, glancing at the vibrant painting they were working on. “I came here for a job interview, but…” He trailed off, thinking of the fiery clash with Jungkook.

“Maybe it’s not the right place for me after all.”

Jimin tilted his head, a knowing look in his eyes but said nothing.

It felt like hours later when Jaybum, exhausted from all the excitement, finally dozed off in the middle of their activity. His tiny head rested against Taehyung’s arm, his peaceful breathing soft and steady.

Taehyung gently disentangled himself, his heart melting at the sight of the sleeping boy. After whispering a quiet goodbye to Jimin, he slipped out of the room.

As he walked out of the building, Taehyung felt a strange mix of relief and regret. He had no intention of ever stepping foot in “Jeons” again, especially if it meant facing the arrogant CEO.

Yet, as he left the building behind, he couldn’t shake the image of Jaybum’s beaming face or the strange warmth he had felt in that room.

“Let’s hope that’s the last I see of Jeon Jungkook,” Taehyung muttered to himself.

But fate, as always, had other plans....

Jimin stepped out of Jaybum’s room, ensuring the guards were stationed firmly at the door before making his way back to the CEO’s office.

He didn’t bother knocking this time; Jungkook’s gruff “Come in” echoed through the hall before he reached the door.

“Where’s Jaybum? Don’t tell me you left him alone with that vampire!” Jungkook’s sharp voice cut through the room as he stood, his body tense.

“Relax, Kooks,” Jimin said, sliding into the chair across from him. “Jaybum’s asleep, and Taehyung already left.”

Jungkook exhaled in relief, falling back into his chair.

“What’s with you and Taehyung, anyway? Did you guys fight or something?” Jimin asked, raising a brow.

“Don’t even get me started,” Jungkook groaned, running a hand through his hair. “He’s just an ungrateful vampire like every other one of his kind.”

Jimin sighed heavily, leaning forward on the desk. “Jungkook, not all vampires are bad. You know this.”

“Whatever,” Jungkook muttered, rolling his eyes.

“Anyway,” Jimin began, sensing the conversation veering toward familiar territory, “I came here to talk about Jaybum’s babysitter.”

“You found someone?” Jungkook’s voice brightened slightly, the fatigue lifting from his features. “Send me their details.”

“I... I was thinking about Taehyung,” Jimin confessed, hesitating only slightly.

The room went silent, Jungkook staring at Jimin as if he’d grown another head.

“What? What the actual hell, Chim? A vampire? You know I hate vampires, and you think I’d let one around my son all day long? Absolutely not.”

“Jungkook, listen to me—”

“No, Jimin. I don’t trust vampires, and that’s final.”

Jimin rubbed his temples, clearly frustrated.

“Kook, Taehyung isn’t like that. He’s the one who found Jaybum yesterday when Lina abandoned him and brought him straight to me. Without him, who knows what might’ve happened to Jaybum!”

Jungkook stilled at the revelation, his expression unreadable. “That’s… irrelevant,” he finally said, brushing it off. “I still can’t trust him. No vampires.”

“Kook, think about it. You saw how Jaybum clung to him, didn’t you?

Jaybum barely trusts anyone, and yet, he’s already attached to Taehyung after meeting him once. Do you know how rare that is?”

Jungkook’s jaw clenched. He couldn’t deny Jimin’s words. Even Jimin, who adored Jaybum, had taken weeks to earn the little boy’s trust.

“And besides,” Jimin continued, “I did my research. Taehyung is Namjoon’s cousin. Namjoon himself said he’s a good person. If you trust Namjoon, you can trust Taehyung.”

Jungkook leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face. He opened his mouth to retort but was interrupted when the door swung open.

“Dadda!” Jaybum’s tearful voice rang out as he ran into the room, clutching his favorite plush toy. “Where is Tae Tae? I want Tae Tae!”

Jungkook froze, completely unprepared

for the sight of his son’s tear-streaked face. “I… uh… Tae Tae…”

“Dadda, call Tae Tae!” Jaybum wailed, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I want him! Where is he?”

Jungkook panicked, glancing at Jimin for help. Together, they worked to calm the distraught boy, but Jaybum’s cries only grew louder. His sobs echoed through the office, tugging at both their hearts.

It was only after an exhausting struggle that Jaybum finally fell asleep, his tiny fingers clutching Jungkook’s shirt and murmuring Taehyung’s name even in his dreams.

Jimin pointed at the sleeping boy with a knowing look. “See? I told you. We need to hire Taehyung as his babysitter.”

Jungkook sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. He hated the idea of letting a vampire into his son’s life, but Jimin’s argument,and Jaybum’s tearful breakdown..left him with no choice.

“Fine,” he finally said, his voice laced with reluctance. “Go talk to Taehyung. If he agrees, tell him to come to my office for further inquiries. But if he screws up even once, he’s out.”

Jimin smiled triumphantly. “You won’t regret it, Kook.”

Jungkook muttered under his breath, casting a glance at Jaybum’s peaceful face. "For his sake, I hope you’re right, Chim."