The day started like any other, with the usual hustle and bustle of getting ready for the day. Jimin was rushing around the apartment, trying to get everything in order before heading out for work.

Yuna, full of energy as always, was already dressed and bouncing around the living room. Jimin always said she had way too much energy for a tiny girl and Jungkook had to agree with that.

“Jungkookie, are you sure you’ll be okay with Yuna today?” Jimin asked, pausing to check himself in the mirror. He glanced at Jungkook, who was sitting on the edge of the couch, tying his sneakers. “I can ask my mom to come over if you’re not—”

Jungkook shook his head quickly, forcing a smile. “No, it’s fine, hyung. We’ll be fine. Right, Yuna?” He looked over at the little girl, who was now playing with her toys on the floor.

Yuna looked up, grinning widely. “Yeah! Kookie and I are going to the park!”

She picked up the habit of calling him "Kookie" from Jimin. Not that Jungkook minded at all. It was way too soon for Yuna to call him any other term, he decided. Not to mention that the way she called him Kookie with a little lisp was actually super adorable.

Jimin smiled, clearly relieved. He crossed the room to give Yuna a kiss on the forehead. “Okay, baby. Listen to Kookie, okay? And be careful at the park.”

“Yes, Appa!” Yuna chirped, her eyes shining with excitement.

Jimin turned to Jungkook, his expression softening. “Thank you, Kook. I know you’ve been busy with work too, and—”

“Hyung, it’s okay,” Jungkook interrupted gently, reaching out to squeeze Jimin’s hand. “I want to do this. Go to work and don’t worry about us.”

Jimin nodded, his eyes full of affection. He leaned in to give Jungkook a quick kiss on the lips when Yuna wasn't looking. “I’ll be back by late afternoon. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

Jungkook nodded, his heart warming at the kiss. “I will. Love you.”

“Love you too,” Jimin replied with a smile before grabbing his bag and heading out the door.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Jungkook turned to Yuna, who was already putting on her little shoes. “Ready to go, princess?”

“Ready!” Yuna exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

Jungkook chuckled, standing up and grabbing Yuna’s hand. “Alright, let’s go.”

The walk to the park was pleasant, with Yuna chattering excitedly about everything she saw along the way. Jungkook listened, smiling at her enthusiasm, though a part of him was still weighed down by the insecurities that had been gnawing at him earlier that morning. He pushed them aside, focusing on the present, on making sure Yuna had a good time.

When they arrived at the park, Yuna immediately ran towards the playground, her laughter ringing out as she climbed onto the jungle gym. Jungkook followed her closely, his eyes never leaving her small figure as she played. He smiled whenever she looked back at him, waving or calling out for him to watch her.

“Kookie, look! I’m going to go down the slide!” Yuna called, her voice filled with excitement.

Jungkook nodded, walking closer to the slide. “I’m watching, Yuna! Be careful, okay?”

Yuna giggled, positioning herself at the top of the slide. She pushed off and slid down, landing at the bottom with a triumphant grin. Jungkook clapped, laughing softly. “Great job, princess!”

As Yuna ran off to explore another part of the playground, Jungkook’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen to see a message from one of his mates. Just a quick update about how their day was going and the usual bitching about their boss, nothing urgent.

He quickly typed out a reply, but in that brief moment of distraction, he lost sight of Yuna. A few seconds later, he heard a sudden, sharp cry—a sound that sent his heart plummeting into his stomach.

He spun around, panic surging through him as he spotted Yuna on the ground near the swing set, her little face scrunched up in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was clutching her knee, where blood was already beginning to seep through a small graze.

“Yuna!” Jungkook shouted, his heart pounding in his chest as he rushed over to her. He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands trembling as he gently took hold of her shoulders. “Yuna, are you okay? I’m so sorry, I wasn’t—”

Before he could finish, a voice cut through the air, sharp and judgmental. “How could you let your child fall like that?”

Jungkook looked up, his breath catching in his throat as he saw an older woman standing nearby, glaring at him with disapproval. Her hands were on her hips, and she shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“You shouldn’t be trusted with kids if you’re not going to watch them properly,” she continued, her voice laced with contempt. “A child’s safety should be your top priority, young man and not your phone. How could you be so careless?”

Every word she said was like a dagger to Jungkook’s heart, each one driving deeper into his insecurities. He felt the color drain from his face, his chest tightening painfully as he tried to find the words to respond, but nothing came out. The harshness of her tone, combined with his own fears and doubts, made him feel utterly worthless.

“I… I didn’t mean to…” Jungkook stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He could feel tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, but he forced them back, focusing instead on comforting Yuna, who was still crying softly in his arms. “It’s okay, Yuna, I’m here… I’m so sorry, baby…”

The woman huffed, clearly unimpressed with his response. “You need to be more responsible. Children are fragile, and if you’re not going to take care of them properly, then maybe you shouldn’t be looking after them at all.”

Jungkook nodded weakly, unable to look her in the eye. His throat felt tight, his hands trembling as he gently picked Yuna up, cradling her in his arms. She clung to him, still sniffling, her little fingers clutching the fabric of his shirt.

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook mumbled, though whether he was apologizing to the woman or to Yuna, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he felt like the worst person in the world—completely unfit to take care of Yuna, to be a part of her life.

Without another word, he turned and walked away from the playground, his heart heavy with guilt and shame. He could still hear the woman’s harsh words echoing in his mind, each one reinforcing the fears that had been eating away at him for so long.

I’m not good enough.

I’m going to mess this up.

I’m going to hurt her.

By the time they reached the apartment, Jungkook was barely holding it together. Yuna had stopped crying by then, though she still looked upset, her little hand resting on her knee where the graze had started to dry.

Jungkook unlocked the door with shaking hands, stepping inside and gently setting Yuna down on the couch. “Let’s clean up that knee, okay?” he said, his voice strained, trying to keep the emotion out of it.

Yuna nodded, her eyes wide and trusting, and Jungkook felt another pang of guilt.

How could she trust him after what happened?

How could she still look at him with those innocent eyes, not knowing that he was the reason she got hurt?

He retrieved the first aid kit from the bathroom, his hands still trembling as he tended to Yuna’s wound. The entire time, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had failed her, that he was just as bad as the woman at the park had said.

When the door finally opened that evening, signaling Jimin’s return, Jungkook felt a lump form in his throat. He knew Jimin would notice the bandage on Yuna’s knee, and he wasn’t sure if he could handle the disappointment that would follow.

And when Jimin did notice, his world began to crumble.