Taeguk jumped onto the couch and played with Jungkook’s hair, slapping his cheeks, pulling on his lips, nose, and ears. She laughed at her Uncle’s sleeping position. One of his leg was dangling to the ground. The couch was too small for him. But she still made space for her. On top of him.      “Good Morning, Uncle.”      “Morning, Little Taeguk…,” Jungkook groaned, dreamily.      “Uncle…I miss Daddy,” Taeguk whispered into his left ears. “When will Daddy come back?”      Jungkook opened one of his eyes. “Soon. Daddy will be back soon…” he ruffled her hair and closed his eyes again. She thought if she behaved well her father would return sooner. She didn’t cry anymore. She listened and ate obediently. But the days she counted became months.      Taeguk was disheartened. She felt like the adults were lying to her. She terribly missed her Daddy. Being a good girl, she believed, was the only way to make her father returned faster. Her mother always reminded her to keep a good spirit. She couldn’t let her parents down.      “Uncle…” she kissed his lips. “Wakey wakey, the sun is up.”      “Mmm…5 more minutes,” Jungkook wrapped his arms around her hugging her like a pillow. Taeguk pinched Jungkook’s cheek pulling it up and down but he didn’t budge.      “Uncle…” Taeguk tickled him with her tiny fingers but he didn’t give the response she wanted. In return, he tickled her by snuggling his face into her stomach. She burst into laughter trying to push him away. But when she failed, she pouted.      “Uncle….” She managed to call in between giggles.        “5 more minutes, ok?” he pouted and gave Taeguk a set of pleading eyes.      “Ok,” she held up an ‘ok’ sign with her hand.      “Go check up on Auntie.”      “Ok.” She slid off the couch and he was back to sleeping already.          “Auntie!” she sung swinging the door opened. She rushed to climb up the bed, freely jumping up and down before she tugged the blanket. But she couldn’t uncover her Auntie.         “Auntie. Wakey wakey.” Taeguk did a final high jump and landed on her bottom. Youngni pulled the blanket away from her head and looked at Taeguk with her half-opened eye.      She glanced at the window and saw that the desk chair was placed neatly back to its original place. Jungkook was nowhere to be found. If she recalled correctly, she didn’t even fall asleep until a quarter passed 3 in the morning. Until then, she for sure still saw Jungkook with her sleepy eyes.         “Good Morning, Auntie,” Taeguk leaned down to kiss her lips when she gave Taeguk no response.      “Good Morning, Taeguk,” Youngni sat up and pulled Taeguk into her embrace. She read the time. 10 o’clock.      Taeguk brought the blanket upward and inhaled. “It still smells like Uncle.”      “Hm? What did you say?” Youngni’s face drained in color. She must hear wrong.      “It still smells like Uncle…” Taeguk repeated.      “W-w-why does it smell like Uncle?” Youngni couldn’t find a reason why. Unless he slept on the same bed.      “This is Uncle’s room.”      “HUH?!” Youngni shrieked, examining every corner thought she came into the wrong room. “This is your Uncle’s room?”      “Uncle sleeps here when he comes over. I like Uncle’s smell,” Taeguk smiled and sniffed the blanket again in joy. “Smell,” Taeguk put the blanket next to her Auntie’s nose.      Youngni was taken aback and smelt the blanket per Taeguk’s request. Citrus, fresh, clean detergent like. Still smell like a male.      “Smell good?” Taeguk pulled it away from her and smelt it again.      “Hm.” She couldn’t agree more. It was like a breath of fresh air. “Where’s your Uncle?”      “Sleeping for 5 more minutes,” Taeguk held out five fingers and counted them.      “Oh.” Youngni didn’t think he would wake up late today. “Let’s go wash up.”        She found extra clothes in the room she slept. Wondering if Chaeyeon kept extra clothes for guests or if her Uncle brought girls over. That didn’t sit well with her stomach. She almost refused to wear the clothes, but she knew she was being childish.      After they prepared themselves for the day, there was no sign of Jungkook. He must really stay passed 3 with her. She was curious to how he looks like when he sleeps. She realized she started imagining things that would make her blushed, so she shrugged the thought away.      “Go check up on your uncle. I’ll go get some cereal ready.” Taeguk skipped away.      “Uncle….” Her excitement vanished when she saw Jungkook was still lying flat on the couch.      “Wakey Uncle. No more 5 minutes,” Taeguk climbed on top of him in hope he’d stop sleeping.      “That was only 1 minute.” He lifelessly held up his index finger.      “No. That was a lot of minutes,” Taeguk flapped her arms outward.      Jungkook laughed and embraced Taeguk against his chest patting her head. “Why is our Little Taeguk so smart, hm?”      He placed his chin on top of her head and rubbed it. Taeguk giggled and Jungkook pressed her against him again.      “Uncle smells good,” Taeguk muttered against him. Jungkook pulled away and kissed Taeguk’s cheek with his nose.      “Do I?” he asked. She nodded multiple times.       “Auntie like Uncle’s smell too,” Taeguk leaned into to smell his chest. “It smells better here.”      Taeguk sniffed his chest again and Jungkook chuckled. He wondered what conversation the two had for Taeguk to come smelling him. He sat up and carried Taeguk to sit in his laps.      “How do you know Auntie likes Uncle’s smell?”      “Auntie told me. Auntie was smelling Uncle’s blanket.”      “Really?” he raised an eyebrow, grinning.      “Taeguk won’t lie to Uncle.”      “I believe My Little Taeguk,” he messed her hair. “Where’s your Auntie?”      “Making cereal.”      “Ok…let me wash up. Go help your Auntie.”      “No lying,” Taeguk pulled on both of his cheeks. She was skeptical since he failed her earlier.       Jungkook pouted at how she refused to believe him, “no lying.”        Youngni sat down at the table playing with the fruit loops cereal in the bowl. Cereal was nothing hard to prepared, so she ended up with the long wait time. She hesitated to call them though. Somehow, she felt embarrassed at what she told Taeguk. Her feet were tapping the floor until she heard small footsteps clattering toward the kitchen.      “Ok…I’m ready to eat,” Taeguk ran next to Youngni and flapped her arms open.      Youngni snapped out of her thoughts and put Taeguk in her seat booster. Youngni poured milk into both of their bowls. There was no sign of Jungkook. Youngni turned to look at the hallway. Nothing.      Taeguk diligently ate her cereal; hers was halfway done.      “Let me clean up first,” Youngni picked up her bowl and headed toward the sink as Jungkook walked in.      “Uncle, you’re late. We’re almost done eating,” Taeguk scolded. There were only a few fruits loops left swimming in her bowl of milk.      “Sorry,” Jungkook sat down across from Taeguk and poured himself some milk.      Youngni silently washed her bowl and spoon. She scrubbed it many times but still believed it was soiled. When she turned off the running water, she started wiping the counter. Jungkook peeked over at her, didn’t quite understand what she was doing. Washing a bowl and spoon could take so much time?      “I’m done,” Taeguk raised her hand in victory.      Jungkook pretended to pout, “Ah…I lost.”      Taeguk laughed before she announced,” Auntie, first. I’m second. Uncle, last.”      “See I’m done too,” Jungkook declared drinking the last drip of milk in the bowl.      “Alright, give me your bowl then,” Youngni finally turned around to collect the dishes.      Jungkook stood up and walked over to Taeguk’s side, which was closer to the sink. “Last place will do the dishes.” He smiled at Youngni then to Taeguk, “Right?”      “Yes,” she opened her arms for Jungkook to take her out. “Auntie, smell right here,” Taeguk pointed to Jungkook’s chest when he picked her up, “it smells good.”      Jungkook turned toward Youngni to see her reaction. He was curious to what she would say.      “Ah…huh?” Youngni blinked multiple times. What was Taeguk saying? Why was he smiling?        “Auntie,” Taeguk called again and pointed to Jungkook’s chest, “smell here.”      “Uh…” Youngni looked at Jungkook and accidentally locked eyes with him. She couldn’t escape his gaze as if he held her captive. She couldn’t utter a word.      “Hurry, Auntie. Smell it like this,” Taeguk leaned in and demonstrated how to smell his chest. Jungkook mentally laughed at how Taeguk was pressuring Youngni. Yet, she couldn’t defend herself against a 4-year-old.      Youngni drew herself closer as if Jungkook was pulling her with an invisible string. She heard his low chuckle that made her heart fluttered. She was a foot away from him.      “Hurry,” Jungkook pushing his chest slightly towards her. She glared at him; he was totally enjoying her torture. He could have said something to stop Taeguk, yet he chose not to. She’d remember how he always sided with Taeguk.      “Come on Auntie,” Taeguk signaled with her tiny hand.      Youngni leaned in and lowered herself close to his chest. She inhaled and scrunched up her nose in hope to breathe in his scent from the distance. Youngni lifted her chin in curiosity when she heard a laughter broke out from him.      “You have to come closer,” she heard him, “like this.” Then he pressed her against his chest.        Her heart hammered loudly. Wanting to come out of its cage. Butterfly partied in her stomach. The side of her nose and right cheek were against his chest. Her eyes tightly formed a line. His palm was on her head pressing her to him.      Yes. She could smell him. This close.      And. Possibly hear his heartbeat.      Well. She hoped it wasn’t hers.        Jungkook and Taeguk exchanged look. Jungkook puckered his lips telling Taeguk to stay silent as they both secretly laughed. Taeguk guiltily smiled as she put her index to telling her Uncle she was on the same page.        “Uncle smells very good. Auntie don’t want to go away,” Jungkook burst into laughter and Youngni immediately pulled away. After a harsh glared at the duo, she ran away. She felt humiliated. They heard a slammed on the door and the house became cold. Did they go too far?        Jungkook’s widened eyes stared at the shocked Taeguk, who had tears in her eyes. He didn’t expect Youngni’s glare to come out so strong as if she was ready to tear them in pieces.      “Un…cle,” Taeguk choked and broke out into a sob against his chest.      “It’s ok….don’t cry. Auntie didn’t mean it…” Jungkook patted her head and tried to soothe her but her cry did not stop. He continued to walk around the house, calming Taeguk. Though her cry was barely audible, Jungkook knew she wasn’t done when he heard her inaudible hiccups. There was no sign of Youngni during his attempt to calm Taeguk. They must had a little too far. But she usually didn’t receive it in a bad way.      “Taeguk…,” Jungkook softly called. He let out a small breath when he realized she fell asleep. She must had been frightened. Youngni illuminated hatred with her eyes.      He was thankful she wasn’t a tough kid to handle. Taeguk had been a pleasant child to be with since birth. For the most part, she was a cheerful kid.      After lying her on the bed, he gently wiped away the dried tears at the corner of her eyes. He kissed her forehead and left the door partially opened. It was time to check on Youngni.        Jungkook drew in a long deep breath for encouragement. What to say to Youngni had been calculating in his mind since she took off. He couldn’t pinpoint what upset her. Was it his teasing? Not siding with her? Was it Taeguk or was it him? This was the time he needed a second opinion.      Taeguk was definitely easier to handle. He at least knew what a child wants. As for Youngni, he thought he knew. He messed his hair before combing it with his fingers.      “Forget it,” he growled and knocked on the door. His stomach churned sourly when the pounding echoed down the empty hallway.      No answer.      “Youngni are you in there?” he called, slightly panicked. She locked the door. It wouldn’t open no matter how he twisted. Unpleasant random thoughts ran through his mind. For some reason, he couldn’t think of anything positive. Only what if she harmed herself or did something bad.      “Youngni,” he knocked and knocked. He gave up and ran to grab the additional key and unlocked the door.        The door swung opened and his shoulders relaxed. She sat by the window just like how he did yesterday. Earphones were in her ears. Music played loudly. He exhaled and threw the keys before walking over. He grabbed the wired earphones and tugged it out of her ears. She looked at him in the eyes. Her stare was perhaps too intense, she scared herself. She didn’t know she could release such strong emotions. She was annoyed and irritated. It was probably all the emotions she been hiding since Chaeyeon’d passed.        He slowly breathed when he saw her red eyes; tear brimmed at the edge. His face softened. Many questions circled his mind, but he couldn’t utter a word to her. He didn’t know if what came out would sound like how he wanted it to be. He swallowed the lump in his throat when she started blinking her tears away. She returned to look out the window. Jungkook bit his bottom lip hoping a solution would magically surface. He scooted back to sit on the edge of the bed and plugged the right earphone to his and left to hers. He softly stared at her as he listened to the music playing.   If you look at it in certain way, It's harder loving yourself than loving someone else Honestly, let's admit what we have to admit The standards you put out are harsher on yourself Inside the centre of your life is a thick growth ring It's a part of your life, and is also what you are Let's forgive ourselves now Our lives are too long to just throw ourselves out I believe in myself inside this maze Because winter passes, spring comes again ~BTS Answer: Love Myself~ lyrictranslate.com        Once the song ended, Youngni stopped the music and pulled back her earphone. Jungkook thought for a minute before asking, “Are you ok?” Thoughts ran through his mind while listening to the song. Perhaps, all of them are just the same. Everyone in the world.      “Why wouldn’t I be?” she sounded distant, not that they were close in the first place.      Jungkook remained silent didn’t really like the fact she turned cold. She sounded like she was not in the mood for questions too.      “I’m not mad.”      Jungkook stared at her side profile. He didn’t believe her. So, he remained quiet in hope she would carry on an explanation.      “I’m not mad,” she repeated and clasped her hands together. She wasn’t. She was upset at herself. At her very uncapable self. She was glad he was there. Glad Taeguk was there. She admitted that without them, she would have a more difficult time. They made her forget many things, she appreciated that. They were the distraction she needed, she realized.        “That wasn’t very cute of you,” he recalled the sharp pointed look her eyes carried. It wasn’t a suitable look for her. Her face was meant to carry smiles and laughter.      “I wasn’t trying to be cute,” she said, bitterly. It was true.      She fought her temper though she was on the losing end. She hated he played a part of her wavering emotions.        “You shouldn’t do that in front of a kid.”      “I’m a kid myself,” she stood up and put her earphone on the desk. She couldn’t stop herself. Her words came out faster than she could think. He doesn’t get it. He wouldn’t understand. She knew why. He wasn’t to be blamed because she never explained.        Jungkook stared at her, what’s with this attitude?      “Ah…is that so? I shall treat you like one then.”      She paused, “w-what do you mean?”      Her mind calculated the possibilities his words could mean while she surveyed his expression, a firm pair of eyes and slight-raised right corner lip. She swallowed when she realized her back was against the desk. She forced her eyes shut. Her head lowered away from him. Jungkook softened his face, she wasn’t so rough after all.         Youngni never thought breathing could be challenging. She clearly felt her chest moving up and down, but no air entered her lung. Silence filled the room except the loud pounding of their heartbeats. Jungkook raised his left hand bringing it close to her head. He paused as he wavered about his actions. His lips formed a thin line before placing his hand on her head. He patted her head twice before saying, “it’s ok. I know it’s hard. It was nothing embarrassing.”      Her eyes flew opened. He saw the astonishment in her eyes. His heart fluttered when her eyes focused on him, but he didn’t stop the pattern his palm was making. He saw a hint of redness in her eyes.      “Cheer up, hm?” Youngni smacked his hand then blinked her tears away.      “Look at this kid throwing a tantrum. You’re more difficult to care for than Taeguk,” Jungkook puffed out his cheeks before pulling her into a hug and caressed the back of her head.      “There. I won’t see you cry. Go ahead,” Jungkook had no idea what he did, but he was relieved when he heard her soft cries. He remained in position, letting her be.        Life was always a tornado to her. She still felt like a child at the age of nineteen, but a child was given to her. It wasn’t that she didn’t try to be an adult. She did. It just wasn’t easy. Couldn’t she have more time to get there?        “Do you want to share?” Concern came with his low voice.      “It’s embarrassing,” she muttered to herself. How could she let her emotions for the past weeks get the better of her just because of a little kid teasing? She really must be a little kid herself.