Update 3/4 for today!

This one is kind of short, especially in comparrison to some of my more recent stories.

#41 – Goodbye

Taemin had woken up early that morning, before Kibum even which never happened.

He had stared at the ceiling thinking, today is a milestone, and today is one that he will never forget.

Jinae had been a part of their lives for five years now.  And for five years, Taemin usually been the at home parent since his job allowed for more time spent at home.  So he spent every day looking after her, playing with her, taking her to the park, and planning surprises for Kibum when he came home and anything else that happened to come to mind..

But today, he wasn’t going to have to listen for that little giggle or padding feet.  Today he wasn’t going to have to make her lunch or connive her into taking a nap or pray that she stayed asleep just a few moments longer so he could finish one more paragraph, or finish folding one load of laundry, or actually get to finish a television show for a change. 

In his mind it seemed like Jinae had always been there, and life before her was almost hard to imagine.  Not having her around him and under his feet everyday was going to be so strange.

Because Jinae was starting school today.

Her first day of Kindergarten, where she would play with kids her own age and begin the momentous and forming experience of school. 

Taemin shoved the heels of his hands into his eyes and sighed, before slowly moving himself out of bed, trying to not disturb Kibum, and slipped his feet into his slippers before shuffling into Jinae’s room.  He stood just inside the doorway, watching her sleep.  One little foot having kicked itself out of Kibum’s supposedly impenetrable swaddling job, one arm tight around the neck of a worn teddy bear and the other throw up over her head.  Her face was peaceful.  Her school’s uniform, a knee-length grey skirt and white dress shirt with a black sweater vest, sat on hangers dangling from slats in her closet door, two spotless black shoes positioned beneath it with a pair of white socks with ruffles on the top laying across them.

His little girl was growing up.  No longer the infant that Kibum and he had soothed from colic in the middle of the night, she was ready to be away from them with other people now. 

Taemin’s stomach churned at the thought of leaving his daughter in the care of someone else who was not part of their family. 

Hands gently encircled his waist and he felt Kibum’s head lay against his back.

“Bed’s cold.” The older man explained simply.

Taemin reached one hand down and grabbed Kibum’s clasped ones and sighed, leaning back into Kibum’s embrace.

“She’s growing up…” Taemin trailed off.

Kibum sighed slightly, “Yeah she is…come back to bed and let her sleep.  She’ll need her sleep for today.”

Taemin sighed again and allowed Kibum to tug him out of the room and back into theirs.

Hours later Jinae awoke to her proud dad’s smiling faces.  “Today’s the day!” Kibum said excitedly, laughing as Jinae literally jumped from the bed, smiling and cheering. 

“I get to go to school today!” She cried, jumping into Kibum’s outstretched arms. 

“Are you excited?” Taemin asked, tweaking her nose and smiling as she laughed. 

“I excited!” she announced, nose crinkling as Kibum’s kissed her on the cheek before putting her down. 

“Then let’s eat breakfast!” he announced, leading Jinae down the hall to the delicious smells of Kibum's homemade chocolate chip pancakes. 

After breakfast Taemin watched over Jinae as she brushed her teeth, helped her into her uniform and even sectioned out her hair into low ponytails that bounced around her head as she flitted about from one place to another. 

The school was just down the street.  Kibum had taken the morning off of work so that they could both see her off for the first time.  The two men walked down the street, Jinae between them, holding both of their hands and chattering about how excited she was and how many friends she was going to make.

They were the only men seeing children off, the other students having been brought by their mothers or nannies or older siblings before they ran off to their own classes.

“Papa…” Jinae said suddenly, looking around her new classroom before turning and hugging Taemin’s leg tight.  “I’m scared.”

Taemin pulled off her little hands and dropped to a crouch as Kibum spoke to Jinae’s teacher.  “Sweetie.  You have nothing to be scared of.”  He smiled.  “Look at all of these kids here,” he gestured to all of the other students who stared about the room with ranging looks of awe and fear, “all of them are just like you.  A little bit scared, but excited too.  They get to play with you all day and learn new things.  You’ll be just fine, I promise.”

“Really?”  Jinae’s eyes were huge as she stared into Taemin’s.

“Really.” He said firmly.

“Jinae sweetie,” Kibum’s voice interrupted their little moment.  Jinae’s head whipped around, her ponytails hitting Taemin in the face in the process.  Kibum was pointing towards the classroom door.  “Look who just walked in.”

And in walked Song Youngnam. 

“Youngnam!” She called, suddenly all smiles and ran over to hug her friend, whose young, round face lit up upon seeing his friend. 

Kibum watched it all and smiled, rubbing Taemin’s shoulder lightly.  “She’s is going to be just fine, just like you said, so don’t worry.” 

Taemin bit his lip before saying, “I know…I just don’t want to say goodbye…”

And the parents were starting to leave the room, leaving their children behind to their new school and classroom. 

Kibum chuckled, “You’ll be seeing her in a few hours, besides – she already has a friend here.” He said, watching her and Youngnam as they claimed two adjoining seats at one of the many round tables that filled the room.   

Taemin smiled, watching and Jinae waved them goodbye and animatedly talked with her friend, both of them pointing around the room at different decorations and people.

“Alright…let’s go.” And hand in hand, Taemin and Kibum left their daughter to begin the next stage of her life. 

For those who may not remember, Youngnam was the friend that she made on the playground in ‘Push.’