Caregiver: Jin Little: Namjoon
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Namjoon was unusually quiet, nestled on the sofa, eyes glued to the cartoon unfolding on the screen. Usually, his energy manifested in mischief or accidental destruction, but today he was still, content.
Jin, always attentive, checked Namjoon’s well-being. He was feeling alright. A rare opportunity presented itself – a chance to finally tackle the months-long accumulation of mess. Jin was elated. He’d often start cleaning only to have Namjoon “help” (and often hinder) his efforts. But today, silence reigned.
He began cleaning at eleven, working steadily until two in the afternoon. A sense of accomplishment swelled within him as the house transformed from chaos to spotless order. Then, realization struck: Namjoon hadn’t eaten all day.
“Daddy, Joonie hungry,” Namjoon murmured from the sofa, his gaze fixed on Jin.
“What would Joonie like for lunch?” Jin asked, a soft smile gracing his lips.
“Umm… dinosaur chicken nuggets, pwease,” Namjoon requested politely. Jin nodded.
He retrieved the frozen nuggets, arranging them on a tray alongside a handful of golden fries. The oven warmed quickly, and he slid the tray inside. While the nuggets cooked, Jin prepared a bowl of instant ramen for himself, knowing Namjoon's feeding would take some time. He finished his own meal just as the oven beeped, signaling the nuggets were ready.
Carefully donning an oven mitt, Jin extracted the tray. He used a spatula to transfer the nuggets and fries to a bright green plastic plate, a precaution against breakage.
“Joonie, your chicken nuggets are ready!” Jin called from the kitchen. Namjoon scrambled to the table, settling into his seat.
“Thank chu, Daddy!” Namjoon beamed, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“Is something wrong, Joonie?” Jin asked, noticing his little one hadn’t touched the food.
“Can daddy feed Joonie?” Namjoon asked, his voice laced with hope. Jin nodded without hesitation.
He picked up the knife and fork, carefully cutting a nugget into bite-sized pieces. He offered it to Namjoon, who accepted it with a delighted giggle. Piece by piece, Jin fed his little one, watching as hunger faded into contentedness.
It wasn’t long before the plate was empty. Jin collected the plate and cutlery, carrying them to the sink.
“Thank chu for fweding Joonie, Daddy,” Namjoon smiled, his eyes shining with affection. Jin returned the smile.
“Anything for my baby,” Jin replied. “Why don't you go watch cartoons, and I'll be through in a few minutes for cuddles and kisses.”
“Yay! Cuwles and kwsses!” Namjoon cheered, dashing back to the living room.
He settled in front of his favorite cartoons, and Jin soon joined him, scooping Namjoon into his lap. They cuddled close, exchanging soft kisses.
“I wove chu, Daddy,” Namjoon murmured, his eyelids drooping with exhaustion.
“I love you too, Joonie,” Jin whispered, kissing the top of Namjoon's head. He held his little one close as sleep claimed him, a peaceful warmth spreading through his arms. ━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━