“That one! That one!” Jungkook sighed, watching Taehyung, his little, excitedly point at a blue pen in the stationary shop. He’d happily have bought it then and there if Taehyung hadn’t been clutching a black pen just moments ago, insisting *that* was the one he wanted.
“Taehyung,” he said, a touch of exasperation in his tone. “That’s the third pen you’ve asked for, and they’re all pens!” Taehyung stopped, gazing up at Jungkook with wide eyes. “I’ll get you one pen, one marker, and one pencil. We have plenty of erasers at home.”
Taehyung pouted, his puppy eyes pleading. Jungkook knew that look well. It was a weapon of pure cuteness. “Ugh, fine. Two pens, how’s that?”
Taehyung nodded gleefully, returning to his search for the perfect school supplies.
Jungkook fumbled with the coins in his pocket. Jin had given him twenty dollars. Buying everything—including his own supplies—would take at least five dollars. They still needed bags and clothes.
“Ugh,” he sighed under his breath.
---
Jin inhaled the rich aroma of coffee, a familiar comfort. A cup of hot cappuccino sat before him, while Namjoon sipped his latte. The café was small and intimate, exactly to Jin’s liking. They were waiting for the two younger boys to finish gathering their stationery and bags before heading out for clothes shopping.
“Jin.”
“Hmm?” Jin looked up at Namjoon. The café was quiet, save for the soft melody playing in the background.
“Uhh… I…” Namjoon fiddled with his cup, the latte sloshing gently against the glass. “Nevermind.”
Jin cocked his head to one side, curiosity piqued. “Hey. Now that you’ve started, you better finish what you were going to say. It’ll keep me awake if you don’t!”
Namjoon’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I was just going to ask… um… is the coffee… good?” He offered a small smile, his gaze fixed on the dark liquid in his cup.
“Yeah,” Jin mumbled, watching Namjoon’s attempt at casual conversation. “It’s obvious you’re lying, but I won’t force you to tell me if you don’t want to.”
Namjoon smiled, taking another sip of his warm latte.
---
“T-This one?” Taehyung asked, stretching to reach a pale pink backpack on the top shelf. “There’s one here, silly.” Jungkook chuckled, grabbing a bag with the same design from the lower shelf. “You want this one?”
“O-Oh.” Taehyung mumbled, his face flushed a delicate pink. “Y-Yeah.”
Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want a pink bag?”
“Y-Yeah!” Taehyung flashed his box smile, taking the bag from Jungkook’s grip.
“Fine. How about that one?” Jungkook asked, attempting to steer the boy towards a different option, but Taehyung remained resolute.
“N-Noooo!”
---
“Ugh, we’re here,” Jungkook grumbled, dragging the plastic bags filled with stationery and bags behind him. Taehyung had managed to convince him to buy the pink backpack anyway.
Jin feigned exasperation. “Finally! I— I mean *we* waited for hours!”
“Hours?” Namjoon chuckled. “Jin, you just finished your coffee. It’s been nearly an hour.”
Jin flushed. “W-Whatever. L-Let’s go.”
“Y-Yay!” Taehyung chirped, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
---
Jin draped another piece of clothing over his shoulder, smiling as he imagined how adorable Taehyung would look in the outfit he’d chosen.
He glanced at Jungkook and Taehyung, who were both playing around instead of taking the clothes shopping seriously. “Guys! Jungkook, choose your clothes!”
Jungkook paused, his arm around Taehyung. “I already did.” He nodded toward a small stack of black and blue clothing.
*Ugh,* Jin thought.
“Get something else. Something less… dark.”
Jungkook rolled his eyes, but Jin tossed him a cyan hoodie Taehyung had actually pointed out for Jungkook to get.
“You want me to wear this?” Jungkook asked.
Jin rolled his eyes. “Duh.”
Taehyung giggled. “Y-You’ll l-look g-good in it!” Jungkook grinned, whispering something in Taehyung’s ear, causing him to giggle again as they headed towards the fitting rooms. Jin raised an eyebrow, watching them with a knowing smile.
“They better not do anything…” he muttered, resting his head on Namjoon’s shoulder.