Chapter 1: The Five-Year Promise

The scent of baby powder and warm vanilla filled the Kim household, a quiet sanctuary against the bustling Seoul streets outside. Five-year-old Taehyung stood on his tiptoes, his small hands gripping the smooth, wooden edge of the crib. His big, expressive eyes were locked onto the tiny bundle resting under a soft blue blanket.

Inside the crib lay Jeon Jungkook. He was exactly two months old, with cheeks like soft, unbaked mochis and tiny fists tucked close to his chin. He was so small that Taehyung felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to protect him from everything in the world.

Taehyung’s mother walked into the nursery, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she watched her son. She stepped up behind him, resting a warm hand on his shoulder. "Tae, be very gentle. Your Auntie Jeon is finally getting some sleep downstairs. You have to be a big boy and look after Kookoo for a little bit while I check on the kitchen, okay?"

Taehyung didn't even look up; he was completely mesmerized. "I'll be super quiet, Mom," he whispered back, his eyes never leaving the baby.

Once his mother’s footsteps faded down the hallway, Taehyung reached a hesitant, chubby finger through the white crib bars. He carefully, slowly, brushed his finger against the baby's open, tiny palm.

As if by pure instinct, Jungkook’s tiny, fragile fingers curled tightly around Taehyung’s index finger. He gripped it with surprising strength for a two-month-old, letting out a soft, sleepy sigh.

Taehyung gasped, a wide, radiant, boxy smile instantly spreading across his face. A warm bubble of pure happiness burst in his chest.

"Look at you," Taehyung whispered-yelled, his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and pure excitement. "You like me, right? You're so small, Kookoo..."

He leaned his forehead against the wooden bars, his soft, fluffy brown hair falling forward. The baby’s grip remained firm, anchoring them together in the quiet room.

"Don't worry, Kookoo," five-year-old Taehyung whispered with absolute, solemn devotion to the sleeping infant. "Hyungie is big, and Hyungie will protect you forever."

Thankyou for reading 😘

Swim, swim

Water falling off your skin

Swim, swim

I could spend a lifetime watching you

Swim, swim

This is how it all begins

Swim, swim

I just wanna dive, I just wanna dive

Bad world

Gone away, I still wake up in this mad world

Name a place that I could breathe on this map, world

Looking like a goody-goody in this bad world, bad world

Don't know how to act, girl

I'm in this deep, tell me, where the hell you at, girl?

Oh, you ain't even gotta love me bad, girl

You know that I'm never holdin' back, girl, yeah

So easy, don't make it so hard

Nights like these, I just wanna get lost

Right here with the moon and the sharks

I ain't gotta think 'bout a thing, baby, I just

Swim, swim

Water falling off your skin

Swim, swim

I could spend a lifetime watching you

Swim (swim), swim (swim)

This is how it all begins

Swim, swim

I just wanna dive, I just wanna dive

Water, water so deep, water so deep

Take it off the ground, I ain't never getting cold feet

Yeah, you know me, yeah, you know me

Sittin' on the shore, now I'm ready for the whole sea

I can feel the high waves comin' (comin')

Why you run away? You can run in

Salt on my tongue, she's stunnin' (yeah)

You're the only place that I wanna be, yeah

Swim, swim

Water falling off your skin

Swim, swim

I could spend a lifetime watching you

Swim (swim), swim (swim)

This is how it all begins

Swim, swim

I just wanna dive, I just wanna dive

Splash (splash), drift (drift)

I make waves with my two fins (two fins)

Splash (whoo), drip (drip)

I just wanna take it across the line

Under here, we don't chase the time

Baby, everything can't be so sad (so sad)

Turn my face from the land

I just wanna dive, I just wanna dive

Swim, swim

Water falling off your skin

Swim, swim

I could spend a lifetime watching you

Swim (swim), swim (swim)

Let it all begin

Swim, swim

I just wanna dive, I just wanna dive

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