Closer Than This...(vsoo)

The Orphanage Visit

The day started with Jisoo practically dragging Taehyung out of his usual rigid routine. She had told him to keep the day free, insisting on dressing casually, much to his annoyance.

Taehyung, used to his structured days of meetings, schedules, and crisp suits, found himself in dark jeans and a light sweater, an attire he hadn't worn in years.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" he asked as he slipped into the passenger seat of her car, raising a brow.

"Nope," Jisoo said with a sly smile. "You'll find out soon enough."

"Jisoo," he began, his tone clipped, "I don't like surprises."

"Well, it's a good thing I am not asking for your permission, then," she shot back, grinning.

Taehyung sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. But as the car sped toward the outskirts of the city, something in him softened. Jisoo's lighthearted energy was infectious, even if he didn't want to admit it.

When they arrived at the orphanage, Taehyung's first reaction was confusion. The building was modest, its paint slightly faded, but it had a charm that spoke of warmth and love.

Children's laughter echoed from the small garden out front, where a group of them played tag.

"An orphanage?" Taehyung asked, turning to Jisoo.

"Yes," she said, her tone lighter than usual. "I thought it would be a nice change of pace for you. These kids could use some joy, and so could we."

"I am not sure I am the right person for this," Taehyung said, hesitating as Jisoo stepped out of the car.

"You're more right than you think," Jisoo said, walking around to his side and pulling open the door. "Come on, Taehyung. Trust me for once."

Reluctantly, he followed her inside.

The children were quick to surround Jisoo, their faces lighting up as if she were an old friend. She knelt down, chatting with them effortlessly, her laughter filling the room. Taehyung hung back, watching her with a mixture of admiration and unease.

"You must be Mr. Kim," said an older woman, the orphanage's director, who approached him with a warm smile. "Your wife told us you'd be visiting today. The children have been so excited."

Taehyung nodded politely, unsure of what to say. Before he could respond, a little boy tugged at his sleeve.

"Do you want to play soccer with us?" the boy asked, holding up a slightly deflated ball.

Taehyung blinked, glancing at Jisoo, who gave him an encouraging nod from across the room. Slowly, he crouched down to the boy's level. "Alright," he said, taking the ball. "But don't expect me to go easy on you."

The boy grinned, and within moments, Taehyung found himself outside, surrounded by a group of children eager to play.

Jisoo watched from a distance as Taehyung gradually warmed up to the kids. At first, he had seemed stiff and unsure, but as the game went on, she saw him laughing, even joking with them. It was a side of him she hadn't seen before, a softer, more human side that made her chest tighten unexpectedly.

By lunchtime, Taehyung had fully immersed himself in the children's world. He sat at a small table, his long legs awkwardly folded beneath it, listening intently as a little girl told him about her dream of becoming a doctor.

When she finished, she shyly offered him the small chocolate bar she had been saving. "For you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyung stared at the chocolate for a moment before taking it gently. "Thank you," he said, his voice softer than Jisoo had ever heard it.