CHAPTER EIGHTEEN :
A Boy Can Dream
∵
A boy can dream because as a child, one would eventually think of what he wanted to become in the future, whether it be as a police officer, a firefighter, a lawyer, a doctor, a CEO, a father. A boy can dream, because of their gifted imagination of knowing what luxury is for them, and what are the things they desire the most. They wouldn't know what challenges and obstacles will be on their way as they grow up and pursue who they would want to be, but of course, their eyes will always remain on their prize; their dream.
For Namjoon, he just wanted to become successful. He could become a doctor, a lawyer, a businessman, anything that would suit him fine. His desire for learning, stronger than his brothers, the need to become a model to his dongsaengs, motivated him to do his best in school and in life.
For Yoongi, he wanted to become someone who could change the world in his own way. No way would he be able to become a speaker in press conferences since he knew he doesn't have enough confidence to speak to many people, nor interact with them. He just wanted to be one of the people who could make the world a better place to live in.
For Hoseok, he just wants to dance. Dancing is his own form of oblivion, his own expression to emotions, responses to what he was feeling. He could be a famous dancer, artist, or someone who expresses their emotions artistically. A choreographer sounded nice to him, but a dancer who has no strings attached to him was better to his ears and heart. He couldn't bear being controlled by a system.
For Jimin, he was inspired by Hoseok to become a dancer. But as soon as he heard an artist singing on the television, pitching a high note that made his skin have goosebumps, he suddenly envisioned himself to become an idol. He wanted to show the world his abilities, through singing and dancing. He didn't want to put a mask on in public, however, just like what artists do to make sure they still remained infamous. Jimin wants to just be himself, and that is what matters to Jimin.
For Taehyung, he thought of numerous things that really caught his attention, other than drawings and sketches and paintings. 'Photo is nice.' He usually thinks whenever he sees a picture on the wall of his school, with a caption below that says "Best Photo of the Month". Taehyung thought that if he could have a really cool camera, maybe he could have his photos on that wall. Or better, he could deliver creative and inspiring photos to the world.
For Jungkook, he used to think that he could just become a baker or chef. He loves to eat, and he also loves to create something new from different foods. But when he was praised for having a cute yet almost-realistic drawing by his teacher, he suddenly thought of being the next Leonardo Da Vinci or Van Gogh. Kim Jungkook, the next generation artist that would touch the hearts of millions just by a single painting sounded nice to the little boy.
Their dreams meant something to them, because boys who dream are boys who matter. Boys who dream are the ones who achieve their dreams in the end.
∵
"Are you sure you are up for it?"
"Yes appa!" Hoseok cheered as he twirled around the living room, Jin's eyes possessing a hesitant glint and his lips curled into a frown. "If Mimi did ballet and Yeoro dance hip-hop, then I can have dance lessons!"
"Baby, you're not getting the point." Jin slowly said, and patting the seat next to him which made Hoseok hop up and plop his butt on the soft cushion. Hoseok's grin faded a little until his lips eventually became a straight line. "Listen, I... I just don't want you to regret this decision or maybe get you bullied, Hoseokie." Jin sighed and faced his son with a worried stare. "I know you love to dance, but to start with ballet, knowing that only girls and some boys do that? Are you sure about this?"
Hoseok paused, before nodding enthusiastically and trying so hard to prove his point. "Yeah! Boys can dance too, right? I told you Yeoro can dance!"
"But to learn ballet, instead of hip-hop?" Jin massaged his temples, which made Hoseok deflate and look away. Of course as a father, he needed to look out for his sons. He doesn't like the idea of Hoseok attending ballet classes and being bullied about it. He just doesn't want him to regret his decision. "Baby, I'm sorry but please think this through. You want to dance ballet, which is something that boys don't usually learn and-"
"Fine." Hoseok gritted and landed on the pads of his feet on the carpet. Angry Hoseok was back, and Jin almost had cold sweat when he looked at his heated eyes. "Whatever." He muttered as he stomped off to the bedroom and slammed the door shut. Jin flopped his head on the sofa and groaned. "I need a beer."
∵
"Look, appa!"
"W-what is this, Kookie?"
"Its the view outside the window!" Jungkook grinned and almost shoved the paper colored with as many colors as Jin could interpret and the father had to blink thrice. "Outside... the window?" Jin had to look for that specific window with that specific view of the outside, in which he found minutes later because of a specific object on the picture that is similar to the one on the view.
"Its... our neighbor's house!" Jin blinked and looked back at the picture, and looked at the view once again. "Wah, it's almost the same." He tried to smile, actually squinting as he tries to hard to comprehend the picture. It's bad that he is lying through his teeth, but in order for him to not disappoint his son, he needed to blindly agree and praise what he has drawn in the picture.
Sadly, the maknae have caught on. "Almost?" Jungkook whimpered and frowned and grabbed the picture from his father's hand. "What you mean, almost?" The maknae looked at the picture sadly and at the view outside. "Kookie, you had some of the colors wrong, but it's okay!" Jin tried to cheer the maknae up, but the boy couldn't help but feel disappointed because of his father's criticism of his drawing. Not replying, he dragged himself out of the room with his drawing immediately thrown to the trash can.
Jin watched with a frown, sighing when he looked outside the window and onto the drawing that was facing upside down. "He was doing great though..."
∵
Jin furrowed his brows when he saw Yoongi watching something on his father's laptop. "Yoongi-ah." The boy quickly exited the tab and turned to look at his father with wide eyes and an uneasy smile. "Appa!" He squeaked, looking like a deer frozen on the headlights as Jin approached him with crossed arms. "What were you watching?"
Jin's mind went through every possibility; horror, porn, gore, anything to do with taboo or something horrible and not allowed for children. Jin was ready to spring into action, until Yoongi frowned and sighed defeatedly, going on the history tab and clicked the latest website or the video he was watching. Jin leaned in with his eyes furrowed as he inspected the page.
It was a group of underground rappers, having a rap battle. 'UNDERGROUND RAPPERS HAVING A DISS BATTLE! NO CUSSING RULE!' Yoongi then closed the video when the video finished, Jin staring at the computer with eyes wide. "I know you're gonna tell me off that being a rapper won't make money, even though Kanye and other famous American rappers are rich and famous now." Yoongi gritted, hopping off of the seat and went towards the door.
Jin was about to call Yoongi, until the door just slammed shut and now he had 3 sons who were about to distance away from their own father. "I didn't even say anything..." He sighs softly, scratching his head and thinking of a way to win them back.
∵
Namjoon heard about what happened between their father and his brothers Hoseok, Jungkook, and Yoongi. It surely is horrible and he didn't want the same thing to happen to him and his other brothers. Being the eldest and responsible brother, he decided to resolve the issues in his family.
After his project is finished, that is.
"Hobi-ah, can you stop... crying please?" Namjoon groaned tiredly, rubbing his temples as the model made out of cardboard and paper sat innocently in front of him, still unfinished since he still hasn't painted any colors yet. He needed to pass the project the next day, and because of his brother's wailing, he couldn't concentrate well. As much as he wanted to say "shut up", he didn't want to let the past repeat itself again. Hoseok stomped, huffing and sniffling while looking at his brother's focused stare at the project.
"Why?! Does it make you mad? Does it b-bother you, Namjoon?" Said brother flinched when Hoseok called him by his name, not his nickname. Namjoon wanted to groan out loud, roll his eyes at his brother's behavior, and tell him to suck it all up like what he does. Knowing Hoseok, he couldn't do that, instead he opted to be gentle with his brother. "No, Hobi." He scooted to Hoseok's side and sighed. "I know what happened between you and appa. And know that I am here to support you, okay?"
"How would I know that you're gonna support me?" Hoseok hesitantly asked, furrowing his brows while sniffling. "I mean, you'd probably be embarrassed if I performed ballet on stage." Hoseok murmured, tears starting to gather on his eyes once again and this time, Namjoon was quick on his feet. He immediately hugged Hoseok and patted his back reassuringly, making the younger one lean onto him and sob. Namjoon was quiet, consoling his brother while his eyes trailed to his project. 'Eh, I hate coloring anyway. I'll just let Jungkook color them.'
∵
Hoseok, Jungkook, and Yoongi were on the backseat, the other two were on the front while Taehyung sat on the passenger seat with their father. The three brothers didn't want to be near their father, since they are still quite pissed off about what happened to each of them. Surprisingly, Jin was unexpectedly looking troubled on a Tuesday morning, which the six children noticed but kept their mouth shut about it. Their father normally looked tired but chirpy in the morning, mumbling to himself to have another cup of coffee as soon as he arrives home.
They did the normal weekday routine; dropping off the hyungs on elementary, before dropping off the maknaes on kindergarten. Jungkook and Jimin went off, but Taehyung stayed on his seat and looked at Jin with a pout. "Appa." Taehyung whined, tugging on Jin's sleeve and blinked his big eyes to Jin's direction. "Hm?" The father was surprised that his second to the youngest son was still on his seat, making him lean and unbuckle his child's seatbelt.
"Everything's gonna be alwight." Taehyung grinned, pressing a fat kiss on Jin's cheek before grabbing his small cute bag on the floor. "I wove you!" Taehyung squealed before opening the door and hopping off, almost dashing towards the entrance of the building without looking back. Jin watched his figure disappear inside the school, and unknownst to him, Jin's eyes became wet with tears, heart wrenching when he remembered Jungkook, Yoongi, and Hoseok's disheartened looks days ago. When Taehyung's kiss replayed on Jin's head, he unknowingly pressed his forehead on the steering wheel, almost honking the horn as he cried miserably.
"I'm such a horrible father."
Jin couldn't do anything, because he's only a father who couldn't help but not really know what's best for his children. He thinks that everything he does for them about their dreams will make them eventually wake up and realize that their dreams will be hard to achieve in the end. He didn't want them to regret making endless progress to an impossible ambition. Jin just doesn't want them to be hurt in the end. He thinks that perhaps only because they are children, this means that their ambitions will eventually change in the end.
It's only because boys can only dream, right?