Jeon Jungkook and Kang Aesira used to be best friends back when they were kids, but things changed. He turned into a different person, someone that Aesira couldn't recognize.
Having to see him at school every day was already tough for Aesira . bu...
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We eventually reached Jungkook's Halemoni's residence, and my eagerness to step out of the car was palpable. The anticipation of meeting Jungkook and being in his presence was overwhelming. As I hastily exited the vehicle, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The atmosphere was charged with the unique blend of emotions that only Jungkook could evoke in me.
Upon arrival, it was no surprise to find my parents already present, as if they had anticipated our delayed arrival. The clock had ticked over an hour past our scheduled time, adding an element of unpredictability to the reunion. Despite the delay, the prospect of spending time with Jungkook and the gathering of family at Halemoni's created a sense of anticipation and warmth that overshadowed any inconvenience caused by our belated entrance.
"Could you possibly have gotten out any faster?" Jungkook inquired with a playful smirk.Chuckling, I responded, "No, but we can get our belongings shortly. Let's greet everyone inside first," I suggested, emphasizing the importance of exchanging pleasantries before diving into other tasks.
Jungkook nodded understandingly, and together we made our way indoors, eager to reunite with everyone. To our surprise, they were gathered outside.
"Aesy, Jungkook!" Nari exclaimed excitedly, rushing over to embrace us.
"Hey, little lily," Jungkook greeted her with a warm smile, playfully ruffling her hair.
Umma joined the welcoming committee with a laugh, saying, "What took you so long? You were supposed to be here an hour ago."
Jungkook, always quick with a response, quipped, "Blame Aesira."
I interjected, "No, don't blame just me, blame us. We made a pit stop for coffee, and Jungkook's bladder is worse than a child's," I added, accompanied by an eye roll, injecting a lighthearted tone into the delayed arrival explanation.
Jungkook casually shrugged off the comment and proceeded to greet his Halemoni affectionately. The warmth between them was evident as they embraced tightly, exchanging genuine hugs.
"I have missed you, my boy," his Halemoni whispered affectionately.
Jungkook reciprocated, saying, "I missed you too, Halemoni. How are you doing?" he inquired, displaying a caring demeanor.
"I am fine. Your Umma is fussing over nothing," she chuckled, dismissing any concerns with a light-hearted tone.
I decided to give them some space to catch up, observing the heartfelt reunion. After a while, Halemoni motioned for me to join them, indicating that it was my turn to share in the familial connection.
"Oh my, look at you, sweetie, you are just gorgeous," she cooed at me, expressing her affection. "I have missed you too. It has been too long," she added, the warmth of her words resonating with genuine nostalgia.
"Thank you, and yes, I missed you. It has been way too long," I replied with a smile, reciprocating the sentiment as I embraced her.
I reminisced about the summers spent at her place, expressing, "I have missed my summers here; they were always the best. While everyone else got excited about going to other countries for vacation, coming here was more exciting for Jungkook and me."
As the conversation shifted, Halemoni inquired, "And what about you two? Have you sorted things out yet?" Her gaze moved between Jungkook and me.
"Halemoni, people change. Things change," Jungkook responded with a thoughtful tone.
She sighed and shook her head, expressing concern. "Yes, I know, but what you two had shouldn't have changed," she said. "The bond, the relationship you two had was something special, and something like that doesn't just end," she added, underscoring the enduring nature of the connection she believed we shared.
I couldn't shake the feeling that Halemoni wasn't fully aware of the extent to which things had changed between Jungkook and me. While she had some knowledge, it seemed there were aspects she remained oblivious to.
"Halemoni, people grow up and grow apart," Jungkook stated, acknowledging the natural evolution of relationships.
"You two may have given up on each other, but I haven't given up on either of you," she affirmed, her belief in the enduring connection evident. "I still believe you two are supposed to be together and more than friends," she added, expressing a sentiment shared by our families, who seemed to have been subtly orchestrating our union for years.
I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that our families had been playfully planning our wedding for years. However, the reality was different from their whimsical visions. Even during our best friend days, Jungkook and I never harbored romantic feelings for each other. Our first kiss, while shared, was more a result of curiosity than genuine romantic interest, a youthful exploration prompted by the curiosity of adolescence.
"Halemoni, there is nothing ever going to happen between us," Jungkook insisted, laughing off the notion of a romantic connection between us.
"Yes, what he said," I agreed, sharing a laugh with Halemoni.
"You two keep telling yourselves that," she chuckled, a knowing twinkle in her eye.
After exchanging a few more laughs, Jungkook went to greet his mom, and we decided to retrieve our belongings from the car, with my dad offering a helping hand. As we headed back inside, a sense of familiarity washed over me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that our time here would unfold much like today.
"The two of you have the rooms at the top of the landing, the ones next to each other, the ones you always used to stay in," Halemoni informed us, directing us to our familiar quarters.
Those rooms held countless memories, but what others didn't know was that half the time, we ended up in the same room. Jungkook would bring his duvet to my room and sleep on the floor because he didn't want me to be alone. It was a testament to the caring and considerate boy he used to be. Now, if he were to sneak into my room, it would likely be for entirely different reasons, I mused with a hint of amusement.
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