inseparable︱𝐉𝐉𝐊 ✓

❥ 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧

꧁‿︵‿︵♥‿︵‿︵꧂

LJ - 10

Summer breaks at our grandparents' house in Jeju were always a highlight of the year. The island was a paradise for kids like us, with beautiful beaches, landscapes, and, of course, Grandma's incredible meals. The moment we arrived, the delicious aroma of her food made my mouth water.

"Jungkook, Jieun, come and eat!" she called out as she placed a steaming plate of kimchi jjigae on the table. We rushed to the kitchen, our stomachs growling.

Soon as we sat down, the bickering began. "That's my piece!" Jungkook protested, grabbing for the largest chunk of pork.

"No way, I saw it first!" I retorted, snatching it from under his fork.

Grandma laughed, shaking her head. "There's plenty for both of you. Eat up, my hungry little beasts."

Grandpa joined us afterwards, carrying a tray of freshly grilled fish. "You two remind me of your father and uncle when they were your age. Always fighting over food as if they'd never eaten before..."

After we filled our plates, Grandpa started telling us stories, a tradition we always looked forward to. This time, he shared tales from his youth, including his time in the Vietnam War. "I was just a young man when I was sent to Vietnam," he began, his eyes taking on a distant look. "It was a difficult time... it taught me a lot about bravery and the importance of family."

We listened intently, our food momentarily forgotten. His stories were always captivating, and Jungkook and I exchanged glances, silently agreeing that our grandfather was one of the bravest people we knew.

Later that day, while exploring the attic, I came across an old photo album. I flipped through the pages, finding pictures of Jungkook's sister, Nari. She had died of leukemia when she was just two years old before I came into their lives. I'd seen photos of her many times before and had asked about her a few times too, but our parents, especially Mom, always became emotional, so I eventually stopped mentioning.

One, in particular, caught my eye. It was of a young Jungkook, around three years old, holding baby Nari. He looked so happy and proud. I felt a pang of sadness for the little girl I never got to meet and for the brother who lost her so young.

That evening, as the sun began to set, Grandma allowed Jungkook and me to walk down to the beach since it was just a 5-minute walk from the house. The sky was painted orange and pink, and the waves gently lapped at the shore. We sat down on the sand, making drawings on it and enjoying the peaceful sound of the ocean.

"Jungkook," I began hesitantly, "can I ask you something?"

He looked up at me. "Sure, what's up?"

"I found some pictures of Nari in the attic," I said softly. "I was wondering... do you remember her?"

Jungkook's expression shifted, and for a moment, I thought he might shut down. But then he took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, I remember her. Not a lot... some things."

I was surprised he was willing to talk about it. "What do you remember?"

He stared out at the ocean, thoughtful. "I remember that she was really small and everything made her smile. Mom and Dad were so happy when she was around... But then she got sick. I didn't understand it at the time. She was in the hospital a lot, and they were always sad. Even though they tried to hide it from me, I saw it." He paused before adding, "I remember the day she... left. Mom was crying a lot, and Dad was holding her. They told me Nari was in heaven now, and she wasn't sick anymore."

We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Do you believe that?" I asked quietly. "That she's in heaven?"

Jungkook shrugged. "I like to think so. I want to believe she's somewhere nice where she can't feel any pain."

I nodded, understanding what he meant.

"What about you? Do you believe in heaven?"

I thought about it for a moment and shrugged. "I'm not sure. I also like to think there's a place where everyone we love goes when they die so we can meet them later. Somewhere they can be happy and watch over us."

Jungkook smiled slightly. "Yeah, that sounds nice."

Talking about death and what happens after, especially for two kids, was a surprisingly deep conversation. We weren't used to discussing such heavy topics. However, at that moment, sitting on the beach with the sun setting and the waves gently crashing, it felt natural to open up.

"Do you miss her?" I asked gently.

"Sometimes. It's weird because I was so young, but I still miss her... thinking what it would be like if she was still here... Would she be annoying, like you? I know I wouldn't survive."

I couldn't react properly to the teasing, the question had lingered. "Do you think she would have liked me?"

"Probably... You're pretty likable when you're not being a brat, which is only an hour a day."

I laughed, but then I pondered aloud, "I wonder if I'd even be here if she were alive. I could've ended up with another family. Who knows if they would've been good or bad parents to me..."

Jungkook was silent for a moment, then said, "Maybe our parents would have adopted you anyway... Or maybe Nari left so you could have a chance to be with us.... Either way, I can't really imagine not having you as a sister anymore."

I felt a lump in my throat, touched by his words. "That's really sweet, Jungkook."

He smirked and stood up, brushing the sand away, the sincerity of the moment fading. "Yeah, don't get used to it. You're still annoying."

We got up and started walking back to the house, our conversation about Nari bringing us closer in a way I hadn't expected. We had our moments, the fights and the arguments, but I knew we had a bond that couldn't be broken. And that made me feel more connected to him than ever before.

A few years later, we went back to Jeju, but this time it wasn't for a summer vacation. It was for Grandpa's funeral. The island felt different, quieter and more solemn. Standing there, among our family, we paid our respects and said our goodbyes. I also found myself thinking about Nari again.

Maybe Grandpa was with her now, wherever that might be. The thought brought a strange sense of peace inside me as we walked back to the house together, just like we had all those years ago.

It was okay. They were in heaven.