inseparable︱𝐉𝐉𝐊

❥ 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬

꧁‿︵‿︵♥‿︵‿︵꧂

JJ - 17

School felt different these days. I noticed it the moment I stepped through the gates, and it was all because of my sister. She was getting more attention than ever, and it was driving me nuts. Guys who never paid her any attention were suddenly noticing her, and it bugged me more than I wanted to admit because now there were fake friends trying to do me favors just for the sake of me granting them her number, which I never did.

Jieun had always been popular. But now, it was like a spotlight had been turned on her, and not just because of her personality. People were noticing her appearance more... especially her body. She had grown up over the summer, and her transformation hadn't gone unnoticed.

I found myself watching her too, though I wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because we lived together, and I was used to seeing her as just Jieun. Now, she was turning heads all around me. I saw it in the hallways, in the cafeteria, during gym class. The way their eyes lingered on her, the whispered comments that followed her as she walked by. It made my stomach twist in a way I didn't understand.

I dismissed the thought quickly whenever it surfaced. We were siblings, nothing more. I was just being a good brother, looking out for her.

That's what I told myself, though the incident that happened during summer could easily say otherwise.

The sun was frying me up that one day, and the smell of grilled meat was hitting my nostrils so hard I could barely breathe. My family had gathered for a summer BBQ at our uncle's house. The pool was calling me out for a swim, and everyone was either lounging around or splashing in the water. I was sitting on a lawn chair, scrolling through my phone because I so did not want to participate in any activity that required me getting up.

"Jungkook! Can you go check on your sister?" Mom called out from the grill. "She's taking forever to come down and help."

I waited about three times for her to call me again before I groaned inwardly, annoyed that I had, once again, to play the errand boy. "I'm on it..." I muttered, shoving my phone into my shorts pocket.

Dragging myself up the stairs, I headed to the room Jieun and I were sharing. I pushed it open and stepped inside, ready to yell at her to hurry up. "Jieun, come on! Mom's waiting for y—" I stopped mid-sentence, my eyes widening.

Jieun was standing in front of the mirror inside the smallest black and white bikini set I've ever seen, struggling to fasten the straps of the top. She turned around quickly, looking a bit flustered. "Oh, hey. Sorry, I'm having trouble closing this. Can you help me?"

I was too stunned to respond right away. I had seen her in pieces like that many times before, but something about this one... about this moment felt unusual. I swallowed hard, not understanding why I suddenly felt awkward. "Uh, yeah. Sure."

When I entered the room, she turned her back to me, holding her long hair up so I could see the clasp. My hands shook a little as I fumbled with the bikini straps, finally securing them.

"Thanks," she said, turning to face me with a relieved smile. "I didn't mean to take so long. I just wanted to make sure it fit right. Do you think this bikini is nice?"

Somehow, my brain short-circuited, so I only nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

"I wasn't sure about the color, though," she titled in her head, looking from all sides in the mirror. "But I think it's okay, right?"

I fought really hard the urge to look her up and down, my eyes fixed firmly on her face. "Can we go now? Mom's gonna kill us if we don't get down there soon."

Jieun grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself. "Alright, let's go."

For days, I asked myself why I had reacted like that. She was my sister, for crying out loud. I had seen her in swimsuits and bikinis plenty of times, so why was this different? It was like I was seeing her for the first time, and it confused the hell out of me. Was I just being overprotective? Was it normal to feel this way? I didn't have any answers, and it was winding me up. All I knew was that things felt different, and I wasn't sure how to deal with it.

So when we returned home, I hoped it would go away.

I was wrong.

One afternoon, after school, I was heading to my room when I noticed her door slightly ajar. I paused, curiosity getting the better of me. Inside, Jieun was laying on her bed, still in her school uniform, chatting on the phone. She looked so relaxed, so natural. Her laughter was soft, melodic, and it drew me in for some reason.

I knew I shouldn't stare, but I couldn't help myself. The way her skirt rode up just a little, exposing her le—I immediately blinked, shaking my head. What was I doing? This was Jieun!

I seriously needed to get a grip.

Suddenly, she turned her head as if sensing my presence. My heart jumped to my throat, and I considered bolting, but it was too late. Jieun had stood up and walked to the door, opening it fully. She looked at me, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

For a moment, I couldn't find my voice. I was nervous, but I didn't want her to see that. I forced a smirk, trying to play it cool. "Nothing's wrong. Just wondering why you're talking so loud on the phone. Didn't know you could gossip that much."

Jieun rolled her eyes. "Can't you stop this disgusting habit of listening behind my door? Next time, just knock if you need something instead of creeping around."

I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Whatever you say, gossip queen."

As I walked away, I heard her shutting the door, but could still feel my heart thumping. What was that all about? I had to compose myself.

Fast.

Days passed, and the feeling stayed. I tried to push it aside, focusing on my studies and my friends, but every time I saw her, it was there, eating me. I watched as more guys approached her, as she laughed and chatted with them. I told myself it didn't matter, that it was just part of growing up.

Deep down, I knew it was more than that.