The sunlight poured into Bora’s room, filtering through the sheer curtains as she stirred awake. The room, her favorite in the house, offered a breathtaking view of the sea. She stretched, her eyes fluttering open, and with the enthusiasm of a child, she jumped out of bed, heading straight for the balcony.
As soon as she stepped outside, a smile spread across her face.
"This is so beautiful!" she whispered to herself, her eyes taking in the sight. The sun was slowly rising, casting a golden glow over the sea. The waves rhythmically crashed against the shore, glittering under the early light. Birds cawed in the distance, completing the perfect morning picture. Bora felt at peace, soaking it all in.
Her serene moment was interrupted by a soft knock at the door.
"I'm coming in," her grandma, Yoo Jin, announced before stepping into the room.
Bora smiled, turning around, but instead of greeting her immediately, she sat down on the bed, wrapping her arms around her knees, gazing back toward the sea.
"You're up already?" Grandma asked, a trace of surprise in her voice. "You're like your dad. A perfectionist!"
Bora chuckled softly, her voice still carrying the warmth of sleep. "I always wake up early, so it’s like a habit now."
"Your dad was exactly like you at your age," grandma said with a nostalgic smile, her gaze drifting as if remembering something far away. "He used to rebel, do everything he wanted without a care for the world or the people in it."
Just then, her father, Jung Kook, appeared at the door. "Are you guys talking about me?"
Bora looked at her father with curiosity. "Grandma was telling me about your teenage years."
Jung Kook stood still for a moment, his eyes slightly unfocused, as though his mind had drifted somewhere else. As if he was in a trance. As if he has time travelled.
"Dad?" Bora called, sensing his distraction.
Yoo Jin glanced at her son. "What’s the matter?"
Jung Kook snapped back to the present, blinking quickly. "Huh? Yeah, right... I just... remembered something."
He quickly changed the subject. "I came to get you for a jog. You’re late today!"
Bora raised an eyebrow, amused. "So are you!"
Yoo Jin, still standing by the door, let out a laugh. "6:00 a.m. is considered late for you two? Unbelievable!"
Bora smiled, getting up from the bed. "We go jogging together at 5:00 a.m. every day. So yeah, we’re late by our standards."
"Vacations are no excuse for skipping workouts," Jung Kook said, clapping his hands lightly. "Come on, get ready."
"Give me a minute!" Bora replied, rushing to change into her tracksuit.
A few minutes later, father and daughter were running through the forest behind their house, the air crisp and the scent of the sea following them. After an energizing jog, they decided to slow down and walk back, catching their breath.
As they neared the beach, Bora stopped, looking out at the calm sea. "Hey Dad, let’s sit here for a while. The sun looks pretty."
Jung Kook nodded, and they both sat on the soft sand, gazing at the horizon. The waves whispered quietly, the morning still young.
"Did you used to live in this house when you were young?" Bora asked, curiosity in her voice.
Jung Kook smiled, nodding. "Yeah. It’s Jin Hyung’s dad’s house. Your grandma loved him, and they bought this place together. They wanted to live here forever, but..." His voice trailed off, his smile fading for a brief moment. "Things didn’t work out as they hoped, so Mom stayed here alone. She never left."
Bora’s eyes widened with awe. "So, you spent your childhood in this beautiful place? Wow!"
Jung Kook laughed softly. "Yup. Not like your city life," he teased, ruffling her hair.
Bora glared playfully at him. "Hey!"
Jung Kook chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. "I love you, kid. I hope you know that."
Bora blinked, taken aback by the sudden sentiment. "What’s with the sudden 'I love you'?" she asked, squinting at him. "Do you want something? Wait... don’t tell me you did something behind Mom’s back."
She gasped dramatically. "I gotta tell Mom!"
Jung Kook laughed, lightly smacking her on the head. "Shut it, brat."
"Now that’s more like it." Bora grinned.
Just as they were about to settle into the moment, they heard a familiar voice from the house.
"Hello!" Nara, Bora’s mother, was shouting from the porch. "You guys! It’s breakfast time!"
Jung Kook squinted at the house, pretending not to hear. "What’s she saying?"
Bora stifled a giggle. "I don’t know, maybe she wants something."
"Or she wants to make us do chores," Jung Kook added mischievously.
Nara, growing impatient, finally called Jung Kook on the phone. "YAH! I’ve been yelling for you to come inside for breakfast!" she scolded.
Jung Kook laughed into the phone. "You should’ve just called instead of shouting!"
"Just come inside!" Nara hung up, exasperated.
Jung Kook and Bora burst into laughter.
"You like teasing her, don’t you?" Bora asked, shaking her head.
"You like it too," Jung Kook retorted.
"Yeah, kinda true." She smiled.
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They headed back to the house, where Nara was waiting with her hands on her hips. "Oh gosh, you two stink!" she exclaimed. "Go take a shower. Quick! Everyone’s waiting for you."
"We can just eat later," Bora said casually, until she caught Nara’s deadly stare. "Or... I’ll be quicker than a heartbeat!" she added, darting off to the bathroom.
A little while later, clean and refreshed, Bora and her father finally made it to the dining table.
"At last!" Woon Hak, her older brother, groaned dramatically. "I was about to pass out from hunger waiting for you guys."
"Sit down and eat!" Seok Jin, their uncle, scolded with mock seriousness. "We’ve been waiting for you two brats."
They all laughed as the chaos of breakfast began, the warmth of family filling the room.
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Later in the day, with everyone busy, Bora turned to her brother. "Oppa, should we go to the beach? I’m bored."
Woon Hak, lounging on the couch, perked up. "Let’s go swimming!"
"Mom, we’re going to the beach!" Bora shouted as they grabbed their towels.
"Okay, but be careful," Nara called back.
They dashed toward the water, the sun now higher in the sky. After playing in the waves for a while, Bora noticed someone sitting alone on the sand a little way down the beach.
"Oppa!" Bora tugged at her brother’s arm. "There’s someone over there. Let’s go talk to him."
"Sure," Woon Hak agreed, and they ran toward the person.
"Hi there!" Bora called out, her voice cheerful.
The person turned around slowly, revealing a familiar face, though it was unexpected.
"Who?" they asked, their voice low and slightly distant.
Bora and Woon Hak stood still, waiting for the mystery to unfold.
