“Dad?” Bora whispered, looking at Niki, her heart pounding.
“Dad?” Niki echoed, locking eyes with her. The word hung between them, a shared shock neither of them could shake.
Bora blinked and took a step closer to the photo. “Wait… is that your dad?” She pointed to the man standing next to her father in the picture.
Niki nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah… I think they were friends.”
Bora’s mind raced as she took in the photograph, the two men laughing, their arms slung around each other’s shoulders. “You found a diary, right? Let’s read it.”
They sat on the floor, side by side, hearts thudding with curiosity and disbelief. Niki pulled out the old diary he had found earlier, his fingers trembling slightly as he opened it to the first page. There, tucked between the pages, was a Polaroid—a candid photo of Taehyung holding a bouquet of sunflowers. He was mid-turn, as if someone had called his name just as the camera clicked.
Niki smiled softly. “See, that’s my dad. Isn’t he handsome?”
Bora looked at the photo and laughed lightly. “Yeah, no cap, he is. If he were my age, I’d definitely marry him.”
Niki’s playful expression faltered, and his heart sank. Of course, he had a crush on Bora, and hearing her say something like that—especially about his dad—cut deeper than he wanted to admit. Still, he tried to play it cool, his voice dripping with mock hurt. “Are you serious right now? You’re simping on my dad *in front of me*?” He clutched his chest dramatically, feigning heartbreak.
Bora rolled her eyes, pushing him lightly. “Get over yourself.” But there was a hint of a smile as she turned her attention back to the diary.
They began to read together.
---
**3rd May 2001**
*Dear Diary,
I always write during the summer vacation. That’s when life gets interesting, and this year… it’s been fascinating.
A new family just moved into the house beside mine. They have a son my age, and we’ve crossed paths a few times, just exchanging hellos. He’s cool, you know? His name is Jeon Jungkook. He hangs out with us sometimes because his parents are friends with Nara’s family. He’s good at everything—working out on the beach every morning, like it’s nothing.
But today, something crazy happened. I was at Jimin’s house playing games when Nara came over… with Jungkook.*
---
Bora stopped reading, her eyes widening. “Wait a minute… Nara? And Jimin?”
Niki glanced at her, equally confused. “Jimin? Like… the Jimin we know?”
Bora furrowed her brow. “It has to be. But… Nara, that’s my mom.”
Niki gasped, looking at Bora in disbelief. “*Your* mom? What the heck? She knew them all along?”
“I’m calling Jimin,” Bora said suddenly, standing up with determination in her eyes. “I don’t care—I need answers.”
Niki nodded, the suspense eating at him. “Please, this is killing me.”
Bora quickly dialed Jimin’s number, the phone pressed to her ear as she paced the room. The line connected almost instantly.
“Hello, sweetheart?” Jimin’s voice was warm and familiar on the other end.
“Jimin-uncle, can you come to Niki’s place? Like, right now?” There was an urgency in Bora’s voice that made Jimin hesitate.
“Right now? Is everything okay?” he asked, concern creeping in.
“Please, just come. We need you here,” she insisted.
Jimin didn’t push for details. “Alright, I’ll be there in a minute.”
As soon as Bora hung up, Niki turned to her. “Are you sure we shouldn’t ask your mom, too?”
Bora shook her head vigorously. “No! Are you insane? If she wanted me to know, she would’ve told me a long time ago. This is something she’s kept secret for years.”
Niki nodded, realization dawning on him. “Right… point taken.”
---
Minutes later, the front door swung open and Jimin called out from the living room. “Bora! Niki!”
Bora rushed downstairs, grabbing Jimin’s hand and dragging him toward the secret room. “You need to see this.”
Jimin’s face twisted with confusion, but he followed without protest. As they entered the hidden room, Jimin’s eyes widened in shock, his breath catching in his throat. “Holy—” He trailed off, taking in the walls covered with memories, the artifacts of their past.
Niki didn’t waste time. “Were you friends with our dads?” His voice trembled with the weight of the question.
Jimin let out a long sigh, shoulders slumping. “*Was*… I was friends with them. I don’t know about now. But yes, Tae and Jungkook were my best friends. Nara too,” he added, glancing at Bora with a knowing look.
Bora’s voice was quiet but firm. “What happened? Why didn’t you tell us?”
Jimin hesitated, his gaze falling to the floor. “It’s a long story…”
Bora thrust the diary toward him. “What is this?” Her voice cracked with emotion.
Jimin’s eyes widened as he took the journal from her hands. “This… this is Tae’s diary.” He turned the pages slowly, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. “I remember this day.”
Niki leaned forward, his heart racing. “Please, Jimin-uncle, we need to know. What happened between all of you? Why was this kept a secret?”
Jimin read the entry again, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “That day… when Tae was at my house, playing video games…” He trailed off, his mind slipping back in time.
The room fell silent as Bora and Niki waited, breathless. Whatever Jimin was about to say would change everything they thought they knew about their parents, about their past—and possibly, about themselves.
Jimin looked up, his eyes heavy with the weight of old memories. “You’re right. It’s time you knew everything.”
---
The air in the room felt charged with anticipation, as the story of Taehyung, Jungkook, Nara, and Jimin—four inseparable friends—was about to be brought back to life.
