Three Bodies, One Soul
Busan felt different during winter.
The streets became quieter, rooftops disappeared under snow, and the little convenience store near their house started selling warm sweet potatoes outside. Every year, Jungkook insisted on buying them even though he hated the taste.
"You only eat two bites," Jin complained.
"I like holding them."
"That's stupid."
Jimin snatched the sweet potato from Jungkook's hands and took a bite himself.
"Problem solved."
"Yah!"
The three cousins grew up like that—always loud, always together.
Park Jimin.
Kim Seokjin.
Jeon Jungkook.
Their grandparents' house sat near the edge of the neighborhood, old and slightly crooked, with wooden floors that creaked whenever someone walked too fast. The backyard had one giant tree where Jungkook once tried building a treehouse and nearly broke his arm.
Jimin laughed for three straight days after that.
Jungkook followed Jimin everywhere growing up.
It honestly became a family problem.
If Jimin skipped class, Jungkook suddenly felt "sick" too.
If Jimin wanted a leather jacket, Jungkook wanted the exact same one.
"Kookie, stop copying me," Jimin complained one afternoon while fixing his bike outside.
Jungkook grinned.
"You're cool."
"You need better standards."
Meanwhile Jin sat nearby trying to study while completely ignoring them.
At least pretending to.
"Both of you are impossible," he sighed after Jimin almost dropped a wrench on his foot.
But even while complaining, Jin always looked after them.
Made sure Jungkook ate properly.
Covered for Jimin when he got into trouble.
Walked both of them home after late-night outings while acting annoyed the entire time.
One summer evening, the three of them sat on the rooftop eating ramen straight from the pot because nobody wanted to wash extra dishes.
Jungkook stared up at the sky quietly.
"What if we stop talking when we grow up?"
Jimin looked horrified immediately.
"Why would that happen?"
"I don't know. Adults always drift apart."
Jin reached over and flicked Jungkook's forehead.
"You think too much."
Still, Jimin held out his pinky dramatically.
"We stay together forever."
Jungkook smiled instantly and linked their fingers.
Jin rolled his eyes so hard it almost looked painful.
But after a few seconds, he joined them anyway.
At sixteen, promises felt easy.
None of them knew how much Seoul would change things.
