“My name is Jeon Jungkook. I’m 28 years old, and by this time everyone goes through a twist in their life — some get a small one, others face a big one. In my case… the twist wasn’t small at all. It was a storm that changed my entire life forever. And now, let me take you back to the start of my story.”
___
“Since childhood, I had been living with my parents and grandparents. But when I turned 10, fate played its cruelest trick on me — my parents died. From that day, my grandparents raised me with all the love they had.
And of course, since I was little, I had been a cute child. Too cute, actually. People would always pull my cheeks and say, ‘awww, so cuteee!’ That innocence, that sweetness, eventually turned into the foundation of my grandmother’s entire business.
She owned a bakery called ‘Light Stick Bakery.’ Bright, cheerful, loved by everyone. It wasn’t just a bakery — it was her empire. We had more branches in Seoul than there are parks, and trust me, that’s saying something. Naturally, I grew up as a baker in her world, and soon I was known not only for my ultimate best cakes and pastries… but also for my face. People said my handsome looks were almost as famous as my baking.
But there was always one problem. I never got a chance to be in a peaceful relationship. Every time I tried, my grandmother would somehow come in between, interfering in ways only she could. Things never worked out. And so here I am — still single, but trying to mingle.”
---
“Omggg yayyyy yayyyy Yeonjin! You see, my baby, how he looks so good even after years!” my grandmother squealed, jumping in her chair like an excited teenager.
Yes, you guessed it right — my grandmother was a die-hard K-pop fan. Her ultimate favorite? TXT (Tomorrow × Together). She had been following them since her young days, and she was especially in love with Yeonjun. To her, he wasn’t just an idol. He was her happiness, her dream, her energy. She always said he kept her young.
Time skipped. My relatives were scattered abroad, all living their own luxurious lives. And me? I was still here in Seoul… stuck in the world of flour, sugar, and ovens, running my grandmother’s bakery.
---
Year 2025
It was a Sunday evening in Seoul.
My grandmother was more excited than I had seen her in years. Why? Because today, her lifelong dream was coming true — she was finally going to attend a TXT concert.
She insisted on bringing everyone along — my grandfather, me, my cousins, all the relatives she could gather. She wanted it to be a family moment, a celebration of her happiness.
And of course, my two partners-in-crime also joined — my best friends, Park Jimin and his boyfriend Min Yoongi.
---
At the Concert
The arena roared. Lights flashed like fireworks, the bass shook the ground, and the stage was alive with energy.
My grandmother? She was in the front row, waving her light stick like a conductor leading her orchestra. Her eyes sparkled with pure devotion, glued to the stage. She screamed with all her heart:
“Yeonjun! You’re the best! This is my life! My happiness!” Jungkook's grandmother screamed cheering loudly.
She jumped, she danced, she looked like she had shed 40 years of age in an instant.
Just then, my cousin's sister came over to me, whispering mischievously in my ear. “I hope you’re all set for your Jeju Island plan. And I hope you won’t be too naughty.”
“What Jeju plan?” Jungkook blinked, suspicious, and turned to look at Jimin and Yoongi.
My cousin ran off to her mother before I could stop her.
“Now what stuff are you both planning?” Jungkook asked, folding my arms.
“Not both,” Jimin smirked, “but us three. We’re going to Jeju to enjoy. Since grandmother’s wish got fulfilled, why not fulfill ours a little too?” jimin gave me a mischievous smile.
“Yeah,” Yoongi added, winking slyly, “I’ve even arranged someone special for you. Hot seven days with him.”
Jungkook laughed and hit him lightly on the chest. “One week? How will my grandmother let me disappear for one whole week?” Jungkook said with a sad tone.
Yoongi was about to reply when suddenly Jungkook’s grandfather appeared, grabbing his arm and pulling him closer to his grandmother.
---
On stage, Yeonjun — her beloved idol — was mid-dance, mid-note. Suddenly, he faltered. A small misstep. His high note cracked. For a brief moment, the choreography stumbled out of rhythm.
The crowd gasped, some cheering louder to cover it up. But my grandfather screamed beside me.
“What happened, Grandfather? Chill, it was just a high note and choreography,” Jungkook said quickly.
But he shook his head and pointed, his face pale. “It’s not the high note… it’s your grandmother.”
His heart dropped.
Jungkook looked — and froze.
Her light stick slipped from her hands, hitting the ground with a clatter. Her body swayed and then collapsed into the arms of a stranger in the crowd.
The camera zoomed in on her face, displaying it on the big screen for everyone to see. Her expression was a mixture of shock, heartbreak, disbelief… and tears streaming down her cheeks.
“No! Grandmother! This can’t be true, it was just a high note he missed — don’t die!” Jungkook screamed as he ran to her.
I knelt beside her, clutching her fragile hand. The camera lingered on her face as a faint smile appeared amidst the shock — as if even in death, her idol had given her the ultimate thrill.
---
Later
As her ashes were being collected, I sat silently, tears burning my eyes, but trying to stay strong.
“It was very odd for me… I had a different feeling when my grandmother died,” Jungkook thought. A strange numbness, unlike the grief I had imagined.
My uncle placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Kook. Don’t cry. It was already written in her fate. Every person’s death is decided even before birth,” he said gently, hugging me before stepping aside.
And I thought to myself: If this is all written, then why should we fear living? My grandmother had lived a long life. From radios to AI, she had seen it all. She had laughed, she had loved, she had truly lived. And that’s when I decided… It was my turn now.
Jimin pulled Jungkook into a hug. He leaned closer and whispered in his ear: “Jeju plan is on.”
His and Yoongi’s eyes widened with surprise. For a second, they almost cheered, but quickly masked their expressions, remembering the solemn atmosphere around us.
---
That Night
I sat beside my grandfather, playing my emotional card carefully.
“Grandfather, now I want to do something in life with my own will and happiness. I’ve been handling Light Stick Bakery since my twenties, but I can’t anymore. I need to live my life in my own style. I can’t maintain it anymore. Grandfather… I want to fly.”
He looked at me with tired but loving eyes. “My Kookie baby… after getting all the property, you are now the decider of your fate. Do whatever you desire. I won’t stop you. But… you have to do one work for me.”
“Work? What is it, Grandfather?” Jungkook asked.
His voice turned soft, emotional. “Your grandmother wanted her ashes to be scattered in the Nakdong River Estuary in Busan. That was her birthplace. And she wanted it to be done by you, only you. This is her last wish.”
Jungkook sighed deeply, his chest heavy with responsibility.
Later, Jungkook went to his room where Jimin and Yoongi were waiting. And explained the new condition to them.
“How will we go? Busan is at the other end, and Jeju is in the opposite direction!” Jimin complained, clearly pissed off.
Yoongi, ever the calm strategist, got up and snatched Jimin’s tablet. “Listen. We can still make this work. Jungkook takes the train to Daegu. Before reaching there, he gets off at Daejeon Station. We’ll wait outside the station with a car. From there, we drive straight to the airport and leave for Jeju.”
“How can we? The ashes are supposed to be dumped in Busan!” Jungkook said, conflicted.
Yoongi smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “I’m sure the water flows towards Busan anyway. Eventually, your grandmother will reach her destination. Think of
it as… nature completing her last wish.”
A mischievous smile formed on Jungkook's lips as well. “Jeju… is on.” Jungkook declared.
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