Final Puzzle Piece || SKZ 9th Member

I.N X KALA (INLA)

Yang Jeongin & Ryu Kala (InLa): siblings who bicker a lot but love each other a lot

「 ✦ HOW THEY MET ✦ 」

ಇ. After their first introduction, Jeongin and Kala weren't really close back then. They were friends, they would talk casually without being awkward, but they weren't yet at the point where he could play around and joke around freely with her

ಇ. Jeongin was kind of glad when he knew Kala would take the maknae role instead of him, because being a middle child, he got used to being a younger and older sibling at the same time

ಇ. However, after being the youngest of the group for a while and his siblings at home are all boys, Jeongin was a bit taken off guard when he was given a little sister. It was a little awkward in the beginning not gonna lie

ಇ. Don't worry tho everyone, they weren't in the awkward state for so long. They just need to spend more time together and they are good to go

ಇ. They were bonding through vocal practices. Along with Seungmin, they were sharing what they knew about singing so they could improve together

ಇ. Even though Kala is younger, Jeongin always listened to her advice and accepted her critiques really well

ಇ. They also became close because Jeongin often acted as the third party in the awkward saga of Hyunjin and Kala. If Kala had something to say to Hyunjin, she would tell Jeongin first, then he would tell Hyunjin, and vice versa

ಇ. At one point, they were comfortable enough with each other that they started bickering and arguing without feeling reluctant anymore

ಇ. Because their age gap isn't too far compared to the other members, it just feels right to bicker over small things like foods, clothes, car seat, mint chocolate or matcha, who has a higher pitch dolphin sound, which comes first the chicken or the egg, and more unimportant stuff

ಇ. Even so, they love each other undoubtedly

ಇ. When Kala cried on Minho and Felix's elimination, Jeongin was the first person who hugged her and cried with her

ಇ. Jeongin knew he wasn't good at comforting people with wise words, but he promised himself if Kala needed a good cry, he'd be there to do it with her so she wouldn't feel alone

「 ✦ FACTS ABOUT THEM ✦ 」

ಇ. To this day, this duo maknaes still like to fight here and there
ಇ. The members are fed up with having to separate them both and had enough of it, so they just let them be
ಇ. As long as they are not killing each other then it still counts as a normal day
ಇ. Because minutes later after they bicker, they will most likely cuddle up on the couch while monitoring their performance video and throwing compliments to each other
ಇ. They are a literal definition of frenemies. Sometimes it's funny listening to their argument that it became entertainment for the older members
ಇ. It's a rare event to see Kala being rude to someone, but with Jeongin, she lets out all of her side

ಇ. Even when they bicker a lot, these two are soulmates
ಇ. They always have something fun to do when they're together
ಇ. When one of them is missing, the other one will ask the members where he/she is and search for them afterward
ಇ. They will feel empty if one of them is not around, so don't try to separate them for whatever reason or they'll die of boredom

ಇ. Kala really likes it when Jeongin sings Trot
ಇ. She always wants to do it but is never really good at it, so she asks him to sing for her instead whenever she has an opportunity to make him do it
ಇ. And Jeongin just admires Kala's voice as a whole
ಇ. He thinks she has a soothing voice that makes everyone who hears it instantly feel relaxed and comfortable

ಇ. 'Maknae on Top' is their song. They sing it along with Chan and Changbin
ಇ. Both of them were having so much fun making this song and filming the MV
ಇ. It became their anthem and was played when they were going live together as the opening and closing song
ಇ. If you want to summon them, just play 'Maknae on Top' and they're already behind you like those shits from horror movies

ಇ. These two often go out together for a meal because they have similar tastes in food, except mint chocolate and matcha
ಇ. That's why they'll easily argue over food and who gets the last piece of Felix's brownies
ಇ. When Jeongin got his driver's license, there's no stopping them from doing culinary traveling
ಇ. They literally try every single restaurant in South Korea, especially the ones that STAY recommended them

ಇ. Despite going to different schools, Jeongin and Kala helped each other with homework and woke each other up in the morning
ಇ. They graduated in the same year because Jeongin took a year off of school, so they were basically in the same grade
ಇ. They attended each other's graduation and had jjajangmyeon after just the two of them due to the pandemic situation
ಇ. Even though the other members couldn't make it to their graduation, they threw some little party at the dorm for their two maknaes

ಇ. Jeongin's pre-debut promise to always cry with Kala is still valid until now
ಇ. Every time Kala cries, he'll be there before she knows it, even if he doesn't know the reason why she's crying
ಇ. They usually cry together over sad movies or dramas. There was one time when they watched 'Avengers: End Game' in the theatre and bawled their eyes out after it was over
ಇ. Or that time when they got their first win, they cried like a baby while hugging each other
ಇ. At this point, the members call them crybaby partners