judge me once, love me twice | 2yeon

epilogue + ment: 22 | you didn't forget, right?

2 months later

Nayeon walks up to the stage, taking her diploma in her hand, and smiling for the cameras.

So this is what it feels like to graduate, she smiles to herself as she walks off the stage.

The February air is rough, and it feels like rubbing alcohol on a wound.

"Congrats, unnie! You'll finally be leaving this hellhole." Chaeyoung slaps Nayeon's back. "I've still got two more years." She pouts and turns to Sana, who's holding flowers for the newly graduated girl.

"You'll be leaving me here with Momo! You can't do this to me." Sana teases, looking at Momo's frowning face. "I'm kidding-love you, Momoring!"

Momo doesn't answer (being annoyed), and looks around to find Mina. "Hey, guys. Where's Minari?"

Dahyun furrows her eyebrows. "Why are you asking us? She's literally your girlfriend."

Momo rolls her eyes and glances everywhere. "I'm being serious, guys. She was here a second ago. She just disappeared."

"At least we're not crying this time." Tzuyu deadpans, referring back to when Jeongyeon had left.

The group becomes silent and doesn't bother to say anything. It's only been two months, but it still hurts them.

At this point in the stages of grief, they've been saying they're in acceptance, but in reality, they're still in denial.

"Hey, cheer up. At least we still have each other." Nayeon attempts to lift the mood, and the girls know they have to act happy.

Nayeon was affected the most, after all.

"Besides, people come and go. For example, me. You won't be seeing my beautiful face in the corridors anymore."

This causes her to receive several punches in the arm from the girls, who are tired of her constant joking narcissistic nature.

Nayeon gives a faint smile and sighs, letting out a breath of air. "I have no idea what I'm gonna do next, to be honest."

"If you ever need advice, we're always here to help you choose your future plans."

"Thanks, you guys." Nayeon brings them all in for a hug, which feels like the last time it'll ever be like this.

She wants to take it all in while she can.

Because you never know when it'll all go away.

"Wow, I'm feeling so nostalgic right now." Nayeon laughs as the hug finally ends, and she wipes a stray tear from her eye.

"Speaking of nostalgic, I miss playing volleyball with you." Momo tells her. "You stopped playing after...you know."

Nayeon knows, and she feels bad for just leaving the team like that.

"Yeah, sorry about that. You know what? There are five of us. We can play volleyball today, like one last match before I leave. Three vs Two."

They all nod, and Nayeon tells them to meet her at the gym, where she'll get everything ready.

Nayeon takes off her graduation gown whilst entering the gym, which has her casual clothes underneath, perfect for the occasion.

As she walks over to the storage room, she hears two familiar voices talking. But it can't be. Can it?

She rushes in, and drops to the floor when she sees who's talking to Mina.

"Jeongyeon-"

"Nayeon." The younger girl opens her eyes wide, looking back and forth from her to Mina. "I didn't think-"