Moon nights - a summer romance in Seoul

Chapter 42: Epilogue

No matter how dark this road ahead of you might seem
Remember that even the smallest spark of light
Can and will light up the path for you

__________________________________

It's finally over.
My academic journey has come to an end.

No more setting a timer to cry my frustration out before returning to studying in exam season, which I always declared the ultimate college experience. But only towards my roommates or classmates. It was less funny when you were the one sobbing your frustration out in utter silence. In the university facilities' library.

No more midnight sneak-outs to grab ice cream from the small convenience store down the street. I think the owner, Mustafa Abi, closed after midnight because he knew that one of the many students living in one of the dormitories around the block would grab a fancy snack.

No more movie nights with my roommates and Tala, squealing over romantic love confessions written by women.

Somehow, it felt like we had to become adults now... was I supposed to mourn my last young days? Would the adult life suddenly become a new normality, or will I grow older by age and stay a kid at heart?

Perhaps adults are great actors who act like they know everything and have their whole life together. When in reality, they don't. And children are just too kind-hearted to see that.

My belongings were already back home in Izmir. Or should I call it my childhood home? As a new chapter in England was awaiting me. And Jonghyun.

Who's currently busy drawing my eyeliner on as I'm sitting on his lap.

"Ayla, my love, hold still", he mumbled.
"I am still" I shot back at him before I tried to keep my eyes closed without them fluttering, fighting to be open again.

He only chuckled and placed his hand further up my cheek to support himself while drawing the eyeliner.

"Now I know why you told me to apply the base makeup afterwards."
"See? You assumed I wanted to ruin your makeup with rather filthy thoughts than just me doing your eye makeup."

"And would you have?" I asked him and opened my eyes. Staring into the brown pair of sweetness just inches away from me.

"Ayla Duman, are you really asking me if I would have fucked you right before your graduation ceremony?" an amused grin spread across his lips.

Before I could reply, he pressed a soft kiss onto my lips:

"No, and yes. No, because you would have ripped my head off if I ruined your makeup and made you late for your graduation ceremony. Yes, if you had asked me nicely enough. I'd gladly fulfilled your wish."
He whispered into the kiss.

"I hate you", I said and scrunched my nose in annoyance, unfazed by his words.
Alright, that might be wrong. My skin was undoubtedly warmer, and I'd love nothing more to see the stars with his guidance-

"I love you too, my little moon. But I have to finish your eyeliner first before you devour me" he pulled away from me with his infamous grin and replaced the eyeliner in his tattooed hand with the eye glitter he picked out.

Asking Jonghyun to do my make-up for my graduation ceremony was a playful joke that had turned into reality. Which I was divided between excited and terrified of its result. I know that he knew more make-up hacks than me as he was the professional model and worked together with countless hair and make-up stylists. But our facial structures were different. And doing someone else's makeup was always more challenging than beating your own face. But what was the worst that could happen?