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┈┈∘┈˃̶ ＳＥＯＮＧＨＷＡ ˂̶┈∘┈┈
FEW MONTHS LATER
The day had finally come. Graduation day. The air was filled with excitement and a touch of bittersweet nostalgia. We all stood dressed in our graduation gowns, the school grounds bustling with students and proud families. The reality of the moment was sinking in—we were about to close this significant chapter of our lives.
As I stood there, adjusting my gown and looking around at my friends who were equally excited and nervous, a familiar figure caught my eye. Hongjoong, with his graduation hat slightly askew and arms full of big bouquets of flowers, came rushing down the school stairs. His bright smile was contagious, and I couldn't help but spread my arms wide in a welcoming gesture, despite the slight restriction of my graduation gown.
Hongjoong slowed his pace as he approached, his laughter filling the air. "Seonghwa!" he called out, his voice brimming with joy. He finally stopped in front of me, his eyes sparkling with happiness.
"Hey, my love," I said softly to Hongjoong as he reached me, his arms laden with the bouquet of flowers. He handed them to me with a bright smile before leaning in to kiss me gently. The warmth of his lips against mine was comforting, grounding me in the moment.
Our tender moment was interrupted by our teacher, who tipped Hongjoong's graduation hat with a playful smile. "No kissing on school grounds," she chided lightly, her tone affectionate. "And look at you all now—our most hard-working Korean students have passed. Now, which universities are you going to?" she asked, handing out flowers to each of us as she moved down the line.
"Well, not to brag, but I'm going to study law—prosecution and lawyer like my father," Hongjoong said with a confident smile. "Seoul National University."
Our teacher's eyes lit up with genuine pride. "That's wonderful, Hongjoong. You have always shown such dedication and intellect. Seoul National University is lucky to have you."
She turned to me, and I felt a rush of pride as I answered. "I'll be at Yonsei University, studying international relations."
Her smile widened. "Seonghwa, that suits you perfectly. You've always been so passionate about connecting with others."
As she continued down the line, asking each of us about our future plans, the sense of accomplishment and excitement among our group was palpable. Wooyoung and San proudly announced their acceptance to Korea University, where they planned to continue their studies together in business and communications.
Yeosang and Jongho, who had always been inseparable, revealed that they would both be attending KAIST, pursuing degrees in computer science and engineering, respectively.
When she reached Mingi and Yunho, they exchanged a glance before Yunho spoke up. "We're both heading to Hanyang University. I'll be studying performing arts, and Mingi is going into film production."
