Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 17

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As always, time seemed to fly by faster than she could keep up with. Graduation was now just a week away, and the thought of returning to Korea filled her with a mix of excitement and nostalgia. Only one more week, and she'd finally be back home.

Her brother Dohwa was set to arrive in just a few hours, and while the original plan was to stay at their grandmother's, he had insisted on booking a hotel instead.

Today was also the day of her final credential exam, which was why she had forced herself out of bed at an ungodly hour. The night before had been a blur of endless studying, leaving her with barely two hours of sleep. But it was the last exam, and the thought of being free from the hospital for the next few months was a comforting reward.

Today's exam wasn't as brutal as the ones they'd been tortured with over the past few weeks. The senior doctors and residents had a reputation for making the exams particularly grueling, and she was grateful for having made a good impression on them during her rounds.

Unlike Sophia, who was always late despite being a top student, Sarang had managed to stay on their good side—a crucial feat, given how miserable life could be if you ended up in their bad books.

With a groggy Sophia still buried under the covers, Sarang shoved her out of bed. "At least go early for the last day," she muttered, trying to stifle a yawn. The mere thought of being done with all this and heading back to Korea was enough to put a spark in her step.

She missed everything—her parents, her mother's cooking, and the simple comfort of home. Although her parents had moved to a bigger villa, she still longed for Korea. Her grandmother would be left behind in America, and that thought tugged at her heart. They had been trying to convince her to return to Korea with them, at least for a few months. Sarang didn't want her to be lonely, especially since she had been a constant source of comfort and support.

Even though Sarang lived in the dorms, she visited her grandmother almost every weekend. Their bond had grown deeper over the years; her grandmother had become her best friend. Sarang shared everything with her—from the trivial to the profound.

Whenever school drained her, it was her grandmother she ran to, where she would cry, rant, and be comforted by her grandmother's warm hugs and favorite dishes. She would tuck Sarang into bed until she drifted off, exhausted yet content.

This morning, they microwaved their packaged breakfast and ate it in silence, still too sleepy to muster much conversation. The cafeteria was out of the question—it would take ages, and they couldn't afford to be late.

Arriving at the hospital early, they did their rounds under the scrutinizing gaze of the doctors and residents. Standing for hours while being evaluated was exhausting, but finally, it was over. As they walked out of the hospital, Sarang and Sophia practically skipped with excitement, hugging and saying their goodbyes to classmates they might never see again.

Back at the dorm, they both collapsed onto Sarang's bed in exhaustion.

It was then that Sophia broke down, tears streaming down her face.

Sarang was instantly worried. "What's wrong?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Sophia smiled through her tears, "We've been together for seven years, inseparable every day. But now, you're leaving for Korea. I'm so happy for you, but I'm not ready to part ways."

Sarang's heart ached at her friend's words, but she quickly tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, who said we're parting ways? I'm not leaving you behind. I'll definitely come back. Besides, we can visit each other—it's not like one of us is dying," she said, nudging Sophia playfully.

Just as they were sharing this sentimental moment, their dorm room door burst open. Karina and Lilly, two of their friends, barged in, and upon seeing the state of Sarang and Sophia, they immediately jumped onto the bed, joining in the emotional embrace.

Karina and Lilly were still fourth-year students and would remain at the university for a few more years, adding another layer of bittersweetness to the farewell.

Karina broke the tension, asking, "Have you guys started packing?"

Sophia shook her head, "We'll start today or tomorrow."

"I need to finish packing by tomorrow," Sarang added, "I won't have much time this week, especially with Dohwa arriving in a few hours."

At the mention of Dohwa, the girls couldn't help but giggle. They had all harbored crushes on him at one point or another. Sarang rolled her eyes, "Oh, come on, guys. Ewwww."

Changing the subject, she asked Sophia, "Did you get that dress you were dying to have for graduation?"

Sophia widened her eyes, "It's still out of stock! I'll have to look for it in the stores myself. I don't trust online shopping for something this important."

"Perfect, we'll go together. You know I still haven't prepared anything, right?" Sarang confessed.

Her friends sighed in exasperation, but Sarang was unbothered. "Relax, girls. I've got all the time in the world now. Don't worry I will find something immediately"

Most of their classmates had been preparing for graduation months in advance, but Sarang had been too focused on finishing her schoolwork to worry about it.

That day, instead of packing, they decided to blow off some steam at a senior goodbye party—a rare event for Sarang, who typically avoided parties. But that night was different. They all dolled up, another rarity for Sarang, and headed out.

The party was everything they needed—a final hurrah with their friends. They stayed out late, drinking, playing games, and dancing like there was no tomorrow.

Despite the lively atmosphere, Sarang remained somewhat reserved, nursing a drink by the bar and watching her friends have the time of their lives.

It was then that a guy approached her, his presence catching her off guard.

Her breath hitched when she saw his face. He looked so much like Sunghoon—his features, pale skin, hair, even his height. She stared at him, stunned into silence.

"Hello, why are you by yourself?" he asked, breaking her trance.

Sarang struggled to find her voice but eventually managed, "Oh, I'm not...my friends...they're over there." She gestured vaguely, still unable to take her eyes off him.

The guy smiled; his expression eerily familiar. "That's good. I'll keep you company then. I'm Eunseok."

Her heart ached as she watched him smile. It was almost identical to Sunghoon's. Pushing the thoughts aside, she introduced herself, "I'm Sarang."

For the next few hours, they talked, drank, and laughed. Eunseok was an exchange student in computer science, invited to the party by some friends.

He was fun and easy to talk to, and Sarang found herself enjoying his company, though she wasn't interested in pursuing anything romantic. Eunseok, on the other hand, seemed to have different intentions.

When it was time to leave, she exchanged numbers with him, an act that felt both unusual and strangely natural.

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