Moonstruck | LHS

0.3

A week later

A New Beginning: Heeseung's Graduation Day

The day had arrived. The air was thick with excitement, pride, and bittersweet emotions as the university campus buzzed with activity. Today was graduation day, and the large auditorium was filled with students in their caps and gowns, ready to walk across the stage and take their first steps into the next chapter of their lives.

Jiah stood at the back of the crowd with Moka, Sunoo, and Jungwon, all of them still in their junior year. They weren't graduating yet, but today wasn't just about Heeseung. Their friends, Shana and Sioh, were also graduating, and Jiah was ready to celebrate each one of them.

"I can't believe they're all done," Sunoo said, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and sadness. "It feels like just yesterday we were all freshmen trying to find our way around campus."

Jiah smiled at him, though her heart was heavy with its own emotions. "Yeah, time flew by so fast."

Jungwon, who stood beside them, adjusted his glasses and added, "It's going to be weird next year without them around. The campus will feel empty."

Moka, ever the optimist, nudged Jiah playfully. "We'll hold down the fort. Besides, we've got one more year to make even more memories."

Jiah smiled at Moka's positivity but couldn't shake the sense of unease that had been building up inside her. Ever since Heeseung told her about his upcoming graduation, she'd felt like time was slipping away. She was incredibly proud of him—of Shana and Sioh too—but the uncertainty of what came next was gnawing at her.

As the ceremony came to an end, the graduates began streaming out of the auditorium, caps still on, smiles wide. Jiah spotted Heeseung immediately. His cap was slightly crooked, and his gown fluttered in the breeze as he laughed with his friends, Jay and Sunghoon. Shana and Sioh were not far behind, chatting animatedly, their excitement contagious.

"There they are!" Sunoo pointed, waving wildly to get Ni-ki's attention, while Jungwon and Moka joined in, their cheers rising above the crowd.

Jiah felt her heart swell with pride as she watched Heeseung walk toward her. His smile was bright, his eyes filled with joy, but there was a tenderness there as well, a knowing look he reserved just for her. When he finally reached her, he pulled her into a tight hug.

"We did it!" Heeseung said, his voice warm and full of energy.

Jiah hugged him back, her heart racing. "You did it," she whispered, pulling away just enough to look into his eyes. "I'm so proud of you."

"Congrats!" Moka chimed in, hugging Heeseung and then turning to Shana and Sioh with equal enthusiasm. "You guys are incredible!"

Sunoo and Jungwon followed suit, congratulating their friends with wide smiles and playful banter. "I still can't believe you're all graduating," Sunoo said, his tone a mix of disbelief and awe. "What am I going to do without Ni-ki on campus?"

"You'll survive," Ni-ki teased, pulling Sunoo close. "And I'll still be around, just busier with work."

Sioh smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We'll still visit! It's not like we're disappearing completely."

Shana nodded, hugging Jungwon tightly. "We'll always make time for each other. Graduation doesn't change that."

Amid the celebrations, Heeseung caught Jiah's hand, gently tugging her away from the group. "Hey, can we talk for a minute?" he asked softly, his voice quieter now, more serious.

Jiah nodded, letting him lead her to a quieter spot under a large tree on the edge of campus. The breeze was soft, carrying with it the faint sounds of laughter and chatter from the graduates and their families. But here, it was just the two of them.

Heeseung turned to face her, his expression soft but a little nervous. "I've been meaning to talk to you about something," he began, his hand still holding hers. "I got a job offer."

Jiah's heart skipped a beat. This was it—the moment she'd been dreading but also anticipating. "A job?" she repeated, her voice laced with surprise and pride. "That's amazing, Heeseung! What's the position?"

He smiled, though there was something hesitant in his eyes. "It's a junior business analyst position with a big company. They've been recruiting me for months, and... well, I've decided to take it."

Jiah's heart swelled with pride. "That's incredible! I'm so happy for you." But then a shadow crossed her mind, and her voice softened as she asked the question that had been haunting her. "Where's the job? Are you... are you moving away?"

Heeseung's grip on her hand tightened slightly, and he shook his head. "No, I'm not moving. The job is here, in the city. I'll be staying close."

Relief flooded Jiah's chest. "You're staying?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're really staying?"

Heeseung nodded, his gaze steady. "I didn't want to tell you until everything was finalized, but yeah. I'm staying right here. We're not going to be apart."

Jiah's eyes filled with tears of relief and happiness, and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "You had me so worried, Heeseung," she said with a soft laugh, wiping away a stray tear. "I thought you were leaving."

Heeseung smiled and pulled her into his arms, holding her close. "I'm not going anywhere," he murmured, his voice soothing. "I promise. We're going to figure everything out—together."

Jiah leaned into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body and the steadiness of his heartbeat. It was all she needed to hear. "Together," she repeated softly, her heart filled with hope.

After a long moment, they pulled apart, and Heeseung gently wiped away the last of her tears. "Come on," he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Let's get back to our friends. This is a day to celebrate."

As they made their way back to the group, the mood was light and full of joy. Shana, Sioh, and the rest of their friends were gathered in a circle, laughing and sharing stories about their time together.

"We're going to miss you guys so much," Sunoo said, his voice thick with emotion as he hugged Sioh and Shana. "Campus won't be the same without you."

"We'll miss you too," Shana replied, her eyes twinkling with affection. "But don't worry, we're not disappearing. We'll always be around."

Jungwon smiled, clapping Heeseung on the back. "Congrats, man. You're going to kill it at that job."

Heeseung grinned, nodding in appreciation. "Thanks. We'll all stay in touch, for sure."

As the group continued to celebrate, Jiah felt the weight of her earlier worries lift. Surrounded by her friends, with Heeseung by her side, she knew that everything was going to be okay. Their lives might be changing, but the bond they shared would remain unbroken.

Moka caught Jiah's eye and gave her a knowing smile. "See?" she said softly. "Everything's working out."

Jiah smiled back, her heart full. "Yeah," she whispered. "It really is."