𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗡 | park sunghoon. ✓

▎031 (epilogue)

☂︎

time skip, almost a year later

The gym auditorium buzzed with energy. The voices of families, friends, and excited graduates filled the air, creating a mix of chaos and joy. Sarim adjusted her cap nervously, her fingers brushing against the tassel. She was seated among hundreds of students, but for the first time in her life, she didn't feel invisible.

Looking around, she saw faces filled with pride and relief. Her eyes drifted to the stage, where the podium was decorated with bright bouquets and banners celebrating their achievements.

She thought back to how far she had come. There were nights when she would lie awake in her tiny, cold apartment, wondering if she'd ever escape the shadows of her father. For so long, his words and actions had haunted her, but not anymore. She didn't think about him anymore not with bitterness, not with sadness. She had freed herself from that pain.

Instead, her thoughts were filled with the possibilities of tomorrow. She had friends now, a future waiting for her, and Sunghoon—a constant presence who had somehow become her anchor.

The sound of Sunghoons name being called pulled her from her thoughts. She turned her head as he strode across the stage, tall and confident as ever. His dark hair fell into his eyes, and he gave the faintest of smiles as he shook the dean's hand and accepted his diploma. Sarim couldn't help but smile back, even though he couldn't see her.

When her name was finally called, Sarim's legs trembled as she made her way to the stage. The applause was loud, but it felt distant, like a hum in the background. Her heart swelled as she accepted her diploma, standing a little taller. She had done it ,she had survived and succeeded.

The ceremony concluded with cheers and caps flying into the air. Sarim threw hers a little too hard, and it disappeared into the crowd. Before she could even begin searching for it ,a familiar voice spoke behind her.

"Are u looking for this?" Sunghoon held her cap out to her, his smirk teasing.

Sarim crossed her arms, pretending to be annoyed. "You could've hust told me it landed by the stage."

"And miss watching you wander around in a panic..? Never."

She rolled her eyes but took the cap from him.

Outside on the lawn, the celebration continued. Sarim stood with Shuhua and Sunoo, the trio laughing as they tried, and failed, to get a decent selfie.

"Your hand's in the way, Sarim," Shuhua complained, swatting at her.

"Well, maybe if you didn't move the phone every two seconds-" Sarim began, but her words faltered as Shuhua leaned into Sunoo's shoulder. The gesture was casual, but something about it made Sarim's eyes narrow. Her eyes slid to shuhuas hand, and her fingers were intertwined with Sunoos.

"Wait a second..." She stared at them suspiciously. "You guys are.. dating!?"

Shuhua's eyes went wide, her face turning beet red. Sunoo, however, just grinned. "Yeah," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Since when?" Sarim exclaimed, her voice rising.

"For a while," Shuhua mumbled, avoiding her gaze. "We didn't want to make a big deal about it."

Sarim's shock quickly turned into excitement, and she pulled them into a tight hug. "Make a big deal about it?! This is the best thing ever.. I'm so happy for you guys!"

Shuhua groaned, her face still buried in her hands, while Sunoo chuckled.

"You're making it a big deal now," Shuhua muttered, though there was no real annoyance in her tone.

After the celebration died down, Sarim and Sunghoon decided to skip the big afterparty and head to a small sandwich shop instead. It was a quiet spot sunghoon took her a year ago, tucked away in a narrow street corner.

They sat at a booth near the window, their trays filled with their usual orders. Sarim took a huge bite of her sandwich, her cheeks puffing up as she chewed.

"You eat like you've been starving for days," Sunghoon teased, leaning back in his seat.

"Don't judge me," Sarim retorted after swallowing. "This place makes the best sandwiches, and you know that."

He smirked but didn't argue. The conversation shifted to their plans for the future. Sarim talked about her dream of becoming a marketing manager, her voice growing more animated with each word.

"And what about you?" she asked, her gaze softening.

Sunghoon shrugged. "I'll keep skating for a while. Maybe coach someday."

"You'd be amazing at that," Sarim said earnestly.

He looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "And you'll be amazing at whatever you do," he said softly.

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down at her tray.

When they stepped outside, the sky had turned a deep gray, and the first drops of rain began to fall.

"We should've brought umbrellas," Sarim muttered as the drizzle grew heavier.

Sunghoon shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders without a word.

"Hey, I don't need this! You'll get soaked," she protested, trying to hand it back.

"Just wear it," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're always cold."

The rain soon turned into a downpour, and they broke into laughter as they tried to find shelter. They ended up under a large tree, water dripping from the leaves above.

Sarim pushed her damp hair out of her face, her laughter fading as she caught Sunghoon watching her. His dark eyes softened, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.

"I love you," he said, his voice quiet but certain.

The words hung in the air, louder than the rain around them. Sarim's heart raced, her mind blank for a moment before a soft smile spread across her face.

"I love you, too," she whispered.

"This is even better than tiramisu." Sunghoon said.

His smile widened, and he pulled her into a warm embrace. They stood there, soaked to the bone, but neither of them cared. In that moment, everything felt perfect.

And in that moment, Lim Sarim realized

That Sunghoon picked up the shattered pieces of her heart he never broke, and somehow in putting them back together he became part of each piece.

THE END.