Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 21

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The next morning, Sarang went straight to her dorm and began packing her belongings. It was a bittersweet moment—this school had been her home for the past seven years, and now she was leaving it all behind.

As she sifted through her things, she carefully separated them into different piles: some for donation, some to be sent to her grandmother's house, and the rest to take with her to Korea.

While rummaging through her closet, she noticed a small, dusty box tucked away in the back.

Curious, she pulled it out and opened it, revealing a collection of her old belongings from Korea. As she sifted through the items—photographs, little trinkets, and notes from the past—her fingers brushed against something cold and metallic. She pulled it out and instantly recognized it.

The infinity necklace.

Her heart clenched as a wave of emotions crashed over her. Holding the necklace in her hands, she stared at it for a long moment, memories flooding back like a tide. It was a symbol of an unbreakable bond, a promise made between two inseparable best friends—her and Sunghoon.

But that promise had been broken. A tear rolled down her cheek as she recalled the day she had given him the necklace, the way they had vowed to always be there for each other.

But life had taken them in different directions.

She clenched the necklace in her fist, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

But there was no one to answer her.

Shaking off the heavy emotions, she forced herself to finish packing. Just as she was zipping up her suitcase, her stomach growled. Checking the time, she realized it was already lunchtime. With Sophia still not back, she decided to go out with Dohwa.

They went to a small ramen restaurant downtown, the kind of place that felt warm and familiar, even in a foreign country.

As they enjoyed their meal, Dohwa suddenly asked, "Have you bought a graduation dress yet?"

Sarang shook her head, slurping up her noodles. "Not yet. I was planning to go shopping tomorrow."

Dohwa smirked. "Well, you don't have to."

She raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Because Mom already got you one."

Sarang blinked in surprise.

Dohwa leaned back in his seat, casually stirring his soup. "Apparently, she had it custom-made. She knew exactly what you wanted, so she ordered it weeks ago."

It all made sense now. A month ago, her mother had been asking about her measurements, claiming it was just to prepare some clothes for her return home. Sarang had assumed it was just her mom being her usual self, making sure she had enough clothes for the first few weeks back. But she had been preparing for this special moment all along.

Dohwa took a sip of his drink. "She even got you shoes to match. So you don't have to stress about that either."

Sarang let out a relieved sigh. "Thank God. I was dreading dress shopping."

Later that evening, Dohwa handed her the dress and shoes. When she unwrapped the package, her breath hitched. It was perfect. A stunning red dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, elegant yet comfortable.

When she showed it to Sophia and the other girls in the dorm, they were all in awe.

"Oh my gosh, Sarang, this is gorgeous!" Sophia gushed.

"It's like it was made for you!" another friend added.

Sarang couldn't stop smiling. It was exactly what she had wanted, and the fact that her mom had chosen it for her made it even more special.

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And just like that, graduation day arrived.

The entire campus buzzed with excitement. Students in their caps and gowns laughed, hugged, and took endless photos, celebrating the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Sarang and Sophia got ready at Sophia's house, as they had already moved out of the dorms. To avoid the hassle of traveling with too much luggage, Sarang had sent most of her belonging's home in advance. As they put on their dresses and did their makeup, they took dozens of photos, capturing every moment before heading to the ceremony.

At the graduation venue, Sarang walked in with Dohwa by her side, while others, like Sophia, were accompanied by their parents.

The ceremony was beautiful—emotional speeches, the proud exchange of diplomas, and heartfelt cheers.

When Sarang's name was called, she walked across the stage with her head held high, accepting her diploma as the crowd erupted in applause.

As expected, she received an award for being a high achiever, something that had become a tradition for her over the years.

After the ceremony, everyone celebrated together one last time. They went out for dinner, reminisced about their favorite memories, and laughed until their stomachs hurt.

But as the night wore on, reality sank in—this was their final farewell.

The next morning was filled with tearful goodbyes.

Sophia was an emotional wreck, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Sarang.

"I can't believe you're leaving," she sobbed.

Sarang hugged her tightly, her own eyes welling up.

"It's not goodbye forever. We'll see each other again."

But they both knew it wouldn't be the same.

Their friends gave them space, allowing them to have their moment before Sarang and Dohwa headed to the airport. Sophia and the other girls accompanied them, standing by until the very last minute.

One final hug. One final goodbye.

Then, with a deep breath, Sarang and Dohwa boarded the plane.

As the aircraft took off, she stared out the window, watching the city she had called home for the past seven years disappear beneath the clouds. She hadn't returned to Korea even once during all these years, not even for the holidays. Now, for the first time in seven years, she was going back.

Excitement bubbled in her chest, but so did nerves. What would it feel like to be back? Would anything have changed?

Would she have changed too much?

She didn't know what awaited her in Korea, but one thing was certain—this was the start of a new journey.

And she was ready.

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