The golden glow of morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm streaks across the neat little apartment where Ara and Chenle now lived together. The soft clinking of coffee mugs and the gentle rustling of papers filled the cozy silence between them.
Ara sat at the kitchen table, red pen in hand, surrounded by a stack of assignments to grade. It was just another normal morning in her life as a teacher. Across from her, Chenle sat with his laptop open, reviewing proposals for the company he now led as CEO.
It had been a few years since graduation, but in some ways, it still felt like yesterday. The chaos, the late-night studying, the heartbreaks, the moments of healing... everything they had endured had shaped them into who they were now. And all of it had brought them here, to this peace. To this love.
A love that wasn't flashy or perfect, but simple, steady, and real.
Ara looked up from her papers and caught Chenle sneaking a glance at her over the rim of his coffee cup. When he realized he was caught, he grinned mischievously.
"What?" Ara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You're just cute when you're in teacher mode," he teased.
She rolled her eyes, but her lips tugged into a smile. "You better get ready for your meeting, Mr. CEO. I heard the board has been pretty intense lately."
Chenle closed his laptop with a click and stood, walking over to her side. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"They're not half as scary as a class of third graders who just ate candy."
Ara laughed, shaking her head. "Touché."
They had come such a long way... from a girl who once feared her past to a boy who hid his anxiety behind smiles and jokes. Their story wasn't perfect, but it was theirs. And that was enough.
Later that day, Ara's phone buzzed with a new group message. Someone was planning a reunion. Ningning, Giselle, Renjun, Jaemin, Jisung, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Kun, Winter, Karina, and the others were all going to be back in the city for one weekend.
It had been months since they'd all been in the same room. Life had pulled them in different directions, but their bond had never really broken.
That weekend, they gathered at a small rooftop café decorated with fairy lights. The city skyline sparkled in the distance, and laughter filled the air. Drinks clinked, desserts disappeared quickly, and stories flowed easily, as if no time had passed.
Ningning had become the manager of a nonprofit organization that supported students with trauma. Her determination to help others had only grown stronger over the years. Giselle was thriving in publishing and had just landed her first big editorial project. Renjun was freelancing as an artist, his paintings displayed in small gallery shows.
Jisung and Jeno had turned their love of dance into careers, teaching kids in underprivileged communities. Mark and Haechan were now youth counselors, guiding teenagers who reminded them of their younger selves.
And then Karina walked in, her arm casually draped around Winter's shoulders.
The group froze.
"You're together?!" Ningning gasped, nearly choking on her cake.
Winter sipped her drink like it was the most casual thing in the world. "Apparently... we're dating."
Karina laughed. "She makes it sound like I just tripped and fell into her arms."
"But didn't you?" Winter replied, her tone dry.
The table erupted into laughter.
Meanwhile, Jaemin was chatting with Kun, telling him about the mental health projects he and Winter had started working on. Karina's and Winter's apology from years ago had been real, the start of something new. They had used their second chance to help others and to heal themselves.
Ara sat back, watching her friends. Her heart filled with warmth as she thought of all the moments that had led here... the carnival, the haunted house, the tearful confessions, the nights spent studying with Chenle. Back then, she had no idea how much strength and love she carried inside her.
Chenle's hand slid into hers under the table, grounding her. He leaned closer and whispered, "Remember the first time I told you I loved you?"
Ara smiled softly. The memory was still fresh. Finals week. Math notes spread across the library table. She had been explaining a problem when he blurted it out.
"And you looked at me like I just confessed to being an alien," Chenle teased.
"I was shocked, okay?" she laughed. "But I loved you too. I just wasn't ready to say it."
"And now?" he asked, brushing his thumb over her knuckles.
"I'd marry you in a heartbeat."
He smirked. "You already said yes, fiancée."
Her heart swelled at the memory of his proposal a few months ago. It had been under the old tree where they once skipped class to talk about dreams and fears. No crowd, no spotlight... just the two of them. Simple, private, and perfect. Exactly how she wanted it.
As the night wound down, they all gathered for one last group photo. Arms wrapped around each other, their smiles shining brighter than the fairy lights above.
"Let's not wait this long again," Mark said seriously.
"We won't," Ara promised.
Back at home that night, Ara changed into her soft pajamas while Chenle made hot cocoa in the kitchen. They curled up by the window, mugs in hand, watching the city lights shimmer.
"Did you ever think we'd make it here?" Ara asked quietly.
Chenle paused, then shook his head. "No. Honestly, I didn't even know if I'd make it through high school. But you... you made it easier."
Her chest tightened. She set her mug aside and looked at him, tears pricking her eyes. "You made it worth it."
He put his cup down and took her hands in his. Then he leaned forward and kissed her forehead, just like he had that morning.
"We're going to be okay," he said softly. "Always."
And for the first time in her life, Ara fully believed it.
Years later, people would look at them and see success... a respected CEO and a beloved teacher. But very few would know the full story. The struggles they had faced, the forgiveness they had given, the secrets they had uncovered, the love they had built from the pieces of their past.
Ara and Chenle weren't just partners. They were each other's safe place. Each other's home.
And that, more than anything, was their true happy ending.
The End.
A.N:-
- The last chapter is released and the book has ended, thank you so much for all the support you guys have given me, I'll miss this book a lot.
