MAGIC RING (ft. Lee Min Ho and Koo Hye Sun)

xxvii. Miles Away

This one is the continuation of the previous chapter. But actually this chapter is divided into two parts, 'cause in total it's quite long, let alone th number of pages this chapter occupied. I only updated this one via requests and also to give you at least something to tide over while I finish the rest haha! Forgive me if you'll encounter typo errors, I don't get to paraphrase sometimes haha!

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"We didn't realise you're already graduating this soon", I told Ji San. Just a bit of information though, she didn't spend half grand of  her properties to get herself here and take Literature degree. But she rather did spend grand effort to make it to be accepted into a scholarship she applied to during her senior year in high school.  

Luckily enough, this was where her efforts had taken her.

"Me too. Semesters had gone by so fast we hardly noticed it too," she replied.

"You should have told us earlier before we flew in here just so we can prepare you our gifts," Mom chimed in, piling up food onto Dad's plate.

Ji San's eyes gleamed in amusement. "Wow I'm touched! Thank you. But having you here and especially on my graduation day would really mean a lot more than any material gifts," she told us whole-heartedly.

"I really assumed your graduation date is still pending for next year...uhm around second week of January as how I remember you told me last time," notified Dad.

Ji San shrugged. "That's because we still had our tentative schedule  on hand back then."

I reached for her hand and squeezed it affectionately. Overwhelmed smile was marked across my face. "Congrats, couz." I was really happy for her. I knew, we all knew, it was a dream come true for her after all.

"Thank you wouldn't be enough." She squeezed me back and smiled warmly. "I love all of you. You are so endearing. Thank you again for coming."

"But as you knew, we were after a different purpose why we're here and that was to surprise Dad right? What if we had a change of mind and delayed our visit? That would be awful. Still," I pressed my other hand over hers, "you should have let us know. We are the ones who were rather surprised."

"Because the day you talked to me about getting your flight tickets happened to be the same day the school decided on the date.  

Announcement was held only by that afternoon...that's why I'd decided to just spill the beans once we got together since your plan was already settled though."

I sighed. "Good thing we made sure of this plan right away."

"Yeah."

"When is that again?" Mom interrogated, settling down the Chinese hot pot after piling up our plates with enough amount of it.

"20th," she grinned.

"Really?" gaped Mom. "It's only two days away."

"Don't worry. There's no way we won't be coming," Dad assured my cousin, cutting a glance at Mom. "It's already our holiday break by then, so why not." He smirked, leaning on the table with his elbows.

"Great!" chirped Ji San happily. Having us to celebrate with and to come on her graduation was something she would really be thankful for after she had become an orphan since her mother, Mom's elder sister,died of cancer which had her father leave her alone with our grandparents who lived just in the same compound as ours. That explained how we grew up together and tied a cheek by jowl relationship.