It Was Always You

Chapter 7: Graduation

I looked into the mirror staring at the reflection of me in my graduation outfit with my honor scholar tassel, and I sighed. This is it (Y/N), after this, you leave for America.... I sighed again, and I started my way downstairs where Ren was waiting on the couch playing on his phone. I laughed aloud and he turned his head in question.

"Nothing, I'm just going to miss you is all. You and your distracted self," I giggled.

He smiled up at me and stood. He came and threw his arms around my figure in a tight hug. I smiled wide and hugged back. I'm really going to miss this. I pulled apart first.

"It's time to go," I said.

Ren nodded and we started walking to school for the graduation ceremony. It was finally time for me to face all my peers, my friends, and of course Aaron. Let's end this with a bang, ha. We arrived earlier than most to help set up the seats for the parent in the auditorium. After that I began to practice my speech for the ceremony, nervously thinking that I'll mess up. As everyone began to arrive I sat in my respective seat feeling even more nervous than before. My friends began to sit around me.

"Hey, you ready?" JR asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I laughed nervously.

"You'll be great," Minhyun comforted.

I only nodded and smiled gently. Soon the ceremony was beginning and the principal steps out to do the announcements as I sit bouncing my knees up and down, trying to preoccupy myself. I was then being called to the stage and I shakily stood and I walked to the podium, on top of the stage. I stood looking out over the crowd and I made eye contact with Aaron by accident. But somehow he hardened my resolved, and I took a deep breath. I can do this! With all my new found confidence I began to speak.

"Welcome all to what we think is the end, but really is the beginning of something new. We have all changed since the first day we stepped into this school up until now, whether it had been from the moment you were a first year, or if you had transferred in the middle of the year in any year," I smiled thinking of Baekho, "We have all changed. But now is time for a different change, something much bigger and maybe just a little bit scarier. This change will be for the better as we will find ourselves, whether it will be figuratively as we find who exactly we want to be and what we really like in the world," Here goes nothing, "Or whether it be literally, finding ourselves in different places, like me for instance. I'll be going to America to follow my dreams, and I hope that all of you will follow yours. Where ever it will take you. Let this journey begin with the end of this one. Congratulations, we made it to the next step."

I stepped down, and instantly I heard the applause. It became deafening as a certain pair of eyes were on my form. I knew instantly who's they were. He was going to try to talk to me and I didn't need that, though I expected it. After my speech we all started to go up one by one, in alphabetical order, to get our diplomas. Once everyone had their diplomas we all stood for the last words of our principal. Once the principal was done, we all threw our caps in the air.

For me, it felt like time stopped as I looked at all the elated faces of my peers, and my friends. To see all the caps being thrown, and people hugging and laughing around. I couldn't help but smile. Unfortunately, that all ended when I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned to find Aaron staring, a little pissed off if I may add. My friends were distracted and I sighed, and just followed him outside. He walked towards the willow. What's he going to say? I couldn't help but let fear take over my thoughts.

He stopped and faced away from me, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Really (Y/N)? Is this really the right time to play innocent?

He tensed, Great now he's angry, "Are you being serious right now?! About you leaving! You can't just confess to somebody, and you know," he waved his hands around, "And then spring that you're leaving on them at graduation, of all places!!!"

I looked down, as he seethed, "Wae?" It came out as a whisper, but I knew he heard it.

"Mwo?"

"Wae?! Wasn't I good enough to be by your side? Wae?! Explain why my heart aches at the thought of you! WAE CAN'T I LEAVE IN PEACE?!!"

I knew I was shouting, and I knew that he was stunned into silence.

"ANSWER ME?!! WAE?!!" At this point, tears were streaming.

He just stood there in thought, and I had enough of the silence.

"That's," hiccups, "what I thought..." I turned and ran away.

I didn't know what direction I was going in, I just ran. I let my feet carry me to wherever they wanted. That is until I collided into arms that soon held me tight and squeezed me. I just sank into those familiar arms. Mark. I sobbed for a good few minutes before I started sniffling as I signal that I was all cried out.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"For what," he answered softly.

"For being there when I need it the most. You truly are my hero," I pulled away and gave a small smile.

"(Y/N)-ah," he looked away with a slight blush, "Can I tell you something?"

Pulling away, I wiped the tears away, "Sure."