swxtched. | jhs

DON'T YOU EVER FORGET ABOUT ME (2)

Namjoon stepped onto the platform, prepared to deliver his graduation speech. Green and Hoseok stood practically on opposite ends of the room, eyes up to watch him and ears opened to hear his words.

"I couldn't have ever imagined what I experienced this past three years of my time in this senior high school," he started. "Especially this past year. The teachers and staff here have allowed a high-quality education and social experience for me and every student. I am proud to graduate from this school and associate myself with it and my fellow seniors as we make a mature step towards the adulthood segment of our lives."

Some students around Green were sobbing— most of them not wanting to grow up, probably— and Green herself felt a bit rigid, lips pursed.

"We made it, guys. I'm really glad to have made lifelong friends here, to know what it's like to care for someone, and to outsmart a couple teachers."

Small laughs.

"I'm aware that a lot of you, myself included, have watched or known about the dance competition in Seoul, judged by famous Korean pop idols to watch the comeback of our unexpected dance prodigy, Min Geurin, and the school's beloved Jung Hoseok. I want to publicly declare my congratulations to their win. That dance blew me away. Geurin dancing without her prosthetic arm is a precious sight that opened my eyes, and Hoseok at her side made a powerful duo and an outstanding performance. They are the ultimate senior couple."

Claps and cheers. Green's face grew hot at the compliments shot her way in an instant, along with gushing comments about "G-Hope."

"I also want to lift this graduation ceremony and speech to our dear Park Jinyoung, who unfortunately passed away one month from today. He was a quiet but very diligent man, a soldier if you will. And if you knew him well enough, you'd know that he actually... liked to sing a little. May he rest in peace."

At the mention of Jinyoung, Green's attention fell into a daze.

It was July. They were finally graduating.

The past year for her had contained more events than she ever had in her life, and reflecting back on it gave her a plethora of different feelings that she had to force down in her gut in order to not scream it out to the world. Green wanted to focus on the happy memories forever and hold onto the sad ones with a sense of hope, because she borrowed a lot of hope from her J-Hope.

Afterwards, as Yoongi promised, Seokjin did come to see her. Green ran towards him and hugged him tight. "Oh my gosh— Jin-oppa, you came! I haven't seen you in so long!"

"I'm sorry about that," he chuckled, squeezing her in his friendly embrace. When he pulled back, he gasped, eyes bulging. "Wow, Green-ah, you're so beautiful. I mean, you always are, but— something about you is just radiant today!"

She shyly laughed, "Thank you, oppa," as he pulled out a red paper heart from his pocket, something he always did to put smiles on people's faces even in their stormiest moods.

"When you go off to college, and into life, we should stay in contact, okay? I don't want to lose my little girl to adulthood," he pouted, making her stifle a laugh, snorting into her prosthetic hand and shaking her head.

"Don't you ever forget about me, Jin."

"You can't forget about me either."

I won't forget about how you made me realize who I really like, Green thought further, but didn't dare say it out loud.

I won't forget about Jinyoung, or Namjoon, or the people who changed my life. Ever.

And if I do, then let me be the coconut head fxck.

As if on cue, Hoseok tackled her from behind in a suffocating public cuddle. "We did it, we did it, we're graduates, we're done, we're so done—"

Green kissed him square on the lips to shut him up. "Yeah, we're so done."

He flashed a cheesy grin. "You're my favorite."

"I love you."

"Huh." Jin pointed back and forth at the two, "My dongsaengs are dating before me?"

•

❝ i know i'm not the easiest one to love, but every ounce i have i invest in you. ❞
『 written on 2017.11.08. | 2017.11.26. 』

【 NOTE 1—EPILOGUE AND FINAL NOTE ARE COMING 】