How To Love | Daniel Seavey AU

BONUS: Graduation

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"CALL ME ONCE YOU arrive, alright? I don't like being alone for too long," Hyun-Ji pouted as I was trying to pull myself away from her and into my gate. "We've been roommates for about four months, but I've grown so attached to my wittle Logan."

"Alright, alright, let go or I'll miss my flight," I pried my arms from hers. "And you'll be going back to Korea in a few days, you're not going to be alone for that long."

"I'm going back in four days—four days, Logan," she exclaimed, her eyes widening, "that's a lot for a clingy girl like me."

"Okay, okay, goodbye now!" I finally broke free, taking large strides towards my gate with my body turned slightly to wave at my roommate. "Take care of Ellie for me, alright?" She began to sob dramatically, using her scarf to wipe the nonexistent tears from her face before a large smile took over her features.

"Have a safe flight!" I laughed and lifted a thumb up before turning around completely and getting myself checked in. To have Hyun-Ji bring some sort of happiness before my flight made it less intense. It's been four months since I moved to Paris, and now since orientation is over and classes don't start until the next month, I was able to buy a ticket back to Portland just in time for Daniel's graduation.

Obviously he doesn't know it.

He knew that my orientation had already ended, but I had to create some ridiculous lie to tell him that I was unable to go back home. It was actually hilarious and I genuinely couldn't believe that he fell for it.

"So since it's over, and my—well, our graduation is next week, do you think you can come back?" He had asked, and I could hear the hope in his tone, almost making me forget the plan and tell him. I was seated in front of my desk, my laptop displaying the page I was on, informing me that my ticket will be sent to my email for me to print out.

Even if I had changed since I moved here and be comfortable with showing different emotions for different occasions, I was still capable of sounding monotonous whenever I wanted and Daniel also gotten used to it. "I don't think I can," I lied, "there's this french holiday and a lot of people use the time to go back to their hometowns or travel around, so prices for flights go up—I really wanted to, but my mom needs to finish paying for the house there." She had it all paid for, but he didn't know that. I had to silently pat myself in the back for the smooth lie.

"Really? How about the next week? It doesn't have to be for graduation," he said, his tone desperate and I couldn't help but frown. "I just... really miss you." I turned to face Hyun-Ji that was listening to the call, my eyes wide and my bottom lip jutted out, pleading for her to let me tell him but she shook her head.

She was the one that came up with the idea for me to surprise him. In her words: 'if you surprise him, it'll so much more romantic—he could he so surprised he'll run over to you and lift up, spin you around and—' and then she proceeded with letting out an excited squeal.

I admit, the thought of it made me happy though. I've never had that happen to me in my life and to imagine it with Daniel brought butterflies to my stomach as I sat in my seat in the plane. I had to bite down on my bottom lip to keep a laugh from escaping. It's been so long since I've seen Daniel, aside from the occasional video calls, but other than that, I've been longing to hug him.

I even had to book the flight two days early. The flight from Paris to New York is nine hours, then connecting there to Portland was seven hours, add the rest I need to get rid of the jetlag. Nonetheless, I was finally going to go back after so long. My dad will be waiting for me in the airport, I'll be meeting my mom at her new home and I'll be going to the graduation with Keri and Anna. I couldn't have either of my parents or Marissa to go with me or else they'll be noticed and Daniel would start to think. Both Keri and Anna insisted on helping me out, since they are able to keep a secret from Daniel.