SWITCH

4

everybody were nervous and excited for the graduation.

"let us welcome this batch's valedictorian, na jaemin!" everybody clapped and cheered for him.

he never had any people who badmouthed him in that school because how could you hate someone so sweet and helpful?

"good morning to everyone. to the students, and to their parents, too," he started and smiled.

after he finished his speech, everybody stood from their seats and cheered for him. everybody loved jaemin, even the parents. its because their children would talk about him all the time.

after graduation, outside the university.

jeno smiled, trying to collect himself before he speak.

"i... i'm leaving." jeno spoke.

"it's still so early. let's do something fun—"

"n-no, jaemin. i'm leaving the country."

jaemin frowned, "what? why?"

"that has been a dream of mine 6 years ago, until this day. and i still have more years to study medicine, jaemin. you know how much i want to be a doctor." jeno smiled with sad eyes.

"when... when are you leaving?" jaemin asked with such a gloomy tone.

"the day after tomorrow."

"THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW?!" jaemin exclaimed.

jeno sighed. he doesn't want to leave jaemin, too. but he has no choice. it has been his dream for 6 years. he can't just let that go.

"then... i guess... i guess this is goodbye." jaemin said.

"you're not seeing me off at the airport?" jeno asked, hoping for a positive answer from jaemin.

"i... i can't do that. it'll be too sad for me. i once sent my brother off and it broke me for weeks. he was the only one i had." jaemin tried to smile.

"goodbye, then." jeno hugged jaemin.

"i'm going to miss pinching your cheeks." jaemin said while hugging jeno.

"you can pinch them one last time." jeno said trying to stop tears from falling.

they hugged one last time after jaemin pinched his cheeks and his nose.

"goodbye, jaemin. no looking back, okay?" jeno said and started to walk away, and tears started falling, then.

when jeno had finally left jaemin's sight, he forgot to tell jaemin how to contact him so they could talk even in such circumstances. jeno doesn't even know jaemin's address.

it made them both feel down.