The Morning of Na-eun's Graduation Ceremony
At 9 a.m. on the morning of Na-eun's graduation ceremony—time when I'd normally be sluggishly getting up—I was already standing in front of the full-length mirror, checking my outfit.
Is this one okay? How about that one? I was scrutinizing every single piece of clothing I owned.
As I was going through all the decent-looking combinations, my sister opened the door to my room and stared at me.
"Seonwoo Lee, what are you doing?"
"Getting dressed."
"I can see that. But why are you suddenly picking out clothes like some girl before a date?"
"It's definitely not that level."
A year had passed now, and it seemed like she figured she didn't need to tiptoe around me anymore, so she was talking openly about dates, relationships, girlfriends, and all that.
I, too, had reached the point where I could brush off the painful past, so I just took her attitude in stride without a second thought.
"Going to Na-eun's graduation."
"Na-eun's graduation? Why are you going there?"
"She asked me to come."
"Na-eun did?"
"Yeah."
My sister pondered for a moment, then grumbled.
"What the heck does she see in a guy like you?"
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"What, did I say something wrong?"
She showed zero intention of holding back, reading Na-eun's mind and spelling it out for me.
"She likes you. Otherwise, why would she invite you to her graduation?"
"...I know."
Yeah, I knew. How could I not?
Just looking at Na-eun's eyes or hearing her voice made it obvious to anyone—brimming with affection.
Thinking of that affectionate voice, those eyes full of love... it was impossible not to feel something. It even felt like the obvious truth.
And yet, the reason I couldn't take the initiative was...
"...She's still in high school, and I'm in college."
"Right, college boy. A discharged army vet, even."
"It's been a year since I got out."
"So what? You're still an ajusshi."
She cackled with laughter, then—perhaps as compensation for teasing me—offered some solid advice.
"Hey, you should wear the long coat. Mom and Dad gave you those good proportions, so even just throwing on a long coat makes you look killer."
"Long coat?"
"Yeah, you gonna waste those proportions on something short?"
"That could work too, right?"
"Sure, but there's something even better, isn't there?"
She had a point—nothing left to say to that.
"...Fine, long coat it is."
"Good boy, listen to your sister. I know my fashion."
"Sure, sure~"
I threw on the long coat with a matching set, putting together a decent outfit.
"...This should be fine, right?"
"So, when's Na-eun's graduation?"
"11 a.m."
"11?"
"Yeah, 11."
"It's 9 now...?"
She looked utterly baffled that I was picking out clothes two whole hours early.
Plus, Na-eun's school was the same one my sister and I had attended, so she knew exactly how far it was.
"You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculous? Call it normally caring."
"Fine, got it. And if you're gonna make a move, at least wait till after the ceremony."
"Shut up."
It had been a while since I'd snapped at Seong like that, but I didn't regret it. Felt kinda refreshing, actually.
After bickering pointlessly with her for a bit, I checked my phone and headed out around 10.
"Alright, I'm off."
"Okay~ Bring back something tasty."
"Sure~"
As the little brother still getting allowance, I couldn't exactly say no to that.
Man, I really need to get a job soon.
Though I'd have to graduate first to do that.
Wearing the outfit my sister recommended, shoes on, I headed to Na-eun's school.
About a 30-minute walk, so by the time I arrived, the 1st- and 2nd-years were heading out.
Perfect timing, I thought, heading to the flower vendor at the school gate before going in.
"...A bouquet of roses, please."
"20,000 won~"
20,000 won for what looked like maybe 7 or 8 flowers? Seemed a bit steep.
But from the vendor's perspective, after coming all this way, they probably wanted that markup.
"...Here you go."
"Thank you~"
Felt like a rip-off, but thinking of who it was for, this was the least I could do.
With that in mind, I stepped into my old school for the first time in ages.
A few minutes of walking later...
"Seonwoo?"
Someone called my name.
I turned, and there was a really welcome face.
"Soon-ja Teacher?"
"That's me! Long time no see!"
Choi Soon-ja. During my time there, she was the grade-level director and Korean teacher—from 1st year all the way to 3rd.
"How've you been?"
"Oh, great. And you, Teacher?"
"I'm not a Korean teacher anymore."
"Pardon?"
"I'm vice principal now."
Vice principal? Soon-ja Teacher?
Thinking about it, yeah, she had the seniority for it. Great reputation among staff and students alike.
I'd figured she'd be vice principal somewhere by now, but at our school? Didn't expect that.
"Who're you here to congratulate?"
"Me? You remember Seung-min Jeong?"
"Seung-min? That musclehead?"
She called him a musclehead, but Soon-ja Teacher had always been good to him. I remembered her writing him a recommendation for Korea National Sports University and giving him crash-course Korean lessons.
"Yeah, his little sister's graduating here."
"That musclehead's sister went here too? Who's that?"
"Na-eun."
Her eyes blinked at that, then she spoke in utter shock.
"Na-eun's that musclehead's sister!?"
"Yeah, they don't match at all, right?"
"No way."
Her firm tone cracked me up.
Seung-min screamed "total playboy," while Na-eun was so prim and studious—a model student.
Her looks and figure might scream "party girl," but get to know her, and she's pure model student.
"I was her tutor, and we're close, so I came."
"Makes sense. Congrats, then."
"Huh? For what?"
"Na-eun's getting a representative award today. She aced the CSAT for our school."
Of course—that explained it.
"She's always been a top student. You taught her well."
"I'm still useful, huh?"
"But I think she beat your CSAT scores."
"Right?"
"Better than you, Na-eun is."
"A hundred times better."
We went on praising Na-eun endlessly.
Seemed like the teacher had plenty of fond memories of her too.
"Go on in. You haven't forgotten the layout, have you?"
"No way—I could never."
"Good, good. Hurry inside."
I bowed politely to Soon-ja Teacher and headed in. The auditorium was packed with 3rd-years.
I stood at the back with the other families.
Wanted to find Na-eun's family, but Seung-min had bailed for some emergency, so it wasn't easy.
Luckily, right before it started, I spotted his parents...
And that's when the ceremony kicked off.
Perfect timing.
The graduation ceremony began, with the principal and vice principal's speeches flying by.
Along with them, memories of the past three years flashed through my mind.
Freshman year, new friends I made; bombing my first exam and bawling my eyes out; getting confessed to here and turning that person down...
The fun school festival, the equally blast of a sports day, the nerve-wracking mock exams...
...And the grueling study grind of the last year.
Funny thing—the hardest time, senior year, ended up my happiest memories.
Because that person, the one I like, stayed by my side the whole time.
"Jeong Na-eun."
My name was called, and I went up to the stage to receive my diploma from the principal. As the top female student rep, I was first.
"Keep working hard in college, got it?"
"Yes, thank you."
As I took the certificate and awards and came down, my eyes met my family's amid the crowd.
Mom and Dad.
Just seeing them made me happy.
Big bro apologized this morning for some emergency, slipped me allowance, so I'll forgive him for skipping—but still a little bummed.
But there, even better, was the one right in front of me.
Seonwoo oppa—the one who made my last year pure bliss, who'll keep making me happy, who I'll make happy from now on.
Seeing him, my smile bloomed on its own.
After the whole ceremony wrapped, I waved at the three of them, feeling over the moon.
At the same time, looking at Seonwoo oppa, I thought.
Oppa, I'm an adult now.
We can go to the same university, walk the same campus.
So, accept me now.
I love you, oppa.
The moment to say it was coming.
