Towards the end of her final year, Suzy believed she had a good grasp of the subjects. Her aim was to land in the same college as Myungsoo, but to study science instead. She searched what was required to become an astronaut, but she never knew it was such a long route, and the hardship that came with it. She decided that becoming a physics lecturer was just as magnificent. After all, her father taught physics at university. He was a good teacher too, often receiving many gifts from his students.

    Just before the exams, she had to find someone for a date to her graduation prom. She was thinking of asking Oh Sehun in her year, rather than waiting for him to ask her since he was a quiet boy by nature. It also helped that he was not particularly annoying like some of the other boys in her class. But a part of her had someone else in mind.

    During one evening, Jongin pranced to her and Soojung. A wide smile was plastered on his face. He rubbed his fingers through his gelled hair, and straightened his school sweater.

    “My grad ball is coming up soon,” he said. “I’m wondering if you’d like to come with me, Soojung.”

Soojung’s reaction surprised Suzy. She glanced at Jongin up and down. Her lips curled into a sneer. “Excuse me?” she asked, venom in her tone.

    Suzy noticed the dismal change. But Jongin grinned with that idiotic grin. She prayed in her head that he would not say anything stupid. There was nothing worse than witnessing someone making a fool of themselves.

    “I would like you to be my date, my lady.” Jongin gave them a mock bow. “Suzy, could you please convince her?”

Suzy opened , but Soojung intervened. “Sorry Jongin, why should Suzy speak for me? Give me one good reason why I’d go with you.”

    Jongin’s smile faded. Perhaps Soojung’s hostile aura seeped into him. Finally. His posture slackened. “Oh I get it.” He chuckled. “You’re playing hard to get.”

    Soojung let out a nefarious laugh. Suzy flinched from the high-pitched sound. Again, she revised some prayers in her head. Let Jongin not make a fool himself. Please. Let him not make a fool of himself.

    “I’m sorry, Jongin. But I won’t accept your offer for the ball,” she said.

It took a moment for Jongin to ruminate over her words. His face expressed such pain, that Suzy regretted not giving him a hug that day.

    “I don’t get it,” he said, with sincere sadness. “You agreed back when we were kids.”

“That was back we were twelve, Jongin,” she replied. “I just said yes because there was no one else to ask. I’m sorry, but you’re not my type.”

    Suzy could have sworn she heard Jongin’s heart shatter that day. He stumbled over his words, unable to grasp them before they left his mouth.

    “You don’t even study, Jongin,” said Soojung. Suzy thought she should stop saying anymore, because Jongin’s expression was too painful to watch. But Soojung only cut deeper into the wound of his conscience, like she wanted