//3 years later: Busan, South Korea// 

"Mom! I'm going to school now!" you yell, grabbing your backpack. 
"Wait, wait! I have your lunch!" your mom smiles. 
"Mom! I'm graduating in a couple of weeks! You don't need to make me a lunch anymore!" you exclaim. 
"Yah, Kim Y/N! I'm your mother and you will always be my daughter. I can't believe you're going to be a doctor soon!" she exclaims. 
You giggle, "Alright alright. I love you! Don't forget to tell In Jun and Dad I said goodbye!" you smile, running out the door to catch the next bus. 

It's been three years. Three whole years since you last went to Seoul. Three years since you left SM Entertainment. Three years since you last talked to Mark. You've been attending a medical university in Busan and luckily, your parents found decent jobs and earned enough money to pay for your tuition. No one at your school knows that you used to be a trainee at SM. You're graduating in a couple of weeks and you're finally going to be a doctor. NCT hasn't been promoting lately, and that worries you. You've thought of contacting Mark again, but your mom said it was for the better. After all, Herin is debuting soon and she and Mark are closer than ever. 

You quickly run to your first period classroom, rushing to take a seat. 
"Kim Y/N! Here are your graduation requirements," your professor says, handing you a folder filled with papers. 
"Yes! I'm graduating!" you exclaim, hugging the folder. 
"Y/N, you've worked hard these past couple of years," your classmate, Min Hyuk, says. He's had a crush on you for a while now. 
"Thanks, Min Hyuk," you smile. 
"So, will you answer me now?" he asks. 
"Answer what?" you ask. 
"Will you date me?" he smiles. 
"Ah, Min Hyuk-ah. You know I really only think of you as a dear friend. And I'm really not looking for a boyfriend right now," you nervously laugh. 
"Ah...I understand. Maybe one day!" Min Hyuk exclaims. 
"Y-yeah," you smile, feeling a bit bad. 
"I have to go. I'll see you soon!" he smiles, waving goodbye. 

//Graduation Day// 

"Y/N, I'm so proud  of you!" your mom exclaims, giving you a hug after the ceremony ends. 
"Thanks mom! Thanks dad! Thanks In Jun-ah," you say, giving your little brother a hug. 
"Hey! Congrats," Min Hyuk says, giving you a bouquet of flowers. 
"Aw, what is this for? You didn't have to," you smile, giving him a hug. 
"Noona! Are you and Min Hyuk hyung dating now?" In Jun asks. 
"Ah, someday we might! Your noona doesn't want a boyfriend right now," Min Hyuk chuckles, patting your brother on the back. 
"Noona!!" In Jun groans. 
"It's fine, In Jun-ah," you laugh. 
Min Hyuk gives you a kiss on the cheek and you give him a weird look, but you lightly kiss him on the cheek since you know it will probably be your last. Min Hyuk bows to your parents and walks away, greeting his own family. 
"Okay! You ready to go to the restaurant? I made a reservation for all of us," your dad smiles. 
You nod and turn around. You see someone who looks like Mark at the gym entrance, and your heart drops. You know that it's not possible that it's Mark, but you have this really strange feeling. You slowly approach the gym door, and the closer you get to him, you see that it's Mark. You gasp and quickly turn around, starting to run towards your parents, but you feel a hand grab your wrist. 
"Y/N," you hear him whisper in your ear. 
You turn around, "M-Mark. W-what are you doing here?" 
"Congratulations. I knew you could be a great doctor," he smiles. 
"Mark Lee. What are you doing here?!" you yell, making your parents turn around. 
"I'm sorry. I just...are you mad?" he asks. 
"N-no, I'm sorry. I'm just so overwhelmed and...I don't know if I can talk to you properly," you say. 
"Is it because you left me?" he asks. 
"W-what?" you ask, shocked. 
"Ah, it's okay. Let's talk about it later," he smiles. 
You ask, "How did you find me here?" 
"Jennie," he replies. 
"Ah," you quietly say, looking down. 
"Noona! Go to the restaurant where we made a reservation. Eomma, Appa, and I are going to a different restaurant!" he smiles. Your parents wave goodbye and you groan. Of course, they're still rooting for Mark. 
"Mark...I...," you start. 
"Shh. Let's go eat. I need to discuss something with you," he smiles, grabbing your hand. 
Feeling his hand on yours is such a new yet familiar feeling. It's been years, and you feel nothing but guilt. You've always asked yourself, "Why did I have to leave?", "I shouldn't have done that.", or "What if he's in love with someone else now?" 
You arrive at the restaurant and you both sit down, but you're too scared to say a word. 
"I need to tell you something," he says. 
"No, me first,"