Summer

Jihoon sits down at his usual place in the English class, while his best friend, Soonyoung and his lover, Wonwoo are talking about the basketball game last night by the window next to his desk. Soonyoung and Wonwoo greet Jihoon morning with a smile on each faces and Jihoon happily greets them back before taking out his sketchbook and his pencil case from his bag. Jihoon starts to sketch, continue from where he stops before.

It's a pretty normal morning that day. Everyone seems to be waiting for the English teacher to come into the class since it's unusual for him to be late and not punctual, but no one bothers to look after him. Spending a free period wouldn't hurt, right? Jihoon feels so content when he's sketching, his dull surrounding starts to color itself whenever he sketches, shutting himself from the real world and keeping himself in his own bubble of happiness.

Jihoon has always been like that, Soonyoung knows the most, but the smaller can be talkative and he participates in any conversation whenever he wants to and Soonyoung is comfortable with the way Jihoon is. But not to the society though; his classmates and club members outcast him, mistaken him as arrogant when Jihoon is actually being discreet and shy as his usual self. Jihoon knows what situation he is in, but he cares less. It doesn't hurt anyone that he's not socializing, people just don't understand him.

And that's the more reason why Soonyoung wants to look after the smaller. Soonyoung can't leave Jihoon alone to himself, because who knows if one day he falls sick or gets injured seriously? Jihoon can take care of himself, yes, Soonyoung knows that, but it just that knowing Jihoon not really care about what other people think, might backfires the smaller one day and that's exactly what Soonyoung doesn't want to happen.

Just as Jihoon finally finishes his sketching, a guy in formal attire suddenly slides the classroom door to the side, stepping inside while the students get back to their seats. The new guy goes to the teacher's desk in front of the class and before he introduces himself, he takes a marker and starts to write down on the whiteboard.

"Self-study session"

He turns around to greet the class as brightly as he is and introduces himself as the new counselor in the university. Name? 'Choi Seungcheol' seongsaeng-nim, Seungcheol seongsaeng-nim for short. Age? Secret. That's all that Jihoon knows about the substitute teacher but he definitely wants to know more about the teacher since he makes Jihoon feels all the colors gushing through him, giving him the most colorful view in front of his eyes.

Jihoon freezes in place, incapable of uttering a word because his eyes can't accept the beautiful reality in front of the class, effortlessly beautiful even while sitting on the chair and flipping through the pages of a newspaper. Jihoon wants to avert his attention from the teacher but it's too late when he gets caught. They make an eye contact and none of them seems to look away after a few seconds so the teacher smiles at Jihoon brightly, as if the clouds finally give its way for the sun to shine on him.

Jihoon smiles back awkwardly because he doesn't know if he really deserves that beautiful smile and breaks away from the eye contact, back to the sketchbook in his hand. Jihoon knows it's impossible for him to feel this way towards the teacher and he decides to distract himself with studying. Jihoon keeps the sketchbook back into his bag and takes out his notes when suddenly a folded small paper being thrown at his desk.

Jihoon looks to the direction where the folded paper comes from to find Soonyoung looking at him with a glint of tease and playfulness. Jihoon opens the folded paper and reads silently as the note said;

"I saw what you guys did just now. It's cute though… I never know you actually have a thing for older guys."

Jihoon feels his cheeks burning from the embarrassment because he doesn't know that Soonyoung actually saw what happen just now. He quickly crumples the note before he heard a snicker coming from his best friend. He hates when Soonyoung can see it right through him, reading him like an open book because seriously, Soonyoung needs to stop looking after him and pay attention to Wonwoo even more.

Jihoon blocks his front view with a piece of paper, not wanting the substitute teacher to notice anything and he mouths a curse at Soonyoung silently. Soonyoung laughs lightly because teasing Jihoon is so much fun, flustered and embarrassed Jihoon is so cute! Jihoon ignores Soonyoung immediately and when he can feel a pair of eyes on him, he focuses back on his notes, trying to distract himself from the gaze.

**********

The bell rings across the university, meaning the first period ends. Jihoon mentally slaps himself as he can't even concentrate in studying since he's been self-cautious the moment the substitute teacher walks in the class. He packs his notes and stuff into his bag, wanting to get out of the class as soon as possible, but then the substitute teacher stops him midway.

"Hey, um… you're Jihoon, right?" Seungcheol tries to grab the student's wrist but stops himself when he already stands close to him, blocking the student from going out of the class.

"Y-yes, Seongsaeng-nim…" Jihoon nods before looking at the teacher.

"Oh, good. The thing is, the principal asks me to keep an eye on you…" Seungcheol stops when Jihoon looks at him terrifyingly, probably at the mention of 'the principal'.

"…oh it's nothing. He asks me to have a one-on-one counseling session with you, to talk about you… he hopes that maybe you can open up to me or anything, but I don't want to push you, so maybe we can spend the session by doing something else. I don't know… anything you want to do… We don't have to talk about you if you don't want to…"

"Oh…" Jihoon responds easily. He understands the principal's intention because it's crystal clear that the principal is worried about him, about his personality. He has been to the principal's office so many times already and he has been told that he needs to socialize more because with his excellent grades, he can go far but what's holding him back is him lacking in soft skills and that's worrisome.

Seungcheol looks at him carefully, waiting for an answer and at the same time worried if he said something wrong to the student. Jihoon looks back at the teacher while thinking this matter through.

"Okay…" said the student.

"Okay? Does that mean you agree to have a session?" asked the teacher, confirming the answer because he might mishear it.

"Yes, Seongsaeng-nim."

"Great then! Just drop by anytime you're free because I'll be at the counseling room for the whole day."

"Okay…" Jihoon replies softly and Seungcheol smiles at him before going back to the teacher's desk, gathering his stuff. Jihoon walks off and turns at a corner heading to his locker when he bumps into Soonyoung and Wonwoo at the front door, waiting for him and most possible eavesdropping the whole conversation. Both of them smiles at each other knowingly and Soonyoung takes this chance to ruffle the smaller's hair while Wonwoo nudges the smaller's side. Jihoon seriously hates his friends.

**********

"Hello? Seungcheol seongsaeng-nim…?" Jihoon peeks inside of the counseling room to see no one at the front desk. There are a few rooms with lights on but he doesn't want to simply enter without knowing where to go.

Just as he about to call for the teacher one more time, Seungcheol comes out from a room which bigger than the rest of the rooms and goes straight to the student with that smile of his. When will he stops smiling like that? It's blinding me.

"Come this way, Jihoon-ssi. I don't know what you're planning to do and I surely know you wouldn't want to talk about anything, so if you don't mind, can you help me with this?" Seungcheol shows Jihoon what he's up to in the group meeting room.

Jihoon looks at the mess in the room; various color papers laying on the floor with a few origami books. He walks in and takes a seat at a spot clear from the papers and Seungcheol closes the door behind him and sits across the student.

"Raina gwajang-nim wants me to help her by making a thousand of paper cranes for an event in September. She told me that a group of Japanese students will come here for an exchange program and suggested to welcome them with this…" Seungcheol shows the undone paper cranes, laying in front of the student.

"Oh okay…" Jihoon agrees simply, liking the idea of making paper cranes than doing nothing which can be even more awkward.  Seungcheol teaches him how to do it and Jihoon learns how too fast to Seungcheol's liking. As expected from a fast leaner. Seungcheol looks at Jihoon to find the student enjoys himself and he smiles contently.

Autumn

Seungcheol and Jihoon have been spending the one-on-one counseling sessions even more than one, they meet almost everyday, making thousand pieces of paper cranes and they would be lying if they don't bond closer with each other. Seungcheol and Jihoon learn about one another a lot and Seungcheol is happy that Jihoon slowly opens up to him little by little. It's not that Jihoon has anything serious going on with his life, that's just how he is and Seungcheol understands that now.

Jihoon also learns that Seungcheol is 5 years older than him and other than substituting classes, Seungcheol is also a coach for the football team and he is in charge of the Japanese exchange students. Since Seungcheol has been substituting here and there, he is known among the students and many of them admire him so much, and being able to play football like an expert makes the teacher shines even more.

Seungcheol is always bright and friendly with the students, most of the time when he's not in the counseling room; Jihoon will always bump into him with students surrounding him. They will make an eye contact and before Jihoon walks any further than the teacher, Seungcheol will always send the student a smile. But Jihoon knows, no matter how friendly Seungcheol is with other students, he will never be himself entirely as he is when he's with Jihoon and that fact somehow gives a little hope to the student that maybe he has a chance.

Soonyoung and Wonwoo have been urging Jihoon to confess to the teacher because those two obviously have mutual feelings for one another, but who is Jihoon kidding? He is not going to confess to the teacher, not just yet. What if the entire university knows about this? They will never let Jihoon alive again and the teacher might get fired.

The day before the exchange students come, the counselors are busy handling everything to make sure the event goes smoothly tomorrow. Seungcheol has been going around the campus, working on the paperwork and other stuff. Jihoon spots the teacher rushing here and there but never the teacher forgets to smile whenever the students greet him. Jihoon wishes that he can help but it'll be weird for him to do so in public.

Just as Jihoon ends his last class that day, he bumps into the teacher around a corner.

"Hello, Jihoon-ssi."

"Hello, Seongsaeng-nim…"

"Are you going back home already?"

"U-uh, yeah…" Jihoon actually wants to go the counseling room to see if he can help with anything but he is too shy to tell that to the teacher.

"Oh… do you mind coming with me for a minute? I want to show you the stage for tomorrow's event." How can Jihoon says 'no' when the teacher is genuinely smiling at him, with a small hope that the student would come and see.

"Sure, Seongsaeng-nim…" Jihoon can see that satisfying smile on Seungcheol's face and he averts his attention, looking somewhere else because his cheeks are flushed red. Seungcheol starts off walking, heading towards the stage and Jihoon follows closely behind.

They come across a few group of students and Jihoon would be lying if he doesn't feel a pang in his heart whenever the students look at Seungcheol with such admiration but Seungcheol being oblivious, just smile to them purely and innocently. They walk a few more minutes before they arrive at the campus' assembly point with a small stage at the front of it.

Jihoon stops at his spot because the view in front of him is so beautiful and breathtaking. The small stage is simply decorated with the paper cranes they've been working for the past few months together and the various colors of it gives an extra touch to its beauty. The paper cranes are tied with fine strings, lined up in lines downwards and every single of the paper cranes decorates the background of the stage perfectly, giving the Japanese vibe to the environment.

Jihoon stays quiet when suddenly a wind breeze gust through the surrounding; the blades of grass nearby dancing swiftly from side to side and the autumn leaves start to decorate the evening sky before falling to the ground, enhance the aesthetic sight before the student. The sundown clearly adding the orange color to the evening sky, embellish the environment when suddenly a masculine figure blocks the view.

"Beautiful, isn’t it? Our hard work really paid off." Seungcheol smiles at the student, proud with the outcome.

Jihoon had to correct himself; yes, the paper cranes decorating the background stage with addition of the autumn leaves laying at the ground and orange light paints through the sky is breathtaking but the man in front of him is even more ethereal.

Seungcheol looks at the younger when he doesn't reply.

"You're okay, Jihoon-ssi?"

"Y-yeah… Just having a hard time accepting the beauty… it's too good to be true…"

Seungcheol comes close to the student and before Jihoon realized, his soft hand is slowly ruffling his hair, those long and beautiful fingers of his running gently through his locks and Jihoon has to remind himself to breathe.

"I know, right?" Seungcheol smiles at him while his fingers are still running through the student's hair and Jihoon looks back at him before reaching for the teacher's hand. Jihoon holds the hand on his head gently before bringing it to his side and intertwines their fingers together. Jihoon doesn't know what's gotten into him at the moment and thank goodness there's nobody around to see what they're doing, but Seungcheol simply holds the student's hand tighter.

Seungcheol looks back at the stage in front of them, admiring the astonishing view and Jihoon joins him quietly, appreciating the beauty before them, with their hands holding each other, completing one another like a missing piece to the whole puzzle. Jihoon is sure that they both have mutual feelings towards one another, no words needed to make it official because the teacher's gesture simply gives the student the answer to the question. That evening is even more beautiful when they're together.

**********

Jihoon is so surprised when suddenly the teacher asks him if he's going to join him for dinner that night. It seems that the other counselors have to go back early and they left Seungcheol with a few stuff to work on and the idea of them alone at the counseling room that night doesn't seem wrong.

Jihoon is more than happy that the teacher finally makes the first move between them. It's going to be a simple dinner that night since Seungcheol buys packed dinner and drinks on their way to the counseling room but it's going to be wonderful anyway. Being with Seungcheol is wonderful and Jihoon can't be any grateful than that.

The student actually goes through his notes and spends the time studying while waiting for the teacher to get his work done. Only two of them in the big room; with the teacher at his office and the student at the front desk. A while later, Seungcheol calls Jihoon to come to the pantry to have their dinner. Jihoon gathers his stuff at one place neatly before joining the teacher.

Seungcheol gives Jihoon a pack of reheated dinner and a bottle of mineral water and Jihoon obediently takes it before taking a place at the meeting table. Seungcheol joins later on. They enjoy their dinner with a little amount of random conversations but it's very comfortable compared to how awkward it looks. They talk and laugh at every single details and both of their cheeks are burning red, none of them bother to hide anymore.

Jihoon feels like everything seems to be in place.

I think this might be…

might be…

the happiest time of my life.

"Seongsaeng-nim…" the student speaks up.

"Yes?"

"I think… I've fallen in love with you…" Jihoon blushes but he doesn't look away from the teacher. Seungcheol doesn't look surprise, he actually anticipates the student to confess but he knows his place. Seungcheol looks down to the empty bottle in front of him, looking away from the student's gaze. Jihoon looks at the teacher patiently, waiting for a reply. Jihoon seems to understand the silence so he looks down to the chopsticks in between his fingers.

"Thank you, Jihoon-ssi, but I'm a teacher, remember?"

Jihoon hums embarrassedly.

They both stay quiet for the rest of the night.

They clean the place quietly.

They pack their things quietly.

They separate their ways quietly too.

Nothing can be done, nothing can be said anymore and Jihoon knows it from the start. He just feels like telling the teacher about what he feels and he knows what the teacher would answer, but to actually hear it in reality really breaks his heart. Jihoon holds the tears from falling and bites his lips, feeling how his heart shattered into pieces, how his body finally sets on self-destruct but he knows to not do anything bad because the teacher would hate him for that.

The building by the road, the lights brightening the night, the broken streetlamps, at the street corner, everyone is in a rush. He looks at the sky that's on the verge of tears.

It's not you; the fault lies on me, unable to hold back my own feelings.

Winter

The new semester comes by really fast and it's Jihoon's final semester before graduating in May. Only 5 months to finish everything and wrap his university years up beautifully and successfully.

Jihoon will be busy since it's his last semester, meaning that he doesn't get to meet the teacher like usual, maybe once in a week but that may not happen as well. The principal calls him to the office, telling him that he is satisfy with the one-on-one counseling sessions because Seungcheol have explained everything to him. Jihoon doesn't need to attend any counseling session because the principal thinks he doesn't need it anymore and plus, Jihoon need to focus on his last semester entirely.

Jihoon goes back to his class, feeling all blue and Soonyoung knows it's not the time to tease the smaller.

A few weeks after that, Jihoon really doesn't see Seungcheol around the campus. Maybe they didn't get the chance to run against each other and since Seungcheol is busy with the Japanese exchange students, he doesn’t have time to substitute any teacher at the moment. Plus, all the teachers don't give a chance for the students to rest; instead, they come in every class and give the students a lot more assignments to work on. Jihoon would be lying if he doesn't miss the teacher.

The cold weather just adds to his misery.

**********

Jihoon decides to stop by at the counseling room one evening, just in case he can get a glimpse of the teacher. That's more than enough. Jihoon wraps his scarf around his neck and puts on the winter coat to keep himself warm from the light snow. He slings his bag to his shoulder and he walks slowly, heading to his destination. Later he finds the lights are on and his heart skips a beat because he has a huge chance to see him.

As he slowly heads towards the room, Jihoon notices a female figure and a male figure on the inside through the windows. He settles behind the open door, hiding his presence while waiting for the teacher to come out, but what he doesn't expect is that the female is confessing to the male.

"Seungcheol-ssi, I… I really like you… and maybe we can go out sometimes…"

By the way the female addresses the teacher, it's definitely not a student because he doubts any student would call the teacher other than 'Seongsaeng-nim', so more likely a counselor too or a teacher. Jihoon closes his hands tightly making it into a fist, trying to control his jealousy while intends to listen to the rest of the conversation.

"O-oh… that's unexpected. But you see, I'm not really into it at the moment…" Seungcheol says carefully, not wanting to hurt her but at the same time, wants to get the fact straight because he already has someone in mind. Jihoon knows Seungcheol is smiling sheepishly and rubbing his nape innocently, even though he can't see it. Jihoon walks off slowly but Seungcheol notices the shadow walking away and he knows who it belongs to.

Seungcheol sighs mentally.

**********

The snow starts to melt, giving its way for the flowers to bloom and the leaves to grow. The principal decides to give a free period day for the students and by a free period day, he meant the students and the teachers, all of them need to work together in cleaning the areas around the university.

The student's representative already announced the task and area given for each of the classes through the radio channel across the university and Jihoon's class gets to clean an area near the counseling room.  Jihoon is happy that he finally gets to see the teacher again but when he arrives at the designated area, there's no sign of him. Jihoon decides to look for him around the building and the next building to it.

Little that Jihoon knows, Soonyoung and Wonwoo are following him behind quietly.

After a few minutes of searching the building, Jihoon finally spots a familiar back view of the teacher.  Jihoon stops for a while to see the surrounding if the coast is clear. Soonyoung and Wonwoo hide behind the trees not far from where Jihoon is standing, but close enough to hear everything.

Jihoon walks closer to Seungcheol's side while the teacher is cleaning a window, wiping it clean from the traces left by the snow. Seungcheol looks to his side to find Jihoon, looking down at his hands with a piece of dry cloth in between.

"I'm fine here…" the teacher said. Jihoon stays quiet.

"Jihoon-ssi, you should clean with the others."

"They have plenty of people around. I'll help you." Jihoon said weakly.

"Jihoon, you have to join the others…" Seungcheol emphasizes the word 'have' a little louder. "If you want to say you're fine by yourself, at least do it after you've put in effort to make a place where you belong." To be honest, Seungcheol doesn't like to talk about this since he already knows that Jihoon is doing very well with the others, but he needs the student to understand the situation they are in.

"I am making that effort." Jihoon blushes when he said that, he uses Seungcheol's trick back at the teacher. Jihoon reaches for Seungcheol's sleeve and the teacher tenses when the student initiates the move. Seungcheol looks at Jihoon's hand on his sleeve before he looks at the student.

"Jihoon, I'm a teacher…" Jihoon is surprised to hear when the teacher calls his name without being formal and how his soft voice pleading the student to understand the situation. "…as long as you're a student, I'll never be that far away. But we can't get any closer than this, either."

Jihoon looks down to the ground, trying to hold back his tears. He holds onto the teacher's sleeve a little tighter and he can hear the teacher sighs.

"Jihoon!" Seungcheol becomes stern before he slowly goes soft on the student again. "Go join the others…"

Jihoon let go of the sleeve and turns around, but before he leaves the teacher, he speaks up.

"Then, you have to promise me that you will go out with me on the graduation day…" Jihoon doesn't have to look back to know that Seungcheol is looking at him surprisingly.

"You said we can't be any closer than this since I'm a student, right? Then, go out with me after I graduate. I'm not a student anymore at that time…" Jihoon holds onto the dry cloth tightly to control his breathing but his shaking voice is traceable to the teacher. Seungcheol sighs.

"Okay then…"

Soonyoung and Wonwoo hold their breath, pressing themselves to the trees as Jihoon walks close to where they are hiding but thank goodness, the smaller doesn't notice their presence. Soonyoung looks at the teacher that has been left alone at his spot to find him looking at the window in front of him, but his expression through the reflection is confusing; half worried, half excited. Soonyoung knows that the teacher feels the same way towards his best friend but the situation just doesn't fit right. Wrong timing.

But well, they just have to wait a few more months until Jihoon graduates.

Spring

Last day of the final exam.

The bell rings throughout the university, signaling the time for the last exam paper to be collected. All the students cheering and screaming happily can be heard all over the place. Jihoon is happy too, that the hectic schedule and the time spent on studying and working on assignments finally comes to an end. The students start to talk with one another but not leaving their places, making the whole class chaotic while the teacher is collecting the paper before going to the front.

"Okay guys. Slow down, slow down~"

The students stop talking and pay attention to the front.

"Make sure that I've collected everything…" the students check on their desk as if it’s a cue for them to do so.

"Finally… you guys have done it a lot and as your homeroom teacher, I'm so happy to be able to spend this semester with you guys…" the students start to laugh and making sweet comments when their teacher being sentimental.

"…so make sure you guys have a lot of fun during the gap before the graduation and remember to be safe too. See you guys soon and have a nice break!" the students reply the same thing to their teacher and of course they're going to party like crazy after all these time.

The teacher gathers the exam paper and some of the students help him while the others start to gather their stuff before going out of the class. Jihoon stays at his seat for a moment before Soonyoung and Wonwoo surround him.

"Hoon-ah, you don't have any plans today, right?" asked Wonwoo.

"I suppose…"

"Let's go out then!"

"Uh…"

"Come on now, let's have some fun together before going back home." Soonyoung tickles Jihoon's side, knowing his best friend's weak spots.

"Yeah, we won’t be seeing each other until graduation." Wonwoo says at the smaller even though the smaller is having a hard time laughing and pushing Soonyoung away.

"Okay, okay!" Jihoon agrees immediately and Soonyoung stops tickling the smaller when he gets the answer that he wants.

"We have to meet someone right now. We'll catch up with you later, okay?"

"So now, I have to wait for you guys? What am I supposed to do?" Jihoon looks at his two friends and he can see them smiling mischievously. Jihoon gets the idea, but no, not gonna happen.

Soonyoung and Wonwoo leave Jihoon alone, packing his stuff into his bag before slings it over his shoulder and makes his way out of the class. Jihoon walks slowly and greets the other students back when they greet him first. Jihoon has been making progress ever since he starts to socialize slowly, little by little and most of his acquaintances are very friendly to him and he can't help but being friendly in return.

Jihoon stops on his track when some of his acquaintances initiate a conversation with him and Jihoon has to admit that he is happy that other people start to talk to him even for a short time. He definitely enjoys his last semester wholeheartedly.

He walks through the hallway before he bumps into the teacher that he's been missing the most just before going down the stairs.

"That's the first time I've seen you talking with other people than Soonyoung and Wonwoo. Isn't that nice?" Seungcheol starts to act back as he used to when they first met and Jihoon can see that bright smile of his again.

"Just because I fit in, doesn't mean my feelings have changed, okay?" Jihoon boldly confessed but slowly, not wanting the others to hear as he looks away from the teacher's gaze. Seungcheol looks at the student a little longer, to appreciate the person in front of him after so many months not encountering. Jihoon takes that as a sign for him to continue.

"I'm sure you think you've shaken me off, getting rid of one annoyance, but…" Jihoon looks back at the teacher to find him smiling gently.

"…I don't think of you as an annoyance, though…" Jihoon can feel his cheeks heating up even more from the comment and that gentle smile of the teacher is making it worse. Jihoon looks away before walking off.

"See you soon, Seongsaeng-nim!"

Seungcheol chuckles at this cute side of the student. The flustered and embarrassed Jihoon is cute and he will never get enough of it. He looks at Jihoon's back view for a little longer when suddenly Soonyoung and Wonwoo come in picture.

"Seongsaeng-nim…" Seungcheol averts his attention towards Soonyoung.

"Yes?"

"If you let Jihoon gets ideas in his head and then hurt him, you're really going to pay for it." Seungcheol can see that Soonyoung is being serious, listening to his voice clearly says it all, and seeing this side of Soonyoung makes him realized that the thing going on between him and Jihoon can be real and no longer an issue.

"I see… So you don't mind if it ends in a way that doesn't hurt him, right?" Soonyoung and Wonwoo look surprised hearing that coming from their teacher, because did he just…? Soonyoung smiles and Seungcheol smiles back.

"I don't mind, Seongsaeng-nim. Give your best! And I'm here to help you…" Soonyoung replies happily.

"Thanks, Soonyoung-ssi, Wonwoo-ssi. I really need it…" Seungcheol smiles contently.

**********

Graduation Day.

After the certificates-giving ceremony comes to an end, every students start to meet their family who come to see them on one of their important days. Soonyoung and Wonwoo are also separating to meet their families that come on that day while Jihoon's family can't make it since they live in Busan and they have some issues to handle there, but Jihoon still dials his house number and talks with his parents through the phone.

When Jihoon hangs up the call, finally a familiar masculine figure stands in front of him. Jihoon looks clearly to the figure to find Seungcheol in casual attire with a bouquet of mixed white and red roses in his hands, smiling at him. Seungcheol comes closer to Jihoon and hands him the bouquet, Jihoon can't stop the blush on his cheeks when Seungcheol initiates his moves in public. It makes Jihoon feel anxious slightly, but he definitely likes the way they're going now.

"Congratulations, Jihoon-ie…" Jihoon blushes hard as it is the first time he heard that coming from the teacher.

"Thank you, Seongsaeng-nim…" Jihoon looks at the teacher that he misses the most with his blushed cheeks, this new feeling starts to take over his whole body, it's definitely a warm and lovely feeling.

"Hyung." Seungcheol corrects the younger.

"Huh?"

"Hyung, right? You're no longer a student, therefore, I'm no longer your teacher…" Seungcheol says with confidence. Jihoon can't stop looking at the elder because he didn't expect this to happen in public. To see Seungcheol as only his lover, his partner and not his teacher anymore is new to him, but he actually wishes for it to happen one day. Jihoon smiles.

"Come with me…" Seungcheol grabs Jihoon's free hand while the younger is struggling to carry his certificate file and the bouquet in one hand, while walking in the graduation coat and the mortar board is blocking his vision.

"H-hyung, where are we going?"

"You'll see…"

They arrive at the counseling room but suddenly Seungcheol let go of Jihoon's hand to go behind him. Jihoon looks at him curiously but Seungcheol asks him to face forward and he can feel Seungcheol hands on his eyes, blocking his vision completely.

"Hyung…" Jihoon holds one of Seungcheol's hands as a sign for explanation but the elder shushes him instead. Seungcheol guides Jihoon slowly to who knows where they are going until Seungcheol stops after a few minutes of walking. Seungcheol leans closer to whisper to Jihoon's ear.

"You're ready?"

"I'm not sure if I'm ready for anything right now, hyung…"

"You'll love it." Jihoon can feel the happy tone in the elder's voice and Seungcheol takes his hands off the younger.

In front of them lies a big, shady tree with a lot of branches and each of the branches are filled with pink-colored cherry petals, blossoms to the fullest. As if the cherry blossom tree is not enough to impress Jihoon with its beauty, there are round-papered decorations tied to a fine string, circling its way around the tree trunk downwards. And each of the branches tied with a lot of fine strings, hanging loosely from the branches towards the ground, probably 50 paper cranes tied on each strings or maybe even more, decorating the cherry blossom tree.

It is so beautiful; Jihoon doesn't realize when he starts crying because the sight in front of him is breathtaking which leaves him breathless. He cries even more when he realized that the paper cranes are not the ones he and Seungcheol made together. They used to make colorful paper cranes for the ceremony but the paper cranes in front of them are in white and light pink.

"You make all of this?" Jihoon asks weakly, some words stuck in his throat as he still tries to accept the beauty in front of him. Seungcheol looks at the younger, wipes his happy tears away before grabbing his free hand back.

"Yeap, I make the paper cranes alone but Soonyoung and Wonwoo help me with the decoration. You like it?" Seungcheol asks gently and Jihoon can feel his heart beats faster than usual.

"I love it, hyung… so much…"

Seungcheol guides the younger closer to the cherry blossom tree and when they reach under it, there is a picnic basket on a picnic cloth which spreads across the grass. Seungcheol takes a sit and when he finds a comfortable spot for two, he slowly pulls speechless Jihoon to join him. Jihoon, who still has tears in his eyes, obediently takes a seat close to the elder, not knowing what to do.

As if there's a signal, the wind gusts through the tree, making the cherry petals dancing down from the branches and the paper cranes moving side to side like it's flying around them. Jihoon couldn't imagine anything more beautiful than this, especially with Seungcheol close to his side.

Seungcheol takes the mortar board off Jihoon's head, along with the bouquet and the certificate file before putting it besides the picnic basket. Seungcheol looks back at the younger before intertwining their fingers together. Seungcheol looks at Jihoon and the younger can feel the elder is looking straight to his soul. One of the elder's hands reaches for the tears on his cheeks before wiping it away.

"Don't cry, Jihoon-ie… Why are you crying?"

"I can't believe you did all this for me… Why?"

"Why…? Have you ever heard that if you make a thousand of paper cranes, your wish will be granted…?"

"Oh really?"

"Yes… and you want to know what I wish for?"

"What is it, hyung?"

"I wish for us to be together… like this…"

Seungcheol doesn't give the younger time to comprehend when he leans in to press a kiss on the younger's lips. Jihoon tenses for a bit, surprised by the way Seungcheol makes his move so smoothly but he quickly melts within the kiss when Seungcheol starts to lead the kiss gently. Jihoon opens his mouth to grant the elder's wish and his heart skips a beat when their tongues start to dance with each other gracefully.

Jihoon puts his arms around the elder's neck to bring him closer while Seungcheol snakes his one hand around the younger's waist while his other hand holds onto the younger's back before he pushes the younger gently until the younger lays down completely.

They continue to kiss passionately but Seungcheol controls himself to not go any further. Jihoon cries into the kiss and Seungcheol takes that as a sign for him to break away. Jihoon whines at the loss contact.

They both catch their breath while looking at each other in a very close proximity. Seungcheol examines the younger's features in a very close view and Jihoon does the same; their eyes roam thoroughly. Seungcheol then rubs their noses together and Jihoon mewls at the contact. They continue to look at each other, appreciating their partners after a few months not seeing one another.

Jihoon notices Seungcheol's collarbones sticking out of his shirt, he unintentionally undoes the first few buttons of the elder's shirt to get a better view. Seungcheol stops the younger before he can go any further.

"Jihoon-ie, not here…" Seungcheol looks at the younger while holding onto his hand close to his chest. Jihoon has to look away because his cheeks are burning when the back of his hand is in contact with Seungcheol bared chest. Seungcheol takes Jihoon's chin gently before turning it so they can see each other's reflection through their eyes. Seungcheol waits for a minute before he says it.

"I love you…"

Jihoon pushes himself upwards to catch the elder's lips, resuming their kissing session because he knows he doesn't need to say anything to the elder since the elder already knows how he feels. No words are needed between them because they knew the feelings are mutual since the beginning.

They both smile within the kisses.

Oh goodness, I don't know what's wrong with me... I should've finished my chaptered fic first but yeah... I hope you guys like this as much as I do. ((squeals at the end where jicheol is being intimate with each other)) >/////<