The memorial service was on a Friday of that following week. Classes were dismissed for that day, to allow the students to pay their respect for Alena and her family.

Suho and his friends arrived to the funeral home on time and were one of the first few to say their goodbyes to her. It was a closed casket, and Suho was sad because he wanted to see how she looked one last time before saying goodbye to her.

Beside her casket, was a grand photo of her. She was smiling for once with her sleek black hair flowing down in a white collared blouse. She wasn’t wearing black for once, noted Suho to himself. A small smile appeared on his face for a second before it was wiped off as he remembered where he was. It saddened him deeply to know that this would be the last smile the world would see of her's. She looked absolutely beautiful in the photo and that was the Alena he had come to know.

Beautiful, inside and out.

After praying, him and his friends went up to the casket and each one laying a gentle finger on it and closed their eyes with tears streaming down their faces. The hall was filled with different people, and full of tears going all around. Teachers, students, her family and her friends were all there. 

Suho was the last to leave of his friends. He touched the casket, embodied with white flowers and said, “Alena,” his voice was shaky. He pulled all the courage he could manage and let out a big, aching sigh. His chest heaved in pained misery and he clutched it with one hand, “I wish you had more time on this earth with us. I wish you could’ve allowed our friendship to bloom… You were one heck of a girl, with such amazing thoughts… I’m really going to miss you.” Before he could cry even harder, he walked away and shook each of her family members hands.

He didn’t want to say goodbye.

At the same time… this didn’t feel like goodbye.

It was odd, as he sat next to his friends and watched as everyone cried as they said their goodbyes to her, he could feel an air of refreshment next to him. It was like she was right next to him, informing him that she was in a happier place now and that she’s okay and at peace.

Suho bent his head down and for the first time in ages, he began to let out a sob. Lay heard him and choked back his tears. Kris wasn’t the type to cry, but seeing his brethrens cry caused a tear to fall out of him. Sehun had to go the washroom because he didn’t want to cry infront of anyone else.

Luhan couldn’t take all the depression so he and Kyungsoo went out to talk, though they had much to say but little comments to make. They were both upset with themselves for not being a better person to Alena and judging her before ever giving the chance to know her.

Kim Sungjoo entered with his friends, but for some reason, it was the hardest for Suho to watch because he noted how heartbroken he looked. Despite causing such recklessness at school, deep down, Kim Sungjoo must’ve really did loved Alena. After being dragged away from his friends because he couldn’t leave her side, Kim Sungjoo went to Alena’s mother and gave her the tightest of hugs.

Suho and his friends stayed until the end of the memorial service.

It was time for them to leave but Suho couldn’t bring himself to leave just yet.

His friends were all at the front while Suho stood infront of her casket. He had long stopped crying, but the denial is starting to slip away and he realized he really had to say goodbye now.

As he expelled a big sigh, Suho touched her casket one last time. It felt like he was touching her…

“Alena,” Suho started… but couldn’t finish. His breathing began to get difficult and the words just couldn’t come out now. She was gone. She was really gone. There will be no more of her popping out of nowhere, and talking to her. She was gone. He was never going to see her face again. Suho wiped his tears and forced himself to say goodbye. “You weren’t just any girl, you were spectacular in every single way. Wake up so I can see you again, okay?”

With that, Suho finally felt his feet backing away and turning around.

Goodbye Alena, goodbye. We’ll meet again one day.

---

The boys went to their local diner to eat after the funeral, though they had no appetite to eat.

In fact, the local diner was packed tonight filled with the entire student body of Seoul Di