Hello/Goodbye - Hyorin

*Please read the A/N after. Thank you!

Chapter 52: Together.

Ever since the sudden revelation of my true identity, things had become livelier. My classmates’ curiosities were endless, but their questions had greatly lessened— which was, to me, a definite relief. Although I knew that most of them only took notice of my presence recently, I still felt a good amount of assurance, knowing that I’ll be able to finish high school on a good note.

My high school years had been difficult, to say the least. They were when I became fully independent and learned what the reality of life really was. They were when I learned how to fend for myself, to deal with different kinds of people, to survive in the world full of lies and tribulations, and to still see positivity amidst everything.

Reality is, no doubt, unfair and harsh. I’d seen and been through enough episodes to know, but as I looked back through the days of my naivety, I came to realize that those hardships I went through were the ones that had made me into who I am now. If not for all of the tears that I poured, the tears people around me shed, I wouldn’t have been living a life filled with new dreams and possibilities.

“You think we’re all going to graduate?” Sehun suddenly asked, turning to me with an inquisitive look.

I looked at our room and chuckled. Our advisor still wasn’t around, but no one made any effort to make any noise or even goof around. Knowing our class—which was full of troublesome students—it was a rare occurrence. Likewise, the other neighbouring sections of the senior year were also pretty behaved. It was something to be expected though, especially since the final exams just ended and it was finally the day when the final grades are to be given. Sure enough, all the members of the graduating student body had become anxious and restless.

“Maybe yes, maybe no.” I replied, donning a playful smile. “I don’t know for Tao, but I’m sure that the rest of us will definitely graduate.”

“I heard that!” Tao suddenly exclaimed from the other side of the room, gaining the attention of our classmates. “Just because you’re a Kim, doesn’t mean I’ll let you get away with your sass—“

Tao’s words, as well as his whines, came to a halt once the door slid open and Mr. Kim came walking in. Seeing him walking up to his table, holding a stack of what seemed to be our report cards, everyone quickly tensed. I, myself, felt my heart beating uncontrollably upon seeing the expressionless face of our advisor. His face was void of any emotions that it only heightened the already frantic atmosphere of the room.

“I already have your final report cards. I will hand them each to you individually and alphabetically, so just wait until your turn comes.” Mr. Kim finally spoke, earning small nods from us. Noticing the silence and unusualness, he then finally broke out into a chuckle. “Don’t be so worried about the results. Just relax and think positively. Good luck everyone!”

Slowly and one at a time, Mr. Kim began passing the cards to each student. Each time a card was placed on a desk, a student shouting in joy was sure to follow. It was the same for the neighbouring classes, for their squeals were so loud that it can be heard from across the hallway. The advisors, including Mr. Kim, didn’t make any attempt to shush them though, for they knew that it was only right of them to rejoice.

Tao was probably the loudest for even those who haven’t gotten their cards yet were shaken by him and his voice. “Oh my God, I passed! Mr. Kim, I passed! Soyeol, I passed! Everyone, I passed!” He screamed. “I freaking passed—“

“Shut the up before I rip that paper into pieces!” Soyeol hissed from across him. Tao whimpered in pain upon being met by the former’s slap. Their small interaction managed to bring a brief laughter to everyone, and the atmosphere became entirely better around the class. Seeing as Tao was able to pass, everyone was reassured, knowing that he was always the last in the class ranking.

“Well, we wouldn’t have to worry then.” Sehun snickered, whilst watching Mr. Kim walking around the room, passing cards here and there. “If Tao-hyung was able to pass then surely, everyone would.”

“Don’t be so confident, Sehun.” I said as I saw Mr. Kim approaching us with a smile. “Everything’s possible.”

“Here’s for Kim Jaera and Oh Sehun.” Mr. Kim said, handing us our cards upside down. “Good luck and congratulations.”

Hearing his words, both Sehun and I immediately looked at our cards with frantic hearts. After a brief moment, I then turned back to him and he did the same, both of us donning goofy and toothy smiles.

“Congratulations to us!” Sehun exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug, which made me chuckle. “Jaera, we’re graduating!”

Unable to hide the joy any longer, I hugged Sehun tighter and nodded, the smile on my face not fading away. “Yeah, we’re finally going to college!”

And no sooner than later, the whole floor was filled with cries of joy and excitement upon knowing that the repeater count for the year was zero. “Everyone, congratulations! You’re all graduating!” Mr. Kim exclaimed as everyone cheered around the room.

Noise was everywhere and students were coming and going out of the room as they pleased. The faculty members couldn’t care less anymore for they as well, were more than happy to see the students rejoicing. Maybe it was the pride of being teachers, in contrast with the relief we, students, felt; I couldn’t really know. One thing I’m sure though is that, everyone’s going to end their high school lives with no regrets.

As Sehun and I were greeting and congratulating Haeri, Soyeol, and Tao, Mr. Kim suddenly approached us and pointed towards the ground floor where the quadrangle was. “Jaera, I think you have a visitor.”

My eyebrows creased in confusion as the five of us peered through the windows. Sure enough, not far from the gates was a black Mustang parked.

“Looks like your boyfriend’s here,” Soyeol remarked, a smirk adorning her face as Haeri turned to me with a smile.

“Aren’t you going to greet him?”

I immediately turned back to Mr. Kim in query after, only to see him nodding reassuringly. His reaction caused for a smile to appear on my face as Sehun looked at me all the same. The two of us then excused ourselves and hurried out of the room, leaving a whining Tao, who apparently was stopped from Mr. Kim, behind.

Reaching the ground floor, my eyes sparkled in delight and I felt exuberant. My heart started leaping in pure elation and the smile on my face grew even wider. Right beside the black car stood a tall male, holding a bouquet of roses in his hands. He was wearing his old school uniform, and his frost blonde hair was tousled stylishly into a mess. His dark eyes shone beautifully against the sun and his lips, they were curved gently into a smile as he spoke tenderly.

“Xiao tuzi!”

Turning to Sehun, he then let go of my hand as he gave out a supportive smile. I hurriedly ran across the quadrangle, my breathing becoming hitched. Albeit, once I reached him and tackled him into a hug, all uneasiness left and only happiness came to me.

“Ahjussi,” I mumbled, relishing on the cradle of his arms before eyeing him with a smile. “What are you doing here?”

A chuckle escaped his lips as he pulled away from me, giving me the bouquet of what seemed to be chocolate roses. “I’m here to congratulate you for passing, of course.”

“How come you always know something before I even tell you?” I asked, eyeing the chocolate roses amusingly.

“Well,” Lu Han said, ruffling my hair fondly as a frown appeared on my face. “I have my ways.”

That frown was soon turned into another smile as another familiar voice reached my ears. “And how come you’re only congratulating her and not me?” Sehun said, finally reaching us with a displeased look on his face. “I’m your cousin not her, you should congratulate me first!”

“But she’s my girlfriend,” Lu Han said. He then placed an arm around my shoulders before pulling me towards him. “You should’ve already expected that I’d come here for her, not you, brat.”

Hearing his words, my face had gone flushed. Hearing him use the word ‘girlfriend’, it still felt so surreal. It still felt like a dream, but I know that it wasn’t. I know that it was real.

Lu Han was finally my boyfriend.

“So that’s why you even brought flowers,” Sehun said, walking towards me before popping a piece of the flower into his mouth with a smirk. “And Chocolate roses? I didn’t know you could be this greasy—“

“Hey! Those are for Jaera, you little—“ Lu Han was about to tackle Sehun but luckily, I was quicker to stop him, grabbing a hold of his arms. Although, faced with both Sehun and I laughing, Lu Han eventually huffed. “You better behave from now on, or else your younger brother might do the same to you in the