{Tiffany's POV}

I met Nickhun in 3^rd grade, and hated him for months. He would always trip me up, and call me names, so I did the same thing.

However, in 6^th grade, something changed. We were both getting to the pre-teen age, and it was like my hormones switched on. Suddenly Nickhun was funny. The jokes he told stopped being rude and offensive, and turned into something that I’d spend hours laughing about. So we started talking rather than fighting, and in less than a couple of months we were best friends.

In 8^th grade we both got out first phones, and used to stay up until 5 AM everyday just texting and talking. It was like he had taken over my whole world, and I loved it.

The summer before high school started, we went to a park and he kissed me. I knew he’d never kissed anyone before, neither had I, but in that kiss I felt something new, a need for something I didn’t fully understand just yet, and I felt him against me. I should probably have freaked out, but I couldn’t. I was too shocked from the best first kiss ever. So what if I didn’t feel fireworks? People had told me they weren’t real, and that as long as it felt right you were good. And hell yeah it felt good.

Then high school started, and we were officially dating. All those people who had been just waiting for it to happen weren’t even a little bit surprised. Everyone had told me that high school would be dramatic, that we’d have lots of problem dating it wasn’t even worth it, but we managed it. Sure we had our arguments, but we loved each other.

We stopped trying to resist temptation in our junior year, and the bond created just secured the belief I had that we’d be together forever.

Now, we were sitting on the roof above my room, his arms wrapped around my waist as I leant against him between his legs. On top of the loose shorts, I had a shirt of his on, the same one he’d worn the first time we were together. I’d never let go of it, and luckily for me he wasn’t too keen on it anyway. The roof was out go-to place, easily reached by climbing onto the balcony outside of my room. I had no idea why there was a balcony, but I couldn’t complain. It was kind of nice having somewhere to relax.

“I hate this,” I muttered, knowing I’d said that a million times in the past week.

Nickhun’s arms just tightened slightly, “I know. I do too.”

We’d graduated high school just two months ago, and we were getting ready to go to college. Nickhun was heading to Korea University off to study Criminal Justice to become an agent.

I, on the other hand, was heading in a different direction for Seoul National University, planning on studying social psychology to become a psychiatrist.

I felt tears in my eyes again. Dammit, I wasn’t ready for this. I hated goodbyes, but it was happening. I was leaving tomorrow, so was Nickhun. This was our last night together.

A single tear fell, hitting his arm.

“Come on,” he whispered, backing away a little.

I frowned. “Where are we going?” I asked.

“A little drive. Call it out memory lane.” He smiled, but I could see the pain in his eys. He hated this as much as me, if not more.

I nodded, unable to say no. I couldn’t, not now.

My parents loved Nickhun, he was impossible to hate, and they’d said that just for tonight, we had a come-and-go clearance. They knew how much we cared about each other, and even if they hated it they knew we’d done it. They also knew how hard this was for us, thank God.

We hopped into Nickhun’s car, starting the drive past in the high school and into the usually busy area. I couldn’t help wanting to cry at how different it seemed already. I hadn’t even left yet, but somehow the city seemed less like home. There was an ice cream shop that we had our first date at. There was the house that was always unlocked and breaking down; we’d definitely made some memories in that place.

Nickhun drove around eventually pulling into a parking lot. I recognized it immediately as the park we’d first kissed. He stopped the car, staring mindlessly at the dashboard that said the time was 2:13 AM. we had mere hours before I left.

Without warning, Nickhun hit the top of the steering wheel. “This isn’t fair. I don’t think I want to go to Korea University anymore. Hell, I don’t even think I like being an adult anymore.”

I just bit my lip. “I know. You have to though, Nickhun. You know you do.” Again tears filled my eyes, making me almost laugh. I’d never been this emotional in my life. I was usually the girl who never cried, and now I was on my fourth or fifth set of tears.

“I know.” His voice broke slightly, and he leant over me to kiss me, his lips telling me how desperate he was for this to not happen, for us to just skip college and live together.

“Tiff…” He groaned as I moved to straddle him. I bit my lip at his name for me. Sure it was a common nickname for Tiffany, but the way he said always made me want more.

Maybe it wasn’t the most sanitary place to do it, but it seemed only fitting that we should considering we kissed here first.

It seemed like only minutes later, but I knew by the clock on the dashboard that it had been over an hour and a half, but the slightly lighter sky dawned.

I sighed, tracing Nickhun’s abs with my finger. “Why does this have to end?” I muttered, not even sure if he heard me.

“I don’t know,” he said, simply, wrapping his arms around me. He groaned, and I looked up to see him glaring at the clock. “We should probably get dressed. You’re leaving in about six hours and you still have some packing.”

I nodded. Of course I did. And my parents would probably want me to get a little nap in before I started the three and a half to four hour drive.

I reluctantly slipped my clothes back on, fighting back yet another round of tears. “I’m so sick of crying,” I said quietly to myself.

“I know, Tiff. I know.” Nickhun’s hand was at my back, rubbing gently.

I stayed quietly loving the feeling of any physical contact he gave me. I was going to miss this. I wouldn’t be able to call him at three in the morning and ask him to sneak over to comfort me after a nightmare. I was going to miss him sitting behind me at lunch, stealing my food then kissing me in a way that made me forget I even needed food to live.

I barely even noticed the car moving, and before I knew it we were driving past more memories; the expensive restaurant we’d tried getting into wearing sweat pants and a hoodie, the telephone pole Nickhun had tried to climb our sophomore year on a bet, only to fall and break his wrist, the tennis courts we’d gone to so I could prove how anti-athletic I was.

Another few minutes later we were back at my house, slipping through the front door and back into my room. Immediately Nickhun kissed me passionately and I let my arms slip around his neck to drag him closer.

I must have fallen asleep, because soon I felt myself being shaken, and I groaned. “What time is it?” I mumbled sleepily.

“8:30, babe. We need to get you packed up,” Nickhun said softly, his amazing hazel eyes looking into my brown ones. I stared a little longer at him, memorizing the was his hair looked perfectly straight when he’s just washed it. The slightly tilt of his lips when he was forcing himself to smile.

“Tiff?” he prompted, sadly.

I nodded. “I know. I just…” I trailed off.

“Hate this?”

I nodded again, sitting up. My room had boxes that we’d spent the summer filling already. All the boxes contained the things I wouldn’t need until I got there anyway making my room strangely empty. In my closet was only one outfit and a pair of shoes; the ones I’d be wearing today. Then the comforter on my bed and the matching pillow case, as well as my make-up bag, toothbrush, and shower stuff would all be added before I left.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I muttered.

“Your parents made breakfast for you. I’ll let them know.” He looked at me for a second, and then quickly pressed his lips to mine. “ I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Nickhun left my room, giving me some privacy to shower.

I let myself go in the shower, letting the tears fall silently to merge with the dripping water. This was really it; I was really going away for college. I was really going to be four hours away from Nickhun.

I didn’t get out until the water turned cold. I needed some time, as much as I could get, before I had to face my family.

I changed into some length shorts and a tank top, and sighed. I’d let my dark brown hair air dry, and this heat wouldn’t take long, I wasn’t doing my make up until I’d brushed my teeth, and since I had to eat first… it was time.

 

“Hey guys,” I said, putting a smile on my face. I had to. My mom was already terrified about me going off on my own, and showing her how sad I felt about saying goodbye would probably officially convince her this was a bad idea.

“Morning, how are you feeling?” my dad asked.

“I’m- okay.” I didn’t lie completely. A part of me was really excited to go to college. I’d get to make some new friends. Most of my friends had already gone in their different directions, and I knew that I’d probably only hear from them during summer and maybe Christmas. Maybe birthdays if we were lucky. However the promise to keep in touch had already faded and it had only been a couple of months since school ended.

“Eat something. You’ll need it. It’s a long journey.” My mom said, pushing me a plate of pancakes.

I smiled up at her. I was going to miss her cooking. But on the other hand, I was getting excited about living off of microwave meals and take-out.

That was all I had to do. Whenever I thought of something I’d miss or I didn’t like about this, remember a thing I was looking forward to.

The rest of the time blurred by, and in about an hour, all the boxes had been loaded into the back of my black Chevy truck. It used to belong to my dad, but he wanted a new car so he passed it down to me. I didn’t care though, I loved it. And right now it was definitely useful. There weren’t a lot of boxes, but it somehow made me feel better.

“So…” I trailed off, slamming the little door closed.

My mom was tearful and hugged my almost desperately. “Call me whenever you can, and be safe, okay?”

“Sure thing, mom.” I hugged her back, willing myself to hold in the tears as long as I could.

“You’ll enjoy college. Just remember to call your mom or me sometimes. You know she’ll worry otherwise,” my dad said, also hugging me. I knew he actually meant he’d worry more than her, but since he wanted to seem like the tough guy he looked. I just nodded.

“I will, dad.”

I pulled away to hug Nickhun. I knew things were going to change, how could they not?

“Tiff-”

I didn’t give him time to say anything else. I just stepped over to kiss him softly, not caring that my parents were right there. I couldn’t care, not right now.

When we finally broke apart, both of us were a little out of breath. “Be safe and have fun. I love you,” he said, letting his forehead lean against mine.

“Same goes to you. I love you. And if you meet someone…” I broke off. It hurts, but it had to be said. I loved him enough that if he met someone new and wanted to, I’d let him go so he could be happy.

“I don’t think I will, but the same goes for you,” he told me, looking hurt at the suggestion.

I smiled a little at that. “I don’t think I will either.”

“I love you. Call me when you get there?” he asked.

I nodded, stepping away. My parents were focused on the boxes, making sure they wouldn’t slide too much.

“Guys, I’m going to go,” I said, pulling the keys out of my purse.

“Alright, honey, just remember to be safe. We love you,” my mom said.

“I love you both too.” I knew I’d put it off as long as I possibly could. I pushed myself into the truck, slammed the door and turned the engine on. As I reserved out of the driveway, I took a final look at the house I’d grown up in for eighteen years, and the three people who had shaped my life in ways that I couldn’t begin to describe.

As I glanced one more time in the rearview mirror before I turned out of the road, I saw Nickhun making a heart with his hands.

The tears I’d spent a good few hours this morning threatened to break through again, but then he was gone. I took a few deep breath to calm myself down.

{Wooyoung’s POV}

“Dammit, Jieun! How much crap do you need?” I yelled, carrying yet another one of my sister’s boxes. Didn’t she remember she had a roommate this year?

“I’m a girl,!” she shouted back from her room, as though that made everything okay.

Yeah freaking right.

“And what the hell do you expect your roommate to do?” I asked, walking into the little are she’d be sharing. There was enough room for two beds, wardrobes, and nightstands, and then just a little walking around room. That was it.

So how did my sister expect to fit all her seven boxes of just clothes? And what if her roommate had more boxes.

“You’ll sleep with her, she’ll blame me, and I’ll get my own room again.” Jieun said.

I raised my eyebrow. “So, you want me to help you ditch your roommate by sleeping with someone? How do I even know if she’s hot? You’re the one who met her when she came for registration.”

“She’s cute, not hot.” She rolled her eyes. “No, I don’t want to ditch her, but since I know it’s going to happen, I prepared myself.” She gestured to the boxes. “are you sure you got them all? I thought there were more.”

My mouth dropped open. “Are you freaking kidding me? Like this isn’t enough?” and no way in hell was I carrying anything else. It was already 2:30 PM. I was hungry, I hadn’t eaten lunch, and I was getting pissed off.

She shook her head. “Hell no, a girl can never have too many clothes.”

“Whatever. When’s she-,” I cut off as a girl stumbled into the room.

“Jieun?”

My sister looked up. Running to hug her.

The girl laughed, stepping away from Jieun. I took the chance to look her over. She was definitely cute, but looked way too innocent for me. She had dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a hot body. She didn’t look ready to be in college. Maybe she was an early graduate or something. That would explain innocence. Not that she’d have it for long.

I smiled, “What am I, invisible?” I asked, waiting for an introduction. I’d have to play it safe, make this girl think I was just as innocent as she was. Maybe even make her think I was searching for ‘the one’ or something. Girls went for that all the time.

The girl rolled her eyes. “This is the man- brother?” she asked Jieun.

I narrowed my eyes at her, making her shrug. “Yep, Jang Wooyoung meets Hwang Miyoung. Or maybe Tiffany.”

I turned to Tiffany. If I couldn’t play innocent, I’d just be me. Didn’t a good girl want a bad boy?

“Right. Well hi there, nice to meet you. Want to be my roommate instead?” I asked, winking at her. Girls loved that for some reason.

I didn’t expect her reaction. She rolled her eyes, checking her watch. “Took you less then ten minutes. Why am I not surprised?”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. Did she just turn me down?

“Jieun, I’m going to get my stuff. Wanna help?”

She nodded. “Sure, why not?”

As they walked off, I couldn’t help thinking, Tiffany, by the end of the year, you’ll be screaming my name.