when the stars align | sim jaeyun

36.

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Graduation was just around the corner, and I could feel the weight of it creeping into every aspect of my life. Morning announcements were now filled with reminders about cap and gown fittings, final exams, and senior activities. The hallways buzzed with both excitement and dread as everyone started counting down the days until we left this chapter behind. 

For me, the emotions were mixed. A part of me was eager to move forward, to see what came next. But another part was reluctant to let go of the life I'd built here. The memories I'd made, both good and bad, felt too significant to pack up and leave behind. 

One afternoon, after classes had ended, Jake and I met up in the park near school. It had become something of a routine for us—a quiet space where we could talk without the chaos of our friends or the expectations of the school environment. 

Jake was already sitting on our usual bench when I arrived, tossing a small rock between his hands absentmindedly. His face lit up when he saw me, and I couldn't help but smile back. 

"Hey," I said, sitting down beside him. "Been waiting long?" 

"Not too long," he replied, placing the rock down.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I wasn't that late." 

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of orange and pink. It was the kind of quiet that didn't need to be filled, a calm that only came when you were truly at ease with someone. 

"Are you nervous?" Jake asked suddenly, breaking the silence. 

I turned to him, surprised by the question. His eyes were on the horizon, but his fingers had found their way to mine, lacing them together without a second thought. 

"A little," I admitted. "I mean, graduation feels... huge. Like, it's the end of something, you know? And I don't know if I'm ready for what comes after." 

Jake nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I get that. It's scary. But exciting, too. I mean, we've got so much ahead of us." 

I laughed softly, leaning my head against his shoulder. "You make it sound so easy." 

"It's not," he said, his voice quieter now. "But I think... it helps knowing I'm not doing it alone." 

His words caught me off guard, and I pulled back slightly to look at him. There was something vulnerable in his expression, something I hadn't seen in him before. 

"You're not," I said firmly, squeezing his hand. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere." 

For a moment, neither of us said anything. The sound of the wind rustling through the trees and the distant laughter of kids playing filled the space between us. Then Jake smiled—a soft, genuine smile that made my heart feel lighter. 

"Good," he said simply. 

The conversation shifted after that, back to lighter topics. We talked about our friends—how Yuna was still stressing over her graduation dress, how Niki was already planning a prank for the senior farewell assembly, and how Heeseung and Jay were competing to see who could give the best senior quote for the yearbook. 

"I'm pretty sure Sunghoon's just going to put a single period," Jake said with a laugh. 

I laughed. "It would fit his vibe." 

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Jake walked me home. He didn't let go of my hand the entire way, and I didn't want him to. By the time we reached my doorstep, the stars were beginning to peek through the night sky. 

"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, his voice soft as he leaned against the gate. 

"Of course," I replied, smiling up at him. 

"Goodnight, Jisun." 

"Goodnight, Jake." 

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