when the stars align | sim jaeyun

40.

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The morning of graduation was a whirlwind, a blend of excitement, nerves, and the bittersweet feeling of an ending that was also a beginning. My parents were bustling around, inspecting every inch of my uniform, making sure that my tie was perfectly straight and my cap was sitting just right. It was their way of making sure that I was ready for the big day, even if I didn't need the reminders.

"You look amazing, sweetheart, but don't forget to smile," my mom said for the fifth time, giving me one last once-over before we headed out the door. Her voice was soft, but there was an edge of worry in it, as if she knew how important this day was to me and wanted everything to be perfect. I promised her, as I always did, that I would, but I could feel her eyes on me as we walked to the car, her quiet reassurance hanging in the air.

My little brother, on the other hand, was less than thrilled. "Do I have to go?" he grumbled, slouching in the backseat. "I don't even know half of the people there." His voice was thick with the exhaustion of a kid who'd rather be doing anything else.

"You have to go to support your sister," my dad said, turning his gaze back to the road. "And you will sit through the ceremony, whether you like it or not."

I couldn't help but laugh. It was almost impossible not to smile in the chaos of it all, even though I felt like my heart was about to leap out of my chest.

---

The school auditorium was alive with energy when we arrived. It was impossible not to be swept up in the feeling of the place—the air was charged with excitement, but there was also a sense of finality, a quiet understanding that something significant was about to happen. Students were scrambling to take photos, teachers were offering last-minute pep talks, and parents stood around, proudly adjusting their cameras as they tried to capture the moment.

Amidst the crowd, I found Yunjin and Yuna, who were standing near the stage, looking every bit the picture of confidence in their immaculate uniforms and caps.

"Can you believe this is it?" Yunjin asked, her voice a little higher than usual, the disbelief in her eyes mirroring the way I felt.

"It still doesn't feel real," Yuna murmured, adjusting the sash on her uniform as though it could hold her together.

We hugged, laughing as we snapped a few photos. The smiles were genuine, but there was a heaviness in the air, a quiet knowing that our time together was coming to an end.

It was then that I spotted Niki, who had somehow managed to sneak into the ceremony despite still being a second-year. He was standing off to the side, arms crossed, wearing that typical mischievous grin of his.

"Don't look so sad," Niki teased, his hand ruffling my hair in that familiar, casual way that only he could pull off. "You'll still see me around."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, the familiar banter easing some of the tension I had been holding inside. "Lucky me," I replied, grinning back at him.

As we took our seats, I scanned the crowd for Jake. It wasn't hard to find him—he was sitting a few rows behind me, surrounded by his friends, but our eyes locked almost instantly. There was something in the way he looked at me, his gaze steady and warm, that made everything feel right. He gave me a small nod, his lips curving into a subtle smile that only I seemed to understand. It was simple, yet it made my heart flutter.

---

When my name was called, my body seemed to move without my brain's consent. I stood up, legs slightly trembling, and walked across the stage to receive my diploma. The applause roared in my ears, but all I could focus on was Jake, still clapping, his eyes shining with pride and something deeper—something that made me feel like I was the only person in the room.

As I shook the principal's hand and took my diploma, I couldn't suppress the smile that spread across my face. This was it. This was the moment I had worked for, and it was finally here. But as I walked back to my seat, it wasn't the diploma in my hand that mattered—it was the way Jake's gaze had followed me every step of the way, as if he was waiting for me to return to him.

---

After the ceremony, the crowd spilled out into the sunlight like a flood. The air was thick with the sound of people laughing, talking, hugging, and saying goodbye. For a moment, it all felt like one big blur. It was overwhelming, the realization that high school was over, that this chapter of our lives had closed.

I barely noticed Jake finding me in the chaos until I felt a hand gently slip into mine.

"Hey," he said, his voice low, almost as if he were afraid to break the magic of the moment. "You made it."

I looked up at him, my heart swelling. "So did you," I replied, a smile tugging at my lips.

We just stood there for a moment, letting everything around us fade. The noise, the people, the fleeting moments of finality—it all seemed to disappear when I was with him. In that quiet space, with his hand warm in mine, the weight of the day felt manageable.

Without warning, Jake leaned down, his breath warm against my skin, and kissed me. It wasn't a hurried kiss, nor one of those quick pecks we'd shared in passing. It was slow, deliberate, as if he was trying to imprint this moment into my memory. His hands cupped my face, holding me as though I was the most important thing in the world. When he pulled back, he grinned mischievously.

"That was for luck," he said, his eyes gleaming.

I laughed, swatting his arm. "You're ridiculous."

"And you love it," he replied, his tone light and teasing.

"Yeah," I admitted, my voice soft. "I do."

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