A Month Later
“Say kimchi!”
“How cheesy,” Yoongi mutters but poses anyway as Namjoon’s sister clicks the picture. The sunlight illuminates their glittering black robes, adding a golden tint to the material. All around them, the campus is abuzz with activity, families and friends of the graduating seniors surrounding the groups as laughter resounds within the field. A solemnity still lingers, however; Park Hyung Sik had been a favourite among many. But the atmosphere is still a complete contrast to the gloom which had enveloped the university over the past few months.
Yoongi, Miran and the rest of their group stand stark in the middle of the football pitch which is currently swarming with students and parents, cameras and selfie sticks visible as far as the eye can see. Their own families are here, clicking away tirelessly while Jung tries to assemble all of them for another group picture. And Yoongi’s gums hurt from smiling too widely for the past hour.
In spite of everything that had happened a month ago, their graduation proceeds without a hitch. Park Hyung Sik’s arrest had come as a shock to the student body and administration alike, and a thorough investigation had been launched into the death of Lee Joonhyung. Seokjin, nursing a concussion, had drily stated that the professor would undoubtedly know how to get away with murder. Miran and Yoongi had both been summoned to give their statements, and judging by all the evidence that had been collated, coupled with the detainment of Choi Hongbin and the contents of Joonhyung’s diary, the full picture had emerged.
Go Jieun, despite her protests, had been responsible for handing over the extra heroin to Joonhyung which eventually resulted in his death. Though it had been established that she herself might not have realized what she was doing at the time- Hongbin confessed that Jieun had been inebriated that night- it still did not excuse her actions. But since the student was no longer alive, the charges against her were dropped, even though Yoongi and Miran decided to claim partial responsibility.
For this, Jung has assigned the couple, along with Jimin, to probationary community service. The dancer has also provided a written statement regarding his actions the night Choi Ara was murdered, admitting to what he has done. Jung and his colleagues arrive at the conclusion that since he wasn’t the one who killed her, arresting Jimin is not an option. But the dancer has opted to repent anyway. His conversation with his psychiatrist a month ago where he had stated his fears about how he might be involved in the murders somehow has been proven untrue, but Jimin has decided to admit himself into a rehab centre after graduation regardless.
It’s time I accept the reality, he had told Miran.
The backlash the university and the police force had received had been severe, but Kim Jaesung and Yuna had fended them off as best as they could. The directors had publicly apologized, assuring the students and their families that measures were being taken to ensure no such tragedy would befall them again.
Security is now instructed to carefully monitor the grounds and entrances for any sign of suspicious activity, and active drug addiction recovery and mental health camps have been set up around the campus with several trained psychologists and therapists counselling those who need it every week.
Miran and Taehyung no longer shy away from acknowledging their identities as the children of the directors of Seoul National, and the former’s involvement in Joonhyung’s case has effectively driven away people who once claimed to be her friends. Miran wouldn’t have it any other way.
And now, they are all here, on the day of their graduation, though the feeling is bittersweet. Yoongi looks around, watches as Jungkook tries to flirt with Namjoon’s sister, while he, much to Yoongi’s amusement and the chagrin of the other students, is kissing Inha for everyone to see, though the pair don’t seem to care. To his right, Taehyung and Hoseok are clicking selfies, their expressions weird and exaggerated. A stranger might deem them two friends enjoying their graduation to the fullest, but Yoongi and the others know better: Hoseok and Taehyung have finally decided to give their relationship a real chance.
I don’t know if it’s going to work, but we’ve decided to try, Taehyung had informed Yoongi.
Seokjin has cracked yet another one of his awful dad jokes which has only Jimin writhing with laughter, his eyes crinkling with delight. When the counsellor hugs him and tells him that his brother would be proud, the dancer smiles, embracing Seokjin tighter.
Yes, it is a bittersweet feeling.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
And Miran.
She smiles at him softly, the way she always does, and Yoongi’s world is bursting with the colours she has painted it with. Hooking his arm through her elbow, he grins. I’m so glad we found each other.
“We’ve actually made it to this day. I still can’t believe it,” he says, a thoughtful gleam in his eyes. “I guess I just never thought what it would feel like without…”
“Without Professor Park?” Miran completes for him, a knowing look on her face. She steers him away from the crowd, their hands intertwined as they weave in between the throng of people. “I know what you mean. I’d always imagined him trying to click bad pictures of us in our robes and caps.”
For a minute, the couple envision Hyung Sik as the man they had all loved and respected, the man who had helped them through four amazing but excruciating years of a major which was certainly not a walk in the park. And just for a minute, it is easy for them to forget what that man had turned into.
Yoongi has forgiven him.
He doesn’t know about the others, doesn’t know about Miran, but he has forgiven him. Although Hyung Sik came very close to taking away the one thing which fills the gaping hole in his chest, Yoongi cannot find it in him to hate the man.
Hyung Sik probably wanted to fill the gaping hole in his own chest, too.
“I miss him,” Yoongi says after a while, still strolling with Miran. She doesn’t ask him whether he means Hyung Sik or Joonhyung; she doesn’t need to. The crowd thins out when they reach the auditorium, and the couple stand before the memorial site which has been erected outside the sprawling structure for all the dead students, including Lee Joonhyung.
His picture is pinned to the board in the very centre, a wide smile on his face. Yoongi traces Joonhyung’s features, a fondness creeping into his chest, while Miran’s eyes rove over the other faces; Choi Ara, Hyun Soyoung, Hong Chanbaek, Kang Minhyuk, Go Jieun. I'm so sorry.
Yoongi sighs. “No matter what you say, Miran, I will always harbour the regret that I was responsible for what happened, that had I tried harder, I might’ve saved him.”
“I know.” She turns to him, her lips pulling into a small smile, even though that is a regret she will always carry with her, too. “That’s why I’ll do the forgiving for both of us.”
Yoongi laughs softly, looks at her with an affection which makes her heart swell. “Wildcat, what did I do to deserve you?”
“Hmm, let’s see. Maybe you weren’t so lazy and brooding in your past life. Although, that seems highly unlikely.” Miran grins at him, and Yoongi tightens his grip on her hand.
Tugging him along, she guides him back towards the pitch, but instead of returning to their friends, Miran ushers him into the empty bleachers. They sit there in silence for a while, watching the activity unfurling before them. Even from the distance, they can see their friends being their usual dorky selves, and Miran laughs when Hoseok breaks out into an impromptu dance, Seokjin and Namjoon joining him while the rest holler.
“Miran.”
She turns to Yoongi, and is surprised by the solemn expression on his face. “Yoongi?”
He inhales deeply, his thumb rubbing circles over the back of her hand. “I know we got together for all the wrong reasons-”
“But we can stay together for all the right ones.”
His breath catches in his throat; the conviction in Miran’s eyes snuffs out any and all doubts. She shuffles closer to him until her face is only inches away from his. Reaching out, she trails her fingers over his face, her eyes closed, as if she is committing his features to memory. And maybe, she is. “I love you, Min Yoongi.”
This time, his reply comes without a hitch.
“I love you, Kim Miran.”
She presses a kiss to his forehead, pulling away to look at him. “I know we’re both broken, Yoongi. But together, we’re complete.”
Two halves of a whole.
“You mean it?” His question is a whisper, a plea.
“Yes.” Her answer is certain, etched in stone.
“Live your today, look forward to your tomorrow.” Miran leans on Yoongi’s shoulder, smiling as he slings his arm around her. “We’ll be alright.”
And, like always, Yoongi believes her.
***
And it's over!
I'm going to miss writing this story so much. I really hope y'all enjoyed it. And please feel free to leave any reviews, comments and the like! I love knowing what you all think. And do y'all have any favourite moments? Let me know! And would y'all like a post-epilogue chapter to see where our characters are in the future?
Thank you so much for sticking by me and this story throughout. Y'all are such wonderful friends and readers and I'm so very grateful for all of you. It has been an honour and a pleasure to embark on this journey alongside you all. Thank you for always making my days and nights!
All the love,
Haya