The next day.
It is the day of the graduation ceremony at Yeo Ri's school.
She was already a graduating third year student, but since she hadn't attended school at all for the past year, she did not particularly feel the excitement.
"It's already here..." Yeo Ri muttered quietly. The past year passed by in a flash. A slight sense of sadness crossed her heart. She felt like crying when she remembered how much she had missed.
Although Min Chae and Jang Mi visited her regularly, it was not the same as meeting them at school.
"What's wrong, Yeo Ri-ah?" Gun came to her side the moment he noticed her troubled look. "Does the uniform not fit anymore? Do you feel sick? Do you not want to go?"
Yeo Ri shook her head at his questions, "No, I'm fine, Oppa. It's just that... I'll miss it. The school. My classmates. Everything."
"Then you should've agreed to continue to high school," Gun chided with furrowed brows. He still could not come to terms with Yeo Ri's decision to discontinue her education. No matter how much he tried persuading her, she refused to go to high school.
"Isn't it fine, Oppa? It's not like high school is compulsory. I'll just stay at home and take care of you. I heard being a university student is really stressful," Yeo Ri playfully said, hugging his arm with a sweet smile.
Gun was almost swayed after facing her sweet-talking. He felt warmed by her thoughts, but he was still unreconciled with her decision. "Fine. It's still not too late for you to change your mind."
"Hehe, thank you, Oppa," Yeo Ri giggled at his frustrated expression. She helped him with his tie as a show of goodwill, then gave a small peck on his cheek.
It seemed like her action had improved his mood, seeing as how he was no longer frowning.
"Now let's go. We don't want to be late to your graduation ceremony, after all," Gun says, grabbing his blazer from the hanger.
He was wearing his school uniform since he didn't have any other formal clothing.
"Yes, yes~" Yeo Ri answered as she added the finishing touches to her outfit. Min Chae had come by a few days ago to deliver the ribbon corsage for the ceremony so all she needed to do was pin it to her uniform, signifying her status as a graduate.
The two headed to the school together.
Finally stepping foot into the school again after a year, Yeo Ri was hit by a sense of nostalgia.
Memories flashed in her mind. She could still remember how awkward it was to walk past the gates because some boys would wait for her there. She remembered how close she was to Min Chae and Jang Mi; they'd play together and eat lunch together all the time. It felt like a lifetime ago since she last experienced those things.
"Ah!"
"Look, isn't that Lee Cheonsa?"
"You're right! It's Lee Cheonsa!"
"Lee Cheonsa!"
Just as Yeo Ri walked past the gate, she was bombarded with the sounds of people whispering. Surprisingly, people still remembered her although she hadn't come to school for a long time.
Even the new juniors looked on with interest. Even though she was absent for the whole year, some juniors still recognised her due to the power of social media and her admirers.
A vaguely familiar group of male students approached her with touched looks. They looked as if they could cry at any given moment.
"Lee Cheonsa...!" The boy at the front cried out. "I never thought I'd see you here again. How have you been?"
"Ah, hello," Yeo Ri took a step back instinctively, grasping Gun's sleeve tightly.
Gun noticed her action and pushed her behind him protectively. He stared down at the group of boys with narrowed eyes and a frown, "Who are you?"
His gaze resembled Hyuk's for a brief moment, which intimidated the younger boys. They pushed each other around, urging one of them to step up and answer the older boy.
In the end, the boy at the front seemed to have lost. Since he was the one who was the first to speak to Yeo Ri, then he should be the one to face her fierce older brother.
"Hello, Hyung! I-I'm Yoo Jin Woo! I-I've liked your sister for a long time!" The leading boy blurted out without thinking. As if realising his shamelessness, he paled, then blushed, "Ah, no, I mean, um—!"
Gun's frown deepened. What the heck's with this kid, he thought. Who in their right minds would come up to someone and confess his feelings so openly, and in front of the brother of the girl he likes?
"Hey, Yoo Jin Woo! You dumb*ss—!" The people behind him clamoured, panicking on his behalf. They were cursing their friend inwardly for stealing a march. They had all agreed to not confess to Yeo Ri, but this guy easily broke the pact under pressure.
"Let's ignore them, Yeo Ri-ah. Come on," Gun glanced at the group with distaste, tugging Yeo Ri's arm along.
"Ah? Ah, yeah," Yeo Ri looked around, flustered. Although it wasn't her first time getting confessed to, it was definitely the first time someone confessed to her publicly and so loudly as well. Her face was burning from all the attention the bystanders were giving.