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One last snip sent a long lock of hair descending to the bathroom floor.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErdx7KV8LW
I finished the ends of my hair making sure it was even and in line with my shoulders. When I was done I couldn't help but stare at my new look. Or maybe I was just staring at me. I looked different somehow - felt different. And I don't think I had my haircut to thank for that.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4x56JkYS8
After a few long sighs, I returned to my room to change into my uniform. It felt strange to be wearing it for the last time.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnixfvuJI2
I took a selfie and sent it to Jin who had finally got a hold of me from Italy a month ago. It seemed he and his parents were gradually making progress in their relationship. I was glad. He also managed to convince his dad to take care of the renovations for the spa due to the fire, much to my and my parents' relief. It seemed a threat in the form of ash was enough to convince Mr. Kim that they had been partly responsible for the arson. Due to the cost of damages, we weren't sure if we'd ever get the repairs we needed. I had no idea how we were going to pay them back for their kindness.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREpk0vsizG
After sending it, I was going to delete the picture from my camera roll. However, I stopped myself. Hoseok would probably want to know, I thought. With that, I decided to keep it. When Hoseok managed to get a new phone, I can send him all of the photos I'll take of the things I end up doing after graduation. He'll be happy to know that I've chosen to work towards ownership of my parents' business while attending college online, like I wanted.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8bdAj20U3
The sound of a car came from out the window.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyADANdxQZ
"Mom and dad are ba-" Minju froze, stepping into the room. Her eyes shocked. "Woah! I wonder what mom and dad are gonna say!" The girl left quickly to meet our parents outside. Already telling them about my hair, no doubt.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4fh5Tbr49
Before following her out I walked to my bedside table, gave Horim a little pat on the head, opened the drawer, and took out a little black box. Running my fingers along the edges, I felt butterflies whizzing around in my stomach.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzr65MlVyk
I don't even know if he'll be there.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHul1jLEMU
I'd been keeping an eye out for Yoongi since the kidnapping. I only managed to spot him once, very briefly the week before our month break. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to talk to him. I hoped I'd see him today. At least, to give him a graduation gift. And to tell him that I was sorry for the way I had treated him. Maybe then we could be friends. And if he didn't want that, at least I'll know I did my part to make things right.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAFyO4iYIx
Making my way to the car, both my parents had astonished looks on their faces. Dad moreso than mom.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDQDLvBv6e
"I take it this is to commemorate the end of your high school days?" My mom asked carefully. I nodded, "something like that."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFchuFz6fo
In truth, I had been gathering the strength to carry on for the past month or so. I couldn't sulk anymore. I needed to be ready. Whether it be more danger, success, or the return of my friends - I was determined to be as strong as they made me feel when they were around. So, yes, I'd like to think that cutting my hair marked the end of my high school days. But more than anything it was my commitment to cutting off my past self. A past self that was afraid of being emotionally hurt, unfair to those who didn't deserve contempt, in need of being protected. I was someone who had too much pride. Something I plan to change today, I thought while holding on to the box in my jacket pocket.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9c2741oFW
"You look so grown up somehow," mom said reminiscently, finding approval in the change. "It suits you."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljV91C8Fwi
Dad looked more reserved about it, but after mom's approval, he nodded his head, "I suppose it's nice to have some sign of a next step in life." He cleared his throat and played a confident role. As though it was all part of his plan. I giggled.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRqLvZUVR3
Minju who had looked suspiciously comfortable with the attention being on me, beamed, "should we go now? Today's a big day!" She sang with a knowing smile. Like she knew something I didn't. I really hoped she and her friends didn't put together a surprise for me. The last time they did that, it was my birthday, and I ended up covered in my own cake.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFicR5DnSWT
"Yes, we should get going."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbOHIUnt3r
The time had come when all of the soon to be graduates were filing into the gymnasium, finding their seats among the many rows in the middle of the room. Parents and family members stood at the sides or the back of the gym, many carrying cameras and bouquets of flowers. There was also an unusual amount of young girls and women who looked much too young or giddy to be guardians. This was no longer a mystery to me when I heard a scream before looking to find that Taehyung walked in with his class. I rolled my eyes at his cold beauty as he strutted, uncaring about anything around him.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsNpzdKAQr
But wait. He and Yoongi were in the same class...172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof5Eq32evO
My eyes searched all around for Yoongi but to no avail. However, by accident, they happened upon someone else. They were standing near my family holding a bouquet of white and yellow flowers wrapped in black paper. A small old woman.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlICWungilR
Yoongi's grandmother.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVczSEPtug
Then came hope bubbling in my chest. Maybe he'd be here after all...172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwk16OtlIM
The ceremony started. The principle as well as a couple of others spoke but I couldn't pay much attention with my constant search. I thought to watch his grandmother so that maybe her gaze would help me find him, but she was attentive to the speakers. Plus, my dad caught me looking and gave a subtle warning to pay attention.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2zEbz6SQE
After the speeches, a slideshow was shown on a projector of photos depicting the graduates during the year. I wasn't expecting to see myself at all but was surprised to see myself in the background of a lot of them. Then a picture of me and Hoseok posing at the ice skating rink showed. I sunk in my seat. That little rascal submitted this? Two images later came a picture of Namjoon and his crew at the rink. It was clearly taken from a distance and for good reason. Yoongi stared down at his phone, one of his eyebrows slightly arched. I marveled at his near perfect silhouette. He was so handsome, even then.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdMZrsqM8V
Next was a wide shot of the rink with all its skaters and the stands where Yoongi's group sat ridiculing some poor soul. But while his friends laughed and faced toward one direction, Yoongi had been peacefully facing another. I chuckled to myself, appreciating that even then he was different than the others.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnTnYi1Dql
Following his gaze across the photo, my smile faded in utter shock when I saw...me. I was skating on my own, a big smile on my face. There was no stopping my body becoming rigid nor bug eyed as though in a trance. Even when the image changed, I still saw it in my mind as it raced. Even when a picture of me and Jin came up I was too flustered about Yoongi to be concerned about the jealous glares the girls around me were giving.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0badPOXicp
The looks I'd find Yoongi giving me on that fieldtrip, the arcade... it all came flooding back at once. That's when I remembered something Hoseok said, I'm not sure he's changed at all...172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY7yyqaaLS
Did he care about me even since then? Is that what Hoseok meant? If that was so it still begged the reason why.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfqjJRLBQX
After the slideshow was over it was time for each class to line up and receive our diplomas on stage. The picture taking part was a little awkward but I lived. We returned to our seats much to my relief. When Yoongi's class lined up, I searched thrice and still hadn't seen him. Where is he? I wondered anxiously.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjN7J74w8x
Kim Taehyung received his diploma without a care in the world, though the room had made a fuss over him. So much so that the announcer had to wait a while to announce the next students.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9qngZcfXU
"Min Yoongi." The announcer called as I held my breath. But there was no movement. After a moment more, the announcer repeated, "Min Yoongi?" My heart sunk when no one in line moved. The woman announcing spoke to the Yoongi's teacher who looked disappointed and returned to the microphone. "Okay, we'll move on then. Nam Eun...ah - there he is!"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4HsVgWieB
Yoongi jogged to the front of the line and hopped on the stage in a smooth motion. A heavy breath burst through my teeth before gasping for air. I shook my head at the close call. This guy is going to give me a heart attack one day. Even more worrisome was the ache in my chest and the static in my limbs - a response to his arrival. He received his diploma and stood with the others in his class. Some of them surprised he was there. The butterflies in my stomach went wild, seeing him here. I noticed his hair looked different. He wore a semi fresh undercut. I almost didn't catch it. Taehyung excitedly made his way over to his side, his attitude changed. The two exchanged a few words before Yoongi's eyes began searching the crowd of students.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdofL4ZvgQ
I swallowed audibly - my heart pounded as his scanning eyes headed toward me. I considered looking away. If he passed right by me, I'm not sure I could take it. But I remembered the image in the slideshow and I had to know...172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1POT8anu0
The grip around my diploma tightened as his gaze got close. Then, like a magnet, his eyes met mine and locked into place. His eyebrows ever so slightly hiked upwards when he found me. A twitch in his cheek made it seem as though he smiled, but it was hard to tell with him. I wasn't sure what to do in this shared gaze but he wasn't looking away. So neither did I.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡca8IumwZjK
When the ceremony was over, everyone met with their families and received their gifts. After some family pictures, Minju, Hyeji, and I went crazy with taking selfie after selfie with each other. I kept an eye out for Yoongi at all times. At first I rushed my family so that I could catch him before he left, but he stood not too far off as though waiting - holding the bouquet that his grandmother had before. The elderly woman was kind enough to congratulate me before she left.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZMDbzRNWK
"Alright, that's enough pictures. Minju-ya," Mom waved her hand. "let Yurim congratulate her classmates."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVV11yjDPM
"But we won't see her 'til tonight," Minju complained. I raised an eyebrow toward her,"What do you mean? I'm coming back home to help with dinner. You're not that good a cook, you know." I ruffled her hair. She was not amused.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUEikWCs83
"Nevermind your crazy sister, you just go," Mom waved me off.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9cYMIlfma
I nodded and started straight toward Yoongi. He'd been leaning on a pillar yawning and rubbing a spot on his chest. I chuckled, not really knowing why. I guess I was just glad to finally see him. As I came nearer, I squeezed the box in my jacket pocket.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqS47lbhGG
Then something knocked me sidewards. Or rather who. A boy had been playing with his friends and bumped into me. It was Minho. He immediately bowed his apology then gave me a surprised look. "Oh? Lee Yurim? I almost didn't recognize you because of your hair! It suits you!"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEz1fQcKag
It was the first compliment I received about my hair today so I was a bit shy in receiving it. "Thank you. Uh, congratulations on graduating!"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw38fyCFfA
"Congratulations to you as well. Ah, hold on," the boy reached into a package he had and offered a little box with a cute chocolate character, "here." I regarded the box with surprise and a bit of confusion.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6wnKSdNW5
"Mm? For me? But I don't have anything to give back."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pe6Uur5NJ
"Don't worry about it. Enjoy the rest of your day!"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61kTTEbXIA
"Y-you too! And thank you!" I bowed as we said our farewells.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6azRIUJ2qX
I smiled incredulously at the chocolate character. Receiving a gift from any of my classmates was the last thing I expected today. I was grateful. I just wish I had something to return the favor.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuRSbhNze0
Before I could pocket my unexpected gift, it was snatched from my hand. "Hey! That's m-"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKM6ZRhMPy
I stood speechless when I found Yoongi standing in front of me, surveying the box of chocolate. "You're smiling a lot for receiving a tiny piece of chocolate. Do you like him or something?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbtYdDKgAL
My cheeks blazed, "of course not!" I reached for it but he pulled it out of reach. "Ya, are you really stealing it from me?" I tried again but in vain.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj1HZe7OOZ
"Oh," he pointed accusingly at my face, "if you don't like him then why is your face turning red?"I froze then quickly turned away from him. "N-no it's not!" I grimaced in secret. This was not going to be the way he found out! "Fine, keep it if you want!" I bluffed. For a moment he didn't respond. I was beginning to wonder if he'd taken the chocolate and left.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT9dMe4bWB
"Relax," he said as he slipped the chocolate in the my pocket, giving me goosebumps. "I just figured if you liked it that much, you probably don't want this." I turned to find him holding up the bouquet.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDpxRqJEJz
"That's...for me?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsBiRKOyFw
"Not if you don't want it. I'm sure someone else would appreciate it," he turned toward a nearby group of girls and my feet moved on its own.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog1nrS9B3O
I snatched it from his hand, "I want it!" Clearing my throat, I composed myself. "Gifts are supposed to be accepted by those they were meant for." I caught a smirk on his face before noticing something. The flowers in the bouquet, they were the same kind of flowers as the ones that grew in the Jung's backyard. "Yoongi... this is... really pretty."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKlW8C8XGm
"Better than that other guy's present?" He asked with a hint of playfulness.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyN4qOwrQA
I chuckled and nodded. "And here I thought you were too cool to hold flower bouquets. That's why I got you this instead," I took out the black box and placed it in his hand. Yoongi was taken by surprise at the gift and received it awkwardly. "I never apologized for what I said and for blaming you for what happened to Hoseok. None of it was your fault." He opened the box and took out the black and brown, leather woven bracelets with metal charms and beads. The black had the golden colored metal. The brown, silver. "And I shouldn't have treated you the way I did."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpMxwiWzYv
He touched his thumb to one of the gold charms which was a tiger, "you made these?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhHuRmdcJM
"Mhm. Here," I took the black one and fastened it around his wrist then began securing the other.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa4NYnY8Pt
Yoongi pulled his hand away and took the brown bracelet from my hand. Instead, he grabbed my wrist and began putting it on me.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLe4zd2V3k
"What are you...?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCwm9Gq8dX
"You're calling a truce, aren't you?" Despite his cold exterior, his fingers worked delicately around my wrists until the bracelet was secured.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zHpcVvdut
"Yeah, I am."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89YPzHNPgf
"Good. Let this be a reminder when you're about to be unfair to me again," he said smugly, holding my wrist.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfuw9Dz4oF
I clicked my tongue and whacked him with the flowers, "I thought you were gonna make them friendship bracelets! But of course you wouldn't say something sweet like that!" She glared at him as he grimaced, rubbing his chest.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7Cb20TjPn
"Who says I wanna be your friend?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFswarBfUr4
I whacked him again.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor18zCEdVU
"Aht!" He winced and rubbed at his chest again.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlq7h5dTdW
"Tsk, what are you crying about? It's just flowers!" I scoffed.172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEpdz5Nj7R
"If I knew you'd use them as a weapon I wouldn't have given them to you." Yoongi stopped rubbing his chest but looked to be more vigilant for more attacks. "I'd hate to see how you treat the other gifts."172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0jRCR6gml
My face switched from pouting to pensive. "Other gifts? What do you mean?"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjxqutEgq0
"I mean, let's go for a ride," he turned and walked off suddenly, waving me along. I watched him in disbelief, snobbishly expecting me to follow. Clicking my tongue, I looked around and considered asking my parents if I could stay a little longer but they weren't standing where I left them. "Your family went home, by the way," he called out to me, reading my mind. I told them I'd give you a ride!"172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VIURDYzMC
"What?" I scurried to catch up to him. "When did you talk with my fam- HEY! Did you just walk faster? YA!" Yoongi looked at me over his shoulder and broke into a swift jog. "This bastard MIN YOONGIII~!"
172Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7kOJUoi38
A/N:
Heeeyyyy~
So this was supposed to be the last and final chapter of Colder Than Winter HOWEVER the ending is taking me a lot longer than I thought it would. And I had the beginning half of the chapter written so I thought I'd split it so that I had something to give you guys for waiting so darn long!! Sorry about that and THANK YOU FOR READING!!!
Don't lose faith in me yet! We're almost to the end!
- Tootles for now fellow geniuses! <3
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