The final exams were finally over.
For the first time in weeks, the university didn't feel like a place where everyone was constantly worrying about notes, assignments, or examination halls.
Instead, there was excitement everywhere.
The final-year farewell was tonight.
It wasn't being held at the university.
The students had rented a large event venue outside campus, decorated with strings of warm lights, balloons, flowers, and a huge stage at the front of the hall.
Music played softly in the background while students moved around, taking pictures and talking about their plans after graduation.
Yerin stood beside Emily, looking around the room.
"I can't believe we're actually done."
Emily smiled.
"I know. It feels strange."
"Good strange or bad strange?"
"Both."
Yerin laughed.
Across the room, Min-jae was already taking pictures with his digital camera.
Do-hyun stood beside him, looking at the screen.
"Delete that."
Min-jae looked offended.
"Why?"
"I look terrible."
"You always say that."
"Because you always take terrible pictures."
Min-jae laughed.
Do-hyun shook his head.
Yerin watched them from a distance and smiled.
Emily noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You were smiling."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
Yerin looked away.
"Let's just enjoy tonight."
Emily smiled.
"Agreed."
The evening passed surprisingly quickly.
There were speeches from the teachers, games between students, music, food, and countless photographs.
For once, Yerin didn't feel like she had to think about everything waiting for her at home.
She didn't think about her family's secrets.
She didn't think about the strange messages.
Tonight was simply about being a student.
About being with her friends.
About remembering the years that had passed.
Yerin laughed when Min-jae nearly dropped his drink during one of the games.
Emily screamed when someone unexpectedly appeared behind her for a photograph.
Even Do-hyun seemed more relaxed than usual.
Eventually, everyone was called toward the main seating area.
A large projector screen stood behind the stage.
One of the organizers stepped onto the stage with a microphone.
"Before we finish tonight, we have one last thing."
The crowd cheered.
"We've collected photographs from throughout your university years. Some of them are embarrassing, some are funny, and some are actually worth remembering."
Everyone laughed.
Yerin smiled.
Emily grabbed her arm.
"This is going to be fun."
Min-jae immediately lifted his camera.
"I'm ready."
Do-hyun leaned back in his chair.
"Hopefully none of mine appear."
Yerin looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because Min-jae has too many."
Min-jae heard him.
"Don't worry. I saved the best ones."
Do-hyun narrowed his eyes.
"That's exactly what I'm worried about."
The lights dimmed.
The projector turned on.
The first photograph appeared.
The room erupted in laughter.
Then another.
And another.
Students shouted whenever they recognized themselves.
Someone's embarrassing first-year photograph appeared.
Everyone screamed.
Another student's old hairstyle appeared.
The laughter grew louder.
Yerin was laughing so hard that she had tears in her eyes.
Emily leaned against her shoulder.
"This is the best part."
Yerin nodded.
"Definitely."
Another photograph appeared.
Then another.
The slideshow continued.
Until suddenly—
the screen changed.
Yerin's smile disappeared.
Her entire body went still.
Do-hyun noticed.
"What?"
She didn't answer.
He looked toward the projector.
His expression immediately changed.
The photograph on the giant screen wasn't a university memory.
It wasn't a classroom picture.
It wasn't even recent.
It was—
their wedding photograph.
Yerin and Do-hyun.
Standing together.
Dressed as bride and groom.
The image filled the entire screen.
The room went silent.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody spoke.
Yerin stared at the screen as if her mind had stopped working.
Beside her, Do-hyun slowly sat upright.
His eyes remained fixed on the photograph.
Yerin turned toward him.
Their eyes met.
Neither knew what to say.
Then—
someone whispered.
"Is that... Yerin?"
Another voice followed.
"That's Do-hyun."
The whispers spread across the room.
Emily's expression had completely changed.
She looked at the screen.
Then at Yerin.
Then back at the photograph.
Min-jae stood frozen beside her.
"What..."
He couldn't finish the sentence.
Yerin's heart began pounding.
How?
Who had this?
Why was it here?
She looked toward the stage.
The organizer looked just as confused as everyone else.
The photograph remained on the screen.
Then another image appeared.
Another wedding photograph.
And another.
The whispers became louder.
Yerin lowered her gaze.
She could feel everyone's eyes on her.
Do-hyun looked around the room.
His jaw tightened.
A few moments later, Seo Jina approached their table with two of her friends.
She glanced at the enormous photograph still displayed on the projector.
Then at Yerin.
A slow smile appeared on her face.
"Well..."
Yerin didn't look up.
Jina stopped beside their table.
"I didn't know congratulations were in order."
Yerin's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
Do-hyun noticed.
He didn't say anything yet.
Jina looked between them.
"So this is why you've both been acting so strangely."
Emily frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Jina turned toward her with an innocent expression.
"Oh."
She tilted her head.
"You really didn't know?"
Emily's confusion deepened.
"Know what?"
Jina pointed toward the projector.
"That your best friend is married."
Emily's eyes immediately moved toward Yerin.
Yerin's throat tightened.
Jina smiled.
"Honestly, I'm impressed. Keeping something like this hidden for so long..."
"Seo Jina."
Yerin's voice was quiet.
"Don't."
Jina raised an eyebrow.
"Why? I'm only asking."
Do-hyun finally looked at her.
His expression was unreadable.
"Then ask somewhere else."
Jina ignored him.
"So when were you planning on telling everyone?"
Yerin didn't answer.
Jina laughed under her breath.
"Or were you planning to keep pretending nothing happened?"
Emily shifted uncomfortably.
"Can you just stop?"
Jina looked at her.
"I'm surprised you're defending her when she didn't even trust you enough to tell you."
Yerin looked down.
That one hurt.
Do-hyun noticed immediately.
His eyes hardened.
"That's enough."
Jina turned toward him.
"What?"
"I said enough."
She smiled mockingly.
"Why are you getting so defensive?"
Do-hyun leaned back slightly.
"I'm not defensive."
His voice was calm.
"You're simply talking too much."
A few students nearby began looking over.
Jina crossed her arms.
"I'm just saying what everyone is thinking."
"No."
Do-hyun's gaze shifted toward the people listening.
"You're saying what you want everyone to hear."
Jina's smile faded slightly.
He continued.
"And there's a difference."
She scoffed.
"Fine. Then let's ask Yerin directly."
She turned toward her.
"Yerin, did you even want this marriage?"
Yerin froze.
The question hung in the air.
Before she could answer, Do-hyun spoke.
"Don't."
Jina looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because you don't get to question her about something you know nothing about."
Jina laughed.
"You're acting like her bodyguard."
Do-hyun's eyes remained on her.
"No."
A pause.
"I'm giving you an opportunity to walk away."
The smile disappeared from Jina's face.
She crossed her arms tighter.
"Or what?"
Do-hyun stood.
Slowly.
There was no anger in his face.
That somehow made him more intimidating.
He stepped between Jina and Yerin—not aggressively, but deliberately enough that Jina's attention shifted completely toward him.
His voice remained low.
"You've already embarrassed yourself enough tonight."
Jina stared at him.
Do-hyun continued.
"But if you decide to keep going, understand something."
He glanced briefly toward Yerin.
Then back at Jina.
"Whatever you think you know about her stops being your business the moment you use it to humiliate her."
Jina scoffed.
"And you're going to stop me?"
Do-hyun's expression didn't change.
"I don't need to stop you."
He paused.
"I just need to make sure you understand who you're dealing with before you make another mistake."
The people around them had gone completely quiet.
Jina's confidence faltered.
Do-hyun lowered his voice even further.
"You want to talk about me?"
"Go ahead."
"You want to question my choices?"
"Fine."
"But you mention Yerin again with that tone..."
He let the sentence hang.
Jina stared at him.
Do-hyun's eyes were cold.
"...and you'll learn very quickly that I don't tolerate people using her name to make themselves feel important."
Jina swallowed.
Do-hyun didn't move.
"Consider that your last warning."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Jina tried to recover her composure.
"You can't scare me."
Do-hyun gave a faint, humorless smile.
"I'm not trying to scare you."
He glanced toward the projector.
"Everyone here already saw enough tonight."
Then his eyes returned to her.
"I'm simply telling you not to make this worse."
Jina had nothing to say.
Do-hyun turned away from her.
His entire demeanor changed the moment he looked at Yerin.
His voice softened.
"Come on."
Yerin looked at him.
He held out his hand.
She hesitated for only a second before placing hers in his.
Do-hyun gently helped her stand.
He didn't look back at Jina.
He didn't need to.
As they walked away, the whispers around them slowly began again.
Yerin kept her eyes down.
Do-hyun tightened his hold on her hand—not enough to hurt, just enough to silently remind her that she wasn't facing it alone.
And for the first time that evening, Yerin finally breathed.
They hadn't made it far when a faculty member called after them.
"Yerin. Do-hyun."
They stopped.
"Could you come with me for a moment?"
Yerin exchanged a nervous glance with Do-hyun.
They followed the teacher into a quieter room away from the crowd.
The teacher closed the door.
"What happened out there?"
Yerin immediately shook her head.
"Nothing. It's fine."
"Yerin."
She looked down.
The teacher's expression softened.
"I saw the photograph."
Yerin remained silent.
"Is it true?"
Do-hyun answered.
"Yes."
The teacher looked between them.
"And you've been married?"
Yerin nodded slowly.
"It's complicated."
"Then tell me."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Eventually, Yerin explained.
The arranged marriage.
Their families.
The pressure.
How neither of them had expected their private life to become public like this.
The teacher listened without interrupting.
When they finished, she sighed.
"I won't pretend I understand everything your families have put you through."
Yerin looked up.
"But?"
"But I understand why you're upset."
Do-hyun remained quiet.
The teacher continued.
"You don't owe the entire world an explanation for your personal life."
Yerin's eyes became slightly wet.
"And your friends?"
Yerin swallowed.
"I think they're hurt."
"Then speak to them."
Do-hyun nodded.
"We will."
The teacher gave them a small smile.
"Don't let one humiliating evening make you forget how far you've both come."
They thanked her and left.
When they returned to the hall, Emily and Min-jae were gone.
Yerin immediately took out her phone.
She called Emily.
No answer.
Do-hyun called Min-jae.
Nothing.
Yerin lowered her phone.
"She isn't answering."
"Neither is he."
They waited.
Nothing.
Eventually, they left.
The drive home was almost completely silent.
Yerin stared through the window.
Do-hyun kept his eyes on the road.
Neither knew what to say.
When they reached home, they went directly upstairs.
After changing, Yerin sat quietly on the edge of the bed.
Do-hyun sat across from her.
"We should've told them."
Yerin looked down.
"I know."
"They're probably not angry because we're married."
"I know."
She swallowed.
"They're angry because they found out like everyone else."
Do-hyun nodded.
"You're right."
Neither spoke again.
Dinner was unusually quiet.
Yerin barely touched her food.
Do-hyun wasn't much different.
His mother noticed.
"Did something happen?"
Yerin looked up.
"No."
Her mother studied her expression.
Then looked at Do-hyun.
He gave a small shake of his head.
She understood that they didn't want to talk.
"Alright."
She didn't push them.
After dinner, they returned upstairs.
Yerin walked toward the balcony.
She opened the door and stepped outside.
The night air was cool.
She sat on the swing chair.
For several minutes, she simply stared at the garden below.
Then the tears came.
Quietly at first.
Then more.
She covered her face with her hands.
Behind her, the balcony door opened.
Do-hyun stepped outside.
He stopped when he saw her.
"Yerin?"
She quickly wiped her face.
"I'm fine."
He walked closer.
"You don't look fine."
She looked away.
"Emily isn't answering me."
He sat beside her.
"She'll talk to you."
"What if she doesn't?"
"She will."
"You don't know that."
"No."
He paused.
"But I know Emily."
Yerin gave a weak laugh.
Then her eyes filled again.
"I'm just scared."
"Of what?"
"That I ruined everything."
Do-hyun looked at her.
"You didn't."
"I lied to her."
"You were trying to protect yourself."
"But she's my best friend."
"I know."
Yerin wiped her tears.
"I should've trusted her."
Do-hyun remained quiet for a moment.
Then he gently placed an arm around her.
Yerin didn't resist.
She leaned toward him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"You don't have to apologize to me."
He looked down at her.
She rested her forehead against his shoulder.
For a while, neither said anything.
Do-hyun simply stayed there.
Eventually, Yerin's tears began falling again.
He held her a little closer.
"We'll fix it."
She nodded against his shoulder.
"Together?"
"Together."
The following morning, Emily and Min-jae still avoided them.
Yerin finally couldn't take it anymore.
She approached Emily.
"Can we talk?"
Emily looked away.
"After university."
Yerin nodded.
"Okay."
Do-hyun approached Min-jae.
"After university?"
Min-jae sighed.
"Yeah."
So they waited.
That afternoon, the four sat around a quiet table in a café.
Nobody spoke at first.
Yerin finally took a breath.
"I'm sorry."
Emily looked at her.
"You don't have to apologize for being married."
Yerin's eyes softened.
"I know."
Emily looked down.
"I'm angry because you didn't tell me."
"I know."
"You were my best friend."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you trust me?"
Yerin struggled to answer.
"Because everything happened so quickly."
Emily remained quiet.
"My family arranged it. His family agreed. Everything was already decided before I even understood what was happening."
Do-hyun added quietly,
"And neither of us wanted everyone involved."
Min-jae looked at him.
"So you both just decided to hide it?"
"It wasn't that simple," Do-hyun said.
Emily looked at Yerin.
"How long?"
Yerin hesitated.
"Since before the wedding."
Emily stared at her.
"And you lived together?"
Yerin nodded.
Emily leaned back.
"Oh my God."
Yerin looked embarrassed.
"Please don't."
"I just can't believe you."
"I know."
"No, I mean—"
Emily paused.
"I'm not angry because you married him."
Yerin looked at her.
"I'm angry because I would've helped you."
Yerin's eyes became wet.
"You could've called me."
"I was scared."
"Of me?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"Of everything."
Emily slowly softened.
Min-jae sighed.
"I would've helped too."
Do-hyun looked at him.
"You two really thought we'd judge you?"
"No," Yerin said.
"Then?"
Yerin looked down.
"We didn't know who we could trust."
Emily's expression changed.
She finally understood.
She reached across the table.
Yerin looked at her hand.
Then took it.
"I'm still mad."
Yerin smiled through her tears.
"I know."
"But I'm not leaving."
Yerin's eyes filled again.
"Thank you."
Min-jae looked at Do-hyun.
"You're still paying for this coffee."
Do-hyun stared at him.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Yerin laughed.
Emily laughed too.
The tension finally broke.
For the first time since the farewell, everything felt normal again.
That night, Yerin and Do-hyun returned home.
Both were exhausted.
Yerin dropped onto the sofa.
"I'm tired."
"Me too."
She looked at him.
"Let's go somewhere."
"Where?"
"Drive."
Do-hyun thought for a moment.
"Okay."
Yerin immediately stood.
"I'll drive."
He looked at her.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
She held out her hand.
"Keys."
He sighed and handed them over.
At first, Yerin drove slowly through the city.
The streets were quiet.
Music played softly inside the car.
Then they reached the road leading toward the mountains.
Yerin's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
Do-hyun noticed.
"You're speeding up."
"I'm fine."
"Yerin."
She smiled.
"You'll survive."
"That's reassuring."
She laughed.
The car climbed higher into the mountains.
The familiar roads brought back memories.
Eventually, they reached the viewpoint.
Yerin parked.
They stepped outside.
The wind was cold.
Yerin wrapped her arms around herself.
Do-hyun stood beside her.
They looked over the city.
The lights stretched endlessly beneath them.
"This place hasn't changed," Yerin whispered.
"Neither have you."
She looked at him.
"That's not true."
He smiled slightly.
"You're right."
They sat together.
They talked.
About university.
About Emily.
About Min-jae.
About the amusement park.
About how terrible Do-hyun was at admitting he was afraid of heights.
Yerin laughed.
"You were terrified."
"I wasn't."
"You held the seat the entire time."
"That was balance."
"Sure."
They laughed.
For once, there was no pressure.
No arguments.
No secrets they had to solve tonight.
Just the two of them.
After some time, Do-hyun stood.
"We should go."
Yerin nodded.
He took the keys.
"I'll drive."
She didn't argue.
On the way home, music filled the car.
Yerin leaned against the window, watching the city lights pass by.
Do-hyun drove quietly.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
But neither felt uncomfortable with the silence.
When they finally reached home, they walked inside together.
And for the first time in what felt like forever—
everything was okay.
...To Be Continued...