❛ ── chapter eight
THEY DESERVE A HAPPY ENDING. ❜

          𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐔𝐏, and Joo Seok-Hoon had to return to school.

Whispers and murmurs were the only thing he could hear ever since he stepped into the school's campus.

Everyone knew of Jang Yuna, even if she didn't attend Cheong-Ah. They knew her as the terminally ill fiancé of Joo Seok-Hoon, Hera Palace's owners son.

But no one had dared to say anything that went against her favor, they learned it the hard way after Seok-Hoon had overheard someone badmouthing her and punched him square in the face.

" Honestly, it's absurd how they only gave you a month off. How heartless of them. " Seok-Kyung complained as the twins walked side-by-side. Even though she had tried to sound as irritated as possible, she was secretly worried for her brother.

Seok-Hoon had his hands stuffed into his pocket as they walked into class, his face stoic but people could tell the death of Jang Yuna had affected him heavily.

The first thing Seok-Hoon sees that completely sours his already dampened mood, is a bed of white lilies littered all over his desk.

Anger fuels up in his gut and the boy stomps towards it and slams his hands on the table, causing the class to flinch and immediately stop in their actions.

The tension that surrounded the class was so thick most students could suffocate in it.

" This is my business, don't meddle your noses into it. " He states, he was already annoyed by the numerous condolence wreaths that were constantly being sent to them and he didn't need them to interfere in his school life too.

Joo Seok-Hoon just wants to grieve in peace, without any of his dad's affiliates sending them insincere gifts to show their sympathy.

" Take them away, " he ordered and people began hurdling over the table. Seok-Hoon rolled his eyes before plopping into his seat.

" Alright everyone! Take your seats, class is about to start. " Ma Du-Ki enters with his books in hand, the students shuffle into their seats as he stands in the center of the class. " Today, we'll be continuing where we left off in our reading. So turn to the last chapter, please. "

Seok-Hoon aimlessly reaches into his bag and pulls out the book, he had missed out on an entire month of classes so he didn't know how far they were. He'd just remind himself to finish it when he had the time.

" They sat in silence, his gaze focused on train tracks ahead as hers was buried in the words of her book. . . " Their teacher began and Seok-Hoon froze, like a deer in front of headlights. His heart dropped as he broke into a cold sweat. " It was pouring, but he patiently awaited for her train to arrive. To send her off one final time. "

The boy realized, he had in fact read this book before.

          " 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆, but he patiently awaited for her train to arrive. To send her off one final time. " Yuna's sweet voice read.

Seok-Hoon laid his head on her lap, his eyes shut as the girl's fingers played with his hair, occasionally tugging it lightly.

" "You are my forever." She blurted abruptly.

"Pardon?" He said, turning his gorgeous emerald eyes towards my bland hazel ones, sending my heart into a fluttering stampede of drums.

"I said 'you are my forever', a quote from 'the stories of Archibald Macgregor - the first romantic'."

"Ah! That old classic, beautifully written." his gaze seemed to sadden, but that was probably my imagination.

"It always makes me smile, that part, so much hope and love, and sadness." I said, he grinned his weary grin.

"Your smile is almost as gratifying as that book" my heart took a great leap before getting caught on one word.

"Almost?" I said, trying to sound playful.

"Yes, almost, because the book can be re-read whereas your smile seems to fade each time it arrives on your lips." I felt my cheeks grow warm in the cold, wet weather as I mumble,

"you always make me smile, even when you're not trying."

"I always try. ' you are my forever'." The passionate intensity of our eyes as they connect one last time was unbreakable and so pure I couldn't refrain from leaning in and whispering,

"and you are mine."

before our lips met in a lasting and passionate kiss, just as the sky of lavender faded slowly into the dark of night. " Yuna finished, lowering her book to look down at Seok-Hoon.

" Is that the end? " He asks and she shakes her head.

" She gets on the train and bids him goodbye, saying they'll see each other soon. But when she arrives back at her hometown, she gets caught in the midst of a shooting which takes her life. " The girl summarizes sullenly.

Snapping the book shut, she tosses it beside her on the couch and tangles both her hands in his hair.

" But to me, the story ends here. They went through so many hardships to get to this point, they deserve their happily ever after. " Seok-Hoon peels his eyes open, " don't you think they deserve a happy ending? "

She questions but the boy is getting the feeling that she isn't referring to the book.

" Yeah, everyone deserves a happy ending. It just depends where you decide to end the story. "

Yuna smiles as she intertwines one of her hands with his. " Then I guess this is my happy ending. "

" I guess this is mine too. "

          𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐊-𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐔𝐏 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐓, startling their teacher. He glares at him and Ma Du-Ki immediately shrinks from his gaze.

" I'm leaving, " he announces curtly. Slinging his bag over his shoulder and walking out of class.

" O-of course! See you later Seok-Hoon! " The teacher shouts, " hey! What are you guys looking at? Focus back on class! " He scolds and everyone immediately buries their heads into their book.

Seok-Hoon didn't know where he'd go, but what he knows is that he just needs to get out of the class. He just needs to forget about everything for a second, so he let his feet take him wherever.

Take him to where he felt most at home.

# 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 ! ₊˚ˑ༄ؘ

ew what was that ending, literally i apologize for how crappy the last part was. a little snippet of his life after her death because i feel like i haven't been including that part much, also the timeline of this is roughly around after min seol-a's death. kind of when rona enters cheong-ah. please vote !