When Justice Won’t Play Along (C30)

Epilogue

Narrator's POV:

"(Y/N), BE QUICK!" You rolled your eyes as a familiar voice called out for you to hurry, still, you didn't bother to pick up your pace as the person itself took longer than you when sitting at the toilet for some urgent business. You applied some lipstick and hurried downstairs only to get to see those faces you've been expecting to see. "What took you so long? There's no need to style up on a graduation." You scrunched your nose upon their words and followed all four of them out of the house to get into the car.

Once arriving at the graduation venue, you shook hands with several other students and took a seat beside Hankyung upon the request of the headmaster. You were fidgeting with your fingers while being too nervous to even think straight until a hand was placed over yours. You took a look to the side, seeing your seatmate smiling at you with a reassuring gaze. You took a deep breath to calm your nerves and smiled back before turning your attention back to the front.

"And now, a few words from Miss Kim, the successor to the Kim Iseul Memorial Corporation!" You stood up as the excitement tickled you all over your body and shuffled your way to the front while dragging the long graduation gown along. Once on stage, you looked around, meeting eyes with Key, Jinah, Yoseob and Hankyung who gave you thumb ups to show their support. A small smile spread on your lips and the moment everyone stopped clapping, you opened your mouth, ready to read what was written on the piece of letter you've been writing on for the past year; but before you could do so, you shook your head and put the paper away. "First of all, I would like to thank my father and deceased mother who gave me the opportunity to study in my home country as well as my aunt who supported me through tough times, the teachers from high school days, the friends I made here to overcome those obstacles I went through and lastly, someone I won't be able to say my thanks for protecting me and for loving me even if it was only for a short time of period. If it wasn't for any of them or the events I had to go through, I wouldn't have been able to reach this very moment. Thank you once more." You took a step aside and bowed your head, allowing the people to applaud you. You then moved back to your seat, taking hold of Hankyung's arm once being offered. "You did great, there's no need to worry." You lifted your head with an unsure expression, but all your worries eventually faded at his kind gaze.

"Lastly, let's give a round of applause for all of our graduate students!" The crowd roared at the announcement and everyone has been called one by one on stage to receive their diploma. You went up after being called and shook hands with the several professors who congratulated you. After taking several pictures, you got back down and glanced at your group of friends who were giving you thumb ups before running towards them at full speed to hug all of them at once. "Woah— Calm there. We're not going to disappear," Key joked while laughing and hugged you back just as tightly. "Oh! (Y/N), someone's waiting for you over there." With Jinah's words, you tilted your head while still being in Key's arms to glance to the direction she was pointing at.

You widened your eyes in shock, definitely not expecting to see him again. The man moved forward until he stopped right in front of you with an apologetic smile. "You grew quite into a lady." You bit your lower lip as happiness overcame your body and walked up to the man to give him a tight hug. "Appa…" "Shh, it's okay. I'm sorry for the things I've done. I've been a horrible father and if there's one thing I want to do is to make everything better again." You shook your head as you lifted your gaze, a small smile spreading upon your lips. "No, it's okay. If it wasn't of you, I wouldn't have met these wonderful people." Mr. Kim took a glance around and saw Key, Hankyung, Jinah and Yoseob waving awkwardly. "I see… Actually, I've heard from Haera that you have boyfriend?" You lowered your head as sadness took over your emotions and you clutched onto your father's shirt. "Gikwang… I'm sure you would've loved to meet him if he was still here." Upon your words Mr. Kim heaved a sigh, knowing exactly what you meant, and held you tightly in his arms. "It's okay. Oh and sweetheart, I still have a meeting. It won't take long, I promise. I'll be back before six if it's okay with you." You nodded in understanding and slowly released yourself to let him go to his meeting. Key placed a hand on your shoulder, squeezing it light before all five of you left the venue.

As soon as you arrived at the cemetery, you made your way to the other end where Gikwang's tombstone was. Before you could react, you fell on your knees, dirtying your graduation gown along as small sobs could be heard. Hankyung bent down and wrapped his arms around your shoulders to pull your body close to him so that he could comfort you. Jinah stood there silently while Yoseob approached the tombstone, patting it lightly before placing the bouquet of flowers on it. "Hey. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" Yoseob bit his lower lip to suppress his feelings and he knelt down as well, freeing the grave from the leaves which covered it. "Ah… Honestly speaking, I don't even know where I should start, you know?" The male lifted his head to look up to the sky as a small sob escaped from him. "Goddamn. Gikwang, I'm sorry for what I— actually Kibum and me have done. I'm sure Key is still holding a grudge against you for basically stealing his princess over there." He shifted his gaze only to see Key with an annoyed expression. "I ain't holding a grudge against him. He just took things too far in the beginning." Everyone burst in a fit of laughter at the reaction. Yoseob then turned his attention back to his best friend and heaved a heavy sigh. "Anyway, as someone who betrayed one of my best friend since childhood, I don't think a simple sorry will be enough to pay back for what I've done. Knowing you, you might give me some sort of punishment as a joke, tell me that it's all forgiven and forgotten, but I…I just can't." Breaking down in tears, Yoseob pulled his shirt over his face to cover it. Jinah pulled him up and rubbed his back with an encouraging smile, telling him that it's alright.

Key took a step forward with his arms folded and he pursed his lips, trying not to break down like the rest. "Yah. Ahem. Gikwang-ssi, I'm sorry about those things I said back then. Even if I still don't like you, it's a pity that you're not here anymore." He glanced to the side, watching you trying to control your feelings before he turned back. "You know, it's kind of upsetting me that you're not alive anymore because you actually managed to break (Y/N)'s heart after that promise you gave me when we were held hostage and were at the verge of dying. I won't forgive this one. I will definitely look out for you in our afterlife. Just you wait." Trying to glare at the tombstone, Key eventually failed and turned his head away to silently cry to himself.

After calming down, you slowly released yourself from Hankyung and placed a rose on top of the grave, a small, sad smile appearing on your face.

"'The best rose bush, after all, is not that which has the fewest thorns, but that which bears the finest roses.' This sounds cheesy but I like it." Gikwang grinned as he eagerly glued some rose petals on the poster for your project. He then stopped his movements and lifted his gaze, looking at you with eyes full of passion and solemness. "(Y/N), you know what? If I should ever fall in love with someone like… No, Jinah is too rough." Gikwang took a look around the room, analysing each and every person who was available. "Broke up, broke up, never accepted, too shy, too blunt, too much of a teacher…" His gaze eventually fell on you and he raised a brow as one side of his lips curled up into a smirk. He leaned in closer and whispered into your ear, making you wonder why he stopped talking. "If I should ever fall in love with someone like you, I'll make sure to give her each…"

"…and every day the best rose I find, no matter in what mood she is, as long as it makes her happy." Repeating those words made your heart sting. You closed your eyes and inhaled deeply while the others slowly took their leave to the car to give you some peace. You then turned your head, feeling at ease at the sight of the fields of flowers and took a seat on the grass. "It's kind of amusing, you know? When you told me that, I actually believed you were trying to imagine that I was Mina. Yet I'm here doing the deed for you instead and I still don't know whom you meant back then." You let your fingers run in small circles on the grave and hung your head. "Oppa, when you first told me you liked me, I didn't really know how to respond or react to it. I knew I liked Key oppa, but I was too much of a dummy to differentiate liking between romantically and brotherly." A slight chuckle escaped past your lips when a tear suddenly slid down your cheek. "Truth to be told, my feelings were in such a turmoil, I didn't know what to do with your feelings towards me. I regret it now though. I regret to have not returned your feelings. I regret to have only told you I loved you when our lives were on the line. I'm sorry for the great pain I caused you, I'm sorry for ignoring you for so long, I'm sorry to have not been there when you needed me the most." You drew a deep breath as you lifted your head and sniffed soundly. "To be honest, I'm currently unsure if this is the greatest love I ever experienced, or the saddest. But still, thank you for loving me. I definitely won't stop loving you as well," with that being said, you stood up with new energy and bowed your head deeply. You then kissed you palm and placed your hand on the tombstone before following the others to leave.