Graduation, in the Glow of Headlights

She took a slow, steady breath.

For a moment, Ju Hayan simply enjoyed the faint, calming scent before opening the certificate case in her other hand.

After three years of school, the only thing worth boasting about was her perfect attendance award.

Even that had been so common that the recipients were told to simply raise their hands instead of being called up individually.

A meaningless prize.

If she had known, she might have skipped at least once.

She ran her fingers over the velvet lining and read the attendance award and diploma in turn.

Staring down at the few printed lines, feeling strangely distant from them, she closed the case and slid it into her barely-there backpack.

On the way to work, she stopped at a Chinese restaurant for lunch.

She ordered jajangmyeon and, in a rare splurge, a small plate of sweet-and-sour pork.

The portion was large enough that she had to sit for a while afterward just to digest.

Across from her, the bouquet occupied the empty seat.

“…….”

Looking at it made her feel strange.

Happy.

Sad.

Afraid.

Hopeful.

It was her first time going through a graduation ceremony entirely alone.

In elementary school, both her parents had come.

In middle school, her father had shown up late and drunk.

Back then, she had wished he hadn’t come at all.

Now, she was truly alone.

She felt as if she had been cast out of school and left by herself.

Ju Hayan drank a glass of water blankly and gathered her things.

She steadied the swell of emotion before moving.

Even though she had deliberately taken her time, she arrived at work earlier than her shift.

The manager looked surprised, then congratulated her when she explained she had come straight from graduation.

“Congratulations, Hayan. You’re officially an adult now.”

“Thank you.”

Aside from hearing congratulations from her coworkers, work was no different from any other day.

She made drinks for customers and cleaned the kitchen at night.

As closing approached, Shin I-hyeok arrived.

He ordered coffee as usual, took his drink, and sat by the window.

Since his first visit, he had come by occasionally.

Each time, he drove her home.

Her coworkers no longer asked about him.

She no longer acted awkward around him.

Of course, that didn’t mean he stopped coming to her house.

Just last Friday, for instance.

“…Oh.”

That visit had been a little different.

After finishing work and returning home, Ju Hayan noticed a pair of black dress shoes in the entryway.

She had checked through the window earlier.

The house had been dark.

Since the first night, Shin I-hyeok had always turned on the lights.

There was something else unusual.

He wasn’t sitting against the dresser like he usually did.

Tilting her head in confusion, she felt along the wall and stepped inside.

She found him immediately.

“…Are you sleeping?”

Shin I-hyeok was asleep.

He lay on her unmade bedding, eyes closed.

Ju Hayan withdrew her hand from the light switch and crouched beside him.

Was he tired?

She had sometimes wondered how he passed the time waiting for her to return late, but she had never seen him asleep before.

“He’s handsome.”

Seen like this, he was undeniably good-looking.

Even a passing glance left an impression.

Even she, who avoided looking at his face directly, sometimes found herself staring.

When he was asleep, he wasn’t being sarcastic, nor pretending kindness.

Only his appearance shone.

If only he wouldn’t open his mouth when awake.

The thought made her laugh softly.

“…Ah.”

Suddenly, the light went out.

The motion sensor at the entrance must have turned off.

The semi-basement was plunged into darkness, with barely any streetlight filtering in.

As she started to stand and turn the lights back on, a hand caught her wrist.

Her senses sharpened in the darkness.

“…You’re awake?”

“Just now. When did you get back, Hayan?”

“Just now too.”

His voice was rough.

It matched the careful but not entirely gentle grip on her wrist.

After tracing her wrist lightly, he sat up.

“Why didn’t you turn on the lights?”

“You were sleeping. I didn’t want to wake you.”

“This isn’t bad either.”

Not bad?

She couldn’t even take a step without feeling her way forward.

She stood and found the switch.

The fluorescent light flicked on, filling the room.

“Hi.”

“Hello.”

She had thought they had already exchanged greetings, but he said it again.

Blinking at the sudden brightness, he looked at her through narrowed eyes.

Fatigue lingered there.

“You must have been very tired.”

“Hmm?”

“If you fell asleep here….”

“Ah. I guess I was.”

He stretched his neck and let his head fall slightly toward her.

His hair, slightly tousled, fell over his forehead.

“If I’m tired, maybe I should just sleep here tonight.”

She couldn’t answer immediately.

Not because she didn’t know what to say, but because she didn’t know how to say it.

“…Wouldn’t it be better to sleep at home?”

She had phrased it gently, but he burst into laughter anyway.

She could try to act mature, but moments like this exposed her age.

Rather than teasing her further, he told her to eat and gestured with his chin.

She had expected to feel nervous, but seeing he wasn’t offended, she stood at once.

Her legs tingled from crouching but quickly steadied.

As she busied herself preparing a late meal, she placed a mug in front of him.

He looked at it, then let out a soft, incredulous laugh.

“You really don’t listen.”

Despite the reproach, she wore an innocent expression.

He shook his head at the sight of her, then looked down at the still-warm coffee.

“Enjoy.”

She watched him take a sip, satisfied.

After their first failed attempt at offering him coffee, time had passed.

This time, she offered it sincerely, without ulterior motive.

She believed he would accept that.

“Ju Hayan. You’re cold.”

He set the mug down and leaned closer across the low table.

She instinctively leaned back.

“This late at night, and you give me coffee. I say I’m tired, and you give me poison instead of medicine.”

Her head snapped up.

She hadn’t meant it that way.

“…Then don’t drink it.”

Embarrassed, she reached to take the mug back, but he covered her hand and the cup with his own.

“It’s fine. I don’t react to caffeine.”

Only then did she realize he had been teasing her.

She muttered under her breath, and he smiled.

They talked for a long time that night.

He complained that Usang-dong was dull and described his exile-like stay.

It wasn’t pleasant to hear about her hometown that way, but she nodded quietly.

Later, he teased about sleeping over again.

She pretended not to hear.

By the time she came out of the bathroom, he was gone.

That night, lying alone, her bedding felt unfamiliar.

“…….”

Since then, he had grown easier to be around.

Now, back in the café, she glanced toward the hall again.

He sat quietly with his coffee.

Worried he might grow bored waiting, she worked faster.

She finished closing about ten minutes early.

After changing clothes and stepping out, she noticed him watching her.

He didn’t say anything, and she didn’t ask.

“Good work.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“Good night.”

After exchanging farewells with her coworker, she walked toward his car.

This time, she naturally sat beside him.

As she placed her bag on her lap, their eyes met.

“What’s that?”

“Huh?”

He nodded toward the bouquet resting atop her bag.

“Oh. It was my graduation today. A friend gave it to me.”

“Graduation?”

“Yes. High school.”

“Isn’t graduation usually earlier?”

He stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Then his gaze returned to her.

“Graduation.”

She fidgeted with the slick wrapping paper.

Though she had always wanted to grow up quickly, being reminded of her age sometimes made her feel oddly embarrassed.