Since Doo Joon was a senior that year, he had to prepare for entrance exams and fill out applications for college. He still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but his parents wanted him to apply for the college that his dad was teaching at in America. It was a good school for those studying business and after thinking about it for a while, Doo Joon decided that was what he wanted to do.

Doo Joon had told Ri Ah of his plans to apply at a school in America and Ri Ah was both happy and sad to hear that he wanted to study business. If he got accepted and went to America, she wouldn’t get to see him as much, but she wanted him to succeed too, more than she wanted him to stay with her.

As spring approached, Doo Joon got his acceptance letter for Columbia University and he had accepted the enrollment. It was soon graduation day and all the seniors were seated in front of the stage while the underclassmen were seated behind them. Ri Ah clapped loudly when Doo Joon’s name was called and he walked across the stage to accept his rolled up diploma. After he turned his tassle, he looked at Ri Ah sitting in the crowd and pointed his diploma at her as he winked and grinned widely. Ri Ah smiled back at him.

After the graduation ceremony, Ri Ah, Doo Joon, and their friends went to the beach to celebrate the seniors’ graduation. They built a bonfire on the sand and talked and ate as they reminisced over the memories they had of their high school life.

As the rest of their friends started leaving, Doo Joon held Ri Ah back.

“I have something to give you,” he said to her as they sat on the beach. He loosened the tie of his uniform and took it off his head. He put it over Ri Ah’s neck and adjusted it to fit her.

“Your tie?” she asked as she looked down at the piece of cloth hanging around her neck.

“Yeah. They say that you’re supposed to give your uniform tie to the person that means the most to you. For me…that’s you,” he said with a smile.

Ri Ah gazed at him softly.

“Also, it’ll be good luck for your senior year. I got through with flying colors, so if you have this, you will too,” he joked.

Ri Ah chuckled. “Thank you, Oppa.”

“Remember, you have to work hard and become a doctor and then open up a clinic here. I’ll be cheering for you every step of the way,” he said as he held her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

“You too. You better work hard when you get to college. I hope your eyes don’t wander to the American girls there,” she pouted.

Doo Joon chuckled at her jealousy. “Don’t worry. There’s no one else for me but you, how could I look at any other girl?”

Ri Ah smiled at his assurance and Doo Joon leaned in to give her a gentle kiss.

“Ah, I almost forgot,” she said as she pulled away from the kiss, “I have a gift for you, too.” Ri Ah pulled out a small gift bag from her bag and handed it to him.

Doo Joon excitedly took it and pulled out what was in the gift bag. His face fell when he saw what it was. “Foot odor cream?”

Ri Ah giggled. “Yes, you need to start using that now so your feet don’t smell when you go to college. You may be an outgoing and friendly person, but even your best friend Jae Min can’t stand you when you walk around bare foot.”

“Hey! It’s not my fault that my feet smell more than others’. You giving me this makes me more self conscious about it,” he pouted, feigning being hurt. Ri Ah continued to laugh. “Stop laughing,” he whined. Ri Ah bit her lip to stop laughing but couldn’t hold it in. “I mean it, or else I’m going to make you stop,” he said with a threatening tone. Ri Ah noticed the playful look in his eyes and lightly shrieked as she quickly stood up and started running. “Yah, Lee Ri Ah! Get back here!” he playfully yelled as he started running after her. The two played cat and mouse until Doo Joon eventually caught her from behind and started twirling her, making Ri Ah laugh. He gently put her down and turned her towards him before leaning down to kiss her.

Lee Ri Ah, I love you.

Yoon Doo Joon, I love you.

Author's Note

Haha, it actually took me a while to figure out what Ri Ah would give Doo Joon as a graduation gift. I had to go and start searching interesting facts about him and thank god to his smelly feet (lol, taken out of context that sounds weird), I was able to findy a funny yet sensible gift idea for him XD. - 7/9/12 11:49 PM