Never told you

Commencement

I remember the day when I first walked into this university, with slow, steady steps and today....I'll be passing this path for the last time.

"Yes, it's my graduation day. Time flies. I can't believe how these four years flew away. It feels like it was just yesterday. It was just yesterday when I came here and met them all, met Hye kyo, met Shim chung, met my friends and finally....mr. popular," I sniggered at myself.

The whole university is decorated with white and light pink flowers with balloons. Every well dressed figure has a beaming smile. Finally we'll be paid for our hard work. I inhale all the excitement, maybe for the last time, and take my first step on the ground of this temple. The freshly new leaves with dew drops and the loose soil is welcoming. The exotic feel of this moment makes me feel out of this world. I breathe under the open sky and the shining sun.

I go inside and take a seat with the other students, as per we were told. And with that our graduation ceremony starts.

"Hello everyone! I am mr. Song, the CEO of Song enterprises & co."

Our commencement speaker began. I am really excited to hear him. I have waited for years for this day and when it's actually happening, I still feel I am living in my dreamland. Finally, I'll be graduated and it will be my first step towards my dreams.

He continued, "I want to tell you all a story. Seeing you all makes me remember my graduation day. I was also like you all, sitting in a corner, full of excitement. But I was not like my classmates. Not to lie, I was quiet weak at studies and was always far behind my friends. I always tried hard to catch them but it was not enough and I used to end up like a failure. That day, I made a promise to myself that I will go on my own pace, steadily. This is your life and you are the one to decide your speed. From that day, I started taking slow steps and that slow steps brought me where I am today. Don't be afraid of going slow. Be afraid of standing still. For me, the most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and not to give into peer pressure to try to be something that you're not, to live your life as an honest and compassionate person, to contribute in some way. No matter what challenges or setbacks or disappointments you may encounter along the way, you'll find true success and happiness if you have only one goal, there is only one golden goal, and that is to fulfill the highest most truthful expression of yourself as a human being."

His smile and words sent enough positivity to keep all the dead cells on my skin alive.

"The world is such a gloriously multifaceted diverse place and that there are people in the world who will like you, as you are. There will be times in your life when you'll question your own decisions, whether it is about your major or your profession, whether you are doing well or walking the path of failure. I hope you'll never give up and continue to work harder. Take your hands off what you can't control and get your hands on what you can change. One small person can dream the biggest dream, paint the largest picture, and make endless possibilities come true. Because your possibilities are limitless. The only thing we can control is ourselves. I urge you to listen to your heart. This may feel a little difficult right now, but somewhere out there, luck and opportunities are waiting for you. Always remember that you are the leader of your own life. I know your future will bloom to something much bigger and magnificent."

He ended with the sound of applause. His speech worked like a protein drink for my lazy runner. This motivates me to work for my dreams and achieve all what I aspire. He made me love myself even more for who I am. I am a person who made a lot of mistakes earlier. But that is still me. Tomorrow I might be a bit wiser, but that me is still me. I can't change myself but at least I can become a better version of myself. I promise myself that I will keep stumbling and learning from it and that's how I will make the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. The fear of an obscure future as our daily lives turn upside down is a moment of realisation of the self. The realisation of what makes me a true me, myself. Love yourself.

We received our degrees and threw our caps up high in the infinite sky. The golden thing which I am holding in my hand is not just a solid matter. It's the foundation of my dream life.

I was busy smiling like an idiot, watching others clicking photos with their families, when somebody patted my back. I turned back.

"Oh! Hi! Unnie!", I said and Min Young unnie hugged me.

"Missing your family, huh?", she asked and I nodded.

"We are also a family, right? You call me unnie so don't I have any rights to congratulate my cute little sister?"

"Unnie!"

"Congratulation!", Shi Jin shouted and started jumping like a monkey.

"Hey! Calm down my ape!", I commented.

"I am feeling proud of you princess," he said.

"I just wish he gets some maturity after this day," Min Young chuckled after hitting his dumb big skull.

"Come on noona, I am no more a kid. I am a man!", he pouted.

"Stupid," she turned towards me after barking cutely at him, "why don't you video call your parents?"

"Actually, they are busy so I told them that I'll record the ceremony but unfortunately I forgot to."

That's when Min Young's phone rang, "I have some work so bye kids and once again congrats!", Min Young said and started taking steps towards the exit while talking on her phone.

"Don't worry princess, your bully is forever there. I already recorded your tomato like face when you were receiving the certificate."

"Yah! I was not blushing."

"You were," he chortled at me.

"So what's wrong in it? I am just too happy," I faced the other side.

"How cute!", he commented. "By the way, why aren't you hanging with your so called bestie, Hye Kyo and her stupid friends?"

"They are just busy with their families and I don't want to destroy their happiness. It's the best to enjoy every moment with your loved ones because you never know when they'll wither away."

"You are missing your grandpa, right?", he commented while looking at the happy cockroaches with degrees, "trust me, he must be very proud and shouting in heaven 'You are the best princess!', and feeling grateful to himself for raising an angry bird."

"I am not an angry bird!"

"You are."

"I said I am NOT!"

"I am not the one who is getting angry now."

"Ugh! This guy!"

He chuckled at my anger, "look, your face is again red due to anger."

I stated hitting his arm with my bag.

"Ouch! Ok stop!"

"No, I'll not forgive you this easily."

"Then how about if I take you for a date? By the way, tomorrow is valentine's day so...."

"So?"

"Don't try to act innocent. You are coming tomorrow and that's final."

"Date? With me?"

"No. With dead Suzy's soul," he said sarcastically but somehow his words are enough to fade my smile and plaster a feel of guilt on my face.

There are people in this world who doesn't understand that what they consider a harmless joke can deeply hurt someone.

"Hey! I was just kidding. Why are you sad idiot?"

"You still like Suzy, don't you?"

"Are you serious princess? Suzy was just a crush. I never loved her!" he came closer and lifted my chin to face him, "the only girl I've ever loved after my sister is you. And this is the biggest truth of my life."

My face lighted like a shining bulb.

"So don't be late," he hit my head lightly and left with a smirk.

Four years back, he was my cold bully and today he is a clingy idiot. I seriously can't understand this guy.