The classroom was much noisier than usual. Some students were crying, while others were loudly chatting.
For the students, this classroom—where they were spending the last moments of their teenage years—felt strangely unfamiliar.
"I can’t believe I’m already graduating..."
Had time always moved this fast? As a senior preparing for college entrance exams, my days had been consumed by studying.
I had thought time was passing so slowly, but before I knew it, my third year of high school was over in an instant.
I had gotten into the university I wanted, and now, all that was left was graduation.
I had wanted to become an adult, but… why did I feel so strange?
"You’ve worked hard for three years. But remember, life starts now."
As our homeroom teacher spoke, more and more students began to cry.
And eventually, I did too…
"Teacher... I’ll become someone successful! Ughhhh sob..."
"Someone get her a tissue? I can’t tell if it’s tears or snot anymore."
"Uwaaaahhh ㅠㅠ"
Apparently, I was crying way too much.
My parents, waiting in the hallway, barely managed to hold back their laughter at the sight of their daughter bawling her eyes out.
"Alright, parents, please come in and congratulate your children!"
In an instant, the classroom became way too crowded, and the noise doubled.
"Congratulations on your graduation, Yeoju."
"Stop crying already. What’s so sad about it?"
Yoongi, wiping my tears, sounded indifferent, but his actions said otherwise. Classic tsundere.
"Hyung, you know I graduated too, right?"
Unlike me, whose arms and desk were full of flower bouquets, Taehyung was standing there with absolutely nothing, his lips sticking out in a pout.
"I deposited money."
Instead of flowers, the older brothers had transferred money to him, and Taehyung grinned with satisfaction.
For the record, Taehyung himself had refused all the flower bouquets from other girls. A popular guy indeed...
"With that face, how do you plan to take graduation photos?"
Jungkook, who still had a year left until his own graduation, was sulking at the thought of going to school alone from now on.
Still, his eyes stayed glued to his phone as he searched for good restaurants to celebrate my graduation.
I took countless photos with my friends and even managed to take a family photo when my parents arrived late.
But with my swollen face, I had no idea how much I’d regret these pictures in the future…
"I’m an adult now...? Why… WHY!?"
Having cried my heart out, I slumped into the car, my nose red from all the tears, my face buried in my scarf.
"Eat as much meat as you want today~!"
At my parents’ words, everyone cheered.
It was not only my and Taehyung’s graduation but also a rare occasion for our entire family to have dinner together.
.
.
.
.
After safely arriving at the restaurant, we were enjoying a nice meal…
Until—
"Do you have a death wish?"
"It’s not my fault your face looks like what’s left of Anpanman after he gives away his head."
"If I rip your face off with my own hands, that will be your fault, you bastard!!"
With my hands gripping Taehyung’s collar, looking like I was ready to punch his face in, everyone let out a sigh.
"Why can’t we go a single day without chaos?"
"It’s Taehyung’s fault!!"
"It’s Yeoju’s fault!!"
"What!? My fault!?"
"What!? My fault!?"
"Do you two want to die at your mother’s hands on such a happy day?"
Mom gripped the knife tightly before stabbing it into her steak.
Thankfully, we had rented the restaurant. Otherwise, we would have traumatized other guests.
"Why are these kids still so immature even after all these years?"
"Yoongi, how are we supposed to carry something as heavy as ‘maturity’? Haha."
"Seokjin-hyung, just shut up and eat your food."
It seemed like no one in this family was destined to be "mature" anytime soon.
After barely finishing our meal, we headed home.
Since our parents would be too busy to see us often starting tomorrow, we suggested going for a walk together for the first time in a while.
"Sounds good. I’m gonna ride a bike. Who’s coming with me?"
"Namjoon-hyung, wanna ride with me?"
At Jungkook’s suggestion, Namjoon happily agreed, and they went to rent bikes together.
The rest of us, too full from dinner, decided to walk first and think about biking later.
For once, things felt peaceful—
But of course, that was an illusion.
A quiet moment didn’t suit the 8 siblings.
"Hah, whatever. TV off."
"Oh? Didn’t ask. Don’t care~ Not interested~ Keep talking, it’s cringe~."
"What you gonna do about it? Cry? Lmao, cope harder, bro~."
"Kids, what on earth are they saying…?"
"Dad, just ignore them. Engaging with zoomers is a headache."
"Oh? You mad? You big mad? But you can’t do anything about it, huh~?"
"Ugh, shut up and give me back my phone! Why the hell are you taking it!?"
"Hmm? I don’t really care if it’s yours or not. Anyone curious? Nope? Guess you’re just an idiot~."
"Oh, you wanna play that game? You do know I still have your tablet, right?"
"If you touch that, your neck won’t be intact by the time I’m done with you~ ^^"
"Oh? The wallet I’m holding? It’s yours~ ^^"
"HEY!!!"
"Shoo shoo swoosh! Dodge! Too bad, you missed~!"
"Give it back nicely."
"You first~ ^^"
"...^^"
"You mad? You big mad? Oooooh, you’re boiling inside, aren’t you?"
"DIE, YOU LITTLE SH*T!!!"
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile…
"Hyung, my eyes aren’t deceiving me, right?"
"…Nope."
From a distance, they saw Yeoju and Taehyung causing absolute mayhem.
Feeling secondhand embarrassment, the two brothers sped up their bicycles to get as far away as possible.
"Seriously, these two are gonna be the death of me..."