ARDOR

30. Hours before Sotsugyou

A bright sunny day with sun in it's glory. I stepped out from the taxi with Taehyung and his parents.
Both of us were in our academic dresses. I couldn't believe that today I would graduate but the gown and the hat were pinching me the reality. Turning to Taehyung I saw his mom adjusting his hat while he groaned as he could do it himself.

I chuckled when his mom scolded him of not even able to put the hat accurately. That reminded me of my mom. Far far away in Busan. I knew I would regret not telling anyone about this ceremony. Absence of close one on your special day do stain your memories but it was all for good. If the time would reverse then again I would take the same decision.

Not wanting to confront Jungkook led me to not even inform Jimin about it. No matter how much I think it has been weeks since I saw anyone. Living with Taehyung in Gwangju did made me realise how ones surrounding affect them. I was healing there.

But standing in middle of the campus with same old scars did no good. They opened again like fresh wounds.

A warm hand interlocked into mine transmitting its warmth. Looking at the angelic smile of Mrs. Kim my lips curved up hiding my anxious eyes.

Mrs. Kim: Relax child. Are you ready to begin a new start?

Y/N: Ready as ever, Mrs. Kim. But I am not sure if I can let go of my past and plan a better future.

Mrs. Kim: Believe yourself dear. You are not only beautiful from outside but also from within. Actually you are much more better than my clumsy Tae.

We turned to look at Taehyung who was busy clicking selfies in his own style. That is from below the chin. We giggled at how he was capturing the pictures of him with his dad in the same way.

Mr. Kim informed us to grab our respective seats in the auditorium as the ceremony would start soon.

All the associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees candidates were allotted different sections in the hall. The Kim family went in followed by me.

But when I was about to step in, a hand pulled me out. Separating me away from the crowd of people entering there he stood in front of me. A bouquet of orchids blocked his face but when he started shifting it away from his face I felt like the whole world stopped.

The dearest person to my heart. Even if I did not informed him but at the corner of my heart I wished his presence. And here he was enthusiastically calling me..... Chubs.

His wide smile lightning my sorrow, erased all the sour moments I expected myself to experience in absence of my dear ones in this cheerful event.

Without saying anything I pulled him into a hug. He got startled but soon wrapped me into a home-like hug making sure I wasn't dreaming. He pulled back and gave me the bouquet. Cupping my face he congratulated me on soon to be getting graduated.

Jimin: I thought I would miss your first hug after graduation. How could you this to me? When I asked mom and dad even they didn't knew about it.

Y/N: I...I thought...

Jimin: Eye is for watching, mind is for thinking and heart is for pumping

Y/N: No! loving. You forgot your own line oppa. You and your jokes.. hehe.

Jimin: But seriously you could've told me. I was right here. And when Jungkook told m-

Y/N: W-Who? He but how? I never told anyone.

He crossed his arms and glared at me to make me realise that I really did wrong not telling anyone.

But wasn't I right to do that? I couldn't say I saw him kissing another woman willingly.