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"I told you you'd do it," Hongjoong smiled as you walked off the stage with your certificate held tightly in your hand, spotting him instantly waiting for you.
His arms moved around your waist as you stepped into his side, pressing his lips against the top of your head. He was your biggest supporter over the past couple of years, even when life seemed to be throwing every hurdle your way.
The long nights, the teary nights, the sleepless nights had all been worth it for the piece of paper that you held onto at that moment.
"I'm so proud of you," he whispered down to you, pressing his hand to your cheek, "it's nice to see you smiling again with the weight of the world off your shoulders."
There had been far too many times then he liked to remember when he'd ended up finding you teary eyed or breaking down in front of your laptop. Too many visits when you'd crumbled around him because the workload became too much.
Hongjoong could remember his last visit with you the most. How you sobbed into his side for hours and vented about how difficult you were finding your final essay and how hard you were having to fight not to drop out.
"Let me take a proper look," he smiled, holding his hand out for you to give him your certificate.
He pulled the ribbon that was around the scroll, opening it up so that he could read through it. His heart was full as he read through your name and all of the other pieces of information that came with it, including the all-important pass you'd been working towards.
"You deserve this so much," he whispered, tying it back up again once he'd finished reading through it, "how does it feel to finally be a graduate?"
"I didn't think I'd be a graduate a few weeks ago," you chuckled, feeling your cheeks begin to turn red, "I was convinced on that night that I was just going to give it up, I don't know how you managed to convince me to carry on if I'm honest with you."
If Hongjoong was honest, he had his doubts too. Your deadline was only a couple of weeks away, and he knew you were stressed, but even he hadn't seen you in such a state before. He was clueless, but somehow, he managed to do the right thing.
Watching you now with a wide smile on your face, he was relieved he made the decision to go to your dorm that night and see how you were getting on. If he hadn't, he doubted that you'd even be standing where you were right now.
"And now you have the rest of your life to look forward to," Hongjoong reminded you, "and best of all, you don't ever have to submit another essay again."
Your eyes lit up just at the thought of finally being free from all of your studies, "I feel like I could sleep for a thousand years after everything I've been through over the past few months."
Hongjoong had often just sat back and admired your dedication and determination to get yourself the best grade possible. You'd pushed yourself to breaking that, but your grade reflected that, which Hongjoong knew was all that you'd ever wanted.
His arms moved back around your waist once your scroll was handed back to you, tapping gently at the graduation cap on top of your head. He almost felt as if he was in a movie as he studied you kitted out head to toe in your hat and your graduation gown.
It didn't take long before your hat piqued his interest, and he began to tap at it again and again until he sent it toppling off the top of your head. Your eyes rolled as he bent down to pick it up, sitting it perfectly against the top of your head as if nothing had happened.
"I swear it's like bringing a child to my graduation," you remarked, jabbing into his side gently. "You're not with the boys now, you don't have to keep touching everything and messing around with it," you reminded him, rolling your eyes as his jaw opened in surprise.
"I'm just reminding myself that I'm dating a graduate," he proudly smiled, pressing a kiss against your forehead to keep you quiet. "I feel pretty smug being able to say that, especially when I've been such a crucial part in helping you get to this position."
"A crucial part? You really think that's what you've been?"
His head nodded in response to your question, even though you knew he was joking, if you were honest, Hongjoong wasn't wrong in the slightest. Each time you felt like giving up, he was there, when you wanted someone to visit you, he was straight round, and each time you succeeded, he was the first one there to congratulate you too.
Your eyes glanced back up at him, "I guess I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you, you've always been my biggest supporter."
"I knew exactly what you were capable of, that's why. Even if you doubted yourself, I knew you'd get to this position with a little bit of support," he smiled.
"You've done so much more than a little bit of support," you responded, "you've really been there when I felt like giving up."
For all the times that he'd had to help you when you felt yourself breaking down or wanted to hand in your letter to tell them you were dropping out, they were all worth it and so much more as Hongjoong watched you graduate. He had never been prouder than the moment he watched you walk up on that stage and take your certificate.
"What's next then?" He questioned suddenly, "now you have the whole world waiting for you, what do I have to support you through next? Have you got your next step?"
"Right now, I just want to do nothing for a while and give myself some time to relax."
"That's a good idea," he chuckled.
Your smile grew wider, "maybe I could come and annoy you at work, make up for all the times you've constantly appeared at my dorm over the years."
He couldn't hide his delight at the thought of you getting more involved with his work now that you had the time. Hongjoong was forever trying to get you to spend time at the studio or come to a show, and now the weight of the world had lifted from you, you finally had the time.
"Whatever you do, I'll be there," he whispered, pressing a kiss to your forehead gently.
"I know," you giggled, "you've been by my side through so much of the worst, it's about time we go through some of the best together too."
"It's all been worth it to see you now, you've put so much effort and hard work into this, and now you can reap the rewards. I don't think I'll ever really be able to tell you just how proud I am of how far you've come."
Your head nodded slowly, "I've definitely come a long way from breaking down in the dorm. I'm just relieved that I chose to stick it out and carry it on until the end."
"Me too, and now you can finally call yourself a graduate."
