Happy Ever After

INTERMISSION AU

Win fiddles with the graduation robe hanging on his clothes valet.

He heaves a huge sigh as he stares at it.

There is a soft knock on his bedroom door and he turns around to see his sister peeking in.

"You ready to leave in 5?"

Win gives her a smile. "I will be."

She notices the crease in between his brows. "Nong, just tell him you decided you want him there after all."

Win scratches his head. "I'm that obvious huh?"

"Like an open book."

"He already has schedules..."

"Just tell him and assure him you'll understand if he can't. You'll feel better, you'll see."

"So wise na ka."

"You're not the only graduate in the family," she teases before closing the door.

Win pulls out his phone and types:

I realize now that no matter what anyone may say, I want you beside me for every milestone in my life. And I want to be beside you for every one of yours.

It's a late realization and I know you have an event at the same time as my graduation. So this message is not to pressure you or stress you out, okay?

I just wanted you to know. You are more important than anyone else's opinions.

Good luck today! Your fans will love you, am sure of it. You promised me dinner, Teerak. I cannot wait.

Win presses send and his sister was right. He immediately felt a hundred times better. He shrugs on his suit as he turns to look in the mirror. 23 years old and a graduate- how fast time flies.

Pride fills his chest. He did it. He deserves to celebrate it.

- - -

Win walks into the school grounds flanked by his family. He expected to see fans and friends but his breath catches when he sees the size of the crowd waiting and waving his name in banners.

His heart fills with immeasurable joy as he sees so many flags and names of countries all wishing him congratulations. How was this even possible?

They are a number on his social media. And often he doesn't quite know if he can believe a number on a screen. But here they were today - warm bodies telling him he was loved. He swallows back the tears as he smiles at each one of them, stopping to take as many photos as he can.

He sees his college friends in the distance and he giddily skips towards them and almost immediately they envelop him in hugs and back slaps and high fives. They are laughing , taking selfies, and bemoaning how old they were becoming.

The sun bore down on the graduates and their families, sweat forming underneath their robes and dotting their foreheads - but they were too excited to notice. Win especially, could not bring himself to care about the heat. He was too busy talking with everyone and basking in his last official day as a student. There wasn't much else he was paying attention to.

Until he hears everyone scream at the top of their lungs.

There was only one person he knew who could make a whole crowd scream that loud.

Win turns not daring to hope.

But there Bright was. Walking towards him.

He didn't think his smile could get wider but apparently it could.