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xxxii. legacy (reprise)

THE BIG DAY WAS ALREADY HERE for Inez Archer and Alexander Choi. Final exams were taken, colleges sent out acceptance and rejection letters, and major life decisions were made. Since a couple days prior, the school year has been done and over with, but the entire senior class of Meadowbrook High School were gathered inside of an arena for their graduation ceremony.

After about two hours of the warmest of welcomes from the salutatorian, valedictorian, the school principal, a speech from a special motivational speaker, and the new graduates being able to walk across the stage, the ceremony came to a gradual end.

After congratulating and saying goodbyes to his friends, Alexander stood outside of the arena, he smiled at himself as he viewed the beautiful garden and scenery all around the arena. It was the same establishment prom took place a few months prior, so it brought a feeling of joy to his heart. He had accomplished something. He had accomplished many things. Still having his dark blue school-colored cap and gown on, he refused to take it off, despite the humid June sun beaming down on his body.

He may have felt hot, but not too hot to the point where he wanted to take his gown off. It was always a dream of his to graduate high school, and now, he's finally turned the repetitive dream into reality.

Standing beside him, Inez held on to her cap with one hand, her gown tossed onto her shoulder in her other arm. Grinning at her boyfriend, she mused. "You're not hot in that gown? I'm not even wearing mine and I'm still sweating in this heat."

"I am," Alexander answered simply. "But I don't want to take it off. It's special to me."

"Let me guess," Inez planted her index finger over her chin. "Is it because of your mom? You once said how she always wanted to see you graduate high school."

"How did you remember?" The Korean boy's mouth dropped open in surprise. He believed something so simple like that wouldn't have space in anyone's memory other than his father, maybe.

The girl smiled, her eyes twinkling from the natural light above. The sparkly silver eyeshadow she wore made them gleam even more. "Alex, of course I remember. What's important to you is also important to me."

"You are the best," Alexander hummed before he spun his body around so he could wrap his arms around her.

As the girl with the well-maintained, silky curls leaned down towards her boyfriend's chest, she could hear the light sound of a snapshot, probably from a phone. Flinching, she elevated her head from the boy's chest as his arms abandoned her body.

Both of their parents stood meters ahead of them, Inez's mother with her cell phone in her hand sideways as Jason did the same. Jared eagerly drank a cup of coffee as he hovered over his wife to view the pictures, which Constance did as well as Gabrielle lowered her phone to match her height.

Smiling, the woman adjusted her phone so the new graduates could view the photo she recently made. "You two are so cute. Made the perfect photo as well."

"Mom," Inez nagged.

"What?" Gabrielle questioned as she shrugged her shoulders. "I need to get pictures. You graduating high school will only happen once, so I need to capture some memories for you. Now let's take some more."

Grinning, the couple posed for what seemed like a billion photos, both individually, together, and with their families. After what seemed like ages, all of the pictures were finally taken, some with the help of strangers, but the job was done.

As they began to walk away from the arena with smiles and bubbling conversation, Inez couldn't help but notice a hint of cologne and coffee on his father. "Where did you get the coffee from? I could use some of that since I didn't sleep last night. I was too excited for the graduation ceremony."