Don't Touch || BOYxBOY ✔️

Epilogue

The sun was glaring, casting a golden hue over the sea of graduation gowns and fluttering tassels. The campus was transformed into a vibrant, bustling scene of celebration. Rows of chairs stretched out across the vast green lawn, filled with students in their caps and gowns, their families snapping pictures and calling out from the sidelines. Colourful banners hung from the tall stone buildings that framed the square, each one proudly displaying the university's crest and the class year in bold letters. The late spring July air carried the scent of freshly cut grass, mingled with the faint fragrance of blooming flowers from the nearby gardens.

Around the edges of the gathering, tall oak trees provided patches of shade, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze. Underneath them, groups of students huddled with their families, chatting excitedly or posing for pictures in front of the campus's iconic clock tower. The tower itself loomed high above, its stone face casting long shadows over the courtyard, a silent witness to the generations of graduates that had come before.

Beyond the main quad, the sprawling campus stretched out in all directions, a mix of old, ivy-covered buildings and sleek, modern facilities. The pathways that usually bustled with students walking to class were now filled with alumni, parents, and professors, many of them stopping to take in the sight. Balloons and streamers swayed in the wind, tied to lamp posts and scattered across the open spaces.

To one side, the university's central fountain sparkled in the sunlight, the sound of water trickling over the stone adding a peaceful backdrop to the otherwise chaotic scene. A few families had gathered there for quieter photos, away from the crowd, their laughter and conversations floating through the air.

In every corner of the campus, the atmosphere was charged with a mix of excitement and nostalgia. Laughter and cheers echoed off the stone buildings, blending with the occasional shout of recognition as friends spotted each other among the sea of faces.

Up on the stage near the front of the gathering, professors in their academic robes were seated, watching over the proceedings. The podium stood ready, waiting for the commencement speeches that would soon be delivered. Behind them, the university's flag waved gently in the breeze, its deep blue fabric contrasting against the bright blue sky.

Leo tugged at his collar for what felt like the hundredth time, his frustration growing with every passing second.

"This is ridiculous. Why do I have to wear this thing?" he huffed, yanking at the edge of his graduation robe as he fidgeted in place.

"You're literally graduating. You have to wear it," Rex laughed from behind him. "Just deal with it, man."

Leo made a face, pushing the ridiculous square cap back so it wasn't pressing against his forehead. "This is the worst. We look so dumb."

"No, you look so dumb," Jessica said from beside him. "We all look hot."

From a few feet away, Sophie, called out, "Stop being a baby and just take the pictures with us!" She snapped a photo of him mid-whine, and Leo shot her a look. "This is history! You'll want to remember this."

But Leo wasn't having it. The robe was too hot, the cap too uncomfortable, and the whole thing felt unnecessarily formal for someone who wasn't particularly fond of traditions. He felt out of place, like he was pretending to be someone else for a day.

He looked around, trying to distract himself from the irritation. Aaron and Damon were a few feet away, with Damon fretting over the fact that Aaron's hair was becoming all messy in the wind. Rex and Victoria were now kissing each other without a care in the world. His eyes continued to scan his surroundings when suddenly, his eyes caught a familiar figure standing under one of the trees by the edge of the crowd, away from prying eyes.