Silent Bond || EstWilliam au

Twenty four

The day had finally arrived—graduation day. The air was filled with excitement and anticipation as students in caps and gowns gathered in the grand hall of the school, chatting with friends and taking pictures with family members. Laughter and the occasional sound of cheering echoed through the spacious auditorium. The stage, decorated with flowers and banners, stood tall in the center, where the students would soon walk across to receive their diplomas.

William adjusted the collar of his gown, feeling slightly uncomfortable in the formal attire. He glanced around the room, spotting familiar faces—classmates, teachers, and even parents who had seen him grow over the years. Next to him, Hong was busy fixing his cap, a goofy grin plastered on his face as he tried to stand tall despite the cap tilting awkwardly.

"Can you believe it? We actually made it," Hong said, elbowing William lightly.

William smirked, shaking his head. "Yeah, it feels weird, right? Feels like just yesterday we were messing around in class."

Hong chuckled. "Well, one of us was messing around more than the other."

William shot him a playful glare but couldn't help laughing. The banter between them had always been easy, and today was no different—though there was a sense of finality in the air. They were no longer students. They were graduates, about to step into the next chapter of their lives.

The ceremony itself was a blur of speeches, applause, and the sound of names being called out one by one. William's heart raced as the headmaster read out his name, followed by Hong's. They walked across the stage, shook hands with the school's staff, and received their diplomas. It was surreal. William couldn't help but feel a rush of pride as he held the thin sheet of paper that marked the end of one journey and the beginning of another.

After the ceremony ended, the hall was buzzing with activity as students and their families gathered outside to take pictures and celebrate. The school's main courtyard had been transformed into a sea of colorful bouquets and congratulatory banners. William scanned the crowd, searching for one particular face.

And then he saw him—Est, standing tall in the midst of the crowd, holding two bouquets of flowers. William's heart skipped a beat, and a smile spread across his face. Est looked as polished and calm as ever, wearing a button-down shirt and slacks, blending in perfectly with the crowd of parents and well-wishers.

Est spotted William and Hong at the same time, his smile widening as he walked over to them. When he reached them, he wasted no time in pulling William into a tight embrace.

"Congratulations!" Est said, his voice filled with pride. He pulled back and handed William the bouquet—simple but elegant, filled with bright flowers and greenery. "You did it."

William flushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pride. He never was one for grand gestures, but this moment felt special, more than he had anticipated. "Thanks, Phi."

Est turned to Hong next, offering him a bouquet as well. "And congratulations to you too, Hong. Thank you for always looking out for William."

Hong grinned, accepting the flowers with a mock bow. "Of course! It's not easy keeping him alive, but someone's gotta do it."

William rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up."

The three of them stood there for a moment, basking in the excitement of the day. Est's eyes sparkled with joy as he looked between William and Hong, both of them looking so grown up in their graduation gowns. It was a sight he never thought would move him as much as it did.

"I can't believe you're both graduating," Est said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Feels like just yesterday you were running around causing trouble."

William smirked. "I still cause trouble. I'm just better at hiding it now."

Est chuckled. "I'm sure you do."

Just as they were about to take a photo, a few of the teachers noticed Est standing with William and Hong. Their eyes lit up as they recognized him, and soon, they began making their way over, eager to speak with their former star student.

"Est! Is that really you?" One of the teachers exclaimed, her face lighting up with surprise. She was Mrs. Phip, the English teacher who had always adored Est during his school years. "It's been ages since we've seen you!"

Before Est could respond, more teachers started gathering around, each of them smiling and congratulating him. "Est, you look so good! What are you doing now?" "We miss having you in our classes!" "Are you still studying abroad?"

Est, ever the humble alumnus, smiled graciously, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. "I'm doing well, thank you. I've been studying overseas, but I came back for a bit."

The teachers' eyes shone with pride as they listened to him, clearly still holding him in high regard. "You always were the top student," Mrs. Phip said, her voice filled with admiration. "We knew you'd go far."

Est chuckled, glancing at William. "Well, today's not about me. I'm here to congratulate William."

The teachers immediately turned their attention to William, their expressions softening with warmth and surprise. "Oh, William!" Mrs. Phip beamed. "You've grown so much since we last saw you. We were just talking about how much you've changed."

"Yes," another teacher chimed in, nodding in agreement. "You've really come into your own these last few years. We're proud of you."

William shifted awkwardly on his feet, not used to receiving such praise, especially from his teachers. He shot a glance at Hong, who was trying his best to suppress a laugh. The moment their eyes met, William made a face, his lips curving in a mix of discomfort and amusement.

Hong couldn't help himself. He burst out laughing. "Come on, William, they're complimenting you! Be gracious."

William rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, thanks," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

The teachers continued to gush over how much William had matured, mentioning how his attitude towards school had taken a complete turn. Est listened, pride swelling in his chest as they spoke about his brother's transformation.

"You should've seen him in the last year," Mrs. Phip said, her eyes twinkling. "He was so focused. We were all pleasantly surprised."

William tried to act nonchalant, but his flushed cheeks betrayed him. "Okay, okay, I get it," he muttered under his breath, shooting another look at Hong, who was barely containing his laughter.

"Don't worry, William," Est teased, giving his brother a playful nudge. "You deserve all the praise. It's not every day you hear teachers compliment you, right?"

William sighed dramatically but couldn't suppress the grin that spread across his face. "I guess."

After a few more minutes of chatting and catching up, the teachers finally let Est and William go, each of them parting with a final wave and a few more words of encouragement.

Once they were out of earshot, William groaned, rubbing his face in mock agony. "I swear, if I hear one more compliment, I'm gonna lose it."

Hong burst out laughing again, throwing an arm around William's shoulder. "You should be used to it by now! You're practically a changed man!"

Est chuckled, pulling out his phone. "Alright, before you 'lose it,' let's take some photos. I need something to show Mom later."

William groaned again, but this time there was no real resistance as he stood beside Est. They posed for pictures—first the three of them together, then just William and Est, and finally, Hong and William goofing off in their caps and gowns.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm, golden light over the courtyard, the three of them stood together, laughing and chatting, feeling the weight of the day lift off their shoulders. It was a perfect moment—a celebration not just of their graduation, but of the bond they shared.

For Est, watching William and Hong laugh and joke together, he realized how far they had all come. And in that moment, he couldn't have been prouder.