SOTUS: Make The Best Of It (The Graduation Series)

Epilogue

[Two years later]

It was almost bittersweet how different the campus looked now. Freshly painted buildings, better facilities with up-to-date technology, more study areas and a whole lot of other things. It made Arthit feel somewhat envious in a way that students these days had the opportunity to enjoy such benefits. Stepping back into the campus two years after his own graduation filled Arthit with a sense of nostalgia. Nevertheless, every nook and cranny reminded him of the great times he had.

After his own graduation, Arthit had been swept off his feet by job responsibilities and juggling his relationship with Kongpob, and two years had simply whizzed past just like that. He would be lying if he said that they hadn't experienced any downs in their relationship (Arthit would rather not think of that time when they had been so close to breaking up because of his hot-headedness and Kongpob's stubborn nature).

Was it worth it?

The very fact that he was here at Kongpob's graduation two years later was an answer itself.

All of his friends, him included, had matured in their own way the past two years. Bright and Knot were doing decently well in their respective roles at work, Prem's hard work and effort was starting to pay off now that he was conducting his own mini photography classes and surprisingly, Toota had actually ventured into doing small theatre plays. Not to mention that he was currently a freelance makeup artist as well. Arthit would say that he wasn't faring too badly either having scored a promotion after a year of working in the company.

The route leading towards the auditorium was crowded with graduating students and parents alike, and Arthit felt a little silly with a bunch of balloons in his hands, but it wouldn't feel right not to get anything for Kongpob. Especially when he still had the dried up petals from the bouquet his boyfriend had given him two years ago (shh, Kongpob doesn't need to fucking know).

''Ai'Arthit!''

...why the hell was Bright carrying a fucking huge ass teddy bear the size of him? How had he even squeezed that into his car in the first place?!

''What the fuck, Ai'Bright?''

Knot and the rest laughed at Arthit's reaction while Bright seemed far too smug with himself. Rome's own graduation was going to commence after Kongpob's and Bright being Bright, he was definitely going the entire way to make it a memorable one for his boyfriend. Arthit had spent the entire week fretting what to get for his boyfriend, even going as far as to text Kongpob's sisters as to what would be an ideal gift. The eldest had replied to his text with a simple:

Just be there for him on the day itself :) Or you could just tie a bow around yourself *insert endless winking emojis*

''Arthit!''

Speak of the devil.

Both of Kongpob's sisters were enthusiastically waving at him from their spot near the entrance, Kongpob's mother breaking out into a warm smile when she caught sight of him, waving at him to come over.

''Look at that. Ai'Arthit's parents-in-law are here- ouch!'' Bright groaned in pain when Arthit delivered a sharp jab to his side.

Arthit excused himself and made his way towards them, warmed by their friendly greeting. His boyfriend's sisters got right down to teasing him until their mother clucked her tongue at them, shooting the two sisters a playful warning glare.

''See? Mae's already taking his side!''

x.x.x

"Class of 2018." Kongpob spoke with a tone that did not waver despite the mixed feelings he had on his own graduation day; pride, acceptance, sadness and a sense of fulfilment. "All of us pursued this course of study for various reasons, but whatever the reason may be, I think all of us can agree that the past five years were probably the best years of our lives. The friends we've made and the experience that we've gained...I'm sure it's something that we'll always look back on with a smile.''