varsity | vmin

44

     "Everybody, say cheese!"

     A blinding flash and shudder erupted across the busy hall, swarming with bodies clad in red, deriving from the compact digital camera wedged between the hands of Jimin's aunt.

     Taehyung went on blinking dramatically after the photo documentation causing Jimin to dig an elbow into his side with a cheap laugh.

     "Oh, don't you two just look lovely! Let's get one more—"

     "—I think that's enough pictures for today," Jimin defensively shot his palm outwards as he wore an adoring smile. "I think Tae's starting to see the future!"

     Jaehee pitched in with a chuckle this time, moving in on the boys to envelope both of them in her arms.

     "I can't believe this day is actually here. My boys are finally graduating!"

     All smiles were shared as Jaehee adjusted Jimin's cap and smoothed his gown as if he was her son. Minding to check Taehyung as well.

     Jahee's mom and dad came to support too and watch the ceremony along with Jimin's aunt and several other members of the Park family. Considering the overflowing hallways outside the gymnasium, Jimin's posse seemed relatively small in comparison.

     Jimin had been smiling practically all morning, buzzing with excitement, more than ready crossover into this new passage of life, hands laced with the one he loved. He looked proudly up at Taehyung who was currently preoccupied staring off into a distant part of the hallway.

     "Hey..." The older nudged, "everything alright?"

     Taehyung almost looked startled as he paled back at Jimin. "U-uhm... yeah!" His tongue fanned over his bottom lip: a stall. "Stay right here, I'm gonna... I'm gonna run to the restroom." The younger parted from the small party, the suspicious eyes of his boyfriend burning holes into his back as he quickly fled in the direction in which his intent gaze was trained earlier.

     Taehyung slipped through numerous gowned bodies, his towering height making such activity somewhat difficult. Though, the former varsity football star within him still came out at necessary times. This was one of those very, very necessary times.

     His eyes had to be playing tricks on him. At least, that made a whole lot more sense than what he was looking at right now. There was only one way to find out.

     He gulped. "Mom? Dad?"

     The two adults before him whipped around immediately at the summoning of their son's voice. Taehyung stood still. Very still.

     "Why, you didn't think we'd miss your graduation did ya, sport?" A throaty chuckle billowed out of Taehyung's father's mouth, a firm hand landing on the boy's shoulder, literally shaking the disbelief out of him.

     "I—uh-h... wow, you're really here?" The silver-haired boy gasped, not knowing how to feel nor process this unexpected shock thrown upon him, but nonetheless, breaking into a relieved smile. "Thank you... so much!" He awkwardly went in to hug his father who reflected an identical smile back to him, accepting the affectionate gesture.

     Taehyung hung back dumbfounded at the presence of his parents at an event to support him. So much that he found it difficult to even form proper words.

His eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. "There's actually someone I'd like you both to meet! I—um— I just need to go..." The giddy boy's sentence trailed. "...get him."

     There was another awkward pause in time as Taehyung looked closely at his mother. The woman appeared unusually unstable as she clung onto the arm of her husband. Her eyes were blatantly bloodshot and she almost seemed confused or in some sort of daze. Instant red flags shot up.