A Raindrop Hits The Water (SoobinXReader)

2

  The next time we interacted was at graduation. We had our uniforms on, ready to accept our diplomas. He was actually the valedictorian.

  Previously, after my first encounter with him, I had heard that he was bad in math. I thought he didn't have a chance at valedictorian because he was bad in math. Turns out, he defied my expectations.

  That day wasn't one of my best. I really wanted my parents to come to my graduation. Other parents came to see their kids, but my parents were hard at work. Too busy to attend. It felt awful. I hated it. I sat in the crowd of people watching others wave to their parents while I stared straight ahead at the front of the room.

  Before they announced the graduates, they let the valedictorian, Choi Soobin, say his speech.

  Something I learned about him that day was that he was good with words. Everything he said was phrased well. His words were nothing short of beautiful. I couldn't tell you exactly what he said. It's been a while since that moment. I couldn't even give you a summary of what he said. I wouldn't do it any justice. Speeches aren't only about the words you say, but it's also about how you say the words. The way he said them? It sounded like it could've been poetry.

  When he stood up there delivering his speech, despite his awkward stature and his little habit of not making eye contact, he seemed like the most confident person I'd ever seen. I couldn't even dream to reach his levels of confidence.

  The ceremony felt short. I zipped through it and accepted my diploma and it was official that I had graduated. Other students stood greeting their families, showing off their uniforms for the last time because from that moment on, no one would have to wear them ever again.

  I didn't want to go home just yet. I felt pathetic. I watched everyone else hug their family members and I couldn't help but feel even more pathetic. I didn't want to seem like I had no one there for me, so I desperately looked out into the crowd, pretending like I was trying to spot my family.

  I did it for about five minutes. Maybe even a little more. I couldn't stand it anymore. I felt like I was on the brink of tears, but nothing would come out. I pressed my lips together into a thin line and decided that I would go home. There was no use in me staying anyways.

  A raindrop hits the water.

  He approached me hesitantly. I didn't spot him until I turned around and almost ran into him.

  "I'm sorry!" He immediately apologized. "I'm so so sorry!" He kept saying, bowing his head politely as I continuously tried to tell him it was fine.

  I wasn't even sure why he approached me. Maybe he was going to see someone else and I just happened to get in the way. Who knows?

  "I just wanted to say congratulations," he smiled politely. His voice was softer and it seemed less anxious than it did when he was giving his speech. He looked slightly to the right, avoiding my eyes whilst trying to make it look like he was looking me in the eyes.

  It causes a ripple.

  "Oh!" That was all I could think. I was surprised. Did he actually want to talk to me? I wasn't sure. I stammered out the best response I could think of. "Congratulations to you too."

Who knows. Maybe if I'd talked to him longer, things could've been different. We could've been friends. But that was in the past. We both bowed politely and the exchange ended there. We went our separate ways.

He probably didn't know it at the time, but that was the only reason I enjoyed my graduation day. Very cliche. I know. Trust me. I couldn't help but smile at his friendly congratulations. He was the first person to congratulate me and I was grateful. Who knows what the rest of the day would've been like had he not greeted me.

I went home with a smile on my face.