He doesn’t do well with crowds especially at this volume but it was inevitable for the most part. He frowned to himself as he saw parents were already mill around outside of the high school auditorium door chatting and laughing with each other whilst waiting for the ceremony to start anytime soon.

He shook his head knowing that the only way he’s going to get inside is through squeezing himself and muttering ‘excuse me’ a couple of times.

He thought he was early when he left his house that morning. It wasn’t even seven yet he’s already walking the empty street leading to his school. He didn’t want to encounter anyone in his school. Not just yet anyway.

Moreover he had something in his drawstring bag which needed his attention for a bit until he gives it to a specific someone after the ceremony finished. Unfortunately he was down on his luck as he stared at the crowd exasperatedly.

Then someone clapped him on his shoulder startling him a bit. Jaehyun turned to see Seokmin or DK as he was preferred to be called by his friends, grinning at him.

“You’re early. What’s the rush?” He then groaned when he noticed the crowd. “Damn! I even wake up early today.”

Jaehyun smirked as its well known among the class that Seokmin would be late coming to class because he always overslept but for today Jaehyun was not that surprised his friend arrived at school earlier than usual.

In just a couple of hours, Jaehyun and the rest of the students in the same year would be graduating and going to embark on new challenges and journeys after this. It’s going to be a bittersweet memory for him as for the past three years, he went through some ups and downs but regardless of it, he cherished his time at the school.

“Did you bring it?” Seokmin asked him.

Jaehyun nodded knowing what his friend was referring to for he’s the only person Jaehyun told of his plan later. He clutched his bag hoping ‘it’ was still fresh and blooming by the time the ceremony end. He had to make some adjustments.

“Are you sure about this? There’s going to be a possibility she’s going to reject you. From what I have seen, she has her future planned ahead and the last thing she wants is a boyfriend.” Seokmin pointed out.

Of course Jaehyun knew that but it didn’t make him feel any better being pointed the obvious by someone. He glared at Seokmin “Thanks for the vote of confident.” He said sarcastically feeling a bit annoyed.

His friend just shrugged and smiled, clearly unfazed by his friend’s sarcasm “Anytime man and you’re welcome. Come on. Let go inside.”

***

Considering the auditorium wasn’t that big to hold that many people, the students were crammed together like sardines in a can. Though some of the students were seated at the chairs provided, some sat on the floor due to most of the seats were occupied.

Jaehyun for the most part was bored out of his mind throughout the ceremony especially during the principal’s speech which he delivered in a monotone voice. He can practically count the number of times he yawned. Unlike him, Seokmin was occupied with an online game on his phone. Now that he thought about it, only some of the students were paying attention to what the principal was saying on the podium.

Not wanting to interrupt his friend’s concentration streak, Jaehyun’s eyes wandered the many faces he knew since his freshman year. Some were acquaintances, some were just people he encountered at the school hall while others practically are just strangers of his. He didn’t make a lot of friends now that he realised it.

Then his gaze found the long familiar black hair swaying on a female figure seated two rows in front of him. He gulped and his lips nervously.

She was chatting and giggling quietly to what her friend said. A scene that he was quite familiar with for the last three years sitting behind her.

It also meant it’s going to be the last time he’ll ever be seeing her after this.

He felt a pang of uneasiness and regret in his chest at the thought of it which was ridiculous. He knew the chance of her reciprocating his feeling was slim to none considering as his friend said and yet he couldn’t help but hope for the what-ifs in his head.

He peeked at the rose inside his bag, relieved that it’s hasn’t wilt even though it’s been inside his bag for quite a while. He loosened the string from the bag quite a bit but not enough for others to see.

“And with that once again congratulation to the students for graduating and I wish you luck for the next chapter of your journey. Thank you” the principal said which shook him out of his stupor.

Reflexively all of the students and other staff members present in the auditorium clapped.

For Jaehyun, he exhaled a breath and glanced momentarily at her. Even though he planned this for the past couple of weeks and had talked himself into doing it in the first place, he still felt unprepared for all of it.

For someone like him to confess to one of the popular girls in school, she might as well turn him down even before he could open his mouth and say the words.

Letting out another breath, he scolded himself for being too pessimistic with this knowing that probably one of the worst things he would get from her would be a rejection only.

There’s no going back, he thought to himself. Mind made up, he exited the auditorium as does the other students in his year.

***

“Yeah see you later guys. Just don’t forget” Seokmin waved goodbye at his two friends by the gate before turning back to look for Jaehyun. After the ceremony, he was dragged by his gaming friends outside to discuss on the latest games released that he didn’t have the chance to even wish Jaehyun good luck.

Now that the crowd had lessened, though there were still parents and students loitering around, he searched for his friend. Instead of finding him, he saw Chaeyeon talking with Jungkook, one of the popular students at school and from the looks of it, it seems it was quite an intimate one considering their close proximity with each other.

Restless and worried for his friend now, Seokmin quickly scanned the crowd and spotted Jaehyun with his head down holding something in his hand.

Oh no!

He immediately went to Jaehyun “Jae-“

Before he could even finish his words, Jaehyun shook his head and glanced up at something in a distance. Seokmin didn’t need to follow where his friend’s gaze trailed to and what he was thinking at the moment. Apparently his friend had witnessed the whole scene.

“Sorry man” Seokmin placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder giving him some comfort whilst feeling sorry at the same time. He felt a bit bad and guilty now for saying what he said to his friend though at that time, it was in a jest.

Suddenly he felt his breath rush out of his body and saw that his friend had smacked him on the stomach with a rose held in his hand.

What the-?

Flustered and embarrassed by the people around them who may watch and thought otherwise between the two of them, “H-h-hey I-I’m not interested man. Sorry but I don’t have that-“

His words trailed off when Jaehyun just gave him a blank look before smirking. “They’re not for you idiot. Just give this to Yuju.”

Just the mention of the name, Seokmin felt his heart fluttered and when the words registered in his mind, he was shocked to say the least as he stared at Jaehyun. He didn’t know his friend liked Yuju as well.

Before he could even speak, Jaehyun shook his head knowing what his friend was thinking. “It’s for you to give to her.”

“But what about-?”

Jaehyun had an unreadable expression on his face though Seokmin knew his friend was hurting inside. “It seems such a waste to even throw it in the trash. Might as well give it to someone who reciprocated your feelings.”

Jaehyun added and smirked at his friend. He patted him on the shoulder. “Good luck.” He muttered before leaving the school compound and his friend gaping at him apparently in shock of the sudden revelation.

On the way back, the scene kept replaying in his mind and he exhaled a breath. He knew what he was in for and yet he hadn’t prepared for the full emotions that were settling in.

Maybe with times, his feelings for her may disappeared, he mused silently to himself as he made his way home.