Students cheered, parents clapped enthusiastically and even so of the reporters nodded in approval.
As West stepped away from the podium, several won in the audience stared at him with dreamy expressions.
Students, teachers and even mothers.
His confident aura and natural charisma had completely captured the room.
Jax laughed quietly from his seat.
"Man’s got ga."
Nina rolled her eyes but she was smiling.
---
The ceremony continued and one by one, students were called to the stage to receive their high school certificates.
Handshake... Photo... Applause.
After West finished, he stepped down from the stage.
Instantly, reporters surrounded him and microphones were shoved toward his face.
"West! Which gang will you be joining now that you’ve graduated?"
"What did you awaken as?"
"Are the rumors true that you defeated another awakener during a school incident?"
"Do you plan to beco a professional ruin explorer?"
The questions ca rapidly but West wasn’t really listening because sothing had caught his attention.
Across the auditorium, near one of the exits, a young lady around his age stood watching him.
She wss tall with long blqcknhair cascading over her shoulders and a faint seductive smile on her lips.
It was Freya... Timothy’s twin sister.
Their eyes t across the crowded room as she raised one finger to her lips slightly and mouthed a few words silently.
"Congratulations."
West blinked and just like that she was gone.
...
West stepped outside the auditorium doors into the bright afternoon sunlight, checking for her but she was long gone.
He had hoped that seeing Freya inside the building had only been a coincidence but sothing about her sudden appearance unsettled him.
As he walked back into the auditorium, mory from that night in the alley resurfaced in his mind.
Freya pinning him against the wall... her fingers gripping his collar... her lips forcing their way onto his...
And the words she whispered afterward.
"You’re mine now."
West exhaled slowly.
"Crazy woman..."
He had dealt with many strange people recently, but Freya stood out in a different way.
She wasn’t just dangerous... she was unpredictable.
And unpredictability was sothing West preferred to avoid whenever possible.
Still, he pushed the thought aside.
Today was supposed to be a good day.
He wasn’t going to let Freya ruin it.
The celebration continued as students hugged their friends while parents snapped photos nonstop. Teachers stood nearby congratulating their graduates while reporters continued trying to gather comnts from anyone interesting enough to interview.
West had barely stepped into the open space when a familiar voice called out.
"West!"
He turned and spotted Aria jogging toward him from the auditorium entrance.
She slowed down when she reached him, slightly out of breath.
"I’m sorry I’m late!" she said quickly. "Traffic was horrible."
West smiled faintly.
"It’s fine."
She imdiately hugged him tightly.
"I wouldn’t miss your graduation."
Aria pulled back slightly, resting on his arms as she looked at him proudly.
"You look amazing."
West chuckled.
"Thanks."
She suddenly rembered sothing and pulled out a small wrapped box from her bag.
"Oh! I got you sothing."
She pushed the gift into his hands excitedly.
"Open it later."
West looked at the neatly wrapped package.
"You didn’t have to."
"I wanted to," she replied quickly.
And then, as usual, she stayed very close to him.
Aria had always been sowhat affectionate, but lately she seed even more comfortable touching him in public... lightly grabbing his arm while talking or standing just a little closer than necessary.
West noticed it but he didn’t say anything.
Before he could respond further, another voice joined in.
"Hey."
West turned again.
His father Mark approached, holding a small box as well.
"Proud of you, kid."
West raised an eyebrow slightly.
"That’s another praise."
Mark smirked.
"Don’t get used to it."
He handed over the box.
"Your graduation gift."
West accepted it.
"Thanks."
Mark nodded and stepped aside.
A mont later Nina and Mira walked over as well.
Mira practically bounced with excitent.
"Congratulations!"
She hugged West quickly before handing him a brightly wrapped package.
"From ."
Nina smiled sweetly and handed him sothing as well.
"From your personal artist."
West looked at the gifts piling up in his hands.
"...Wow."
"Thanks guys."
Then he scratched the back of his neck slightly.
"Now I feel bad."
"Why?" Mira asked.
"I didn’t get anything for you two."
Nina snorted.
"Relax."
"We didn’t do it to get sothing back in return."
Mira nodded.
"You can give us sothing later if you truly wish to."
For a few minutes, the group stood there talking and joking while other students celebrated around them.
Then Jax walked over and imdiately wrapped an arm around West’s shoulders.
"Don’t get too comfortable."
West raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"My graduation is next week."
Jax pointed a finger at him.
"You better show up."
West smirked.
"Wouldn’t miss it."
Jax grinned.
"Good."
"Because if you skip it, I’ll tell everyone you cried during your speech today."
Mira gasped dramatically.
"You cried?!"
West rolled his eyes.
"I did not."
The group burst into laughter and for a mont, everything felt normal.
The chaos of the awakened world, the gangs, the ruins and all of his dangerous encounters seed so far away.
West looked around at the people standing beside him.
Aria... Jax... Nina... Mira...
Even his father was nearby talking with another parent.
Almost everyone he cared about was here.
Almost.
His expression softened slightly as he recalled his mother....
He hadn’t seen her in years and even today, there had been no ssage... no call... absolutely nothing.
West pushed the thought away quickly refusing to let it ruin this mont.
Because right now, everything felt peaceful and for once, he allowed himself to enjoy it.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion suddenly shattered the calm causing the ground to shake violently as a section of the east wall of the auditorium courtyard exploded inward.
Concrete debris flew everywhere while students scread and parents panicked.
Dust filled the air as a massive hole appeared in the wall.
Through the smoke, figures began walking in.
User Comments
0 comments from readers