Graduation

Present...

Hazel sat back and watched the ceremony unfold.

She tried concentrating on what was going on before her, but her mind kept playing back to the night before with Ives at the gym room.

It didn’t get better as she heard his name called up to the podium, as the student of the year to give his speech.

She watched his lips move but couldn’t make do of what he was saying, as her mind imagined his lips on hers, teasing and plunging his tongue inside her mouth, while she’ll suck on it, moaning into his mouth.

She imagined him trailing his tongue down her neck, nipping and kissing along her neck, down to the swell of her breast.

She closed her eyes and leaned back on her seat, as she imagine his warm lips latched on her nipples, suckling and twirling his tongue around it. She bit her lips as she imagine his tongue on the second nipples, as he used his other hand on the other nipple.

She moaned as she felt her wetness drip to her panties.

“Hazel?” Hazel’s eyes flew open, as she realized she was sitting in the school’s hall for her graduation, with lots of people in attendance and not back in her room.

“Are you okay?” Fay gave Hazel a concerned look.

“Yeah, Yeah, I’m good.” Hazel sat up and rearranged her grad gown, clearing her throat and hoping no one got to notice what had just occurred.

“I can’t believe we’re graduating already. I’ll miss it here.” Fay gushed.

“I’m glad we took a three year course not the four year like Ives and his brothers.”

“Didn’t you just say you’ll miss it here? Why are you now rejoicing that you’re already leaving?” Hazel tilted her head to the side and quirked her brow at Fay.

“Well, I’ll miss the fun times here, but definitely not the classes.” Fay shrugged.

“That’s our call.” Clare nudged at Hazel, as the graduands were being called upstage to get their degree.

“Hazel Theo.” The professor called out.

Hazel who was the next in line moved to the podium at took the outstretched hand of the professor. She suddenly felt an icy chill surge through her for a short moment, as she took his hand. He flashed her a smile, handing over her degree, but she felt something was off, only that she couldn’t figure what exactly.

She got lost in thoughts that she bumped into the person who moved on before her.

“Oh I’m sorry.” She quickly apologized, as he turned over.

“Richard?!” She gasped in shock as her degree fell off her hand to the floor.

“Are you okay miss?” The stranger waved his hand at her shocked face.

Hazel shook her face immediately. She could swear that she saw the face of Richard for a millisecond, before the face of this handsome stranger before her.

“Oh, I’m really sorry.” They both bent to pick her degree.

“Here.” He handed it over to her, as his hand had gotten to it before she did.

“Thank you. I thought I saw someone else.” She chuckled, as they both got on their feet.

“I get that a lot.” He smiled. “Congrats by the way.” He gestured at her gown and degree in her hand.

“Thank you.” She blushed. “You’re here for someone?” She asked.

“Yea, my cousin is graduating too. You know Betty?” He asked.

A frown suddenly eteched on her face, as she shook her head.

“Did I say anything wrong?” He asked alarmed.

“No, no, you didn’t.” She quickly said, covering it up with a smile.

“Oh, I thought I did, judging from the frown you had on your face.” He said.

“I’m Liam by the way.” He smiled.

“Hazel.” She smiled back. “It was nice talking to you.” She slightly bowed.

“See you around.” He said and walked towards where Betty stood.

“That was weird.” Hazel thought, plastering a wide smile on her lips as she turned over to see her father approaching her direction.

“Congrats darling.” Beta Theo said to his daughter, handing over the bouquet of yellow tulips he got for her.

“Thank you so much dad.” She engulfed him in a quick hug.

“You deserve everything as beautiful as you are darling. Your mother would be so proud of you.” He patted her back, before she drew back with a sullen look.

“I wish mother was here.” She sighed out.

“She’s probably looking down at us right now and smiling widely over your achievement.” He said, smiling at her.

“Thank you so much dad, you’re the best.” She engulfed him in a quick hug again.

“Hazel!” Fay ran towards where they both stood. “Beta Theo, I’m sorry but I’ll have to steal her away from you.” Fay intertwined her hand with Hazel’s.

“Alright, you both have fun.” Beta Theo called out, as Fay literally dragged Hazel to the field.

“We’re going to miss the group photograph, if we don’t move faster.” Fay said, as they got close to where the graduands stood in a group for a photo.

“We could probably shift to our wolves and run faster.” Hazel joked.

“Ha, ha. Funny.” Fay said, as the got to the group.

“Say cheese everyone!” The photographer called out.

“Cheese!” They all screamed out, flinging their graduation caps to the air, jumping up alongside.

“We are graduands Hazel!” Fay screamed out.

“I didn’t realize.” Hazel said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

Hazel looked around, till her eyes landed on Ives, who stood at the other end of the group. She decided to make her way to him to congratulate him and for nothing more, she thought, trying to convince herself.

“Iv—“ she stopped herself from tapping on him as she got close, cause Betty beat her to it, as she ran and engulfed him in a hug.

“Congrats darling.” Betty said, going on her tiptoes and placed a peck on his cheek.

Hazel swallowed the heavy lump in her throat as she saw Ives smile back at Betty.

She turned back to where she came from and saw Clare and Fay deeply engrossed in themselves, smiling and laughing alongside. She didn’t want to spoil their moment.

She suddenly realized how lonely she was, as all around her were people in the company of their loved ones and there she was all alone with no one to share her joy with.

Batting her lashes to hold back the tears that threaten to fall out, as she slowly moved back to go some place else.

“Hey Hazel.” Ryan approached her, with a wide smile on his lips. “Congrats.” He handed a bouquet of white roses to her.

“Thank you so much, congrats to you too.” Hazel smiled. “Why didn’t you partake in the ceremony?” She asked, as she had noticed he wasn’t around for the whole ceremony and was probably arriving at that particular moment.

“I had a little thing to take care of.” He winked at her.

“You could fill me on everything I missed.” He took her hand and led her to a shed which had a bench underneath.

“After you miss.” He dramatically stretched his hand, to lead her to the seat before him, making her chuckle as she took a sit.

“So..., what did I miss?” He sighed out, stretching back relaxed.

“Nothing really.” She said, trying to recall the train of events for the day. “Only that...” she contemplated on saying it out or keeping it to herself. “Never mind.” She said, playing her hand in the bouquet.

“you know you can always talk to me Hazel. You don’t need to hide anything from me. I believe we’ve passed that stage.” Ryan urged. “Spill.”

“Okay. I don’t know, it might be my imaginations or something, but I thought I saw Richard.” She shuddered mentioning his name.

“Richard?” Ryan asked. “Same Richard you dated in high school?”

Hazel nodded her head.

“It felt real. Like he was actually the one, before I saw the actual face of the person before me, and he was nothing like Richard.” Hazel rushed out.

“Hmmm.” Ryan fell quiet, deep in thoughts.

“Maybe I was only imaging it or probably hallucinating.” Hazel said worried.

“Do you remember what happened to him?” Ryan asked.

“No, I don’t.” Hazel shook her head. “It was like he just disappeared, no good bye, no trace, and no one ever talked about him again, as though he never existed.”

“That’s strange.” Ryan internally heaved out that she had no idea that she had been the cause of his death and two others.

“And not only that, I felt really strange when I took the hand of the professor. For some reason, it didn’t feel like he was actually the one. His hands felt so cold, like that of the dead.” Hazel said, shuddering. “And I also feel watched sometimes.”

“You’re probably stressed Hazel. I can understand that your mind have been playing one on you, since you’ve not gotten good rest, plus your graduation preparations. You should get rest.” Ryan said.

“You’re here.” Fay said, pulling their attention to her direction, as she came hand in hand with Clare.

Clare who noticed their eyes on his joined hand with Fay, quickly disentangled his hand from hers and scratched the back of his head.

“Hey Hazel. Congrats.” He said and nodded to Ryan.

“Thank you, and congrats too.” She frowned at the Clare’s action.

“I and Clare were about going for the graduation after party, care to join?” Fay asked.

“No, I don’t think I want to, you both should go along.” Hazel declined their invite.

“I think you should Hazel, you need to get your mind distracted, you’ll probably see you’ve just been stressing yourself a lot. Take a break.” Ryan advised.

“Alright. I’ll come with you guys.” Hazel got to her feet, causing Fay to gush in happiness, engulfing her in a hug.

“You’re coming along too right?” Hazel asked, looking down to Ryan.

“Nah, I’ve got something to do.” Ryan got to his feet.

“Meet us at Clare’s car.” Fay called out, as both she and Clare made their way towards his car, giving them both privacy.

“You’ve suddenly become so busy this days Ryan. Anything I should know?” Hazel raised a brow.

“Don’t work yourself up. It’s nothing you should bother yourself about.” Ryan smiled, patting her on her back.

“If you say so.” She shrugged. “I should get going, see you around.” She stuttered off, joining Clare and

Fay.

“Soon, you’ll be mine Hazel.” Ryan said, letting a slow smile play on his lips, as watched Hazel go off.

“I should have just gone home.” Hazel muttered, as they got to the overly crowded house the party was going on.

“Don’t be a party popper.” Fay screamed over the loud music. “Just have fun.” She laughed. “Make yourself comfortable, let me get drinks.” Fay said, joining Clare who had gone to get them drinks.

Hazel pushes her way off the sweaty bodies and made her way to the empty couch that sat at the corner, as she felt so out of place there.

“Hey, Hazel right?” A familiar voice made Hazel look up to see Liam right before her.

“Oh, hey Liam, what are you doing here?” She asked, smiling at him.

“Betty dragged me here, alongside her boyfriend.” Liam chuckled, not noticing the frown on Hazel’s face. “Can I?” He pointed at the empty space beside her.

“Yeah, sure.” She shifted so he could take a sit.

“Care for?” He pointed his plastic cup at her?

“No, I’m good. My friend is getting one for me.” Hazel declined.

“Alright.”

“So, was this how your graduation party was after college?” Hazel asked, raising her voice a bit, so he’d hear her despite the music.

“I wouldn’t know.” He laughed. “I never got to finish school. I dropped out from high school.”

“Oh, why?”

“I was killed.”

“Huh?” Hazel felt blood drain off her face, as she looked at him in shock.

“I’m playing with you.” He laughed out.

“That was not a good joke.” Hazel heaved out.

“I’m sorry. But damn, your facial reaction was worth it.” He kept laughing.

“I’m glad one of us is having the best time ever.” Hazel rolled her eyes.

They became fast friends, talking about everything and anything till Fay and Clare joined them.