AESCHYLUS received a smooch on his cheek. “You’ve come this far; you’ll be able to leave the curse of the tenth grade.”
He could only chuckle, shaking his head. “You’re embarrassing; you know that?” He slid away the curls out of her face over her shoulder. “I missed you.”
Her fingers skimmed his lengthy locks. “I missed you too, so much! That I have to stay for so many hours here just to get over it! Thankfully, I survived or else I wouldn’t have a chance to see you walking to the stage.”
“You shouldn’t have done that earlier,” he scolded but secretly, he was euphoric when Hussey did that for him, even though it was really embarrassing for the both of them.
Hussey didn’t get the chance to defend herself when their family caught their attention.
Enza was holding the camera as she approached them. “Aeskie, let’s take a photo of you with Hussey!”
The two of them do what Enza instructed even if they’re not ready to face the camera yet, Hussey reclined half of her weight on Aeschylus.
Hussey’s breathing hitched when Aeschylus snaked his arm to her waist. Reason why Hussey wasn’t prepared when she heard the shots, she doesn’t even know if she even smiled properly at the camera.
She looked up to him after the picture taking while Aeschylus on the other hand didn’t even try looking back at her.
Then Hussey’s family came to the spot. “My turn!” Astennu being all giggly as he blinded them with the flash of his phone.
Hussey complained as they shielded their faces using their arms, she grumbled, “You can take pictures of us without turning on the flash, right?”
They continued to take photos for the next fifteen minutes, his mother and her parents cooing their congratulations to them between the shots.
Aeschylus positioned his arm over her shoulders, he asked Hussey’s parents, “Can I steal her for a while?” He secured her in his arm to show that they don’t have any choice now.
Hussey secretly celebrated and was pleased with this type of Aeschylus, he rarely showed this side of him, she hoped he’ll get bold and bold more.
She pressed her lips together to not let the smile expose her.
Her mother’s mouth curved into a smile with eyes gleaming. “Of course! We’ll be just here talking with your mother, take your time.”
“Wait, I’ll just go see Azne and Fio. I’ll be quick.” Hussey didn’t wait for a reply from him and just skedaddled to her siblings’ direction.
She’s quick to arrive to Alazne, Fionntan, and her twin Eiassey’s spot. She greeted the boys with tight hugs, clinging her arms to their necks.
Eiassey hit her arm. “You’re choking them!”
After releasing them, she pointed her cheek. “I want kiss, me and Sky are planning to elope.”
All of them simultaneously frowned. “Say that again I’ll smack you,” Alazne threatened.
Hussey sat on his lap before she spoke, “Whatever, just a graduation gift, come on, kiss-kiss” she urged.
Alazne rolled his eyes before doing what she wanted from him to end it already.
“Thanks! Love you!” She whipped her head towards Fionntan, she lowered her head for him. “Your turn.”
Fionntan didn’t waste more time and just granted her wish. Hussey ruffled his hair in return. “Thank you, Fio. Love you too.” Then Hussey kicked Eiassey’s calve. “Give me one too.”
Eiassey glared at her, crossing her arms, scoffing, “Like hell I would do that.”
“Oh, come on, make it fast, it’s just a kiss for your dear twin.”
When Eiassey noticed Hussey wasn’t planning to leave, she gave her a peck before shooing her away with her hand. “We basically graduated together, now go.”
Hussey giggled before stating her ‘see you later’ to them. When she came back to Aeschylus, she offered her hand. “Let’s go?”
With that said, Aeschylus gripped and squeezed her hand in his own. Tugging her away from the crowd and out of the gymnasium.
Hussey was glad for this, meaning she won’t be around the crowds any longer anymore—same goes for Aeschylus of course.
“Where are you taking me, baby?”
“Somewhere where I can solo you.”
Once they made it at the back side of the gym—where people can’t see them, Aeschylus pulled her into another embrace, tighter than how he held her earlier.
Upon pulling away and bombarding her soft kisses all over her face, their lips ended up locking.
Hussey parted her lips when his tongue swiped her lower lip, asking for entrance to deepen the kiss.
She laughed between their kiss, when their lips parted, both of them was breathless.
Faces are flushed and pupils blown wide than usual.
“You are surprisingly pushy today, Sky.” Her eyes closed shut when Aeschylus placed his forehead on her.
“Don’t you like this part of me?”
Hussey immediately shook her head, placing her hand on his jaw, she nestled her head against him. “I love every bit of it, thank you for that.” Hussey was grateful for the privacy that the gym provided.
Physical and verbal affection was where he was lacking, those weren’t his forte.
But for Hussey, his first love which will definitely be his last, he’ll try to put his feelings through action and words.
He may not know a lot of things but he can maybe follow Hussey’s moves anyway.
Without saying anything, he pinched her chin to bring her closer to him, the other hand circling on her waist.
Just right before he can brush his lip to her, Hussey started laughing.
He got influence by her reason why they shared a laugh together. “Why? Did I do it wrong?”
Hussey wiped the tears that formed in the corner of her eyes caused by her laughter interrupting Aeschylus’ move to her.
“Geez, how can you be real?” she teased, bringing her hands to pinch his cheek. “That was very sexy and adorable, that should be illegal! You’re snatching my heart away!”
“Oh, shut up.” Aeschylus tossed her ludic hands away from his face. “Would you hate me if I won’t return it to you?” he added to her teasing.
Her palm flew to her mouth when Aeschylus joined her twits, she lightly smacked his shoulder. “Y-You! That’s so new from you!”
She moved her hands up to cup his face, she let her fingertips glide down to his chest before pressing her cheek on him.
In instinct, he wrapped his arms around her frame.
“Can I say that this is how I cope with you graduating? I’m so proud that I can cry.”
“Hussey . . .” His hands brushed her curls. “You graduated too, you know? Stop acting like you’re older, I’m two years older than you.”
“It’s still different when it’s about you.”
The day had come, all the fourth year cadets are graduating.
The future sleuths, artisans, larcenists, poseurs, and chastisers are present at the side, graduating as well with the cadets.
They’re bowing their heads, right hands of every future combatant of SJ rested on their chests—expressing their dedication, one knee was knelt down while the administrators were doing their speech.
With the managers carrying the medals that was on the cushion, directors standing each side of the hologram where the voice of the administrators was coming from.
After indicating good wishes, the directors and managers came closer to the kneeling cadets one by one.
Hussey only opened her eyes after sensing the director coming to her way.
She saw her father Astennu, he’s one of the manager, carrying the cushion with medals sitting on it.
One of the director Sofronio picked up one then slid the medal to her head and pulled the green pendant up to her neck.
While Kye, one of the director too put a medal on Eiassey after taking one from Astennu.
Once everyone had their own medals. They bowed at the higher ups.
The green pendants for combatants, blue pendants for sleuths, yellow pendants for artisans, purple pendants for larcenists and poseurs, and white pendants for chastisers.
Only the combatants can have the red pendants if they get ranked up, either managers or directors.
Short gathering happened soon after.
Whenever a first, second, or third years come across them, they will greet them with a bow as a sign of respect.
They exchanged gratitude and congratulation every now and then.
It can be pretty tiring but it’s worth for her time, happiness crossed her face as the event went on.
“Hey . . .” An arm circled her waist, hot breath fanned her nape, reason why she inched her head around. “. . . congratulation, baby.”
Beaming, she exclaimed, “You’re here!” She clung her arms around his neck to give him a quick peck.
His eyes checked her out, from her torso to her feet. “You look too good in your new uniform, baby,” he complimented.
From the black suit that have harness hugging her chest down to her waist and thighs, her black leather knee boots—the uniform just fit her perfectly.
She looked away, anywhere but him, blush crept her cheeks. “And you’re damn fine with your uniform for training.”
His uniform inside the SJ was a dark blue high-collared jacket, it’s just like her uniform during her trainee years.
She sighed. Damn, I didn’t know this is how he’ll look when it’s training, how I wished I could see more of that . . . he’s so good.