Graduation #2
“That’s wonderful news. Qi must be so happy,” Elijah says, as though it’s the greatest news in the world. “Not gonna lie, we were kind of hoping you would agree. It’ll be comforting to know someone a bit older with a good head on their shoulders will be there.”
“Hey, man, they’re calling everyone to take their places,” Darryl interrupts us, tugging on Marcus to join him.
Marcus claps his dad on the shoulder. “Will you guys take good care of Qiang while I go graduate?” he says with a playful wink that has his dad shaking his head with amusement and his mom beaming at him with pride.
I have to fight the urge not to roll my eyes. I came for Tristan, and with my own family, but somehow Marcus has flipped it around to feel like I’m here for him and his. He’s a slick one, and I almost laugh at the ploy.
As Marcus leaves to join the graduates, I turn to join my family. I don’t get far, though, before I feel Samayah slip her arm through mine.
“Qi said you’re a makeup artist, and I couldn’t help but be intrigued, so I looked you up.
You’re quite the talent, especially given that you’re self-taught.
Even now, with a subtle look, you’re quite striking.
I hope you don’t mind if I forward some of your videos to a few larger influencer friends of mine,” she says.
My eyes widen at the offer, and I hesitate for a moment. “It’s so generous for someone you’ve known less than five minutes,” I point out, making sure the question is evident in my tone so she knows I’m surprised, not disrespectful.
Her smile widens as she takes me in. “Qi is one of the brightest humans I’ve ever had the privilege to meet, and I think that’s largely because of you.
He talks about his journey to Tristan and how, over the years, he’s always been allowed to be completely himself with you.
That’s not a gift everyone has, and I think you’re an amazing sibling to him for granting him the freedom and encouragement to be his true self.
“And I believe talent and integrity are things that are not necessarily lacking in this world, but that are covered up and hidden by those with money and power. Without the faith of a few people, Elijah and I wouldn’t be where we are now.
I love being able to show my gratitude for that by showing that same faith to others who have both integrity and talent that may not have access to the resources, attention, and promotion they deserve,” Samayah says, and that catches in my throat.
What is up with the wholesomeness of these people?
In all fairness, my family is wholesome, and I know Tristan's family is wholesome. But Marcus doesn’t come across as wholesome.
He comes across as playful and mischievous, and obviously an amazing friend to have, so most likely good-natured and genuine, but not wholesome.
I guess I just assumed his parents would be more like him and less like Tristan’s, but that’s what I get for making assumptions.
“Thank you for the offer. I would love the chance to reach a higher platform. But I don’t know if I’d claim any form of higher integrity for being a safe space for Qi to grow. Everyone deserves that safe space; I’m just thankful he knows he’s safe with me,” I respond.
Samayah stops me for just a second and gazes at me steadily.
“However, in today’s society, that logic rarely follows suit.
Most people would steer Qi towards societal expectations instead of helping him embrace his authentic self.
It takes maturity and bravery to be a true voice of reason and support, rather than just mindlessly following the masses.
We’re happy knowing there will be an older, more sensible voice in the house with them.
And of course, if they ever get too much or out of hand, just reach out to us, and we’ll take care of it.
And I’m sure I’ll be in touch with you, too, about the possibilities of where you can take your channel.
This is strictly personal, not business, so you don’t have to worry about being supplanted or jumping through hoops you have no desire to jump through,” she reassures me.
Excitement buzzes beneath my skin at her offer, at the chance to really take the makeup channel somewhere.
It’s all I’ve ever really wanted to do, or could foresee myself doing.
I just always worried about how sustainable it could be.
But with help and getting my reach to the right platforms, I might actually have a chance.
I can almost breathe a sigh of relief knowing my discomfort about meeting Marcus’s parents was just me being ridiculous.
It wasn’t that kind of introduction at all.
It was introducing me to them as a roommate.
The logical reason, and I’m just spinning it otherwise.
I need to quit reading too much into things.
Not long after we take our seats, the ceremony begins. Speeches and awards are given. Diplomas are handed out. I watch Tristan cross the stage and lock eyes with his parents before drifting them over to Qi.
They exchange secret smiles that aren’t secret at all.
A million things are spoken with just a glance and the slight upturn of their lips.
They are a fucking modern-day fairy tale that should be corny as hell, but their love is so transcendent that there’s no humor, just warmth and forever.
Tristan hovers just offstage and waits for his two best friends to join him.
Darryl crosses the stage next, focusing on Tristan and Marcus.
Probably better off because his mom still hasn’t torn her ear from her phone, and I doubt she even noticed her son walking across the stage.
I don’t want to judge because I don’t know their dynamic at all, but graduating high school is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and she just fucking missed it.
I remember the amount of hurt and guilt I felt when it was time for me to graduate, and we all had to miss it because I wasn’t allowed to attend mine.
My parents tried to make up for it, to show their support, by my dad handing me my diploma when it arrived in the mail, with a bunch of pompous fanfare that my mom and Qi hooted and hollered over.
But it wasn’t the same as them finally getting to see at least one of their children walk the stage when Qi graduated yesterday.
I don’t know how Darryl’s mom could miss such a moment.
All the other parents are riveted to the stage, and even mine are taking in the three graduates they know.
But Darryl doesn’t seem to have noticed his mom’s lack of attention, since he’s currently clapping Tristan on the shoulder with a beaming smile, so at least he knows he has people who care.
And then it’s Marcus’s turn to walk the stage. His eyes lift to find his parents, and then they shift to me, and another unspoken conversation takes place. Even from a distance, I can feel how his eyes reach inside of me and flay me out—picking through my secrets and laying me bare.
I don’t know how or why he has the effect on me he does.
I barely even know the guy beyond the list of reasons he’s off-limits, but somehow, when he looks at me like this, I feel like he knows me on a level that goes deeper than human comprehension.
It isn’t something as mundane as knowing or understanding everyday details; it’s cosmic, universal, and making me spew poetry in my head like some lovesick fool.
I don’t know why I can’t keep my shit straight with this guy. But it’s his graduation day, and I’m not about to be a jerk about it either. So I smile at him, and his handsome smile widens in response.
For them, it’s the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, all wrapped up in a beautiful speech by Tristan that brings tears to my eyes and makes Qi’s tears flow.
An obscene amount of pictures are taken before the parents disperse. The group of us heads over to Marcus’s for another night of celebration, only this time it’s inside, watching movies with promises from both Paxton and Owen to behave and not break the furniture with their crazy antics.