#this ceremony is for abroad students

[bridgeportbritt]

Selvadorada University | Belosima, Selvadorada

Dean: Congratulations on stepping out of your comfort zone, immersing yoursleves in a new culture, and opening your minds to new things.

Dean: Thank you to the families who have supported our graduates on their journies. You are a crucial part of this accoplishment, as well as you've helped shape them into the people they are today.

Dean jokes: We know you are beaming with pride to see these graduates make their way to the stage. That's why we're all here, right?

Dean: Without further ado, let's hand out some diplomas!

[whencyclopedia]

A Roman Boy's Rite of Passage

A Roman boy's rite of passage, a ceremony or ritual marking a transitional period in life from childhood to adulthood, was the assuming of the toga virilis, the adult toga. The ceremony usually took place sometime between the boy's 14th and 17th birthday; the decision was made by the boy's father or guardian.

Young Marcus Aurelius

Ramon van Opdorp (CC BY-NC-SA)

The ceremony is referenced widely across historical writings, biographies, letters, and speeches, however, the ancient primary sources available to us do not provide too many details. There is in general a scarcity of ancient material written about children, and we certainly have more information regarding the lives of the middle-class and elite families than we do of the lower classes, and a boy's rite of passage is no exception.

Timing

A boy's rite of passage would have corresponded with puberty, a time defined by some ancients as a period of 'ferocitas', that is, impetuosity or restlessness. The physical transition from a boy to a young man was marked by several features including the 'breaking' of his voice, which was known as 'gallulascere' (crowing), and by the growth of facial hair. At 14, a young boy may have had the first growth of a beard; this first growth was associated with adolescence and visually marked out the young boy from the adult male. This growth was allowed to become a full beard and was not shaved off until the boy was in his late teens to early twenties. When finally the shaving of the beard occurred, it was seen as the end of the wayward youth and a progression into a more adult life. The shaving of the beard could sometimes be carried out at a public festival known as the Iuvenali; at this festival, the young man's beard was dedicated to a god of his own choosing and kept in a small box in the sanctuary of the family's household gods.

A boy in his early teens was still under the supervision of his pedagogue, who would also have accompanied him outside of the home. Roman education for a youth from the affluent or elite society, would have included rhetorics, oratory, law, politics, astronomy, geography, law, literature, philosophy, and mythology. Some boys may have been considering leaving home to advance their education; there were Roman students in Athens and the other intellectual centres of the Eastern Mediteraneann. In many cases, they would have been accompanied abroad by their pedagogue.

By the time Roman boys had reached the age of 14, many fathers would have already been taking their sons to observe life in the Roman Forum, they would have attended public meetings and the Roman law courts, and sons would have been introduced to their father's friends and business acquaintances. The foundation for a boy's transition into adulthood and what it might entail was being laid. Young boys would have been under patria potestas and would have remained under the power of their fathers until their father's death; no coming of age or rite of passage liberated sons from this position.

Nevertheless, the ceremony of assuming the toga virilis was a defining moment in a boy's life. The decision of what age a boy was ready for the rite of passage and to be enrolled as a citizen was taken by his father or guardian, but the ceremony tended to happen between a boy's 14th and 17th birthday. The statesman, Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE), marked his coming of age at 16, his son Marcus at this age, too, while the first Roman emperor Augustus (l. 63 BCE to 14 CE), as a young Octavian was just 15 years old, and Emperor Marcus Aurelius (l. 121-180 CE) assumed his toga at 16. A popular day chosen for this significant event in the life of the boy and his family was the 17th of March, at the festival of Liber, although other dates were equally acceptable.

Continue reading...

[mariacallous]

Bulgaria’s parliament on Wednesday adopted a law which prohibits “propaganda” for “non-traditional sexual orientations” in schools, sparking outrage and calls for protests. 

The legislation was drafted by the pro-Russian Revival party, but on its first and second readings it also gained support also from pro-Western factions as well.

The amendment to the Law for Pre-School and School Education outlaws “propaganda, popularisation and encouragement, directly or indirectly, of ideas and views connected to nontraditional sexual orientation or to gender-identifying different from the biological”.

In total, 135 out of 240 MPs voted in favour. Support from the pro-Moscow Bulgarian Socialist Party was expected, but the bill passed largely because of the surprising backing of the pro-EU centre-right GERB party.

More than half of the MP’s from the reformist opposition duo We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria missed voting on the first reading for unclear reasons, but the alliance participated more fully on the second, voting against. Altogether, 57 MPs voted against and eight from GERB abstained.

The increased presence of topics related to sexual and gender identity in Bulgaria’s educational system is mentioned as a fact in the legislation’s wording, without offering specific examples. Some MPs cited the existence of brochures on sexual education for children and teenagers, or translated books that are in circulation, as problematic. 

The text does not mention sanctions and does not specify what “ideas and views” would be considered unlawful, leaving room for various interpretations. 

“The restriction on even talking about the topic in school limits chances to oppose the violence and harassment that LGBTI+ students experience,” the feminist organisation LevFem said after the passage of the amendment. 

LGBTQ+ organisation Deystvie drew direct comparisons between the draft amendment and the steady limitation of human rights and the rights of sexual minorities in Russia. “For the 30 years of democratic transition, Bulgaria’s political elite never understood that human rights are at the core of democracy,” Deystvie stated. 

“We need to be heard and understood, not rejected and attacked,” the human rights collective Feminist Mobilisations said before the vote. 

On Wednesday afternoon, a protest was announced in Sofia. 

Echoes of hate speech in debates

During the parliamentary debate, some politicians made statements bordering on hate speech. 

Socialist Party leader Kornelia Ninova said that Bulgarian families abroad had contacted her to alert about the dangers of “gender ideology” in the West and criticised those who are “one thing in the morning, a second in the afternoon, a third in the evening”.

Ninova defined “gender ideology” as something promoted “by very influential and rich people” and said it was “creeping into and taking over Bulgarian schools”.

She noted the recent Eurovision Song Contest, won by a non-binary contestant, and the aesthetics of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris as worrying examples. Olympic controversies have been fanned by local conservative politicians, as a recent BIRN analysis explained. 

Ninova’s statements are in line with pro-Kremlin leanings of the Socialist Party, which in 2023 tried to initiate a referendum against “gender ideology” and which since 2017 has vehemently opposed the women’s rights treaty, the so-called Istanbul Convention, interpreting it as promoting LGBTQ+ rights.

“I’ll repeat what I’ve been saying for seven years now: hands off Bulgarian children,” Ninova said on Wednesday.

Zvezdelina Karavelova of Revival said that “pederasty” should be challenged and she hoped that her one-year-old son would never bring home a husband.

Atanas Tchorbanov of the There’s Such a People party compared the outcry from human rights organisations to the orchestra that famously played on during the sinking of the Titanic. 

Daniel Mitov of GERB said the measure was an opportunity to fight “leftist ideologies”.

In contrast, Eleonora Belobradova of We Continue the Change criticised the amendment as regressive and claimed that some paragraphs had been copy-pasted from Wikipedia. 

The turn of events underscores the successful politics of Revival.  Between 2020 and 2022, support for the party increased after it adopted anti-vaxx positions during the COVID-19 pandemic and stayed close to the Kremlin playbook over Ukraine. 

In 2022, Revival unsuccessfully tried to bring in a Russian-style “foreign agents” law.

[blueberrypancakesworld]

Unplanned appointment

Marc Schrader x fem!reader

warning: flirting, some touching, suggested/mentioned sex, alcohol, mutual attraction, no use of Y/n

Summary : After the police graduation ceremony, she had planned to celebrate a little longer, but an unexpected appointment interrupts this and the exchange cadet finds herself at her boss's door with a "familiar" guy.

Info : So finally I write for him and hope that I can give some fans and like-minded people some joy. Also the film is so good and I finally can write a little german in storys so yeah have fun reading plus the inspiration for this came from THIS from @echoe-l check out the blog ;)

gif from me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Music, chatter and a little dancing was the atmosphere that spread around her as she watched the people and her somehow friends. The language she knew, had learned to understand to some extent and yet still had a lot to learn. The banner with the colors black, red and yellow and the bear on it still on the wall. They showed everyone that an official ceremony had taken place here after the officers, senior staff and the mayor had left.

Now the hall belonged to the younger ones, the ,,Cadets of the future for the security of Germany" as she could still remember the speech that came over the speakers to the young adults. They had all stood at attention for an hour before she was finally an investigator. Her dream in Germany had come true, even if it meant sacrifice.

But before the homesickness could take hold of her, she heard the voice of her friends pulling her away from the table and onto the dance floor. ,,Now it's time to party!" her fellow student and second-best student shouted as she spun her friend around.

The glass of champagne was long gone but it was enough to make the music and the atmosphere more pleasant, to make the foreign language sound natural and it helped her loosen up. Dancing around the hall with her friends, laughing and exchanging stories with other students.

Not knowing that after all this he was still watching her. That this one thing that happened just one night ago was more than she thought. He watched as she laughed, joy and devotion in her eyes as the tension left her.

The dark dress with the brooch given to all cadets bearing the police mark let him know she had made it. Your spell has worked unicorn he thought and loosened his tie that had been bothering him the whole ceremony but his blue eyes didn't leave her couldn't leave her.

Because what had happened was better than any drug, any techno music, she was just so much better. But the young woman didn't see her fellow student being approached.

There was annoyance and slight confusion in his voice when he was interrupted in his sitting down. When he had to do something he was called to go to someone he didn't know.

Everything was settled, wasn't it? With one last look at her and ignoring the neccned calls of his "friends" he turned around and left the hall to go to the man who wanted to talk to him.

Minutes passed, minutes passed in which she noticed nothing. She celebrated cheerfully and, over the music and the chatter, hinted that she was going to have a drink. With a smile on her lips, she pushed her way out of the dance floor and made her way to the table with the punch and other drinks.

The red heirloom punch looked sweet and delicious, which is why she had wanted to try it all evening. Just as she was about to reach for a plastic cup, she heard someone next to her. ,,Du bist die Austauschstudierende oder?" came the question from another graduating student in his native language.

She replied with a short ,,Ja" and didn't quite know what he wanted. A few tips for studying abroad? A signature? A photo? Or what else? But nine instead came a ,,You should go to Chief Inspector Minx" he said in English and she was grateful to him because there was a certain caution and uncertainty between them because of the language before she nodded to him and yet she knew where she had to go, everyone had heard of Minx.

The investigator who had been around the longest and was always on the case. Someone she knew had turned up yesterday. She felt a little uneasy as she walked out of the hall and straightened her dress, trying to regain the posture she'd had before.

It was much cooler and more comfortable from the sausage fabric as she stepped out of the hall into the police headquarters and walked up the stairs to the office.

The furnishings were typical German 70's old building as always no money but it didn't bother her because as she walked towards the office she saw that she wasn't the only one who had to go there. ,,What are you doing here Marc?" she asked and saw that she had probably pulled him out of his thoughts because his gaze was turned to the floor and only now was it directed at her. The blue soul mirrors ran over her body without shyness.

He looked at her knee-length dress in dark colors similar to his suit and a slight grin came to his lips when he saw the brooch with the bear again. ,,I could ask you the same thing...I was told to go to him," he said after a short pause and looked at the sign hanging on the wall with the name of the investigator.

She saw that he was preoccupied with something Marc was rather reserved about, at least when he was at work and not in the club. ,,Me too, but do you think it's about yesterday?" she asked, leaning slightly towards him and lowering her voice so as not to be heard when she saw that he was worried about the same thing.

Of course they had both thought about it, if it had just been a club visit, a one night stand or sex in front of the investigators it would have been embarrassing but one thing.

But those little pills, those damn little pills that made the club something alcohol couldn't do was incredible. ,,I never thought the pretty unicorn was like that" he said with a lewd grin as he accidentally undid a button on his shirt and she saw that her hickey was still there.

She felt the warmth on her cheeks as she turned away, ,,That was once, and you wanted it just like me," and pointed to her thigh and pushed her dress up slightly, which made her flinch as he suddenly put his hand on it and felt his markings.

She didn't know if it was the alcohol in his blood, his overhealth in the situation (although she didn't think so) or if he just wanted her, she couldn't tell...but she wanted him again.

After the previous night in the club, the small, worn sofas and benches were not completely comfortable, but it was enough for him and her. His voice was full of lust, slightly rough from the alcohol, high from the pills and the music. She was completely taken by him under the drugs and the atmosphere he seemed like everything.

He kissed her, explored her body and left the marks on her, she clung to him and maybe it was the drugs or the psyche of the two of them but only when they came down from their high together did they seem to realize that they would not only see both colleagues but also each other every day from now on. ,,Du scheinst gar nicht genug zu bekommen" he mumbled in German and smiled when he saw that it affected them, that he knew they were into each other. Hell, how could she not?

His eyes were still on her, seeming to undress her again while he seemed to be the calm one on the outside, but he always was. ,,Never do enough but always just what's needed," she murmured the words he was usually told and heard the laugh as he shook his head slightly but she was right.

He never did one hundred percent but always only what was necessary, except for her it seemed. ,,My unicorn seems to know me better than I thought," he said, wrapping a finger around a loose strand of hair from her fringe to play with it. He twisted the hair a little between his fingers, pulled it gently and came closer to her.

She smelled the scent of smoke, alcohol, party and leather on him, which met her sweeter scent through the perfume. ,,How about here in the hallway?" he began and let his hand wander from her thigh further up, her gaze meeting his.

She saw him lean forward slightly and she did the same before the door to the office was suddenly pulled open and a woman came out who was probably already being nagged by Minx.

As if nothing had happened, Marc simply stood up and held out his hand to her in an elegant gesture which she accepted with an embarrassed smile before they both walked past the woman and arrived in the investigator's office.

Knowing that whatever was going on between them was more than just the one night stand at the club. As his hand ran over hers one last time, touching the fabric where he had left his mark, she knew they would end up together one way or another.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@one-boring-person , @lemon-teacake , @babybluebex , @echoe-l , @gaeleneinar ,

[jaeyunlover]

This is why we can’t be together

2020/6/18

Graduation day

Today was the final day of high school, I was finally escaping this hell hoe. This place I’ve been captivated by was now out of my reach after today.

“Now crossing the stage is (y/n)(l/n) hour 4 year honors student, she has been able to make it through all 4 years of high school with a 4.5 gpa, she is someone to look up to with that being said let’s hear a few words from ms.(L/N)” the principal said making everyone applaud me as I walked on stage, but for some reason I felt this strange feeling in my chest as I approached the mic.

The fuck was going on with me did reality hit me once and for all? “Hello fellow students,parents and administrators, I would like to say thank you for all the support and encouragement I received during this year. I want to thank everyone for all of the help and positive energy that you gave me, I know this seems last minute but it’s not Much to say. I hope the next chapter of my life is filled with surprises and good news. I hope I can inspire others and the next graduating year to do there best (y/n)(l/n) signing out” I said throw my cap in the air making the other graduates do the same.

As the ceremony began to come to an end and I bid my farewells to the other students I realized reality had hit me across the head like a drunk man out of his mind, Getting inside my car I got a call from my mother and father “sorry we couldn’t make it we were…” “busy” my father said interpreting my mother, but of course I knew they were making excuses “it’s fine, it’s not like this is the first time you couldn’t make it to something important to me”I said smiling and hanging up, I sighed as I put my head on the steering wheel thinking of what I could’ve done so wrong that everyone just neglects me but it doesn’t matter now it’s all over after graduating I decided to move. Yeah that’s what I’ll do. I’ll just move. No one can find me and I have a start.

Getting interrupted by my thoughts. from a knock on my window it was my crush that I had like since my freshman year he’s always been so nice to me. How could I not like him his name was Amari Miller a.k.a. first love, but I guess he didn’t realize that I liked him or he dated just did not want to acknowledge it. I wasn’t the prettiest little bunch, but, I still show effort and affection. “ Hey Amari, how are you? I haven’t seen you since you know.” I said blushing. “Oh yeah about that you know I’ve been studying. Everly didn’t have time to hang out it was our last year” Amari said. “oh yeah, totally I understand. Of course you thought about any colleges you’re going to” I said stuttering “um no not yet. I’ve just decided after school is going to help my family with their business.” he said awkward smile “ oh that seems nice” I said looking at the window “how about you?” he asked “well, I’m going out of the country to study abroad.” I said, a little happy “WHAT REALLY!” He said a little shocked “yeah” I giggled “why” he ask with a smitten look.

No, why was he looking like that? What was really going on? “Oh I guess just to start over” I said “what about emory he’s gonna be so upset” he said huh? The fuck is he saying

“Why would he be upset” I asked confused “ah , you see I came her to ask if you would want to go on a double date with me and Emory” he said stammering over his words “oh… and who would you go with?” I ask with a sad look on my face. This was torture I knew it “my crush,Sasha” he said with a blush like smile on his face “oh my friend” I said dead like “I see, so you wanted me to ask her to come with me because your to scared to ask for yourself” I asked him playing with my thumbs “well I’m not scared but yeah” he said still smiling “hey Amari” I called out looking out the window “you aren’t aware of anything are you” I said with tears running down my face not looking his way. “ y/n what -what are you talking about” he asked clearly knowing what I’m talking about “I like you Amari , didn’t you know?” I said wiping the tears off my face to turn to him only to see him with the most disgusted look in his eyes I’ve ever seen “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT Y/N” he yelled in the car “IS THIS A FUCKING JOKE”he continue to yell “yeah, I’m joking” I said forcing myself to laugh “oh y/n you had me scared for a moment” he said join in the laughter “damn so if it was true you were gonna yell at me” I said still “laughing” “no, I just knew you were joking , to be honest if you were serious I would have just got outta the car and left and acted as if I didn’t hear anything” he said laughing.

I just sat there looking at him with a sharp pain in my chest “hey y/n” said loitering his words “you were serious weren’t you?” He questioned I just sat there  contemplating whether I should answer him or not but the answer he gave me made me realize I didn’t want to answer so I gave him the most stink look in the world and told him to get out of my car. I think he already knew the answer to question after that day, I went M.i.a. And apparently Sasha and him had officially started dating. They still try to get in contact with me day after day, but I just don’t answer. What was I gonna do?

TBC….

Official drop hehehe

[pascaloverx]

Fanfic Proposal: with jungkook x reader x taehyung love triangle

Title: Invisible Bonds: The Power of Destiny

Author's Note: This fanfic contains possible strong language and explores themes of unconventional love. The relationship between the protagonists will be handled with sensitivity, without explicit scenes.

Preview

chapter one

Today is the big day. My best friend is marrying the love of his life. It's a pity that this means I will lose mine. But in today's world, feelings are not taken into consideration. In a world where upon meeting the person you are destined to love, you gain what we call the bond of predestined lovers. This bond allows you to connect deeply with the feelings of the person you are linked to and can hurt you if they get hurt. Unfortunately, this bond ends up becoming deadly for those who choose to keep it. To break the connection, you need to undergo a painful detachment, removing the mark given by destiny that led you to your soulmate. This mark, imprinted on the soul, must be removed through a ritual. It's not scientific, it just happened.

My grandma used to say a witch cursed our nation with a spell where you'll be bound to the person you despise the most, even if you fall in love with someone else. Meanwhile, my mother believes some scientist altered people's DNA to create perfect pairs. In the world, there are several theories about the reasons that brought us to where we are now, but no one knows how to reverse it. While this helps people not to be alone, there are those who fall in love regardless of the soul bond, and others who would prefer not to get hurt or die with the person they love.

My case fits into those who, despite fearing the consequences of breaking the bond, ended up falling in love with someone who is not their soulmate. Actually, I have no idea if getting to know the person linked to me would improve or worsen my situation. When I was in college, I met my best friend, Kim Taehyung. He was already a senior student, and I was just a naive freshman. At first, it was difficult to strike up a conversation with him because he is an extremely attractive person. And even though nowadays I see that he is more introverted than extroverted, at that time, everyone was talking about him. Him and the group of friends he had. We started talking when I had difficulties in a subject he was tutoring. Since then, he has been my right-hand man, always lifting me up when needed or giving me a reality check. About a year ago, the moment I dreaded the most happened. He found his better half. She's so kind and truly perfect for him. Basically, she is everything I can't be for him.

And now they are getting married. To each other. And they will live a modern happily ever after while I watch from the sidelines.Or that's what I thought was going to happen. Until I met him. Jeon Jungkook, or Mr. Charming Smile and Perfect Hair. Jungkook was standing next to Taehyung while I was checking if everything was right for the ceremony. He is Taehyung's best friend who spent some time living abroad. They have known each other since childhood. And I think he might be... my other half. Otherwise, there's no explanation for the fact that we both passed out together before the bride walked down the aisle. Fate must be playing a trick on me.

[moipeace12]

Some interesting theories about Yagasuri

Yagasuri is a pattern inspired by arrows with a symbol of aiming at a target and is an image of goodness and luck. Edo period brides are prayed for good luck to ensure they would not return to their hometown when they got married.

Yagasuri is also similar to Hamaya 破魔矢 – a type of lucky charm, used to destroy evil spirits. Yagasuri aiming at Utahime is symbolize that this is a kind of charm for her. From Gojo and towards Utahime carries the image of a lucky charm.

The image of Yagasuri with Miko (including kimono and hakama) will remind you of the Yagasuri Hakama - one of the traditional outfit that female students wear at graduation ceremonies.

This type of traditional clothing originates from the Meiji era, where Western influences began to be introduced to Japan. Hakama and kimono, boots are the remind of Meiji and Taisho era schoolgirls.

During Taisho Roman, female students wear hakama and ride bicycles and play sports. ロマン in [大正ロマン] include dream and romantic. The manga: Haikara-san ga Toru depicts women of the Taiso period which created anime, films, plays or television. The character Benio Hanamura wears a kimono with arrow motifs, a maroon hakama, black boots, and a large ribbon on her head. Yagasuri Hakama is said to be influenced by this manga and is widely popular.

Gojo's story about returning from abroad about the blending between the West and Japan during the Meiji and Taisho eras. Meaning of 143 - "i love you" is also said to originate from Minots's Ledge since 1894 and it has also been called the most dangerous and romantic lighthouse.

The image of an arrow pointing to the left can also be understood as a metaphor for reading from right to left and from Gojo (341 -> 143).

[kay9leo]

It's hard being the new kid...

Sort of "modern" HL AU

Meet Iñaki "MC" Martinez Cariaga! She's the new transfer student from the United States. She was late for the sorting ceremony so she's currently houseless right now, hence the gray tie. Unfortunately for MC, her ancient magic is a magnet for attracting trouble and getting her into situations she rather not be in, sort of like Percy Jackson.

Fun Facts:

Normally her eyes are brown, but ever since she ended up in the UK, if she's around the presence of high Ancient Magic activity, her own ancient magic activates, turning her eyes a magical blue. They also turn that color when she's using it. At the advice of Prof. Fig, she tries to keep a small flow of it running consciously if she's not at a nearby ancient magical source.

She's also big runes fan! Since her family comes from both Central and South America, she has a big love of studying Mayan glyphs and Incans quipus (they use that instead of runes to conducting their magic). She also knows some indigenous words in Kaqchikel and Quechua; some for fun and some for spell casting. Seeing Norse runes in person was the one thing she was definitely looking forward when going to Hogwarts.

While she doesn't originally goes by MC back in the States, it became her deferred nickname/shorten version of her double surname Martinez Cariaga to use at Hogwarts. She's gotten tired of both professors and peers taking too much time to say it or have them accidently butcher her surnames (or first name even). Her nickname of MC is used so often that it gets to the point that barely anyone remembers that her name is Iñaki 🤣

Ancient Magic & Hogwarts Castle

I headcanon that the Hogwarts Founders were ancient magic users who build Hogwarts and never told anyone about their abilities. Since the place is humming with Ancient Magic, MC's eyes are always a constant magical blue. It's when she leaves Hogwarts grounds that she has to focus on maintaining that magical flow.

The Big Move, Fourth Year & the Reserved New Girl

Unfortunately, Iñaki's dad lost his job during the first layoffs of the Great Recession in early 2008. Thankfully, he had a buddy who hooked him with a new temp job in London, causing the Martinez Cariaga family to move across the pond from New York to London during the end of summer. While she loved the idea of traveling and going to Europe (and maybe even learn more about the different ancient runes used there), she wasn't too pleased at the idea of moving abroad and leaving everything she knows and loves.

Instead of starting her freshman year with her close friend group at Excelsior (NYS magical school system, Ilvermorny is the New England private magical prep school - the most famous, oldest and only school most people know outside the US), Iñaki is starting 4th year at Hogwarts.

Note: The words between "< >" is spoken in Spanish. MC comes from a Spanish-speaking Latino household. If the words are not in between "< >" assume she's speaking English.

6: At the end of MC's first week:

MC:

<¡Hola Mami!>

< I'm fine. ¿And you? >

< Nothing interesting happened this week. >

< ¡NO! ¡It wasn't like I fought a dragon or a troll this week. >

< ¡Just because I faced the Jersey Devil in 6th grade or the Headless Horseman in 7th OR befriended Champ at Lake Champion in 8th doesn't mean weird things always happens to me! >

<¡I'm fine Mami! Nothing happened...>

<¡I had to Mami! ¡He told me he wanted to give me a "proper Hogwarts welcome" before we started! I told him "That's how we say 'Hello' in New York." Made it too easy for me by saying his spells out loud. The prof said I was a great example of how magical duels are different in the New World with our non-verbals...>

<He was cool with losing. ¡Sebastián even gave me a tour of the magical village nearby and introduced me to the "dueling club" the school has! >

< We dueled together…¡It was fun! I almost forgot how much I miss home… >

8:

MC:

< I still want to go home. >

< No Mami. I don't mean visiting you guys back in London. Home as in New York. >

< ¿Why should I make friends if we're only going to be here for a year?>

< ¿It's only a year...right? >

< ¿Right? >

< I gotta go...I promised my classmates I'll study with them for our exam next week. >

< I love you too. >

"Bye."

*Flips phone closed*

*Ends call*

......

MC's trying...but she is rather homesick.

She's now stuck in Hogwarts and isn't too keen on making friends since she has no clue whether she'll be there for a year or not - it all depends whether if they extend her father's work contract and she's isn't keen on making friends if she's only there for a few months in her mind. It gets to the point where Sebastian trying to friend her is like an unstoppable force meeting an unmovable object. (He ends up winning though when she accidently slips up and calls him her friend later on in the year).

For now though, MC is a very angsty teen right now and had her world flipped upside down.

At least she can take out her angst in dueling club 😅

I want to thank @myokk for listening to my ideas about my MC and to my sibling who needed to borrow my laptop for work (leading me to doodle and actually make a digital drawing on my tablet -that I use as a second monitor for work- since I couldn't edit some papers on those days). Without them this drawing wouldn't have happened.

I'm never doing this ever again because I a bit too perfectionist for art and I hated the number of layers I needed. It was supposed to just be a SIMPLE digital doodle!!!! Instead I made this 😭. Never again. I'm sticking to my pen doodles. I was bored out of my mind and I was either reading or doodling while my sis was testing out her new laptop and I was on stand by in case she needed me.

[ramshacklefey]

Not to be outdone by Florida for long, the Ohio State Senate just passed this monstrosity of a bill to assure "intellectual freedom and diversity" in state universities. Among other things, it suggests:

Forbidding any kind of required DEI training;

Forbidding any form of affirmative action or scholarships based on race, gender, sexuality, etc (the official wording is that no one is to be "advantaged or disadvantaged" based on these things, but I'm sure you can see that this is the logical fallout from that);

Forbidding "training" about any kind of systemic oppression or privilege;

Forbidding anything in the university that would group students by sex, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender presentation. This includes extracurricular activities. The intention is pretty obviously to get rid of clubs, fraternities, and sororities for queer students or students of color, or events like Queer Proms, or graduation ceremonies for students of color. (Somewhat hilariously, it would also require co-ed dorms, and I sincerely hope that if this passes someone has the balls to turn all restrooms on a campus gender-neutral);

Requiring that all course syllabi be made publicly available on the University website, including a description of every single lecture or discussion, to be made available by the first day of the term;

Requiring that all faculty allow students to draw their own conclusions about "controversial matters" and not attempt to inculcate any particular belief about them in students. Controversial matters, btw, explicitly includes climate change. But this also means that an instructor is not allowed to tell students that systemic racism or sexism is real or a problem, and could easily be stretched to include things like vaccines or conspiracy theories. Additionally, considering the fact that many people consider any discussion of LGBT topics to be "indoctrination"... I'm sure you can see where this might go;

Requiring that all student evals for courses include the question, "Does the faculty member create a classroom atmosphere free of political, racial, gender, and religious bias?" Honestly, this could go a number of ways, but given the rest of the bill, it's pretty clear why they included it;

Requiring all students to take a course in American history. Seems legit, but combine that with the fact that we're not allowed to talk about any kind of systemic oppression;

Forbidding any state university employees from striking;

Requiring post-tenure reviews for faculty every three years, submitted to the university chancellor. At least 50% of faculty members' teaching evaluation is to be based on student evals; and

Forbidding any relationships with the Chinese government or Chinese universities (including exchange or study abroad programs).

If you live, teach, or attend a university in Ohio, please contact your state house rep.

[librarycomic]

Skip Loafer Volume 1 by Misaki Takamatsu. Translation by Nicole Frasik. Seven Seas, 2021. 9781648275883. Publisher's Rating: Teen (13+) https://www.powells.com/book/-9781648275883?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Whenever I visit Austin, TX, I visit Book People to read their shelf talkers and to buy a great book I've never heard of before. This was my pick this year. (And believe me it takes a lot to get me to pick up a teen romance manga. Stop by and see the shelf talker if you aren't moved by my pitch for the book -- it's on a table on the first floor across from the science fiction and fantasy, if I'm remembering correctly.)

Iwakaru Mitsuki is fifteen, and she just moved to Tokyo from a tiny town in Ishikawa to attend high school. She's going to live with her aunt, who seems worried, but Mitsuki brushes aside her concerns; she thinks her first day will be perfect. Of course that's not what happens. But a very good-looking young man named Sousuke, late for the opening ceremony himself, spots her in the train station, lost and afraid of the crowds and "hiding" against the wall. When she lashes out at him, he doesn't seem to mind. And then she vomits after giving a speech at the ceremony. As school goes on we see how awkward and out of her depth Mitsuki is in some ways (it's very endearing) while Sousuke remains to be a decent guy who wants to be her friend (and maybe more) (this made me like him, too).

My wife would disagree with this, but Skip and Loafer reminded me of Yotsuba&! in a way. I think reading a book about a student trying to adapt to life in Tokyo while my daughter starts her study abroad time there activated my dad genes the same way reading Yotsuba&! does.

[random-mailbox]

Random-Mailbox's Favorite Sailor Moon Fics - Week 18 - High School AU

This post’s theme was suggested by the wonderful @lilliebellfanfics (check out her works on AO3 and FFN (links to her profiles are in platform names) since they do not fully overlap and trust me, you don’t want to miss them!). She just started posting her Dendy AU shorts too, so definitely worth a look.

High School AU, from @floraone ’s matrix (here is the post with it for reference), is a fun way to explore the dynamics between Mamoru and Usagi in a more age appropriate setting for Anime based stories and more in line with Manga characterizations.

As always, my apologies in advance for spoiling some of these for you (Fic Titles are linked to either FFN or AO3 entries).

Wool you love me already? – @midnightdrops

The story set in an AU where Mamoru and Usagi are great friends and classmates right from the start. It starts with Usagi telling Mamoru that she would like to confess to someone she likes in their class, which is why she cannot tell him who it is. She even enlists his help in making sure the confession goes to plan. The catch? Mamoru is the one she will be confessing to.

(side note: make sure you are logged into your AO3 account to access this story, it has been locked down with all the scraping and reposting on other platforms without writers' consent)

Box of Chocolates - Chapter 3: Day 6: Alternate Universe – @kasienda

Instead of Mamoru springing going to Harvard on Usagi and just leaving, in this story he comes up with an alternate plan – he suggests Usagi joins him in the US and attends a high school near his campus, so he doesn’t have to be away from her for as long. Her parents agree to their plan as long as their conditions are met – Usagi passes all her classes for the fall semester AND gets good scores on her TOEFL exam to prove to them that she is ready.

Time After Time – @idesofnovember

In this almost sickeningly sweet multichapter, Usagi transfers to a new school part way through the school year to get better guidance in her Arts pursuits, and is introduced to the school president on her first day. He is someone she has known when she was little and was one of her best friends, however, she lost touch with him. But does he remember her and promises they had made?

Graduation - @celticreeder

When even Andrew bails on attending Darien’s graduation, Serena makes sure that the day is a special one for him, attending the ceremony and inviting him over for a celebratory dinner with her family. But what happens when Darien has to go abroad to study?

Our Secret Notebook - luna-magic-2005

Mamoru was headed to the roof to brood in peace, when he gets armful of Usagi, rushing to their art class. While quickly picking up books she dropped in their collision, she forgot her notebook. Having read it, Mamoru starts leaving notes for her inside it, passing it back-and-forth.

The Longest Trip Ever - Serenity-hime

Usagi, the girls and Mamoru are all doing one week exchange to the US, relieved to get away from fighting Youmas. Except that's where Dark Kingdom chooses to strike next. Without knowing Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask's true identities, our duo must balance secrecy with trying to save everyone.

The Golden Boy of Juuban High - @uglygreenjacket

Student council president Mamoru and Usagi have been sneaking around for months, making out all over the school. Usagi getting sick finally makes Mamoru confront his feelings, but in true anime-centric fashion he royally screws up communicating them.

That's it for today! Next week's post will cover some "Slice of Life" stories for @lilliebellfanfics!

Here are the links to the previous Tumblr posts in these series to explore more amazing works based on different themes - make sure to check them out if you haven't had a chance! (Click on title name to go to the post) - I will keep updating the list every week as new posts come up:

Week 1 - Groundhog Day

Week 2 - Established Relationships

Week 3 - Sex Positivity

Week 4 - Unfinished Stories

Week 5 - Darker Stories

Week 6 - Potions 🧪

Week 7 - Reveals

Week 8 - 👻Halloween🎃

Week 9 - Wrong Perceptions

Week 10 - Non-Senshi AU

Week 11 - In-Progress Fics

Week 12 - Mutual Pining

Week 13 - Enemies to Lovers

Week 14 - Slow Burn

Week 15 - Christmas Part 1 - Ugly Christmas Sweaters and Santa!

Week 16 - Christmas Part 2

Week 17 - New Years

[aprikotea]

Storytime: I own the same Chawan because I was at a Halloween Event of a Primary School

The other day I accidentally found out I own a chawan that is actually part of a 12 piece set where every chawan represents one month. The one I own is the one for June.

I was actually looking for shelves at the Off House online shop. And somehow ended up looking at this set of chawan. Please don’t ask how. Just when I scrolled through the individuell photos I noticed one of them is the same chawan as I own.

I got this chawan during my study abroad in Japan in 2016. It was gifted to me in a really random way.

I and some others of the exchange students took part in a Halloween party of a elementary school in a nearby village. We were supposed to speak English with the kids, listen to their English presentation about Halloween and play some games with them. Nothing too special.

A few days later, one of the staff members of the international office came to me and said the school gifted them this chawan as a thank you. Since I was interested in tea ceremony she though it would be best that I get this chawan.

At that time I had not started learning tea ceremony. And since I had no budget as an exchange student, this was one of two bowls I owned in general. So I have to admit I used this bowl not exclusively for drinking matcha, but also for eating cereals. Lol. I’m so sorry now. But that’s the reality.

Now I’m wondering what happened to the other chawan of the set my one used to belong to. Mine is currently in Germany, packed in a box with all other utensils I let behind when we moved to Japan last year.

[more-than-a-princess]

As a materialist, Anzu usually considered herself good at giving gifts. Clothes, soaps, cosmetics or perfumes, whatever it was, Anzu's expensive and discerning taste came in handy. With Sonia, though... she could just buy anything she wanted and never think about the cost, so what even was a good gift? Other than Shinobu wrapped in edible chocolate ribbon holding a sign that read 'Sorry I'm too emotionally stunted to be open about my feelings, please admire my muscles and kiss me lots.' Actually, would... Anzu shook her head. No, that wouldn't work.

It felt weird to not have a physical gift for Sonia to fawn over. Without one, that meant Anzu herself was the focus of any attention, and while she typically loved that sort of thing, the nature of the gift meant it was... just spending time together? Was that really anything to get excited about? Anzu was conceited but not that conceited. "Happy Birthday! I know you're going back home for a little while, Sonia-san, but I thought once you get back..." With a small wriggling of her nose, she pushed the paper towards Sonia, an itinerary written in big, looping script.

In the morning, breakfast together near HPA, then off to Omotesando for luxury shopping. There was a new French cafe that was opening nearby while Sonia was back in Novoselic, and the pre-opening buzz was good, so over there for lunch, followed by going to the Tsubouchi Memorial Theater Museum. Some shopping in Ginza would round out the afternoon, and then a special dinner/dessert performance of Dracula at one of the small theaters in Roppongi. They even had a handsome lady Dracula this time, so if that sparked anything for Sonia, Anzu wouldn't complain.

"I wasn't really sure what to get you, Sonia-san," Anzu admitted sheepishly. "But I thought we could have fun going out together, just the two of us?" Of course, she could probably wrangle Shinobu into some of it if she really wanted, but if this was supposed to be some experience-based present involving time with a close friend, then it made more sense just for the two of them. Either way, this hesitant character wasn't very fitting for her, so Anzu straightened up, pressing her hand against her chest. "Naturally, from one illustrious lady to another, we both know time is more valuable than any gift, so I would generously like to give you a day of mine so that we can hang out, make memories, and do bestie things together."

Sonia's Birthday Asks 2023 - No Longer Accepting!

Most people, it seemed, weren't fans of cafeteria food at Hope's Peak Academy. Unless the likes of Hanamura-san was cooking (and his food wasn't otherwise tampered with), most students were eager to eat elsewhere. Especially for dinner, as it warranted a little time off-campus before they dedicated themselves once again to their talents.

Sonia was the opposite: a bowl of tempura udon, chilled tofu, and pickled vegetables were as close to comfort food as she would get for quite awhile: the next two weeks would be an array of ceremonies, meetings, formal dinners and, of course, the annual masquerade ball which so happened to fall on her exact birthday that year. It wasn't quite how she'd wanted to spend it, she thought in-between bites of noodle and shrimp: still, she'd been given permission to extend invitations to her new Japanese friends abroad, but with the prediction that none of them would attend. It had been her mother's attempt at being gracious and accepting of her new life and the friends that came with it, except few could take the time away from their studies to travel to Europe, and fewer still could afford it. Unsurprisingly, there had been one affirmative RSVP from Class 78. To Queen Valentina's delight and Sonia's unease, she could only hope that, in the presence of so many CEOs and aristocrats, Byakuya Togami would forget about asking for a dance or two. 

She sighed heavily, stirring a now-mushy piece of tempura-fried kabocha when Anzu approached. Just in time, too: she had maybe thirty minutes left of her dinner before the cabin crew and security arrived to fetch her various valises and trunks and chauffeur her to the private airport where the jet was being readied for her night flight. "Thank you, Anzu-san!" She beamed, setting her half-eaten dinner aside. "I was wondering if I would see you before I left. Two weeks is such a long time to be away from school now, it will be wonderful to spend time together once I return."

She'd given invitations to the likes of Tsubasa, Shinobu, and Anzu too, though she'd either never heard back or they were declined. Just as well: the more she thought about it, the more she didn't want to start another argument with her parents on the topic of 'suitable friendships.' 

"I am sure you and Yaguchi-san will find something fun to do while I am away," She continued, unfolding the paper itinerary Anzu had given her and trying not to sound terribly put out by the fact that she was a princess with important duties, particularly duties the press and the world at large were fascinated by: the gown she'd wear, the fact she was being given a new tiara, the guest list composed of politicians, aristocrats, and businesspeople from around the world, and who she'd be dancing with. If she explained it in that much detail to Anzu, she doubted the other girl would find it was as emotionally taxing as she did: after all, pretty much every young, male, and unmarried member of the peerage in high school up until thirty years of age had accepted the invitation. Sometimes, her life really did resemble a Disney movie.

However, Disney movies didn't often have extended shopping sequences or trips to a museum, and they definitely did not have performances of Dracula with an all-female cast. Anzu had included a printed screenshot of the website advertisement, and the marketing seemed to lean heavily into dark color palettes, elegant cursive, and a healthy dose of passion alongside the scares. Sonia grinned, setting the paper aside: she'd been to a host club with Anzu where the latter had crawled into a man's lap and, for lack of a better phrase, claimed her territory for several hours. A gothic romance between two women hardly seemed scandalous in comparison. 

"Oh, this sounds like such a fun day!" She exclaimed, sniffling. Sure, she could pass it off as the temperature of the soup or how thoughtful her friend had been in planning a birthday celebration, but Sonia was moved by the fact that Anzu had called her her 'bestie.' She'd never been called a 'bestie' before, but she knew that was what normal people called each other when they were good, close friends. Wiping a single tear away, she gave Anzu a warm smile, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. "Two weeks cannot go by fast enough, and this shall be an excellent treat for Halloween. I love it so much, Anzu-san. Thank you for thinking of me."

[milesinfo]

Grow Faster with Warangal’s Most Successful SEO Strategist | 6milesinfo

In the digital age, businesses thrive on visibility, relevance, and effective communication. With the Indian market evolving rapidly, leveraging the expertise of a local SEO strategist can be a game-changer for entrepreneurs, businesses, and creative professionals. SEO in  Warangal , a growing hub for talent and innovation, is home to some of the most skilled digital marketing minds. Among them stands Warangal’s Most Successful SEO Strategist, a powerhouse of expertise dedicated to helping businesses grow faster and smarter.

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Why SEO in Warangal Matters for Your Growth

Warangal is not just a city steeped in history; it's a dynamic marketplace that bridges tradition and innovation. With businesses across India witnessing the transformative power of online presence, SEO in Warangal has emerged as a cornerstone for growth. Here's why:

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Weddings in India are no longer just traditional ceremonies; they are curated experiences. The rise of digital platforms has made wedding photography a competitive and trend-driven industry. To stand out in this saturated market, wedding photographers in Warangal are leveraging SEO to showcase their portfolios and attract clients.

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[alpha-trauma-novel-trans]

Chapter 78

First, Dohyun decided to wait. He waited until the new semester started, waited until Wooyeon appeared in front of him, and waited for Garam to recruit him to the club.

This time, he hoped it would start with a natural encounter, something he hadn't planned.

‘You know Seon Wooyeon?'

When Yoonwoo asked that, Dohyun wanted to shout for joy. He didn't think he was mistaken, but even the slightest lingering doubt was confirmed.

‘He knows you. I thought he wanted to join a club, but I don't think so. If you know him, Garam got called to the opening ceremony today…’

He absolutely had no intention of acting rashly. He was going to approach him carefully and cautiously because things had already gone wrong once. If Garam hadn't drunkenly flirted with him, Dohyun wouldn't have spoken to him first.

‘Oh, Wooyeon has a lot of friends, huh?'

Garam's drinking habits are a bit annoying. She'd be friendly regardless of who it was, and would even initiate skinship if she felt like it. However, she hadn't managed her pheromones well enough that day, and Wooyeon was clearly uncomfortable.

'This Noona is...'

'Moon Garam is acting like an old fart again.'

His small shoulders tensed slightly. He covered his mouth with his sleeve and pressed against the wall, looking like a hedgehog with his spikes raised. He still hates Alphas, Dohyun made a mental note of that.

'He's uncomfortable.'

Dohyun pretended to be oblivious, stepping between Garam and Wooyeon. He blocked Garam's pheromones with his body and poured water for Wooyeon, who started hiccupping. Wooyeon stiffened and grabbed the glass of water only after Dohyun told him to drink.

'...Thank you.'

His voice was much lower than before. It was calm and mature, unlike the thin, beautiful voice before. Four years, such a long time, and he was both glad and sad that it had been so long.

'That's him.'

Garam said rudely, with a drunken look on her face. “Just like I said, right?” Dohyun knew it was rude to do so, but he looked at Wooyeon's face.

His pale face was clear in the dim lighting. He had lost a lot of weight, but his basic features hadn't changed much. He still didn't look like Suhyang at all, and his clear eyes were still the same.

'....That's right.'

What did Garam say? She said he was very cute, and if you don't know the difference between cute and pretty, she wasn't wrong. Dohyun had known about his big eyes and high nose since 4 years ago.

'Can I speak casually?'

He thought that now was the time to tell him about what happened in the past. Since it was in the past, he could confess honestly, and possibly be remembered on good terms or at least as someone who had once been a good support.

'What's your name?'

‘It's Seonwooyeon.'

Unlike Dohyun, however, Wooyeon didn't seem to have any intention of coming forward. He asked for his name as if he was a stranger, just as he pretended to be. “Seon Wooyeon,” he corrected me, his voice quite firm.

'Ah, Wooyeon.'

What are the odds that a student he taught four years ago would end up at the same university, in the same department. He heard that he had studied abroad in the US, so he could have easily gotten into college there.

'Wooyeon, huh.'

If it was really Wooyeon, he wanted it to be an act of God. He was thinking of buttoning up the first button again and pretending not to know him as he wanted. If they built a relationship little by little, Wooyeon might be the first to call him “Seonsaeng-nim.”

'...Not really.'

The fact that he smoked was unexpected, but not all that surprising. He also knew that he had chased him away because he was uncomfortable. What really embarrassed Dohyun were the words that came out of his mouth.

‘I don't like how he smiles because it seems fake.'

Dohyun was shocked. Maybe even a little hurt. It was as absurd as it was absurd, and as amazing as it was absurd.

Four years. Four years, not more, not less, but four years. Long enough for Wooyeon to change his appearance and change his voice. The Wooyeon he hadn't seen in a long time called him fake when he saw his smile.

It didn't occur to him that he was just saying it. Even Dohyun was aware that he was smiling fakely, but he was embarrassed that 'Wooyeon' had seen through it. 

Dohyun had never faked a smile in front of Wooyeon before. Four years ago, and even now, he was always sincere when he spoke to him.

Maybe that's why. That one word brought him to this point. He knew it was childish, but he wanted to be recognized as not being fake. If it were anyone else, he would have turned around, but he didn't want to give Wooyeon that impression.

Luckily, he had plenty of opportunities to solve the problem. Luckily, their Friday lectures overlapped, and Wooyeon joined the 'Reading English Classics' club. Although he sometimes showed his discomfort openly, it was cute how he couldn't answer the question of whether he was uncomfortable. 

'...You're often told you have a bad personality, aren't you?'

He’d only heard that twice. Once from Suhyang, and once from Wooyeon.

Over the next few weeks, Dohyun did everything he could for Wooyeon. He helped him apply for classes, helped him study, and bought him cheap food that would have horrified Suhyang if she found out. The young master, who had never even opened a car door with his own hands, liked mediocre chocolate and cheap tteokbokki the most.

It was a series of very meaningful days. The way Wooyeon adapted to the club, the way he touched his earlobe with a blush on his face, and the way he cursed in English while drunk was all fun. Occasionally Dohyun’s chest would feel ticklish, but he brushed it off, thinking it was because he was excited.

'Then let's do it at Wooyeon's house today.'

In all honesty, studying was actually a bit of an impulsive decision. He didn't like Wooyeon's avoidance since the MT, and was also annoyed by the Alpha who gave him a note at the library. He noticed from the time of the after-party at the opening ceremony, Wooyeon was unnecessarily popular.

'Is this... a model home or something...'

A penthouse with a stunning panoramic view. In that place Wooyeon gave off a similar vibe to four years ago. It was better than the main house, which felt like a prison with its high walls, but Dohyun couldn't help but feel like he was a loner isolated in a high place.

'What are you looking for?'

'A cup. I don't think it's right to just give it to them like this.'

Dohyun was surprised that he'd thought of offering them drinks, and chuckled to himself because he didn't even know where the cups were.

There must have been cups on the lower side too, but Wooyeon simply opened the cupboard that was closest to his eye level first. It might break like that. As soon as he thought that, Wooyeon dropped a glass cup.

'Whenever I see you...'

Even he thought it was an amazing reflex. He expected that Wooyeon would drop it, but he didn't think he would actually be able to catch it. His pheromones shot out in surprise, and he saw himself clearly reflected in his wide eyes.

'I can't take my eyes off you.'

They were about an arm's length apart. When he was tutoring, he would see his face from closer than this. So why did this familiar distance make him nervous?

'I, that..., I, need to use the restroom....'

Wooyeon scurried away, but Dohyun remained motionless for a long time. The faint lingering pheromones left a trace deep in his lungs. He realized that the reason his heart was beating so fast was not because he almost broke the glass. 

On the way home, Dohyun organized his thoughts with all sorts of complicated feelings. When he closed his eyes, he remembered Wooyeon, and his heart fluttered with the emotions. The feelings that had begun to change little by little had finally changed its name.

It was love. A crush, affection. 

But instead of panicking at his sudden realization, Dohyun immediately found a way to kill it. The next day, he received a phone call from Secretary Yoon. 

- 'The President wants to see you.'

It was like a death sentence. He never hated hearing from Suhyang, but that day, he had a bad feeling. Even as he left the lecture and headed back to the office, the ominous feeling of foreboding continued to haunt him.

‘Sit down. Don't just stand there and listen.'

Suhyang neatly skipped any greeting. The secretary brought him a cup of tea, but instead of taking it, Dohyun looked at Suhyang. After four years, her face didn't look much different from before. 

'Do you know why I called you?'

It was a straightforward question. Dohyun, who couldn't answer for a moment, looked away vaguely. It's not like he committed a crime, but the timing wasn't good.

'Well....more or less.'

In response, Suhyang calmly opened her mouth.

'Four years ago, you left like that and Wooyeon got very sick.’

‘....Sick?’

This was the first time he had heard of it. It was no wonder since he had no one to tell him the latest news. Dohyun's surprised face didn't bother Suhyang.

'They said it was a kind of lovesickness.'

Dohyun was speechless. The Wooyeon he saw yesterday and the Wooyeon he saw four years ago overlapped vaguely. He could still see his face as he parted ways with him.

'He didn't eat, and slept like a sick chicken. It's no wonder he got sick after crying so much without drinking water.'

The cold voice spoke without mercy. It was clearly a monotonous tone, but it made his skin prickle. Perhaps it was because Suhyang's pheromones had settled heavily. 

'I sent him to America because I thought a change of scenery might help him get over you.'

So that's what happened. Wooyeon’s goal was to go to college, back then there was no plan to study abroad. There had been no reason for him to suddenly leave Korea.

'And here he is, four years later, in Korea.'

'....'

'Say it with your own mouth.'

Her voice was loaded with pheromones. A heavy atmosphere settled over his shoulders. Suhyang stared at Dohyun with chillingly cold eyes.

'If you were me, would you let you near my child?'

Dohyun lowered his head like a guilty man. His mind was blank, and he didn't know what to say. Even if she didn't intend to reprimand him, just listening was enough. 

'It was my fault for getting you involved in the first place.'

Suhyang continued when Dohyun didn't answer. He slowly lowered his eyes, then lifted them again.

'But you were the one who ended it.'

A clenched hand rested on the desk. Suhyang spoke in a gentle tone, her chin slightly pulled in.

‘I hope our relationship doesn’t end.’

It was a truly indirect expression. It was also a warning that she would not be as forgiving this time. Dohyun couldn't respond, and that was the end of the conversation.

The chances of a reunion after four years are extremely slim. With that much money, there was no reason to return to Korea after studying abroad. Him coming to the English department, him asking Yoonwoo, 'Do you know someone named Kim Dohyun,' all meant only one thing to Dohyun.  

But in the end, it was a decision he made alone. In fact, Wooyeon even pretended not to know, and recently, even showed signs of avoiding him. Maybe he simply wanted to sort out the past.

After much deliberation, Dohyun decided to settle his feelings for him. He turned his back, pretended not to know, and went back the other way. Then, on days when classes overlapped, his gaze was constantly stolen by the back of his head.

He thought he could stop now. Since Wooyeon was avoiding him, and his feelings were still in the beginning stages he thought he could stop. But soon, Dohyun realized that that was all arrogance. 

It was the day he bought hamburgers for his club members to cheer them up for their midterms. It just so happened to be Wednesday, so it was also a day when he had to study with Wooyeon. Although he regretted making such a promise, Dohyun reserved a study room near the school.

'Oppa!'

'Hyung! I missed you!'

'I can see through you guys.'

There was an unusually large group of people in the club room. Everyone was eating hamburgers and greeted Dohyun with happy faces. Dohyun smiled out of habit and glanced around the room. 

'Only when I buy you food...'

Wooyeon, he was sitting on the couch. The large, white hoodie made his pale face look even whiter. He was holding the hamburger with both hands and his mouth was shut, he looked so nice that it took a while for Dohyun to take his eyes off him.

'What's wrong, Oppa?'

Partly because it was cute, and also because it made him feel sick. It's funny to have an staring contest with an innocent hamburger.

But soon Dohyun ignored Wooyeon who was looking at him and avoided eye contact.

'It's nothing.'

It was just a glance. It was just a fleeting glance too embarrassing to even call it a meeting. But then, as if a fire had been lit, his once quiet heart began to burn brightly.

Dohyun pretended not to notice and sat down in the place furthest from Wooyeon. While he pretended not to notice he secretly watched Wooyeon. The young master, who had never seen fast food before, ate the hamburger with his head down.

'I'm sorry, but I'll go first.'

He thought that he must have been choking. His expression wasn't good and his complexion was pale. He swallowed something that didn't even taste good, so there was no way he could digest it properly.

'Uh, the study room...'

'I reserved it.'

But Dohyun couldn't ask if he was okay. He couldn't say a word of concern, and he couldn't even make eye contact with Wooyeon. He just pretended to be relaxed as always, with a soft voice.

'There's seats available at the cafe in front of the school. Just come to the main gate after class.'

He could feel the sad gaze. The once refreshing pheromones had become as gloomy as the weather. Wooyeon left the club room saying he would see him later, yet Dohyun didn't look back at him.

Dohyun headed to the convenience store as if he was possessed while time passed. Because the dark clouds were gathering, it seemed like rain was about to stop. He bought a glass bottle of digestive medicine along with an umbrella. 

'You guys go to the cafe first.'

He had been feeling anxious the whole time, especially when Wooyeon didn't show up at the main gate even though the scheduled time had passed. The lecture must have ended long ago, and there was no response on his cell phone. Dohyun sent Garam and Seongyu off to the café and hurried across campus. 

It was a movement dictated solely by instinct. He used an umbrella to shield himself from the rain and walked as fast as his feet could carry him. The name of the lecture Wooyeon was listening to, 'Global Leadership,' floated around in his head as if engraved in his mind.

As expected, Wooyeon was sitting on a bench near the lecture hall building. He looked particularly thin, cowering beneath the blooming cherry blossoms. One step, then another. As Dohyun approached him, his heart began to beat irregularly.

'...I was wondering why you weren't coming.'

If you asked him when it started, he'd say he didn’t know. It crept in unnoticed, and by the time he realized it, it was uncontrollable. Whether it was four years ago or the moment they met again, he couldn't tell.

'You're going to catch a cold.' 

He liked him. He liked his clear gaze, liked his blind affection, he liked the clumsy, immature Seon Wooyeon.

'Seo...'

Seonsaeng-nim. He missed the voice that called him like that. He couldn't forget the warmth he held in his arms shedding tears. Even though so much time had passed, Dohyun was still obsessed with Wooyeon.

'...Seonbae.'

That one word was the catalyst for his awakening to reality. Suhyang's face came to mind, and the story of how he had been hurt by him came back.

'Sometimes.'

Sometimes a single moment's choice can determine your future. Whether to reach out or pull back, the path of their relationship was still difficult even four years later.

'It's not easy.'

Wooyeon silently turned away from Dohyun. He placed his hand on his knee and rested his chin on it. Raindrops slid down the slanted bridge of his nose.

'Should I carry you?'

'....'

It was an impulsive remark. But as soon as he said it, his mind was made up. Giving up, ignoring, and pretending not to know was enough since it had already happened four years ago.

'I'll take you home.'

Without hesitation, he knelt down and almost forcibly picked up Wooyeon. The rain had soaked him so much that his thighs were cold against his fingers. Fortunately, the body temperature that hugged his neck was warm. He didn't want to miss the occasional breath or the voice whispering in his ear.

'Why are you being so nice to me?'

Wooyeon's pheromones were as refreshing as a bite of fruit. There was still a hint of greenness in the air, which made him feel more calm.

'I just want to be nice to you.'

Apologizing was just an excuse to hide his feelings. The desire to button up the first button again was also a greed that he couldn't hide.

He just didn't want to lose this precious relationship again.

'...Then please continue to do well.'

He didn't want to disappoint him. He didn't want to hurt him, make him cry, and then be abandoned by him. He hoped that the relationship that was barely hanging on wouldn't end up like it did the first time.

'I missed you.'

The words, wrapped in playfulness, showed another meaning through the cracks. Joy, longing, warm affection, and even the confession that couldn't be said.

'...That's fortunate.'

He'd hurt him so much, and it had been so hard for him, but he'd missed him nonetheless. How could Dohyun not reach out to him?

next chapter

[gradrags]

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