"Cyran!" a familiar female voice called, and they all turned to see Cyran’s mom trotting over in a corset-style jumpsuit, her black hair packed into a high ponytail.
"Mom! You ca!" Cyran smiled widely as he hurried over to his mom, and they both t in a tight hug, which went on for almost a minute. When Cyran’s mom pulled away, tears were glistening in her eyes, and she cupped her son’s face, a wide smile on her lips.
"Of course, I will co! It’s my son’s high school graduation. I would co even if I were at the end of the world. Besides, I didn’t want to be like your dad, who is nothing but a disappointnt."
"I’m happy you were able to co, Mom. Thank you."
"I’m happy too, but there is no need to thank . Now, where are your friends?" She said, shifting her gaze away from Cyran and turning to look behind him.
Cyran turned and gestured toward Ephyra, Malia, and Orla, who stood nearby. "They’re right here, Mom. Co et them."
Mrs. Carver strode over gracefully, and she imdiately hugged Ephyra when she saw her. "It’s so good to see you again, Ephyra." She pulled away, holding her by the shoulders. "You look so beautiful."
"Thank you, Mrs. Carver. Cyran inford us that sothing happened, so we thought you wouldn’t make it. We were actually planning on going out together to surprise Cyran with a small celebration of our own," Ephyra finished smoothly, a faint smile on her lips.
Mrs. Carver’s expression softened, and she glanced at her son with pride. "I see he has such thoughtful friends. Thank you for looking out for him."
Malia grinned, stepping forward. "We couldn’t let Cyran miss out on celebrating just because of a little drama." She winked at Ephyra. "And as you can see, we know how to handle drama."
Mrs. Carver chuckled, her sharp eyes catching a glimpse of the lingering tension in Ephyra’s expression. "You have a good head on your shoulders, Ephyra. I hope you’ll keep an eye on Cyran when I’m not around."
"I intend to," Ephyra replied, her voice steady but polite.
"Alright, let’s start taking pictures. Since Cyran is the only one with a mother here, he and his mom take pictures together." Malia ca forward, waving her phone.
Orla had to stop herself from hitting her sister on the head. "Malia, stop talking as if we don’t have a mom or like she is dead for f**k’s sake."
Malia gave her sister a confused look. "What do you an? I didn’t say we don’t have a mother. You are so dramatic, Orla, stop taking my words literally."
Orla scoffed, wanting to show Malia to make her see who the dramatic one between them was, but she didn’t say anything; she only rolled her eyes.
The group started taking pictures with smiles and laughter filling the courtyard. Cyran and his mom stood together in the center, their bond evident as Mrs. Carver adjusted his tassel and pulled him into another hug for the cara. Malia made exaggerated poses in the background, prompting everyone to laugh, while Orla muttered about her sister’s theatrics under her breath.
Ephyra, standing slightly to the side, found herself watching Cyran’s interaction with his mother. There was warmth in their connection, a stark contrast to the vague mory she rembered from her own family—Eira Kingston’s family. For a fleeting mont, a pang of longing struck her chest, but she quickly buried it, focusing on the present.
"Ephyra, co join us!" Mrs. Carver called, waving her over.
"I’m fine here," Ephyra replied with a soft smile, but Cyran’s mom wasn’t having it.
"Nonsense! You’re part of Cyran’s support system, aren’t you? Co, you deserve to be in these pictures too."
Before she could refuse again, Malia grabbed her arm and dragged her into the fra. "No escaping, Eph. We’re all in this together."
Reluctantly, Ephyra joined them, standing between Cyran and Mrs. Carver. The cara clicked as the group posed, laughter and playful teasing filling the air.
Sophia, Malia and Orla’s mother, returned from her brief absence, her heels clicking against the stone path as she made her way toward the group. Her features softened into a smile when she saw her daughters and their friends gathered for the pictures.
"I’m back! What’s all this fuss about?" she teased, raising an eyebrow as she approached.
"We’re just having a little fun, Mom," Malia grinned, making room for her mother to join the group.
Sophia rolled her eyes playfully. "I’m sure you’re causing more drama than fun." She looked over at Ephyra with a soft smile. "You’re still here? I was hoping to catch you before you left."
Ephyra gave her a polite nod. "I wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye."
"Good, good," Sophia said, her voice warm but with an underlying tone of authority. She swept her gaze over Cyran, Malia, and Orla. "Well, then, it seems I’m in ti for the last round of photos. Let’s make it count."
With her arrival, the group rearranged, taking turns posing in pairs and threes. Malia and Cyran stood together for one picture, both making exaggerated expressions that had the others in stitches. Orla, feeling left out, decided to pair with Ephyra for a shot, her arms crossed defiantly while Ephyra flashed a smile.
Sophia soon joined her daughters for a picture, with Malia and Orla standing on either side of her. They all put on their best smiles, Malia pulling a playful face while Orla tried her best to stay serious, though the corners of her mouth twitched with the urge to smile. The cara flashed again.
Then, the final group picture was arranged—Cyran, Ephyra, Malia, Orla, Mrs. Carver, and Sophia. Everyone crowded together, their poses a mix of candid and posed, the laughter contagious. Even Ephyra, usually reserved, couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle as Cyran jokingly pulled her into an embrace for the shot. The photo was taken, and as the final click sounded, they all looked at one another, their expressions warm and satisfied.
The next part of the graduation tradition ca swiftly. With the formalities over, the students threw their caps into the air, the fabric of the hats soaring high before falling back down, each one marking the end of an era. Laughter filled the air as the caps bounced and scattered, and students cheered for themselves and their classmates, the excitent palpable.
Slowly, the crowd began to thin. Parents and students made their way toward the exits, so lingering to exchange final words, others eager to begin the next Chapter of their lives. Ephyra, however, stayed where she was for a mont, watching the others as they said their goodbyes. Cyran’s mom was already chatting animatedly with a few other parents, and Malia and Orla’s laughter echoed as they took one last selfie with their mother.
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