As the car door swings open, the passenger exits with her foot out first. Her heeled loafers are illuminated by the high-gloss mirror shine of patent leather. Drawing herself up even taller, lifting her head to face the open air, wearing her dad's lent modified rectangle sunglasses. Covering not only identity but also her post-cry eyes.
Naria dons a suit in Oxford blue, matching its cool tones with her jet black hair in a bun. Her tie is embroidered with patterns of the sun, moon and stars. The thread that's carefully handsewn into the fabric looked glittery in the daylight.
Though not exactly outshining the main accessory; there dangle a striking pair of earrings. It is a modernly designed family emblem in the shape of an angel wing. It's made of gold, and accentuated with a Sodalite stone on the front base.
She is on her way at the long hall leading to multiple paths, including the Quadrangle. The echoes of the Recessional music, and the speaker's microphone combined are getting louder and louder.
Approaching the central campus closer, she had to pause at the sight of the crowd exiting the ceremony. For a second she's in awe at the mass of people coming, but then reminded of her late arrival she shook her head and shuffled through the gaps. Holding her dad's shades closely, careful from being seen.
A whole class of newly graduates come in groups with friends and family members, flaunting their academic dress more than the fit they prepared for weeks underneath. Though Naria wore something she considers it as simple and easy to blend in, her earrings however, radiant even in the dimmest gleam of the day, makes her eye-catching.
Halfway through, weaving past the increasingly dense gathering. The laughter, the happy tears, and the triumphant silence from every each pupil passing by. One by one.
Behind the cool sunglasses and neutral resting face, Naria started to think: That could've been me.
The sound of the assembly are gradually becoming more inaudible, it dulls into a low watery hum, then her peripheral vision goes blurry. Leaving only a narrow, unfocused view ahead.
Registering the sea of faces as her own, and seeing herself in the shoes of all students before her wearing the cap and gown; accompanied by their parents with smiles as wide showing the pearly white on their faces.
All she can feel are her two legs swinging mechanically hollow. Stepping on concrete with feet feeling heavy, and almost bumping onto other passerby.
"Oh my god, Ria, you came." Naria nearly jumped at the random pull on her arm, "Where have you been?"
Naria bats her eyes open. Looking around in a double take. The stadium is still barely empty. But there are more people departing the commencement.
"I've been calling you for hours, is everything okay?" The shorter woman asks one more time, waking Naria in her senses more effectively than she thinks. "I'm fine, Betty. I know, I missed the graduation it's no big deal." She appears to be laidback while holding up a palm.
Betty frowns with a grave longing gaze, giving the impression that she is not fully convinced by her response. Naria couldn't help but chuckle, "I told you it's fine." reassuring the woman with a hand on her shoulder.
Betty just sighs, blowing off her layered fringes to the side of her blonde balayage swoop bangs. "Okay, the others were pestering me about you though. Can't imagine that many people were worried sick."
Speaking of others. Naria consciously holds onto her shades again, scanning the area, perhaps of people looking for her. "Personally, I wouldn't call that 'worried sick'." Confused at Naria's sudden husky whisper, Betty copies the guarded look.
Groaning when she finds nothing that should make Naria paranoid "Dude, who cares? You were late, that's all.", Naria rolled her eyes "Well clearly, I do. They had my absence broadcasted on news."
"What? Oh my god." Betty holds up her fist against her lips, her chest heaving up in restraint of laughter. Naria looked defeated, awkwardly diverting her attention to the side from the easily entertained friend. "Just, just help me find the college dean." She stuttered while rubbing the back of her neck.
While Betty could not stop wheezing. Naria turns around, balancing on tiptoes to scan the throng of people for the dean. Instead, found a dozen different men looked awfully similar with their suits on.
She dropped her head into her hand before turning right back to face Betty again, "Seriously, where is he? I'll ask him to get my diploma."
"Wait, the diploma? Oof.." Betty wipes a tear from her eye, choking off the last giggle short mid-breath as she peeks over to the stadium fairly occupied.
Her elbows flared slightly in a hand on hips posture of pure hesitation, grimacing with her voice dropped an octave. Matching the tension that shattered the previous lightness, "Tough luck on that one, Ria. With everybody in the ceremony today, I don't think the staff can help you much with their hands full."
"Fuck," She hissed frustratingly with her fists anchored to her waist, her shoulders slumped as though it's heavy with another burden of inconvenience "I have to, I'll try convince them somehow. I can't go home empty-handed."
Her friend can clearly tell the amount of hassle just keeps stacking and it's hard to catch up, even for Betty. She simply pats Naria's back, hoping it consoles her in the least effort. "I wish you luck, Ree."
In the distance, Betty observed the tense conversation between Naria and a staff she approached the closest to. Naria is gesticulating pleadingly with her half-raised hands slightly trembling, and the staff keeps shaking her head with a look of pity, both mouth moving in a silent but definitely not in synchronizing rhythm. The friend could not help but watch.
When the staff parted ways, Naria looked over at Betty's direction. Where she's being approached by her family of four, their arms on her back, leading the way out since the ceremony is done.
They still haven't broken eye contact, but Naria softens with an understanding smile and waves her friend goodbye. Concerned at first but Betty accepts it later on, waving back goodbye to her as well.
Watching Betty come along with her parents as they leave the campus. Setting foot out the gate, Naria makes her cue. She scurries back in the main entrance before anyone could spot her.
Hustling on the way to the registrar's office, keeping her head on a swivel and minimizing the sound of her footsteps by shifting her weight forward, and the heels barely touching the floor as much as possible.
On her arrival, she's met with an empty building with doors closed, and a paper taped to the glass written: "CLOSED in graduation".
She skulks out the area while pulling out conveniently two pieces of hairpins under her bun, her fringes that was kept in place now falling to the side.
She scuffs up closer reaching for the knob with her other free hand, but turning up the handle wasn't tight. It's loose. Managing to click it right open.
Something doesn't feel right inside.
Her stomach plummeted after a painfully sharp gut instinct has struck her. The desperate plans of breaking in suddenly drowned it out with 'what-ifs' and the sounds of her own heavy breathing. She stays motionless with the knob still in hand, except for her chest expanded in a practiced, steady rhythm, yet beneath the surface her heart is pounding stubbornly a thousand times faster.
Her curiosity is eating her alive while frozen, like a physical heat stuck under her skin, a restless twitching in her fingers demanding for action.
Her brain is scrambled between following the intuitive warning or make up an escape plan on the spot. She blankly stares at her hand holding the hairpins that are no longer useful. Pondering whether her random tummy ache is from anxiety, or her body is actually telling her to run.
When she finally makes up her mind, she did not nudge the door open to the fullest just yet. She positioned her back closely against the door hinges with her feet apart, one is supporting her weight at the front and the other is at the back almost hugging the baseboard. A stance ready to dash away from danger, and using the door as a shield.
She creeps her head out, peeking in the registrar's office while cautiously easing the door ajar until she peeps the figure of the cabinets, picture frames on the wall, boxes...
And a person behind the desk with a silencer held at gunpoint.