On a football field, there were at least a thousand students who wore graduation robes.
The Dean was on top of the stage with a proud smile as he adjusted his glasses.
"And we have gathered here today to celebrate our excellent students who have spent the last four years of their lives in our institution. When I call up your name, walk up to the stage and grab your degree!"
"God damn it! With how many students there are, its gonna take fucking forever to call my name!"
There was a woman who was 22 years old. She had long brown hair that reached her shoulders. She had warm ivory skin and black eyes. She was also 5 ft 10.
"Come on Gabby, you can't be complaining. We just finished college, all we need to do is get those damn papers and were done."
The woman named Gabby turned to her left and scoffed at the person next to her.
"I know that Nilo! But if I have to sit on this damn chair for another hour, I'm gonna lose it!"
Nilo was a man who was also 22 years old. He had black hair that was made into braided cornrows. He had chestnut skin and brown eyes. Nilo was an inch taller than Gabby, making him 5 ft 11.
Nilo chuckled at his friend's plight. "Come on Gabby, its been four years, I'm shocked you still haven't learned how to be patient!"
Gabby just punched him in the arm. Nilo just laughed at that.
"So Gabby....What are you gonna do know that you have a degree?" Nilo asked.
Gabby crossed her arms and processed the question.
"You know I majored in Education...After today, I'm heading back to the state where my parents are...Find a job and become a teacher." Gabby told him.
"Cool." Nilo simply said.
"What about you big guy? I know you've been busting your ass for the past four years to earn that IT degree. Now that its within your grasp, what's the big plan?" Gabby questioned.
"That's obvious! The first thing I'm doing is spending a week to myself. Then I apply online for any jobs available related to my major. Based on my grades, something tells me that my job search will be quick and easy." Nilo expressed.
"Yeah, that's a given, considering your grades and high GPA. You'll get a job in no time dude!" Gabby assured him.
"Thanks for the confidence...." He then frowns.
Gabby noticed this and looked concerned.
"Something wrong Nilo?"
"....Are we ready to do this?.... Are we truly prepared to just....Find jobs....Work long hours.....Pay for cars, taxes, electricity.....Basically, become an adult?"
Gabby looked down at the ground.
"Hey man, I get what you mean, truly I do....I mean, we've been doing classwork and homework for so long, that the idea of just....Facing the real world is tough enough as it is...."
Gabby then turned to Nilo and smiled.
"But I think it will be worth it in the end....We can have our own place....Buy what we want....Stay up late....We can do everything we want....And we don't have to worry about getting married at the moment!"
Nilo smiled back at her.
"Y-Yeah, you're right! I for one am excited to get my own place once I get a job. I'm tired of living with my annoying ass little brother!" Nilo states.
Gabby chuckled a little.
"Right....You're just saying that because you want to be alone so your parents don't see you reading those 'sites' every night!" Gabby mocked.
That comment made Nilo blush.
"IT'S HARD FALLING ASLEEP OKAY!" Nilo screamed.
Gabby continued to laugh.
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Nilo sighed as he sat down on the living room couch in his parent's house.
He had gotten out of his graduate robes and was wearing a red hoodie and blue jeans.
"Finally home....I swear to god, I thought the Dean was going to take forever to finish." Nilo complained.
"Still can't believe you managed to graduate college Nilo."
Nilo turned to see his 17-year-old brother, David.
He was 5 ft 7, had short puffy black hair, black eyes, and the same skin tone as Nilo. He wore a black t-shirt and black pants to match.
"Meanwhile your ass is still in highschool. By the time you've graduated, I'll already be in my new apartment, making tons of money!" Nilo boasted.
David rolled his eyes but then grinned.
"At least I won't have to pay for rent unlike you." David told him.
Nilo grumbled at his words but he knew he was right. Now that he was a college graduate, he would have to start being more responsible like paying for a roof over his head. And considering how crazy the economy is now of days....He needed to find a job soon....But not right now...He was going to relax for an entire week, he deserved it!
"Your brother has a point you know Nilo."
Coming out of the kitchen and into the living room was their mother.
She was in their late 40s, she had sand skin tone. She had small hair that was tied into a pony tail, wore glasses. The woman was wearing a purple gown that covered the top half of her legs.
"Mom, can we talk about me moving out probably next week?" Nilo asked his mother.
"Hey now Mr. College Graduate! I don't want you to procrastinate just because you finished school!" Nilo's mother scolded him.
"Come on Mom, college was tough! Four years is a long time. I'm not saying I want to procrastinate, I just want to let loose for a while." Nilo explained.
Nilo's mother sighed but she smiled at her son.
"I know sweetie...I'm so proud of you...I just don't want you to become recluse and not apply for any jobs." Nilo's mother expressed her concerns.
Nilo snickered at that.
"Come on Mom, if anything, David's more lazy than me!" Nilo states as he points to David.
David just glared at him.
"Asshole." David cursed.
"Shithead." Nilo cursed.
"Hey! Language! We do not curse in this household!" Their mother reprimanded them as she had her hands on her hips.
"Sorry Mom!" They both said.
David then went to ask her a question.
"Where's Dad?" David asked.
"Your father has been called to work. Sorry Nilo, I wanted all of us to celebrate, but your father has work, and your sister's at the airport." Their Mom said.
Nilo just smiled.
"It's fine...We can all go to that restaurant on the weekend to celebrate my graduation!" Nilo beamed.
"Yes! That's a good idea! And I'll even make your favorite dish for Dinner tonight." Nilo's Mom exclaimed.
"Cool! Thanks Mom."
PING
Nilo looked at his phone and spots a message from Gabby.
"I got to go!" Nilo states as he walks to the door.
"Nilo what's the matter?" His mother questioned.
"It's Gabby." Nilo answered.
David had a sly grin on his face.
"Oh....Your girlfriend right?" David teased.
Nilo swats his brother on the head.
"GABBY ISN'T MY GIRLFRIEND DUMBASS!"
Nilo cleared his throat.
"She asked me to meet at the park we used to hang out at."
"Wonder why?" Nilo's Mom asked.
"Gabby is leaving town....She said she wanted to speak to me one last time before moving to her parent's state." Nilo said with a hint of sadness in his tone.
"Oh my! Well don't let us stop you son! Go and meet her!" Nilo's mother pushed Nilo to the door where he went outside!
"Go ahead and tell her hi for me. When you get back your dinner will be ready!" The woman slammed the door.
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Gabby was sitting on a swing set in the park.
"Got room for one more?" Gabby turned to see Nilo sitting next to her.
Her shock turned into a warm smile.
"Thank you for coming." Gabby said.
"You did ask me to come." Nilo states.
Gabby just looked at the sandy ground while she was slowly swinging.
"We've been best friends for a long time right?" Gabby asked.
"Of course! What kind of dumbass question is that? We went to same elementary school, middle school, high school, and even college!" Nilo said.
"True....You've always helped me when it came to academics, while I helped you went it came to socializing, cause before my intervention, you were a stuttering mess. And I still think you are today." Gabby talked.
"...Your not wrong about that."
Nilo stared in the distance as he watched a few kids playing tag. Some were climbing the monkey bars, and some were going up and down the slides.
"So Gabby...When are you leaving?" Nilo asked the dreaded question.
Gabby stopped smiling as she turned to her best friend.
"....I already packed everything and left my apartment...I parked my car here....I wanted to meet you here because I knew leaving without letting you would be a dick move." Gabby said.
"So...What's up? Are you scared of becoming a teacher? I get it. I don't know what I'd do if I had to spent 8 hrs every day teaching a bunch of brats!" Nilo joked.
Gabby laughed a little.
"You know...This is the park where we met."
Nilo smiled.
"Ah yes! I remember the day some bitch went and pushed me down the ground and took all my money!" He stared at his best friend.
"I apologized a thousand times already!" Gabby snapped. "But if I didn't do that, then you'd still be a friendless loser, so there was some merit in it after all!" Gabby continued.
"I guess...." Nilo said.
"Hey Nilo, before I go there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time." Gabby's expression was serious.
"I....Like you Nilo...More than I friend...I've always had....I know this is weird coming from me, but do you want to be my boyfriend!?" Gabby yelled out.
Nilo just had his jaw opened by the confession.
Gabby just stared at Nilo.
"O-Oh no! I knew it! I knew you mind couldn't handle what I was about to say!" Gabby panicked.
Nilo shook his head as he closed his mouth.
"Gabby.....I never knew you...Loved me.....O-Of course I love you too!" Nilo expressed.
Gabby just stared at him with relief.
"I honestly thought it would be awkward after everything we've been through together...."
Nilo scratched his head.
"It sucks, because you'll be away...How are we gonna make it work as a couple?" Nilo brought up.
"Let's not worry about it. We have our contact numbers, it'll be fine!....Hey, how about a kiss goodbye?"
Gabby suggested.
Nilo blushed at the thought.
"T-That's...Cool." Nilo said.
Both young adults closed their eyes as they moved their heads to each other, their lips were close to interacting until....
A sound was heard as something crushed. Nilo was then covered in liquid.
Nilo quickly opened his eyes as he was greeted by blood covering the entire front of his body.
But what truly made his blood freeze was a giant, monstrous, red clawed foot in front of him that destroyed half of the swing set.
Even though Nilo was staring at the impossibly large foot, what was under it broke him. There was a stain of blood where Gabby once was.
"....G-Gabby...."
Nilo's eyes were brimming with tears. His best friend who almost became his girlfriend. was killed in front of him.
"GGAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBBYYYYYYYYYY!"