Despite finally proving that no one in my family came to see me at the graduation ceremony, warmth fills my heart as I stand next to Anya as we wait for our names to be called up there on stage to receive our diplomas.

Our hands brush on our sides, trying to keep them hidden in the long sleeve of the black gown we wear over our evening clothes. We're teasing each other and I can see she giggles at our "little play".

It doesn't surprise me that, when the name "Anya Forger" is called, countless people whistle and applaud. After all, she's very dear to many. It's been many years since she stopped being that little girl who was the teachers' nightmare.

My heart rejoices to see Anya walking up to the stage with a beautiful smile, her hair flowing behind like a cape. As she receives her collation straw and elegantly shakes Professor Henderson's hand, I look to the side and see that her parents are… Crying.

Crying of emotion, of happiness, of pride.

I press my lips together, for I feel a lump in my throat. Far be it for me to envy Anya, but man… How good that must be…

I get startled when I see Yor, in the distance, waving at me with an optimistic smile, and even Loid nods. I can't react to it at first, but I end up waving back, a little shy.

When I turn back ahead, I find myself smiling, my hand clutching the gown on my chest, thinking about how nice Anya's parents are.

Anya returns next to me and I congratulate her. Becky and some other friends hug her and hop in joy. I feel Ewen and Emile nudging me with a naughty little smirk, as they've obviously noticed that Anya and I are closer. I can't help but smirk back. They give me some light fist bumps in celebration.

And then, after a few minutes, I hear my name being called and my entire body tingles.

Almost every other student who had already been called was applauded and whistled by their friends and family, and I feared what might happen when my turn would come.

I was expecting that only Emile and Ewen would make noises when they called my name.

As I walk a little downcast towards the stage, I do recognize the voices and applauses of my best friends.

However, there were more people celebrating me.

I hear Anya shouting my name in encouragement, her voice mixing with Ewen and Emile's. Even Becky was covertly clapping. Joy takes over my heart.

But I got surprised.

I hear more voices.

I quickly look back and get a big shock when I see Loid and Yor applauding me, without any shame. Yor even whistles loudly with her fingers and Loid claps his hands above his head.

My eyes burn at that sight.

I receive my collation straw, shake the teacher's hand, take a picture, and walk down the stage, once more being applauded by those people.

I feel everything move in slow motion.

I see my best friends, smiling from ear to ear and hopping in euphoria.

I see Anya practically glow, with an expression of happiness and affection.

And, I see her parents from afar, looking so proud of me, like I'm their own son.

At that moment, I think I would do anything to be part of that family.

I savor the delicious dinner they're serving us after the graduation ceremony.

I'm sitting at a round table in a huge fancy hall with crystal chandeliers and a band playing some slow music on the main stage, in a low tone. Waiters and waitresses are nonstop, serving the best delicacies to the families of Eden Academy.

"Babe," I hear Yor calling her husband, "can you ask for one more fish fillet? I'm starving!"

"Dear God, honey," replies Loid, widening his eyes, "but it's the fourth fillet in less than fifteen minutes!"

"Let mommy eat what she wants, dad," says Anya, laughing at them both, "otherwise, the baby will be born looking like a tuna!"

I chuckle at the situation. Anya's parents had invited me to sit with them at the table and I confess, I felt pretty happy, because I would probably be a little out of place, since there were no tables reserved for my family and I would end up being thrown at a random table, with people I don't even know.

Suddenly, I feel a bitter regret rise in my chest for taking so long to get close to Anya. Of course, we were kind of friends already, but nothing as intimate as it's now. I never imagined that she and her family could be so... Wonderful.

Although I'm still a bit shy and embarrassed, the three of them make me feel very comfortable. We talk about different subjects and everything seems to flow so well… I had never experienced this sort of relationship.

At every second I spend in the Forgers' presence, I know I had made the right decision.

Then, I notice that Loid and Yor are a little entertained by her big belly, as if they were talking to it (apparently, the baby was happy with all that good food and was kicking a lot).

There's something I really need to do tonight, and I realize the time has come for it. I feel my heart start to race.

Slowly, under the table, I gently take Anya's hand and lean to her ear.

"Let's go for a walk?" I suggest. She's drinking juice through a straw and raises her eyebrows in consent, excited.

We excuse ourselves and leave. We barely step out the hall's door and automatically, we intertwine our hands, on our way to the Academy gardens.

It's a beautiful night. Everything is decorated with little yellow lights by the poles, looking like dancing fireflies. The weather is great and there aren't many people out here, just a few couples and some children playing around with their parents.

In the distance, we hear the band playing a very pleasant song.

Silently, I lead Anya to an area of that garden where I usually go to be alone and chill out, which is a little more private. The moon shines high above us.

We sit on a stone bench, not letting go of our hands for even a second. She lays her head on my shoulder and takes a deep breath in contentment. We start talking about school stuff, events that happened when we were children, and we laugh at our mischiefs and teasings.

When we recall the last time she punched me, years ago, I say:

"I think that deep down, I teased you because it was my way of getting your attention…"

"And it worked!" replied Anya, laughing. "You always got on my nerves, Sy-on boy..."

Then, I turn to her and take both her hands, making her look at me.

"Forgive me..." I say, letting out a tired sigh and with a melancholic expression.

"Why do you say that?" Anya's face also turns sad.

I swallow hard.

"Because I was an idiot all these years... Because I was a jerk to you, teasing or even hurting you at some point..."

My body shivers when I feel Anya's hand on my face. She lifts it up and looks at me.

"Damian... If there's one thing I've learned in my life, it's that..." she looks aside, as if she's thinking about something, then looks back at me, "It doesn't matter where you came from, or what you did in the past. What matters is who you are now. Nothing more."

I frown a little, surprised. Never in my life I would've imagined Anya Forger saying something like that.

"If I could," I continue, "I would do everything so differently..."

"I think we all think that way..." Anya chuckles and I follow along.

Then, just like she did with me, I gently take her face and gaze deeply at her, allowing myself to dive into those green eyes. I give a sad smile as I shake my head.

"How could I be so blind?" I say, almost to myself, in a whisper.

Anya's eyes gleam and seem to reflect all the stars above us. My heart throbs and I feel her heartbeat in her neck.

Slowly, I lean over and Anya closes her eyes. I feel her warm, pleasant breath on my face, mixed with her perfume. My heart beats stronger.

Our lips touch, in a long, deep, and soft peck kiss. She holds me behind my head, and we pull ourselves closer. Slowly, we open our mouths and taste each other. Together, we take a deep breath and I wrap her in my arms.

Our heads move as we change positions. I hold the back of her neck with one hand and with the other, I run through her pink hair, finally feeling its soft texture. Anya also strokes the back of my hair and I really like it.

Everything is done in a slow way, enjoying every single second.

I have no idea for how long we kissed. When we're done, we touch our foreheads together, panting a little. I don't know why, but I'm feeling an immense urge to laugh. Seeing me laughing, Anya also does the same, a bit confused.

"W-What is it?"

I grab her face and make her look at me once more. I feel my eyes water.

"I love you, Anya Forger," I say, smiling at her, "I've loved you since the first time I saw you."

Immediately, I lean over and give her another long peck kiss, which seems to startle her a little, but then Anya gives in.

"Look..." she says, now giving a mischievous giggle, "It took me a bit longer... But I couldn't resist in the end," Anya caresses my face, analyzing my every detail, "I love you too, Damian Desmond."

I widen my eyes a little. I can swear this is the first time she calls me by my name, and not by "Sy-on boy". My heart swells and I pull her into another passionate kiss.

When we pull away, I take both of Anya's hands and squeeze them gently. Despite the emotions I'm feeling right now, I feel butterflies in my stomach and wet my lips.

"Anya..." I do my best to face those big green eyes, "From the moment I invited you to this party, I knew that only tonight wouldn't be enough."

She looks at me with attention. I take a deep breath and try my best not to look like I'm shaking.

"So I made a decision. A very important decision," my expression is serious now, "and with that, I wanna ask you a question. Perhaps the most important of my entire life."

"You're making me a little nervous…" she says, with an anxious smile.

I press my lips together and for a second, I look at the ground, but then I look back at her.

"It took me a long time to finally do something for myself, you know?" I place my hand on my chest, "My whole life, everything I did was to try to impress my father, to have only one percent of the attention your parents showed towards me today, and they don't even know me that well."

Anya nods, understanding.

"The time has come for me to put an end to this," I continue. "From now on, I'll no longer live to please people who don't even want to see me happy, or rather, who don't even want me. From now on, I'll only dedicate myself to those who really wanna share a life with me."

I cup Anya's face with my hand, caressing her with my thumb.

"And that's why, Anya Forger, I'm here with you today. Because I wanna dedicate myself to you."

She opens her mouth a little, looking surprised.

"And I wanna know if you want to share a life with me," I say, gazing at her deeply.

"W-What do you mean by that?" she asks. I take a deep breath once more, getting up all the courage that exists within my being.

"I wanna know if you would marry me," I answer, convinced.

Anya's eyes widen and she gets a bit petrified. I stand firm.

"I know I may even be being hasty. But, I believe this is the perfect moment for it. I know that I'm not a proper adult yet, but I'm also not a boy anymore," I point to the hall. "This graduation symbolizes that this is the time for us to make important decisions for our future," I give her a sad smile. "I may not be sure about the profession I'll follow when I leave this school, but one thing I'm absolutely certain. That no matter what future I may have, I want you to be part of it."

I'm practically panting and I watch Anya stare at me with a perplexed expression. We stay in silence for a few seconds, looking at each other. I hear the music in the hall. I decide to ask again:

"So? Do you want to be my wife?" I have a hopeful look.

Anya begins to smile, while she still has a very surprised expression, and shakes her head, as if trying to process all that. She covers her mouth and I see her eyes starting to well up with tears. I can't tell if it's a positive or negative reaction and I feel my heart beginning to race in anxiety and fear.

Then, Anya's smile widens a little and for a second, I think the word "yes!" would come out of her mouth, but to my surprise, what comes out of it is a lament.

Anya just starts crying. A lot. And it was not tears of joy.

I lean back in total confusion. I definitely wasn't expecting this sort of reaction. In a whirlwind of thoughts, doubts begin to surround my head, that I, perhaps, had been too hasty.

Did I make a mistake?!

"A-Anya..." I call her, gently placing my hand on her shoulder, which was shaking more and more as she cried. "Anya, please... Talk to me… I-I didn't know you-"

"Of c-course I want to be y-your wife, Damian!" she suddenly stares at me, tears streaming down her cheeks, her eyes now red.

I get even more confused. If she really wanted to marry me then, shouldn't her reaction be a little more... Let's say... Happier?! Why was she crying, dang it?!

"I don't understand..." I say, and I try to get closer to hold her face, but she pulls me away.

"You don't deserve this, Damian!" Anya has a suffering expression. "I can't do this to you!" she starts sobbing, "It wasn't supposed to get this far... I should've told you before... B-But I couldn't, and... I ruined everything!"

Now, I was definitely very worried. My entire body is shaking and my throat is completely dry.

"Anya!" I call her again, this time with a louder voice tone, and I take her hand to get her attention. "Please, explain to me what's going on!"

Through tears, she looks at me with an expression that almost destroys me. It is a mixture of pain, fear, affliction, and a lot of anguish. Anya gets up from the bench, turning to me.

"Damian..." she says, almost in a whisper, "I'm not who you think I am..."

I frown and shake my head in denial. My heart is about to come out of my mouth. Anya then lets out the biggest lament so far, in a loud and suffering cry.

"It was me, Damian… It's all my fault…"

"Of what?!" I exclaim and this time, my voice is in despair. "Please, tell me at once, what did you do?!"

Anya widens her eyes and heavy tears run down her face. She stares at me, her jaw trembling. And then, the words that come out of her mouth make me feel like I'm falling apart:

"I'M THE ONE TO BLAME FOR YOUR FATHER'S DEATH!"