The soft breeze carried with it the fragrance of freshly cut grass as the university campus buzzed with excitement. Graduation day had arrived, and students were gathered in their robes, laughing and taking pictures, caught in the bittersweet mix of celebration and farewell. For many, it was a day of triumph, but for Mei, there was a heaviness in her heart she couldn't shake.
Liam stood on the steps of the grand auditorium, looking every bit the star of the day. His confident smile shone brighter than ever, his laughter filling the air as his friends gathered around him. Eva was there too, standing close to Liam, her arm looped through his, their connection undeniable. She had always been a quiet force, someone who seemed to slide into the spaces that Liam left open, filling them with ease and comfort. Today, however, her presence seemed to dominate those spaces entirely.
Mei watched from a distance, her cap held loosely in her hands. She had always been the one by Liam's side—through late-night study sessions, the quiet moments in the library, and the chaos of university life. Yet now, at the end of it all, Eva had somehow slipped in, so naturally, so effortlessly, that Mei wondered if she'd ever truly had a place there at all.
Max, ever the jokester, nudged Mei as he approached, pulling her from her thoughts. "You look like you've lost a fight with your own mind," he teased, though his voice carried more concern than humor.
Mei forced a smile. "I guess graduation does that. Makes you think about things."
Max followed her gaze, noticing the way her eyes lingered on Liam and Eva. He gave a small shrug. "Things change, Mei. People change. But you know, nothing's set in stone. You can still do something about it."
Mei looked at Max, her chest tightening with a mix of gratitude and frustration. "I don't know if it's my place anymore."
Max leaned against the railing, glancing at Liam and Eva before speaking again. "Maybe it never was about place. Maybe it's about timing. And right now… well, maybe it's just time to fight for what you want."
His words hit deeper than Mei had expected. She had always been the one to wait, to let things happen as they would, trusting that her connection with Liam would lead to something more. But watching Eva by his side, Mei realized that waiting might have cost her more than she thought.
The ceremony was about to begin, and the call for students to line up rang out across the courtyard. Liam turned to Mei, catching her eye and waving her over with a bright smile. It was the same smile he'd given her a thousand times before, the same one that had made her heart skip a beat since the day they'd met. But today, standing next to Eva, it felt different.
Mei forced herself to walk over, her steps heavy, as if each one carried the weight of her unspoken feelings. When she reached them, Liam threw an arm around her shoulders in his usual carefree way.
"You ready for this?" he asked, his eyes full of excitement. "We're finally done!"
Mei managed a smile. "Yeah, it's crazy, isn't it? It feels like yesterday we were just starting out."
Eva smiled softly beside Liam, her presence quiet yet strong. "Time flies. But I'm glad we all made it here together."
There was something in her voice, something that made Mei's heart ache. The way Eva spoke—like she was already part of Liam's future—stung in a way Mei wasn't prepared for. She had always seen herself standing next to Liam in moments like this, but now, Eva had taken that place.
As the graduation procession began, and they all moved inside, Mei couldn't help but wonder if Max had been right. Maybe it was time to stop waiting, time to fight for what she wanted. But as she glanced at Liam and Eva, laughing and talking beside her, the question remained: Was it already too late?
Later that evening, the university's grand banquet hall was alive with music and celebration. Students and faculty mingled, champagne flutes clinking in the air as laughter echoed through the room. Mei stood near the edge of the dance floor, watching as Liam and Eva swayed together in the middle of the room. They weren't a couple, not officially, but the way they moved together, the way Liam's hand rested on the small of Eva's back—it was a sight that sent a sharp pang of jealousy through Mei's chest.
She turned away, the room blurring slightly as she blinked back the sting of tears. Max found her again, his usual grin in place, though it softened when he saw her expression.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice low.
Mei took a deep breath and nodded. "I will be. I just… I didn't think it would feel like this."
Max's smile was gentle as he nudged her. "Come on. Let's get you out of here for a bit. Clear your head."
They stepped out onto the balcony, where the night air was cool and crisp. The stars were out in full, glittering against the velvet sky, and for a moment, the world seemed calm again. Mei leaned against the railing, her thoughts still swirling.
"I've known Liam forever," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I always thought that if I waited, if I just stayed close, things would fall into place. But now… now I'm not so sure."
Max stood beside her, quiet for once, letting her words hang in the air.
"Do you think I've missed my chance?" Mei asked, her heart in her throat.
Max's response was slow, deliberate. "I don't think it's ever about missing chances, Mei. It's about taking them. And maybe, just maybe, this is yours."
Mei looked out at the night sky, feeling the weight of his words settle over her. She wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring, but for the first time in a long while, she felt the stirrings of something stronger than fear. It was time to stop waiting and start deciding. And whatever that decision would be, it would be hers to make.