Ding dong...
I jumped over the pile of books in the center of the room, to get to the door. But bless my luck, I fell face first down on the floor, the mess of boxes in my room to be blamed.

Ding...dong...

"Yes coming!" I called out, rubbing at my cheek that had taken my oh-so-elegant fall.

I opened the door to see a courier guy waiting. "Room 136?" The man in the red shirt asked as if he couldn't see the huge number on my door, even if it was covered with avenger's stickers, that's besides the point.

"Yeah" I replied regardless. "Here's your package." He said handing me a long box, along with a notepad to sign besides the delivery. I mumbled a small thank you before shutting the door.

The package seemed weird, I didn't remember ordering anything, and also it was useless since I was moving out of the dorm soon. "Ouch," I muttered as my feet hit another disordered piece of furniture, my attention on the long box in my hand.

Curiosity got better of me as I tore at the packaging in my hand, leaving traces as if it were attacked by a wild animal. At least that's what mother would call it.

Inside there was a Gucci tie. A tie like I had never seen before, well that would be an overstatement but it looked rich and seemed like it belonged around some hefty CEO's fine neck. I was surprised by mom's choice of gift. It must have costed a small fortune but serves her well for not attending one of the most important ceremony in my life.

~*~

"Candy you look absolutely gorgeous," my mother called out from the laptop that showed her face cramped in her mobile phone screen. I could hear the sound of vessels and the faint sound of oil crackling in the background. I smiled at her. "Where's Dad?"

"He's in the front, wait I'll call him, he needs to see how big our little boy has grown up! Oh, Kook-ah I cannot believe you are all grown up, oh my sweet pea." I cringed at her weird goody endearment, I used to love them but they have been becoming weirder with time, who calls their son brinjal?

"Hey, son," he stopped to look down at my suit, "I told you the all-black suit would look good instead of the white shirt, didn't I? See the results!" I turned to the mirror on my cupboard, I had worn a black shirt and was in the process of putting on the obsidian black blazer. I put it on and patted it down to remove any creases, there weren't any. Not be a self-absorbed jerk, but I did look good. The all-black suit highlighted my pale complexion.

"Thanks, Dad, it does look good," I said facing to see my Dad and Mom with proud smiles on their faces, in no time Mum's eyes started to tear up. "I wish we could have come- We should have come." She said her words muffled underneath her sobs.

"Hey Mom it's no worry, you are going to have to throw me a party at the restaurant to make up for this. Don't worry you are going to pay ten folds for your absence." A giggle escaped Mom's throat, so similar to mine, her eyes shined with the waiting tears.

Dad took the opportunity to speak up, "Yes boy, you better take a good many pictures and get your ass up the flight next week. We are going to have a party whole of Paris would remember." I laughed, my Dad was absolutely passionate about our restaurant in Paris, also the reason they couldn't attend my graduation. It wasn't like they valued the restaurant more than me, but prior booked tickets were canceled and plans were changed due to the accident at the restaurant. There wasn't much harm done to any of the cooks or staff, but the kitchen had faced some significant damage. In the end, I was glad that no one was injured.

"Yes Dad, wait for me. I promise this is going to cost you much more than my whole year's fees."

My dad tsked, "not even graduated yet, you are already showing your colors, I told your mom you are no more her little biscuit." He pronounced 'biscuit' like my mom's typical English accent. And we both laughed as my mom slapped his shoulder for the weird mimicry.

"I have to go now, don't wanna be late for my own graduation!" They wished me Goodluck before disconnecting the call.

I took a minute to run my gelled fingers through my hair, fashionably styling them. Once satisfied I wiped my fingers on a tissue, I opened the cupboard and retrieved the tie from inside, I knotted it in a smart knot like my mother had taught me all those years ago, telling me about how English men should value their ties and how ties shout of their class, etcetera. I never understood the English culture since I had spent almost all of my life in Korea, unlike my parents who had moved to France to complete their culinary dream to open a restaurant in Paris. I had stayed back since I had already joined the Culinary academy, the same one my father had attended.

The silver tie with a black checkered pattern stood out making me look as if I was attending some sort of gala instead of a graduation ceremony.

Did it look too overboard? Oh shit, it did! I smacked my forehead. I should have just opted for a simple suit, instead of going all the way in. I started pacing in my room, well wherever I had space to walk since the floor was volunteered with half-filled boxes and clothes. A thin sheen of perspiration coated my forehead. Throughout my whole journey of four years, I had tried to lay low, not come into the eyes of people. If they found out I was the son of the school prodigy all of his skills over the years would be washed down the drain, and I would get the tag of 'Jeon Daeshim's son, who got into the school because his father is an alumnus.

So I decided to call the only person who I could think of.

"Kook where the hell are you? I have been looking for you all over the auditorium." I smiled despite my wrecked nerves, Joon hyung was the only person who I could call for my graduation, although no calling was actually involved since he knew the venue and time well before me.

"Hyung I can't- The suit, it looks too overboard. What if someone gets to know?"

"Hey don't worry, even if they get to know today's the goodbye day, you have to not see the faces of all those jerks ever again. Also you idiot won't you be wearing your graduation gown, nobody is gonna see your oh-so-expensive suit. Just get your ass down here before I come and drag you out myself."

"Yes sir," I punctuate with a giggle before cutting off the call.

~*~

The ceremony was extremely tiresome and boring, the list of people their diploma seemed to never end, they still hadn't reached J. Why did their college have so many people with the last name as Cho and Choi? Irritated I turned back to look at Namjoon hyung who sat in the seats on the first floor looking equally bored. But when his eyes caught mine, he excitedly put up thumbs up and retrieved the camera from around his neck to snap a picture. The flash was on, causing hyung to catch some unwanted attention. Feeling embarrassed he hid his face behind the camera clicking some more pictures, with the flash off now. I muffled a laugh behind my sleeve. At least now I had a much better mood.

I strode up the stage, suddenly a queasy feeling erupted in my lower abdomen, it wasn't the hundreds of eyes on me but the realization that hit me. I had done it, I had graduated made my own name, topped my classes without a single help from Dad, I felt proud. My face lit up with a huge ear-to-ear grin, I must have been looking weird but I didn't care, I was happy beyond words. All those all-nighters in the kitchen, hours spent on learning the origins and tastes of the weirdest ingredients, it was all worth it.

"Thank you, Mr. Lee," I said accepting my degree from him he gave my hand a hard shake, before patting me on my back. You are going to make all great dreams come true, I'll be waiting to get an invitation when you open up your dream restaurant, I smile at him and assure him that day would come soon, before moving on to shake hands with the chief guest.

"Thank you, Mr. Kim," I said holding up my hand to shake his, but instead of congratulating me his eyes were fixated on my tie which peaked through the front opening of my gown. "Where did you get that?" He asked. I couldn't comprehend what was he referring to. "Huh?" I asked confused at the whole ordeal. He turned to Mr. Lee and whispered something and the next thing he was dragging me off to the backstage.

He let go of my arm once we were behind the curtain, several people were staring at two of them.

"Where the hell did you get that tie?" He asked, more like shouted, causing several heads to turn towards us.

I was still confused as to what was happening. "What has that got to do with you?" I didn't mean to be rude but the man here was ruining my good day.

"Can't you simply answer the question, I don't have the whole day."

"Neither do I, so it would be really great if you would let me attend my once-in-a-lifetime graduation ceremony."

I turned around to walk back to the stage, I wasn't going to get out of here without taking a picture, he followed me back too. He looked like he wanted to say something but the cameraman indicated for them to smile, so he shut up. Before I could make my way out of the stage he whispered in my ear to not attract Mr. Lee's attention, as if he hadn't already been doing that by pulling him across the stage in front of hundreds of people.

I turned to him giving him a snide smirk, "Fuck off." I didn't care who he was he had ruined one of the most amazing and important moment in his life.

~*~

"What was all that about?" Joon hyung asked the moment we got out of the hall.

"What?" I asked examining the scroll in my hands.

"The chief guest pulling you away like that? What did you say to him?"

"I didn't say anything to him, he some weird psycho probably, these rich men usually are." Hyung smirked, "No winder you are an idiot."

"Hey I'm not rich, my parents are. I'm a young broke student who's going to search for sponsors soon enough to open his own restaurant." Suddenly Joon hyung stopped walking, I turned around to see him, his eyes were filled with pride he opened his arms for a hug. "Ew hyung you are embarrassing me," I said, but hugged him back nevertheless.

"You made it!" He whispered, still locked in an embrace. He patted my back, I did want him to cry, I had never seen hyung cry, never wanted to. "Hey hey, you know if Jimin saw us like this he'd beat me to a pulp right?" That made him huff a laugh, and he extracted himself from my hold. Right then a voice of throat-clearing behind my back caught my attention. I turned around to see the same man from the stage standing there, just now his suit jacket was nowhere to be seen. His blue waistcoat accentuating his slim fit. The white shirt beneath was fitted in with a matching blue tie. His hair was neatly styled. If I wasn't angry with him, I would accept that the man standing before me was quite handsome. But right then I was furious.

"What the hell do you want? Leave me alone!" I yelled, before taking off with Joon hyung's hand in tow. I turned around to take a last glance at the stranger before leaving. His face looked like a mix of anger, embarrassment also, was it sadness? But I didn't care, I wouldn't give a total stranger the liberty to ruin my day. And my that I meant the party that was waiting for me at the club.

~*~

Hey petals,
So here's the first chapter I guess it was kind of boring idk, but tell me if you like this storyline, I will continue.

Lots of love
Aarch