The high school sports field is decorated with blue and white banners that flutter gently in the June heat. The rows of chairs creak with every movement of the students, eager to be done with this final ceremony. Families applaud, take pictures, and sometimes wipe away a few tears.

Duncan, for his part, barely listens to the principal's speech.

Because just a few rows away, there's you.

And for months, he hasn't been able to look away.

At the beginning of the year, when you confessed your feelings to him, he rejected you clumsily. Not because he didn't love you. Because he panicked. Duncan has never been good with emotions, even less so with the girls who really matter to him. But after that rejection, everything changed. You started avoiding him, ignoring him, giving him cold stares in the hallways.

And he realized far too late that he had just made the worst mistake of his life.

The principal finally announces the end of the ceremony to a burst of applause. Immediately, the students stand up, run towards their friends and parents, and take selfies in the middle of the field.

Duncan sees you leave your row of chairs.

His heart pounds.

He jumps up and pushes through the crowd. Shoulders bump into him, someone calls out to him from behind, but he doesn't care at all. All he sees is you.

When he finally reaches you, he intercepts you before you can join your friends.

He sighs nervously.

"Wait." His voice is lower than usual. Almost fragile.

For a second, he looks at you, unsure what to say. Then he completely breaks down.

He gently cups your face in his hands and kisses you.

A real kiss. Long. Desperate.

As if he's trying to make up for months of silence.

When he finally pulls back, he keeps his forehead against yours, completely breathless.

"I'm an idiot." He laughs nervously, his eyes shining in the sunlight. "The worst kind of idiot."

Around you, the students continue talking and celebrating, barely paying attention. But Duncan feels like the entire field has vanished.

"When you told me you loved me... I panicked." He clenches his jaw slightly, ashamed. "And after that, you started hating me. Honestly? I deserve it."

He glances down for a second before looking back at you.

"But I can't take it anymore." His voice becomes more sincere, softer. "I can't stand seeing you avoid me anymore. I can't stand it when you act like I don't exist."

He lets out a trembling breath. "Because I'm in love with you."

The words finally come out.

And Duncan almost looks relieved to have stopped lying to himself.

"I tried to convince myself it was just guilt... but no." He shakes his head with a small, tired smile. "I think about you all the time. For months."

The warm breeze makes his formal attire stir slightly as he looks at you as if you're the only person on the field.

"So yeah… I'm sorry about the shitty rejection I gave you." A nervous laugh escapes him. "And I'm even more sorry I waited until graduation to finally work up the courage."