It was graduation season.
The campus bloomed with color petals on the wind, laughter in the halls, camera flashes, and tearful smiles. Students clutched flowers, certificates, and memories all at once. For many, it was the end of something… but also the quiet beginning of everything else.
Wu Suo Wei stood at the edge of the crowd in his neat white shirt and black trousers, holding a small camcorder. He was filming Chi Cheng's graduation.
Jiang Xiao Shuai was beside him, wearing his usual pout. "You've filmed the same shot ten times."
"I'm trying to catch his smile," Suo Wei whispered.
"You already did… you just missed it."
Suo Wei blinked. Then turned to see Chi Cheng across the yard, standing with his basketball teammates. For once, he wasn't stoic. He was laughing. Bright and warm.
Suo Wei's heart stuttered.
Then Chi Cheng turned his head and met Suo Wei's eyes across the crowd. His smile didn't fade. In fact, it grew.
It was the first time he didn't hide it in public.
Guo Cheng Yu was at the art building, helping Xiao Shuai clean out his portfolio case. Shuai was finishing his second-to-last year, but Cheng Yu was a year ahead. And yet, this time, he wasn't leaving.
"I turned down the internship abroad," Cheng Yu said, closing the case.
Xiao Shuai's hand paused. "What?"
"I'll stay here for postgrad. I already applied."
"But that internship–"
"Isn't worth missing another year not kissing you."
Xiao Shuai flushed deeply, but didn't look away. "You're serious."
Cheng Yu stepped closer, brushed a strand of hair from Shuai's cheek. "This time, I'm not pretending."
Shuai reached for his hand.
"Then stay."
Later that evening, the four of them met behind the science building their unofficial spot. The sun was setting in strokes of orange and lavender, casting soft shadows on their faces.
Chi Cheng leaned back against the tree trunk, Suo Wei beside him, knees touching.
"You know," Suo Wei murmured, "when we were in high school, I thought being your fiancé meant I'd always be second in your heart."
Chi Cheng turned to him. "And now?"
"Now I know I was always first… you just didn't know how to say it."
Chi Cheng exhaled slowly. "I was scared."
"I know," Suo Wei whispered. "So was I."
Chi Cheng reached into his pocket and handed him a small, folded note.
Suo Wei opened it.
You were never my secret.
You were always the truth I protected.
— Yours, Chi Cheng
Suo Wei blinked, trying not to cry. "You really wrote this?"
"I've written a lot of things I never gave you," Chi Cheng said. "Maybe it's time I do."
He reached forward, cupped Suo Wei's cheek, and kissed him soft, open, slow.
And this time, they didn't hide.
Xiao Shuai watched with a quiet smile as Cheng Yu slung an arm around his shoulders and whispered, "You wanna make it official?"
"You already kiss me like it is."
Cheng Yu grinned. "I'll take that as a yes."
Graduation day ended with stars above and promises between.
There were no fireworks, no dramatic announcements. Just two pairs of boys, walking quietly under streetlamps, side by side. Fingers brushing, eyes meeting, hearts unafraid.
They had kept their love a secret for so long.
But now…
Now, it was theirs. Open. Unapologetic. True.
Not a secret anymore.
Just… yours.
THE END
💛 Secretly Yours 💛
Bonus chapters coming in....