The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the quiet estate streets as Austin's car rolled smoothly into the private gated Estate near Lifetime University. It was a place Justin and John had grown comfortable calling home, a modest but peaceful apartment tucked away from the noisy chaos of campus life. After months away, Austin's heart beat faster as he parked and grabbed his bag from the passenger seat.
Walking up to the familiar door, he raised his fist and knocked firmly. Inside, Justin's eyes immediately lit up when he heard the knock. Without hesitation, he hurried to open the door. As soon as their eyes met, all the months apart melted away.
"Austin!" Justin exclaimed, throwing his arms around his brother tightly. "Man, I missed you so much!"
Austin returned the hug with equal warmth. "I missed you too, little bro. Too long, way too long."
John, who had been sitting nearby, smiled and stood to greet Austin as well. "Good to see you. Finally."
Austin stepped inside, taking in the familiar surroundings , the small living room, the worn-out couch, the posters on the walls. "Feels good to be here," he said softly, his eyes lingering on Justin's face.
Justin led Austin to the couch, while John went to the kitchen to grab some drinks. "So, how' are you preparing for work?" Justin asked as they settled in.
Austin chuckled. "Well, my resumption got pushed back a couple weeks, so I've got some time. Actually, I rented an apartment just a few blocks from the branch office. Thought I'd settle in early."
John returned with drinks and sat beside Austin. "We've missed having you around. You know Justin's been living his best life lately."
Austin smirked knowingly. "Yeah, I heard. The shy kid I knew is now the talk of the school?"
Justin shrugged but couldn't hide his smile. "I've changed, okay? John's been helping me come out of my shell."
Austin chuckled. "I see that. I'm proud of you, man."
The conversation flowed easily as they caught up about school, friends, and the upcoming matriculation ceremony. Austin looked serious for a moment. "So, about the matriculation…"
Justin's face tightened slightly. "Yeah?"
"I won't be able to make it," Austin said quietly. "Work's got me scheduled that day. You know how it is."
There was a pause. Justin glanced at John before answering. "It's okay. I get it."
Austin noticed the subtle relief in Justin's voice and smiled gently. "You didn't want me there, did you?"
Justin laughed, a little embarrassed. "Maybe. I wanted to do this on my own. It's... complicated."
Austin nodded, understanding. "No pressure, bro. Just know I'm proud of you, wherever I am."
Austin leaned back on the couch, cracking a mischievous smile. "Man, you wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've been hearing about lifetime university."
John laughed, raising his drink. "Fake lifes, jealousy , mean girls pure chaos, that's right."
Justin shrugged, grinning. "Hey, you're not far off. I've definitely had my fair share of awkward moments, but I'm getting the hang of it."
Austin nodded, eyes twinkling. "Remember when you used to hide behind me in high school? Now, you're out here being the guy everyone talks about. I heard you've got a whole group hanging on your every word."
Justin chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, after that party few month back, things changed. People started seeing me differently. I mean, I still get shy sometimes, but I'm learning to own it."
Austin smirked. "Owning it, huh? So, no more Mr. Quiet Kid?"
"Not exactly," Justin said. "I mean, I still get nervous around big groups, but I'm trying. Like last week, I actually stood up for this fresher who was getting bullied."
John raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, since when did you become a hero?"
Justin laughed. "Don't make it sound like I'm some superhero. I just said 'leave him alone' and surprisingly, people listened."
Austin chuckled. "See? That's what I'm talking about. Campus is all about playing your cards right. You can't just be book-smart; you've gotta be street-smart too."
John nodded. "That's true. You gotta know who's who and how to handle the drama."
Austin leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Speaking of drama, did I tell you about the time I accidentally crashed a professor's party?"
Justin's eyes widened. "No way! What happened?"
Austin grinned. "So, I thought it was a student party, right? Turns out, it was some high-level faculty gathering. I didn't know anyone, but I just pretended like I belonged there. I even ended up chatting with the dean for like twenty minutes!"
John laughed hard. "You, pretending to be a professor?"
Austin shrugged, mock proud. "Hey, I survived. That's campus life for you , always one wild story away from being legendary."
Justin smiled, feeling lighter. "I guess I have some stories to catch up on."
Austin clapped him on the shoulder. "You're doing fine, little bro. Just keep being yourself, and don't let anyone dull your shine."
John grinned. "And if anyone messes with you, you just call us. We'll handle it."
Justin laughed, feeling the warmth of family surround him. "Thanks, guys. Seriously."
Austin winked. "Now, let's make sure you both are ready for that matriculation. No more shy guy, okay?"
Justin nodded, a spark of determination in his eyes. "No more shy guy."
Justin settled deeper into the couch, glancing over at John. " do you know if anyone's coming for his matriculation? Like family or anything?"
John nodded, scrolling on his phone. "Yeah, my mom said she's definitely coming. She's been asking about the date and all that."
Justin smiled a little. "That's cool. It's nice having someone there, you know?"
Austin chimed in, "Family support makes a huge difference. I wish i could make it too, but work might get in the way."
John looked up with a grin. "We're proud of you, man."
Justin just shrugged. "We manage."
Austin gave him a knowing look. "Good enough, bro. That's what counts."
Austin spent the afternoon with Justin and John, their laughter and stories filling the apartment. They gisted about school, teased each other, and shared funny moments from campus life. Grateful for the groceries and supplies Austin had brought, they thanked him warmly. As the evening drew near, Austin said his goodbyes, promising to visit again soon, and left for his nearby apartment, leaving the brothers feeling closer than ever.