The matriculation ceremony had been a whirlwind of solemn oaths, inspiring speeches, and proud moments. The students had recited their pledges with conviction, and the vice-chancellor's words about perseverance and excellence still echoed in the grand hall. Hours slipped by as applause filled the room and the program neared its close.
Finally, it was time for the traditional after-ceremony red carpet and photo session, the highlight where students, faculty, and special guests mingled and captured memories under flashing cameras.
Mr. Stephen, flanked by his ever-watchful bodyguards, stood alongside Bella and Kathy as they exited the hall. The bright lights of the red carpet glimmered beneath their feet, while the buzz of the crowd swirled around them. Bella subtly gestured toward Justin and John, who were approaching from the side.
Justin and John navigated through the tightly packed guests, Bella smiled warmly as Justin and John arrived, feeling the weight of the day lift slightly.
Mr. Stephen exchanged a few quiet words with the press ,his voice calm, authoritative. The brief interaction was quickly shared across social media platforms, garnering thousands of likes and comments.
Bella posed proudly for pictures with her father, her elegance capturing the attention of photographers and onlookers alike. She was soon announced as one of the best-dressed students of the day, a title she shared with Justin, who looked sharp in his tailored suit.
Later, Bella introduced Justin to her father, her voice confident. "Dad, this is Justin, a good friend of mine."
Mr. Stephen extended a firm handshake. "Nice to meet you, Justin."
Justin returned the gesture with a smile. "It's an honor, sir."
Mr. Stephen nodded approvingly.
The moment was brief but genuine, a subtle acceptance from the influential man.
As they approached their cars, Bella gave Justin a subtle wave, signaling that she'd see him later. Justin nodded back, the kind of silent understanding they had built over time.
***
The convoy moved toward a reserved VIP lounge area designed specifically for elite guests attending the matriculation ceremony. It was a short drive but distanced enough from the main hall to offer exclusivity and privacy. Cameramen tried to follow but were restricted to certain zones.
The black convoy cars pulled in smoothly. Mr. Stephen's personal security did a quick sweep before opening the doors. He stepped out looking composed, his presence still commanding attention even away from the main crowd.
He turned to the girls as they exited the vehicle with him. "Do you both want to come in with me to the lounge or head back to the main hall?"
Bella looked at Kathy. They both knew the ceremony would still go on for a bit, and they wanted to be back around their peers.
"We'll go back to the hall, Dad," Bella said. "But…" she hesitated slightly, "we don't want to go with the guards."
Mr. Stephen raised a brow. "Are you sure?"
Kathy quickly added, "Yes, sir. It's just a short walk. And everyone has seen us now anyway, we'll be fine."
He paused for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Alright. I'll spare one of the cars."
He turned to one of his drivers. "Drive them back to the hall. No escort, no guards, but make sure they arrive safely."
"Yes sir," the driver replied respectfully.
Bella and Kathy both hugged Mr. Stephen again before getting into the reserved vehicle.
As the car pulled out, Bella looked through the tinted windows at her father's convoy disappearing behind them, while Kathy checked her phone. The pictures were everywhere. Their entrance had made headlines on campus blogs. Comments flooded in, posts were being reshared. The mystery of Bella's identity had finally been solved, and Lifetime College wouldn't stop talking about it any time soon.
"Can you believe this?" Kathy said, scrolling through the freshman group again. "We're literally trending."
Bella smiled softly. "Let them talk."
And with that, their car smoothly glided back toward the main hall, where the rest of their matriculation day still awaited. But this time, they weren't just students anymore, they were the girls who had shaken the whole campus in just one morning
After the red carpet photo session wound down, Bella, Kathy, Justin, and John leaned back in the shade of the hall's entrance. The cameras hadn't stopped blinking since their arrival; even after all the formalities, people were still snapping pics, posting, tagging. Justin leaned in to hug Bella briefly, then pulled back with a laugh. They nearly forgot the press, nearly forgot that every eye was still on them.
Another hour passed pleasantly. They found a quiet spot in the lounge, ordered light refreshments, fruit platters, sparkling juices, just enough to settle the butterflies in their stomachs. They chatted about the ceremony, how overwhelming and beautiful everything had turned out, how proud Bella's father looked, how Kathy's dress fit perfectly, how the makeup held all day.
Just as they were finishing up their light snacks and laughing over some hilarious freshman memes Kathy had found online, Bella's phone buzzed again. She reached for it casually, expecting another message from the freshmen's group chat, but paused when she saw the name on the screen: Dad
She opened it quickly and read it together with Kathy
"The meeting I'm in just ended. Some of the dignitaries here would like to meet you girls privately, just to say a few words and take photos. My driver will be there in 10 minutes to bring you back. Get ready."
Kathy's eyes lit up. "Aww that's really a honor."
Bella grinned, excitement building. "Is it."
Justin leaned forward. "What's happening?"
Bella turned her screen toward him and John. "Some of the big names here want to meet us. My dad is sending the driver back to get us."
John gave an impressed nod. "Wow. You two are stars now."
Kathy laughed. "Don't gas us up, please."
Justin smiled at Bella, a proud look in his eyes. "Well, you deserve it."
There was no tension or awkwardness, just shared pride. A moment of joy between them all.
Minutes later, the shiny black vehicle pulled up smoothly at the front of the event hall. One of Mr. Stephen's security detail stepped out and signaled them. The girls stood up, dusted off their dresses slightly, and hugged the boys.
"We'll see you guys later!" Bella said, adjusting her purse.
"Okay bella bye," Justin replied
With that, Bella and Kathy both waved, their heels clicking gracefully as they headed toward the car. The security man opened the door for them, and they slipped inside with practiced elegance.
From a distance, Justin and John watched as the car pulled away slowly.
"They didn't even seem nervous," John commented.
"Why would they be?" Justin said, smiling. "They were born for this."
Perfect! Here's a clean and detailed version of that continuation:
After Bella and Kathy left in the sleek black vehicle, Justin and John stood watching for a few seconds before returning to their seats. They'd barely sat down when Justin's phone vibrated in his pocket.
Austin
Justin opened the message:
"Bro I'm inside Lifetime now. Describe where you are."
A grin crept onto Justin's face. He quickly texted back:
"Red-carpeted hall straight down from the main parking lot. Turn right at the entrance banner, you'll hear the music. We're inside, third row left."
Just a few minutes later, Justin spotted a familiar figure approaching the hall's entrance. Austin had arrived.
Looking effortlessly sharp in a dark fitted native attire with polished shoes, gold-rimmed glasses, and that signature confident walk, Austin turned heads even before stepping in fully.
"Yo!" Justin stood up as Austin got close.
"Congratulations, man!" Austin said, pulling him into a big brotherly hug.
"Appreciate it," Justin replied, genuinely happy.
John stood and exchanged a handshake with Austin, who then pulled him into a quick hug too. "John! Always good to see you, bro."
"Likewise, man," John smiled.
The three of them posed for a few pictures. Justin and Austin standing side by side, then a group photo with John in the middle. Austin handed his phone to someone nearby and requested a few personal shots too, adjusting his sunglasses slightly as he struck a few confident poses. The man knew his angles.
Once they were done, they all returned to their seats, relaxing into the vibe of the still-lively event.
As they settled, Austin leaned back and glanced around with mild amusement. "Bro, you weren't kidding, this place is packed. I've seen more parents here than students," he said, chuckling.
Justin nodded. "Exactly! You'd think it was a graduation."
John added, "And some of the dresses today? Let's just say people came to show off."
They all laughed.
Austin smirked. "Some of these outfits look like they came straight from a wedding reception, not a matriculation."
Justin pointed subtly across the hall. "You see that woman over there in the beaded gown and head tie?"
Austin tilted his head to look. "Loud," he muttered. "Why? Why is she dressed like she's about to be given a chieftaincy title?"
John burst into laughter. "Not the chieftaincy!"
As the ceremony rolled on, the trio leaned into light gossip, fashion critiques, and playful banter about the matriculation scene. Despite the luxury and drama around them, this moment felt normal, familiar.