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The scorching June sun filtered through the leaves of the century-old plane tree in the schoolyard, casting bright patches on the concrete ground. There were only a few days left until the graduation ceremony. From every corner of the yard, laughter and the excited voices of students rehearsing in their caps and gowns filled the air. Rotation, however, was leaning his back against the tree trunk, playing with an empty water bottle while listening to his friends' graduation party plans. But his mind was somewhere else entirely.
"Hey, Rotation? Which side are your folks going to sit on during the ceremony?" his friend asked, waving the invitations. "The front rows are being snatched up fast, they should reserve their spots now." Rotation shook his head with a bitter smile. "I don't know," he said, his voice dropping in resignation. "They probably won't be able to sit next to each other anyway. My dads... are coming together." His friends knew more or less about his family situation. The "separated dads" dynamic was something no one at school quite knew how to approach, and for Rotation, it was life's most complicated equation.
Realizing the sensitivity of the situation, his friend quickly tried to change the subject: "Well, at least Uncle Thomas is coming, right? If he's there, the tension will somehow be defused." "Yeah," Rotation said with a sense of genuine relief. "Thomas will definitely be there." His relationship with Thomas had always been wonderful. Rotation had spent a major part of his life by his side, in his quiet and peaceful home. Thomas was a safe haven he could take refuge in whenever he was upset, a figure who listened to every problem calmly and offered logical solutions. When he was with him, Rotation felt the weight on his shoulders lift. But there was also the other side of the coin:
Micro.
Rotation had never been able to fully figure out his relationship with Micro. In fact, Micro had never treated him badly directly; on the contrary, whenever they got together, Micro was always surprisingly close, attentive, and warm toward him.
Whatever Rotation needed, he would notice instantly and quietly take care of it. Yet, Micro was as if he wore an armor of thorns toward the outside world. He had a highly aggressive, impulsive nature that kept everyone at a distance. The moment he stepped into that house, Rotation could feel that invisible tension in the air. Even beneath Micro's warm demeanor, it felt as though a powder keg ready to explode at any moment was hidden. He didn't know the reason why, but whenever he stayed at Micro's house, he was always on edge, feeling as if a single wrong word would turn everything upside down.
"Hey, Rotation! Earth to Rotation!" Startled by his friend's voice, he snapped out of his thoughts. They had begun walking toward the classroom. The hallways were decorated with graduation boards. "You drifted off again," his friend said, linking arms with him. "Just don't fall asleep during the principal's speech at the ceremony. By the way, are your dads staying for the celebratory dinner after the ceremony?" Rotation took a deep breath. He wished everything could just be normal for a single evening. "I don't think so," he muttered. "Because whenever the two of them get together in the same room, at the same table... everything gets so much worse." This was no exaggeration; it was a bitter reality. Whenever Thomas and Micro came face-to-face, it felt as though the oxygen in the air suddenly vanished.
A simple conversation that started out about the old days or Rotation's future would turn into a toxic tone within seconds. Past reckonings, unspoken words, and Micro's unsuppressible, aggressive nature would kick in. It would either result in a silent, ice-cold argument, or a massive, word-slinging fight would break out, ruining everyone's mood. "I just want to get this diploma and get out without any trouble," Rotation said as he walked through the classroom door. "Can't they just spend a few hours without fighting and just think about my graduation? I really don't know." The walk back home after school felt longer than usual. When Rotation unlocked the door to Thomas’s house and stepped inside, the familiar scent of coffee greeted his nose.
The house was peaceful and quiet, just like always. He dropped his bag onto the living room couch and headed toward the kitchen. Thomas was sitting at the table, reading his newspaper. When he saw Rotation, his usual warm, calm smile appeared on his face. "Welcome home. How was school? How did the graduation rehearsal go?" "Tiring," Rotation said, pulling out one of the chairs and sitting down. He stayed quiet for a moment, playing with the invitation in his hand. Then, knowing he had to bring it up, he swallowed hard. "Um... the principal mentioned it today. Parental attendance is mandatory on the day of the ceremony. So... both of you need to be there." The smile on Thomas’s face froze for an instant, and Rotation immediately noticed the familiar shadow that appeared in his eyes. Thomas slowly laid the newspaper down on the table, took a deep breath, and leaned back.
"I see," Thomas said, trying to maintain the calmness in his voice but unable to fully hide the tension within. "Have you talked to Micro yet? Does he know?" "I haven't talked to him yet," Rotation said, fixing his eyes on the patterns of the table. "You know... when I'm at his house, things are already a bit..." He couldn't finish the sentence, but Thomas understood exactly what he meant. Thomas reached out and gently squeezed Rotation’s shoulder.
"Don't you worry at all, okay? This is your day. No matter what, we will be there for you. I'll talk to Micro if necessary. That day, only your success will be talked about." Even though Thomas’s words eased Rotation's mind a little, that small voice inside him kept whispering:
Micro and Thomas, in the same hall, side by side.
Just the thought of it felt like a preview of how difficult the ceremony day was going to be. Thomas took a deep breath and picked up his phone. He found Micro's number in his contacts and pressed the call button. After a few rings, that usual harsh and distant tone of voice was heard from the other end.
"What is it, Thomas?"
Trying to ignore the defensive ring in Micro's voice, Thomas kept his own voice as soft and controlled as possible. "Hi Micro. How are you?"
"Make it short. Why did you call?" Micro snapped, expecting him to get straight to the point.
Thomas smiled faintly; this was a reaction he was used to. "I called about Rotation's graduation. The school has made parental attendance mandatory. Both of us need to be there."
There was a brief silence on the phone. Thomas knew very well how much Micro hated these kinds of crowded and formal settings. "Nonsense," Micro said, his voice sounding even more tense now. "Why do both of us have to come? Isn't it enough if just one of us goes?"
"They want both of us to be there, Micro. This is Rotation’s special day. What matters to him is seeing both sides there to support him," Thomas said, without a trace of reproach in his voice. "I'm not calling to argue. I just wanted to make sure you would be there too."
He could hear Micro taking a deep breath. "I'll be there," Micro said reluctantly, then added, "But you know this, right? I'm only coming because Rotation wants me to."
Thomas couldn't quite tell if this was a threat or an acceptance, but at least he had gotten a 'yes.' "Thank you, Micro. You know how much this means to Rotation. That day... just for his sake, you know we need to stay calm, right?"
Micro went quiet for a moment. "I'll try to stay calm," he simply said, and then hung up without waiting.
Thomas lowered the phone and stared blankly at the screen for a moment. Even this brief conversation felt like a sign of how immense the tension at school would be that day. But for Rotation's sake, he was determined to take that risk.
When Thomas put the phone down on the table, he saw Rotation standing at the kitchen entrance, tugging at the hem of his T-shirt. The boy was looking at Thomas with anxious eyes, as if he had just pulled the pin on a ticking bomb.
"Did he agree?" Rotation asked, his voice cracking slightly.
Thomas tried to put on his most reassuring smile. "Of course he agreed," he said, standing up and walking over to Rotation. "He said he'd come. He... grumbled a bit like usual, you know him. But he made it clear that he'll absolutely be there. Rest assured."
Rotation let out a deep breath, but that imaginary weight on his shoulders didn't seem to lighten much. "I just hope you two won't snap at each other until the ceremony is over. Just a few hours, Thomas. I'm really begging you, just act like a normal family for a few hours."
"I promise I will do my absolute best on my part," Thomas said honestly. "Come on now, don't ruin the taste of that beautiful day by thinking about these things. Go get your clothes ready; if there's anything that needs ironing, bring it to me."
When graduation morning arrived, there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. The school's front yard was bursting with dads in suits, moms in elegant dresses, and relatives walking around with flowers in their hands. Rotation, dressed in his gown with his cap in hand, was waiting near the main entrance gate. The excitement inside him had completely given way to a sickening stress.
Thomas arrived first. He was wearing a sharp, crisply ironed gray suit. His hair was combed, looking polite and gentlemanly as always. The moment he saw Rotation, he came over and hugged him. "It suits you very well," he said proudly. "Congratulations in advance."
"Thanks. Micro isn't here yet," Rotation said, scanning the crowd with his eyes.
"He'll be here, don't rush," Thomas said, and though he tried to keep his voice calm, his eyes involuntarily drifted toward the parking lot.
Before long, that familiar, harsh silhouette appeared through the crowd. Micro had thrown on a casual shirt; he wasn't wearing a tie, and his hair was a bit messy as usual. He was walking, pushing through people with that grumpy, oblivious-to-everyone expression on his face. The people around him were unconsciously making way for him, likely due to that strange, aggressive energy he radiated.
However, the moment he saw Rotation, Micro's ice-cold countenance suddenly softened. A faint, almost imperceptible smile formed at the corners of his lips. He walked over with quick steps, stopped in front of Rotation, and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Am I late?" he said, his voice surprisingly soft and warm. "Traffic was terrible. But I'm here. You look great, kiddo."
"You made it on time, thanks," Rotation said, relaxing slightly in the face of Micro's sudden warmth. But this relaxation lasted only a few seconds. Because Micro took his eyes off Rotation and turned them toward Thomas, who was standing right behind him.
It felt as though all the oxygen in the air was sucked out in an instant.
"Thomas," Micro said, with no trace left of his previous warm voice; his tone had slipped back into that familiar mechanical, distant cadence. He nodded slightly in greeting.
"Micro," Thomas said in the same manner, maintaining his politeness but keeping his distance. "I'm glad you made it."
"I'm here for Rotation, you know that," Micro said, narrowing his eyes. It was impossible to miss the hidden sting in his sentence: I'm here for him, not for you.
Thomas took a deep breath. Remembering the promise he had made to himself on the phone, he tried to play it down. "Of course. And that's what matters. Come on, let's head into the hall. Let's find seats before they fill up."
"I'll stand at the back of the crowd," Micro said grumpily. "I can't sit among those mushy parents for hours."
"Micro, there are spots in the front rows where we can see Rotation clearly when they call his name," Thomas said, trying to maintain the calmness in his voice, though his eyebrows furrowed slightly. "If you stand at the back, the kid won't be able to see you when he goes up on stage."
"I'll choose where he sees me, Thomas. You mind your own seat," Micro snapped, his tone of voice gradually rising. A few parents nearby turned to look at them.
Rotation felt forced to step in. His heart was hammering against his chest. "Please..." he said, his voice trembling. "Please don't start again. Everyone is looking at us..."
Both of them turned to Rotation at the same time. Seeing the tense, unhappy expression on the boy's face, Micro gritted his teeth and turned his head away. Thomas, on the other hand, bit his lower lip with a sense of guilt.
"You're right, I'm dangerous—I mean, I'm sorry.." Thomas said softly. "Come on, let's go inside."
As they walked toward the conference hall together, Rotation felt like he was between his two dads, yet miles away from them. Micro was on his left; even though he tried to make only Rotation feel his familiar warmth, the sparks of anger he radiated were poisoning the air. Thomas was on his right, trying to brave the tension like a shield. The ceremony hadn't even started yet, but Rotation already wanted to go home.
When they reached the door of the hall, the crowd of parents and students had become tightly packed. Thomas slowed his steps, then stopped. Taking a deep, determined breath, he turned around and looked straight into Micro’s eyes.
"Micro," Thomas said, completely casting aside his usual formality this time. "Even if it's just for a few hours... can we forget everything and look like a real family for Rotation? Please."
As Thomas asked this, he had inwardly braced himself for an argument, or at the very least, a sharp retort from Micro. Even Rotation had held his breath, waiting for Micro to blow up.
But it didn't go at all as they expected.
Micro looked at the genuine, pleading expression in Thomas’s eyes. His gaze softened for a moment, and that rigid, aggressive armor he wore seemed to melt away within seconds. Without a second thought, without even a moment's hesitation, he nodded.
"Alright," Micro said, his voice remarkably clear and calm. "Whatever you want."
Rotation froze at what he heard. Eyes wide, he looked from Micro to Thomas, unable to believe his ears. For the first time in his life, he was witnessing these two reach an agreement so easily, without argument or compromise. Micro’s sudden, unquestioning surrender had left Rotation in utter shock. His mouth hung slightly open in astonishment as he just stared at them.
"Hey, close your mouth, you'll catch flies."
Startled by the whisper from beside him, Rotation snapped back to reality. His best friend, Venus, was looking at him, giggling inside her robes. Venus had known all about Rotation's family anxiety and the stomach aches he had been suffering from for days. Now, seeing Rotation’s shocked expression—looking as if he had just seen an extraterrestrial being—she couldn't contain herself.
"What are you laughing at?" Rotation whispered, feeling his cheeks flush.
Keeping her hand over her mouth as she continued to laugh, Venus nudged Rotation with her elbow. "You should have seen the look on your face," she whispered cheerfully. "You looked as if your dads had just announced they were going to dance the halay at the graduation ceremony. See, it didn't turn out like you feared. They finally stopped bickering like children."
Thomas and Micro, meanwhile, were too focused on the quiet understanding between them to notice the boys' whispering. Micro began walking toward the direction Thomas indicated, even stepping up to match Thomas's shoulder line so they walked side by side. To anyone looking from the outside, they truly looked like two parents who were just excited for their child's happy day, supporting each other.
With Venus’s cheerful energy and his dads' unexpected move, Rotation felt the massive knot inside him slowly untie. As he took his first relaxed step toward the ceremony hall, Venus was still chuckling under her breath behind him.
"I'll have my eyes on you on stage, don't get nervous," Thomas said, waving his hand with a fatherly demeanor.
Micro, however, leaned forward slightly from his seat, his eyes shining. "When your turn comes, I'm going to shout your name the loudest, so make sure you walk straight, kiddo," he said, with a mischievous and warm smile reserved only for Rotation.
Rotation smiled and nodded, then headed toward the student seats at the front of the hall with Venus. As they sat side by side, Venus was still smirking under her breath.
"So, where is that Rotation who couldn't sleep last night because of stress?" Venus teased, nudging her friend with her elbow. "Look back there, your dads are literally sitting as if they've declared a truce. Uncle Thomas is examining the ceremony booklet, and Uncle Micro is explaining something to him. It's truly a shocking sight."
Rotation didn't dare to turn around and look, but it felt as though fireworks were going off inside him. "I still can't believe it," he whispered, leaning toward Venus. "When Thomas said 'let's be like a family,' I thought Micro would definitely say something snappy, turn around, and leave. He said 'alright' without thinking for even a second. I really can't believe it."
"Because they both love you so much, dummy," Venus said, casting aside her teasing tone and squeezing Rotation's hand sincerely. "No matter how aggressive Micro gets, or how much he and Thomas don't get along... today is your day. And they are ready to throw their egos in the trash just for you to be happy. Enjoy it."
Just then, the lights in the hall dimmed slightly, and the graduation march began playing from the large speakers on the stage. As the school principal walked toward the podium, the humming in the hall cut off like a knife.
Rotation took a deep breath. That heavy, constricted feeling that had been in his chest for days was completely gone. He held his head high and adjusted the collar of his gown. Focusing on the stage, he did so knowing that in the seats behind him, the two most complicated yet most cherished people in his life were sitting side by side and in peace, just for him. He was truly ready to graduate now.
By the time the principal's final speech ended, the countdown in the hall had already begun. With the shout of "Three... Two... One!", hundreds of caps were thrown into the air at the same time. Among the black caps soaring in the air, Rotation threw his own cap upward with all his might, and he and Venus were hugging each other and screaming. It felt as though all that high school stress on his shoulders had flown away into the sky along with the caps.
When they stepped off the stage and out into the yard, the crowd had turned into absolute chaos. Everyone was trying to find their family and take photos. As Rotation scanned the area with his eyes through the crowd, it didn't take long for him to spot those two familiar silhouettes side by side.
Just then, the lights in the hall dimmed slightly, and the graduation march began playing from the large speakers on the stage. As the school principal walked toward the podium, the humming in the hall cut off like a knife.
When they stepped off the stage and out into the yard, the crowd had turned into absolute chaos. Everyone was trying to find their family and take photos. As Rotation scanned the area with his eyes through the crowd, it didn't take long for him to spot those two familiar silhouettes side by side.
Thomas was smiling proudly, holding a large celebratory bouquet in his hand. Micro, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed over his chest, casting one of his usual grumpy glances at the surrounding crowd; however, the moment his eyes found Rotation, that harsh expression instantly dissolved.
When they stepped off the stage and out into the yard, the crowd had turned into absolute chaos. Everyone was trying to find their family and take photos. As Rotation scanned the area with his eyes through the crowd, it didn't take long for him to spot those two familiar silhouettes side by side.
"There's our graduate!" Thomas said, stepping forward joyfully and wrapping Rotation in a hug. "Congratulations, my dear, I am so proud of you."
"Thanks, dad,.." Rotation said, his eyes drifting toward Micro as he took the flowers.
Micro stepped a few paces closer and buried his hand in Rotation’s hair, messing it up slightly as he always did. "Good job, kiddo," he said, his voice incredibly husky yet warm. "It's finally over. I thought you were going to faint from nervousness when you went up to the podium, but you handled it well."
Just then, Venus's cheerful voice echoed from behind them. "Rotation! Camera over here, smile!"
Venus had already taken her position, phone in hand. Thomas smoothly and politely moved to Rotation’s right side, placing his hand on his shoulder. Micro hesitated for a moment, looking as if he were debating whether to step into the photo or not. However, when Thomas slid over slightly and whispered, "Come on, Micro, we said it's a family photo," Micro’s eyebrows shot up. Without a word, he stepped over to Rotation’s left side and gripped his shoulder firmly.
Venus giggled from behind the camera. "Awesome! Three, two, one... Got it!"
After the photo, that silent, defused atmosphere between them remained. As Rotation realized that his two dads truly hadn't argued a single word or snapped at each other throughout the entire ceremony just as they had promised, the peace inside him multiplied.
Thomas checked his watch and turned to Micro. "Actually," he said, pausing, "I was planning on having a nice dinner after the ceremony. In honor of Rotation. Micro... if you don't have any other plans, would you like to join us?"
Rotation held his breath yet again at Thomas’s offer. Usually, invitations like this would be harshly rejected by Micro, followed by a fight starting with something like, "I'm not going to those fancy places of yours."
Micro looked at Thomas. A flash of hesitation appeared in his eyes, and then he turned to Rotation, who was standing right next to him, looking into his eyes with hope. When Micro saw the boy's anxious anticipation, he took a deep breath and dropped his shoulders.
"I'm not getting involved in choosing where we go, just so you know," Micro said in a grumpy tone, but there was no aggression in his voice. "But I'll come. I can tolerate a place of your choosing just for today, Thomas."
Trying to hide his surprise, Thomas smiled faintly. "It's a deal then. Let's leave the cars in the parking lot and take mine; it'll be hard to find a spot there."
Half an hour later, they were sitting in the garden of a quiet, greenery-filled restaurant in the city. Food had been ordered for the table, and ice-cold drinks had been poured.
....
Although a slight silence and a sense of not knowing what to say dominated the table at first, the conversation Thomas opened up about school memories and Rotation’s future plans softened the atmosphere. It was as if Micro had completely left that aggressive demeanor, which normally kept everyone at a distance, back at home. Even when disagreeing with something Thomas said, he didn't raise his voice; he simply stated his own opinion. At one point, when Thomas reached toward Micro’s plate and offered him some food, saying, "The sauce on this is good, you should try it," Micro rolled his eyes but ate it anyway.
As Rotation set his glass down on the table, he looked at the two men sitting across from him.
One was Thomas, with whom he had spent most of his life and who gave him peace. The other was Micro, who, despite making him feel on edge whenever he stayed at his house, had always shown him the purest, most protective warmth. Having these two sit at the same table, without fighting, smiling just for him, had become the greatest graduation gift in the world for Rotation.
"So, Rotation," Micro said, raising his glass into the air. His eyes were shining with affection. "To your new life. I hope everything turns out exactly the way your heart desires."
Thomas lightly clinked his glass against Micro’s. "To new beginnings."
For the first time in his life, Rotation felt that being a "separated family" wasn't such a terrible thing after all, and that in both homes, he had two dads who loved him more than life itself and who were willing to silence the world just for him. As he clinked his glass against theirs, the smile on his face was truer and happier than it had ever been.
The meals had been eaten, and the plates on the table were slowly starting to clear away, when the calm, civilized atmosphere of the restaurant suddenly shifted into a completely different dimension.
Thomas set his glass down on the table. His gaze suddenly deepened, and that usual distant, polite expression on his face gave way to an incredibly intense and warm emotion. Leaning slightly forward in his chair, he looked directly into Micro’s eyes.
"Micro," Thomas said, his voice so soft and velvety that it made even the restaurant's background music feel as if it had stopped for a moment. "Honestly... your coming here today wasn't just important for Rotation, it meant the world to me too. I’ve missed your unique, unyielding stance so much—that fierce yet utterly heart-melting nature of yours..."
At those words, Micro dropped his fork against the edge of the plate. His eyes widened in shock, and a sudden flush of red spread across his cheeks. For the first time in his life, he was left completely at a loss for words.
But Thomas had no intention of stopping. He reached his hand across the table and gently grasped Micro’s hand, which was frozen solid from shock. "I know you keep everyone at a distance. You put on that tough armor against the world, but I know the incredibly warm, magnificent heart underneath that armor so well, Micro. You can't even imagine how special and valuable you are to me. If only we could give us, give ourselves, another chance..."
Time had practically stopped at the table.
Meanwhile, Rotation had frozen with his straw halfway to his mouth, his eyes wide enough to pop out of his head as he looked back and forth between Thomas and Micro. He had forgotten to breathe from sheer astonishment. His brain was completely failing to process this sudden influx of information, these incredible declarations of love, and Thomas’s sudden, extreme display of affection toward Micro.
*‘What is going on here?!’* his inner voice screamed. Seeing two people who had spent years wanting to tear each other apart, who couldn't even stand being in the same room together, holding hands and confessing their love right after graduation created a shockwave far greater than receiving a high school diploma.
Micro tried to pull his hand out of Thomas’s grip, but Thomas held on a little tighter, continuing to look at him with a captivating smile. Stripped entirely of his usual aggressive, harsh persona, Micro began to stammer, his face as red as a tomato: "Thomas... what are you doing... the kid... the kid is right here..."
"Let's not deceive each other any longer in front of our kid, Micro," Thomas said, with a sweet insistence in his voice. "I love you just the way you are."
As Rotation slowly slid back in his chair, he still couldn't take his eyes off those joined hands on the table. He knew graduation day would be extraordinary, but this was definitely beyond the limits of even his imagination.
Rotation took his phone and began typing rapidly. His fingers danced excitedly across the screen:
rotation: venus, you won't believe this.
It’s like a joke.
They’re sitting at the table making love confessions wtf
Thomas is telling Micro 'I love you' and holding his hand.
I am officially in shock right now, I think I’m going to die, is this for real?!??
He paused just before hitting send, imagining Venus’s usual sarcastic tone. His phone vibrated; the reply from Venus didn’t take long:
Venus: get out of here..????
Are you serious??? LMAFO
Did your dads prepare a 'soap opera-style drama' as a graduation gift for you??
I think when Uncle Thomas said 'let's be like a family,' he actually meant a wedding rehearsal and you just didn't catch on! :D
Rotation rolled his eyes and typed back:
Rotation: very funny venus.
But really, if you could see that 'shy teenager' expression on Micro's face...
this is definitely the weirdest graduation day of my life bro.
Venus replied immediately:
venus: think you should get out of there, tell them 'I'm going to the restroom"
and leave them alone.
It’s clear that the graduation party isn't yours anymore, it's theirs that has started.
Who knows, maybe when you get home, your dads will come to you and say, 'hey, we made up!' :D
Rotation chuckled quietly while reading the message. The fact that his dads had put aside that seriousness, that history filled with tension, and reached this point... Maybe Venus was right; perhaps this graduation was not just a new beginning for Rotation, but for his dads as well.
When Rotation hid his phone under the table and looked up, he almost swallowed his tongue at the sight before him. The smile on his face from Venus’s messages instantly froze.
Micro... The guy who snapped at everyone, who looked around as if he were eating raw meat, the most aggressive, most troublesome man in the neighborhood, was gone. In his place sat someone who had turned completely like a tomato. His face was beet red all the way behind his ears. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the silverware on the table, and he had no idea where to put the hand that Thomas had been holding just moments ago.
At one point, he tugged at the collar of his jacket, then reached for his glass, but withdrew his hand because it was trembling. For the first time in his life, he looked so helpless, so embarrassed, and so vulnerable.
Thomas, on the other hand, was enjoying the situation immensely. He leaned back, crossed his arms over his chest, and watched Micro with that playful, triumphant smirk on his face. The polite, gentlemanly man was gone, replaced by a cat who took absolute pleasure in teasing the man he loved.
"What's wrong, Micro?" Thomas whispered, not even bothering to hide the amused tone in his voice. "Where did that man who storms through the schoolyard go? If I knew you'd blush this much over a few honest words, I would have said them much sooner."
"Thomas... shut up, for God's sake, shut up," Micro muttered, his voice muffled by pure embarrassment. He tried to lift his head and glare at Rotation, but he was so red that there was nothing threatening left about him. "In front of the kid... how can you talk like that?"
"The kid has graduated now, Micro, he's a grown man," Thomas said, turning to Rotation with a wink. "Right, Rotation? I think your dad's shy side is adorable, what do you think?"
Rotation, gripping his iced glass tightly, stared at the two men with wide eyes, completely at a loss for words. On one hand, seeing Micro so "soft" and vulnerable for the first time in his life; on the other hand, Thomas's overly confident, smirking demeanor...
"I... I don't think anything," Rotation said, his voice coming out an octave higher than usual. "I'm just... eating my food. Leave me out of this."
Unable to stand Thomas’s smirking face any longer, Micro lightly kicked his foot under the table. "Don't smile like that, you're getting on my nerves," he said through his teeth, still completely flushed.
"Alright, alright, I'll shut up," Thomas said, but that mischievous grin was permanently fixed on his face. He placed his hand back on the table, sliding it closer to Micro. "But I stand by what I said."
At that moment, Rotation realized he was eating the strangest, most shocking, yet strangely most peaceful dinner of his life. While he had been terrified that they were going to fight, the flirtatious and shy atmosphere now drifting over the table was turning his high school graduation into a memory he would never forget.
Micro desperately looked around to escape Thomas’s teasing smirk, which was boring holes right into his eyes, and the intense, flirtatious tension lingering over the table. His heart rate still hadn't returned to normal, and there was only one way to put out the fire burning in his cheeks: change the subject immediately and divert the target.
He quickly turned to Rotation, who was quietly chewing on a french fry right next to him. A man who normally kept his distance from school matters suddenly turned into the world’s most curious guidance counselor.
"So... Rotation!" Micro said, artificially deepening his voice with fake seriousness. "Tell me... How did those long high school years go? How were the teachers? Which classes did you struggle with, for instance? How was math, huh? Math?"
Rotation froze mid-chew. It was the first time in his life he had ever heard Micro ask him about math. As he stared blankly, Thomas leaned back, continuing to chuckle under his breath.
"Micro, the kid already graduated, you do realize that, right?" Thomas said, not even bothering to hide the mocking undertone in his voice. "High school is over. Report cards have been handed out. It feels like you're a bit late preparing these questions."
"I didn't ask you, Thomas!" Micro snapped, his face still flushed a light pink but trying to take refuge in his usual grumpy persona. He then quickly turned back to Rotation, acting as if Thomas weren't even at the table. "Don't mind him, kiddo. Tell me, what's the deal with your university plans? Which department do you want? Which campus is your target? Investing in the future is very important, you know."
Rotation swallowed hard, trying to keep up with his dad's overly artificial "academic career" conversation. "Uh... actually, I want Fine Arts, focusing on character design and digital art..." he mumbled.
"Wonderful! Brilliant, a magnificent future!" Micro shouted, reacting so extravagantly it was as if Rotation had just announced he found the cure for cancer. "Art is very important. I am always behind you. Drawing and stuff... it's just great."
Thomas couldn't help himself; he lightly tapped the table and burst out laughing. "Micro, for God's sake, weren't you the one who stepped on the kid's drawing tablet cable and snapped it last month, saying, 'What's the point of these things, he should just go work at an auto repair shop'? Since when did you become an art historian?"
"Thomas, I will bury you under this table right now!" Micro hissed, narrowing his eyes. But he was so embarrassed that there was no trace left of his usual intimidating aura.
Thomas raised both hands in mock surrender, his teasing grin unwavering. "Alright, alright, I'm quiet. You were saying 'investing in the future'... Please continue, you look highly knowledgeable."
Looking at his two dads acting like this, Rotation couldn't hold it in any longer and started laughing. The more Micro tried to change the subject, the deeper he sank; Thomas, on the other hand, was getting pure joy out of watching him squirm in his shyness. The graduation dinner had suddenly turned into a 'corner-Micro' festival.
Rotation couldn't hold it in any longer looking at his two dads in this state, and he burst out laughing. The more Micro tried to change the subject, the deeper he sank; Thomas, on the other hand, was taking absolute pleasure in watching his shy struggles. The graduation dinner had suddenly turned into a festival of cornering Micro.
Micro felt like a cat thoroughly backed into a corner by Thomas's laughter. "I... I didn't mean it like that, okay?" he grumbled, playing with the water glass in front of him. "The cord was just out in the open. Besides... auto repair shops aren't a bad place either, he would have learned a trade and made a living, is that so bad? But since he wants to draw, let him draw the best stuff then!"
Thomas kept his hand resting on his chin, narrowing his eyes as he continued to watch Micro’s cute struggles. "Of course, of course, I'm sure that's how it is," he said, nodding his head with artificial admiration. "Look, Rotation, do you see how closely involved your dad is with your future? I've never seen him like this. I wonder if this sudden interest... could be to escape someone else at the table?"
"Thomas!" Micro warned through his teeth. This time, the wave of crimson on his face was traveling down toward his neck. "Don't drive me crazy in front of the kid."
Rotation, however, was now completely relaxed, putting his fork down and leaning back. This bickering between the two of them was so far removed from those old, oxygen-depleting arguments... It felt so funny to him that he was holding himself back from starting a live stream for Venus.
"I think," Rotation stepped in with a mischievous smile, "Micro is right. University is a big step. For example, I'm also researching opportunities abroad. I need to prepare my portfolio."
Micro jumped onto Rotation’s sentence instantly, as if he had found water in the desert. "Ha! Look, the kid says portfolio! You hear that, right, Thomas? A portfolio is very crucial. I... I'll support you on this matter, kiddo. If necessary, whatever those characters you draw have... whatever they need, I'll sponsor them. Do you need a new tablet? We'll get it!"
Thomas couldn't help but cover his face with his hand, his shoulders shaking with laughter. "Micro, are you sure you even know what digital art is? Sponsoring and all? The effort you just put into changing the subject will truly go down in high school history curricula."
Then, Thomas leaned forward across the table again, that playful smirk growing even wider on his face. "But you can't run from me. Explain the university exam system by heart all you want, you are still getting into that car with me when this dinner is over."
Micro swallowed hard, his eyes opening as wide as saucers. He seemed completely defeated by Thomas’s unstoppable, flirtatious, and teasing attitude. He shook his head helplessly from side to side and muttered, looking down at his empty plate: "There really is no escaping you..."
When the dinner finally came to an end and Thomas gently paid the bill (despite all of Micro’s grumbling and outbursts of "I'll pay"), they left the restaurant. As they walked toward the parking lot, the sweet coolness of the evening hit their faces. They headed toward Thomas’s car, but before Thomas could even reach for the keys, Micro reached out and snatched the keys right out of his palm.
"I'm driving," Micro said, trying to keep his voice tough. "I can't deal with your sluggish driving style right now."
Thomas didn't object at all. On the contrary, with that familiar, playful smile on his face, he put his hands in his pockets and moved toward the passenger seat. "Whatever you want, the wheel is yours," he murmured.
Rotation settled into the back seat. As the car started moving, he rested his head against the side window and began watching the streetlights and city lights rushing past outside. All the exhaustion, excitement, and shock of the day had settled over him. The immense tension inside him was gone for good, but the astonishment from those flirtatious moments at the table still hadn't completely worn off.
After watching the outside world for a while, his eyes involuntarily drifted to the rearview mirror.
With what he saw, Rotation completely stopped looking out the window and sat up straight in his seat. Micro’s hands, which were gripping the steering wheel tightly, were visibly trembling. Not just his hands—every time he reached out his hand to change gears, the tremor in his fingers was noticeable even from the back. On top of that, his cheeks and neck were even redder than they had been at the restaurant. The man was literally melting from embarrassment and excitement behind the wheel.
Rotation leaned forward anxiously. He was just about to open his mouth and ask, "Micro, are you okay? If you want, the car..." when his gaze shifted to Thomas this time.
Thomas... wasn't saying anything. He wasn't uttering a single word. He had simply turned his torso slightly to the left, toward Micro, and leaned back. With the most delightful, smug, and deeply-in-love smirk on his face, he was watching Micro’s crimson profile without blinking. Within the deep silence of the car, Thomas’s quiet yet intense gaze was probably far more challenging for Micro than waiting at a red light.
When Micro noticed Rotation looking at him from the mirror, he locked eyes with him through the rearview mirror. He pressed his lips together, looking as if to say, Don't ask me anything, or I will pull this car over right now and walk away.
Rotation slowly swallowed the question he wanted to ask and leaned his back against the seat again. That silent battle in the front row was the kind where words had ended but everything was understood perfectly clear. Thomas was managing to defeat Micro just by looking at him, and Micro's famous aggressive armor had completely crumbled into dust in the face of Thomas's single smirk. Rotation shook his head and smiled to himself; high school was over, but it seemed the real story at home was just beginning.
When the car finally arrived in front of Thomas’s quiet, greenery-filled house, it came to a stop before the garden gate. Instead of turning off the engine the moment the car stopped, Micro shifted into neutral and pulled the handbrake up sharply. It was as if he wanted to end those claustrophobic, embarrassment-filled seconds as quickly as possible.
"We're here," Micro said, his voice coming out an octave lower and huskier than usual. He still wouldn't take his eyes off the road. "Come on, get out. Kiddo, congratulations again. Go on and get some rest now."
Just as Rotation opened the door and was about to get out, Thomas didn't move from his spot at all. In fact, he hadn't even unbuckled his seatbelt. He turned toward Micro and placed his hand over Micro’s hand, which was resting on the gear shift and still trembling slightly. Reaching toward the ignition key, he turned the car completely off.
"Where do you think you're going?" Thomas asked, his tone of voice holding a sweet yet incredibly commanding weight that brooked no escape.
Startled, Micro tried to pull his hand away, but Thomas wouldn't let go. "I'm going to my house, Thomas, I have things to do," Micro grumbled, that wave of crimson flaring up on his cheeks all over again.
"Don't be ridiculous," Thomas said, completely wiping that smirking, playful expression from his face and replacing it with a deeply determined, authoritative demeanor. "I am not sending you anywhere at this hour, not with that exhaustion and those trembling hands. You are staying here with us tonight. I won't take no for an answer."
Micro’s eyes opened as wide as saucers. "What do you mean staying here? Thomas, don't be ridiculous, I have my own house—"
"Don't argue with me, Micro," Thomas cut him off, using that polite yet incredibly compelling authority in his voice. "You know I will drag you out of this car by force if I have to. There is no turning back. You are here tonight."
Sitting in the back seat, Rotation was literally losing his mind over this dialogue. He threw his hands through his hair, his eyes looking as if they were going to pop out of their sockets. What on earth is going on?! he wanted to scream. One of these two men—who for years couldn't stand being in the same room for two minutes and couldn't speak to each other without raising their voices—was literally forcing the other to sleep over at the house!
Silently reaching the brink of a nervous breakdown in the back, Rotation clung to the door handle, trying to become invisible.
Micro swallowed hard for a few seconds in the face of Thomas’s unyielding, unwavering stance as he stared straight into his eyes. He tried to resist, tried to shout "Nobody forces me to do anything!" with his old aggressive attitude, but when Thomas tightened his grip on his hand a little more, his entire guard dropped again. He dropped his head helplessly toward the steering wheel; that tough guy was gone, replaced once more by the man who didn't know what to do with himself out of sheer embarrassment.
"Fine... alright," Micro muttered, accepting defeat. "Just one night. But I'm leaving by dawn."
Enjoying the taste of his victory, Thomas put that immense, infuriating smirk right back on his face. "We'll worry about the morning when it gets here. Come on, let's get out."
As Rotation practically launched himself out of the car, he listened to Thomas’s cheerful whistling and watched Micro walking behind him, burying himself into his jacket out of embarrassment.
, , , , ,
Hours had passed, and the heavy, electric air inside the house had given way to the silence of the night. It was well past midnight. Rotation was sitting at his computer in his room, his headphones draped around his neck, excitedly playing a game. He had been trying to blow off the crazy shock of his graduation day by running digital characters around a virtual world.
While playing, a discount advertisement that suddenly popped up in the corner of his screen caught his attention. A game that had been on his wishlist for a long time had gone on a massive sale. It was late, but he couldn't sit still from the excitement. After reviewing the game for about half an hour, he decided to ask Thomas about the budget. After all, Thomas was always understanding about these kinds of things.
He turned off his bedroom light and stepped out into the hallway. The house was completely dark, save for a faint sliver of light leaking from under Thomas’s bedroom door. Thinking they were either sleepy or just talking, Rotation moved down the hallway with his usual casualness. Perhaps he had trusted the strange atmosphere of intimacy brought by the day a bit too much; without thinking twice, and without even feeling the need to knock, he pushed the handle down and stepped inside.
And in that exact second, he experienced the greatest regret of his life.
In the dim light of the room, Rotation’s brain practically short-circuited at the scene on the bed.
Micro was on top of Thomas. That aggressive man who kept everyone at a distance and hated even being touched was literally pinning Thomas down, kissing him with a fierce passion. Micro’s usually messy hair was now completely disheveled, completely wild. Thomas's state was even worse; his hair looked as if it had physically been through a war, tossed every which way, and his shirt collar was torn open. It was as if the duo had completely severed all ties with the outside world right there in the middle of the room.
With the sound of the door opening, time stopped for an instant.
In those few deadly split-seconds of silence, both of them turned their heads toward the door at the same time. The moment they saw Rotation, the passionate moment between them froze solid.
Within seconds, Micro launched himself backward off Thomas, nearly tumbling off the bed as he tried to regain his balance. His face was ten times redder than it had been at the restaurant that evening; his eyes were opened as wide as saucers in pure shock. As Thomas bolted upright into a sitting position on the bed, there was absolutely no trace left of his usual smug, smirking demeanor. His face, too, was flushed all the way to his ears, leaving him completely stunned. For the first time in his life, Rotation was seeing Thomas this caught off guard and tongue-tied.
Yet, the one experiencing the absolute greatest shock—or rather, horror-filled bewilderment—was definitively Rotation.
The phone in his hand almost slipped through his fingers and clattered to the floor. His eyes wide, his mouth hanging completely agape, he just stared at his two dads in the middle of the bed. The game and everything else had completely vanished from his mind. He was inwardly begging the universe, wishing he had knocked, wishing he had never looked at that game, wishing he hadn't even graduated today.
"I..." Rotation said, his voice coming out as nothing more than a whisper, his throat completely dry. "I just... game... discount... no, nothing...!"
He slammed his back against the bedroom door, staring at the ceiling in pitch-black darkness, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The image was practically burned onto the back of his eyelids. Micro—the neighborhood’s most hot-tempered, hands-off guy—and Thomas—the always composed, perfectly calculated gentleman—completely throwing their decades of bitter history out the window.
His phone buzzed intensely in his hand, snapping him out of his trance. It was Venus, undoubtedly waiting for an update on his "peaceful family dinner."
With shaking fingers, Rotation unlocked his screen and opened the chat, his brain still running on 1% processing power.
Rotation: VENUS.
I am going to throw myself into the nearest river.
I just walked into Thomas's room without knocking.
A typing bubble appeared instantly.
Venus: Oh my god?? Did they catch you? Did a fight break out?? Tell me Micro didn't throw a lamp at him..
Rotation: No Venus. You don't understand.
They weren't fighting.
Well, they were, but... with their mouths. On the bed. Micro was literally on top of him. Thomas's shirt was ripped open. I think I've crossed over into an alternate reality. Please send help.
The chat went completely silent for a solid thirty seconds. Rotation could practically hear the gears turning in her head across town. Then, a barrage of texts flew in.
Venus: NO WAY.
OH MY GOD ROTATION?!
The 'shy teenager' routine from dinner was a trap!!!
Wait, what did they do when they saw you?? Please tell me you didn't just stand there?!
Rotation: I mumbled something about a video game discount and bolted.
I locked my door. I can still hear the silence in the hallway.
I'm never leaving this room. I'm skipping university.
I'm going to live in the woods.
Venus: Look on the bright side... at least you don't have to worry about them ignoring each other at your next milestone LMAOO
But seriously, go to sleep!! Block it out! Tomorrow you can pretend you had a very vivid hallucination from graduation exhaustion.
Rotation dropped the phone onto his chest, letting out a long, exhausted groan. He turned his head toward the locked door, listening intently. The house was completely quiet now, but the lingering shock was enough to keep him awake for a week.
He had wanted a memorable graduation day, but the universe had taken that request a little too literally. One thing was for sure—life in this family was never, ever going to be the same again.