Guna couldn't take his eyes off the tie as he marveled at the thoughtful gesture. She asked, "Do you like it?" to which he responded by pulling her into a tight hug and whispering, "I love it, Tara."
The emotions in the room were palpable, and even their parents couldn't hide the mistiness in their eyes as they observed the strong bond between their two children. Kamala was quick to capture a picture of Tara and Guna holding each other closely, a moment that spoke of their sibling love. Later, the family posed for a memorable photograph together, the significance of the occasion etched into the smiles on their faces. 
Then, they all piled into Guna's car and began the journey to his campus, where the graduation ceremony would take place. Tara's heart raced with anticipation at the thought of reuniting with Alex. As they neared the campus, she clutched the gift bag she had brought with her. Nobody questioned the contents of the bag; they all knew who the lucky recipient was.
Arriving at the campus, she joined the procession towards the grand hall where the graduation was set to happen. As she got closer, the sound of familiar voices reached her ears, warming her heart. She heard his voice, which she could recognize anywhere, even before she saw a glimpse of his beautiful face. A group of friends, including Josh, Beck, Nick, and others, had formed a circle, and were engaged in lively conversation.
"Hey, boys!" Guna called out, drawing the attention of their little gathering. Tara's parents followed him to the group of friends, but she held back, a mix of excitement and nervousness washing over her.
Her mother and father approached Alex first. Her father, beaming with pride, patted Alex's shoulder in a fatherly manner, while her mother, with a warm, motherly hug, conveyed her deep affection for him. Alex raised his head from her mother's embrace, his gaze locking onto Tara's. 
There was a silent exchange between them, a conversation that needed no words. Tara offered him a small, nervous smile. Her parents began to extend their congratulations to the other guys when Alex slowly made his way over to her. With each step he took, her hand grew clammy, and her heart raced in her chest.
Alex looked incredibly dashing in his black suit, exuding a timeless charm that could captivate any woman. He was a dream come true for many, but right now, he only had eyes for Tara. His warm gaze made her nervousness melt away, and when he reached her, his smile radiated warmth.
"You're a sight to behold, little muffin," he told her with that heart-melting smile of his.
"You're rocking your suit too," she replied, both of them locked in a gaze that felt like they were peering into each other's souls.
"I'm sorry for bailing on you that day," he said with sincerity, his eyes never leaving hers.
"No, no, I'm the one who should be sorry for ignoring you. I am really sorry for my childish behavior. I only found out about your dad yesterday. Is he okay now?" Tara asked, her concern evident.
"It's okay. He is doing better now," he assured her, and they fell into a comfortable silence, savoring this long-awaited reunion.
Tara broke the silence, saying, "I have something for you," as she handed him the gift bag."I thought it was for Guna?" Alex asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
"Nah, he already has one," she replied with a smile, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Before opening the gift bag, Tara decided to add a personal touch to the moment. She took the bag into her hands and carefully removed a small box from inside. She handed it to Alex with a hint of excitement dancing in her eyes.
As he opened the box, a customized pen with his name engraved in the middle glistened under the sunlight. For a moment, Alex was left speechless, and he gazed at the pen with a mix of astonishment and gratitude. Then, he looked up at Tara and whispered, "Thank you," his voice quivering slightly.
A beam of hope lit up her eyes as she asked, "Do you like it?"
"I love it, little muffin," he replied sincerely, his smile growing more stable. Tara couldn't contain her joy.
Opening the bag once more, she retrieved the handmade bouquet she'd so lovingly crafted. Excitement bubbled within her as she shared, "I made these by myself," before handing the bouquet to Alex. He accepted it with a sense of awe and studied the delicate, handcrafted flowers closely.
Tara couldn't help but grow impatient and teasingly asked, "Wellllll?" She didn't realized that she was holding her breath while waiting for his answer. She looked at him expectantly.