Chapter 1: The Perfect Lie 

As Eliot and Sasha walked hand in hand across the courtyard, the sun warmed the campus pathways. She laughed softly and sweetly in the morning air as her long hair flowed behind her. Pupils turned to look at them with admiration rather than surprise.

Eliot smiled. He was accustomed to it.

Excellent grades? Verify.

Well-liked? Of course.

A gorgeous girlfriend? You wager.

Sasha inclined toward him. "Are you prepared for the economics test?"

"Born ready," Eliot declared with assurance. "But for good luck, I'll accept a kiss." 

She kissed him quickly on the lips and giggled. "You're a complete nerd."

"But you still love me."

"Do I?" Her eyes glittered as she teased. "Or are you merely an accessory of mine?"

Eliot chuckled. "I'm too attractive to be a piece of jewellery."

They laughed, flirted, and talked as they made their way to the lecture hall. Everything seemed ideal.

Until Eliot's pocket-held phone began to buzz.

Lazily, he took it out and looked at the screen. A single new text. Unknown figure.

"You are being cheated on by your girlfriend."

He frowned.

"What do you look for?" Playfully nudging him, Sasha inquired.

Eliot angled the screen in her direction. "Some random loser is attempting to trick me."

She rolled her eyes after reading the message. "People are so pitiful."

"All right?" Eliot dismissed it with another smirk. "A disease is jealousy."

However, the message stayed with him for some reason.

Eliot's phone buzzed once more that night when he was in his room, going over his economics notes.

The same figure.

"If you want proof, come to the football team's party tonight."

Eliot looked at the display. His heart began to beat a bit more quickly.

That was sent by whom? Is someone tampering with him? Or was there someone warning him?

He considered replying with a text. Then he had a change of heart.

Rather, he grabbed his keys and pulled on a hoodie.

He was attending the celebration.

The house of the football squad was illuminated like a concert. The walls echoed with loud music. Cups in hand, people poured out onto the lawn as the night air filled with laughter.

Eliot pushed his way through the crowd, looking at everyone.

"Sasha?" Although it wasn't her, he shouted out to a female who had the same hair.

Heart thumping, he continued to walk.

There were many people in the main room. Over the music, people shouted, danced, and drank. He was unable to concentrate. His look darted about, looking.

He looked in the kitchen and saw only empty red cups and a drunken freshman.

Two at a time, he ascended the stairs. It was quieter and darker in the hallway. However, the sound from below continued to reverberate.

There was one door ajar. He looked inside.

Two men are making out on the bed. Eliot mumbled, "Sorry," and slammed it.

A female and a guy in the corner next door are wearing half-off shirts. When Eliot opened the door, she let out a cry. “Dude?

He continued to move.

His neck was wet with sweat. His gut churned.

Was this what he was doing?

He arrived at the hallway's final door. It was shut down. Not a sound. He paused.

Then gave it a shove.

And stopped.

Sasha.

On the bed.

Crossing a person. Kissing him.

Eliot's throat constricted his voice. "Sasha?"

She drew back, gasping. She had smudged her lipstick. She unfastened her shirt.

The man underneath her sat up idly. Without a shirt. Muscular.

Reid, Jaxon.

Heaved in Eliot's breast. "What on earth is this?"

Sasha clambered from bed. "Eliot, hold on—"

He wasn't listening, though. He sprang forward, hauling Jaxon to his feet by grasping him by the collar.

"You son of a—"

Jaxon did not recoil. Without being arrogant or rude, he simply smiled while staring Eliot in the eyes. Simply be peaceful.

"Are you certain that your girlfriend ever loved you?" Jaxon asked gently.

Eliot's hands shook. He tightened his jaw. He desired to strike him. However, he stopped by something.

Perhaps it was the expression on Jaxon's face.

Perhaps it was the fact that Sasha didn't deny it.

Perhaps it was that something broke inside of him.

He took a step back.

His world, which had been flawless only hours before, was collapsing.

He gave Sasha a look. "Why?"

She didn't respond. She was unable to look him in the eye.

Eliot faced Jaxon once more. "You're repulsive."

Jaxon shrugged. "Perhaps. But at least I'm truthful.

Eliot balled his hand into a fist. His heart pounded. His head whirled.

It all felt wrong.

Then, without warning, his phone began to buzz.

His fingers were shaking as he drew it out.

"I informed you."

The same figure.

He turned to face Jaxon again.

Jaxon's eyebrow went up. "What? What's wrong?

Eliot had a raspy voice. "Have you sent this?"

No response. Jaxon's expression was the same. As if he knew that Eliot did not.

Eliot looked at him, devastated, angry, and then oddly captivated.

His entire world had just fallen apart.

However, something more profound was about to start.