Chapter 5: Exposure

Just as the sun broke through the heavy clouds, Eliot left Jaxon's dorm. He had his head down and his hoodie up. The campus was damp and quiet, but the rain had stopped. He hurried, praying no one would notice.

A voice behind him yelled, "Wow." "It wasn't long before you recovered."

Eliot stopped. He turned around slowly.

Sasha stood there, arms crossed, dressed in her normal sharp perfection. She had perfect lipstick. However, her eyes were burning.

Startled, Eliot said, "Sasha." "What are you doing here, exactly?"

Cold and harsh, she chuckled. "That's what I should be asking you. Leaving Jaxon Reid's dorm in secret? Really?

Eliot remained silent.

She took a step forward. Is this the reason you have been ignoring me, then? Since you've developed feelings for him?

Eliot angrily said, "Don't pretend that you care." "Remember how you cheated on me?"

Sasha gave a slow, poisonous smile. "I don't want you to be happy with someone else just because I cheated on you."

Eliot said quietly, "You're unbelievable," as he attempted to leave.

However, she took hold of his arm.

"You believe that you are now heartbroken?" She said. "I'll show you actual suffering."

Eliot violently pulled his arm away. "Is that dangerous?"

Her mouth twisted. "No. It's a pledge.

Her heels clicked on the sidewalk as she left.

Eliot's heart pounded as he stood motionless. He was unsure about her meaning. It didn't sound good, though.

Taking out his phone, he considered alerting Jaxon. But then store it.

Jaxon most likely wouldn't give a damn.

Nevertheless, Eliot felt a twist in his stomach.

The mayhem struck later that afternoon.

When someone knocked into Eliot while he was strolling into the student café, his eyes widened.

The man said quietly, "Dude." "Verify your social media accounts."

Eliot scowled. "Why?"

However, someone else said, "Yo, is that you and Jaxon?" before the man could respond.

His stomach fell.

Eliot took his phone out. The number of notifications was exploding. Posts, tags, and messages.

He clicked on the first one, his fingers shaking.

It was an image. Clear enough, but blurry.

Jaxon and he. Without a shirt. In bed. I'm kissing.

The caption said:

Golden Boy on Campus swaps teams? 

Eliot nearly passed out on his knees. He felt his heart thumping like a drum. His hands grew icy.

The image was all over the place. Questions, insults, and even some laughter filled his inbox.

As he passed, everyone looked at him.

He was followed by whispers.

"He had an affair with Jaxon?"

"Has he not dated Sasha?"

"Gosh, I didn't anticipate that."

Gasping for air, Eliot walked outside and sat on a bench. Like it was making fun of him, his phone kept buzzing.

He dialled Jaxon.

No response.

He sent a text:

"What on earth did you do?"

Nothing has changed.

He then wrote:

"I had faith in you. You took advantage of me.

There is still no sound.

The rage came quickly.

Was Jaxon playing a game? Was it a perverse method of attracting attention? Flaunt yourself? Show something?

He balled his hands into fists. There was just one plausible source for the image.

Jaxon.

The only person with access was he.

Eliot got up and charged at the main structure. Now, he didn't care who was looking. He was looking for answers.

In class, he discovered Jaxon sitting peacefully and acting as though nothing had happened.

Eliot approached him directly and slapped his fist down on Jaxon's desk.

Did it make sense? He snarled.

Jaxon gently raised his head. "What are you discussing?"

"Don't act foolish!" Eliot yelled. "You gave away the picture!"

The room was filled with murmurs.

Jaxon straightened his face. "I didn't give anything away."

"Liar."

"I didn't," Jaxon repeated, his tone now more acerbic. "You believe I would harm myself in that way?"

Eliot laughed. "You'll stop at nothing to get attention."

Jaxon winced.

After that, he grabbed his stuff and left.

The room was quiet, but Eliot stood there with his chest heaving.

He surveyed the area.

Nobody stood up for him.

Nobody even appeared shocked.

His world was collapsing once more, and it felt worse this time.

On the steps outside the library, Eliot sat by himself. He looked at the screen of his phone, his hands shaking. Messages continued to pour in, some sarcastic, some inquisitive, some mocking.

Numbly, he scrolled through them.

He had had faith in Jaxon.

Let him in.

Let him in.

What was meant to be private was suddenly visible to the entire university.

Hovering over Jaxon's contact was Eliot's thumb.

This was not what he wanted to do. But he was dying of silence.

He began typing.

I had faith in you.

I was used by you.

He looked at it for a moment. Then press send.

The text became blue. Go ahead and read. But no response.

It hurt in Eliot's chest.

He said to himself, "Coward."

He secretly hoped Jaxon would protect himself. Speak up. Anything.

Still, nothing.

So Eliot acted carelessly.

He bided his time until the start of their class. He deliberately arrived late.

People turned. The picture has been viewed by all.

Jaxon was already seated. Be calm. Quiet.

Eliot made his way directly to the front of the space. He spoke to the professor, "I have something to say."

The instructor blinked. "This isn't the—" said Eliot.

Eliot interrupted, "I trusted someone." And I suppose that was my error. Because I was taken advantage of by that individual. Told me a lie. Made me think that, despite their want for attention, something genuine was taking place.

The room fell silent.

Eliot gave Jaxon his whole attention. He had keen eyes. Chilly.

Do you find it amusing? That you have your moment in the spotlight? Eliot inquired. "Well, congratulations. Now everyone has seen it.

Jaxon's mouth clenched. He got up slowly, picked up his notebook, and left the room silently.

Even though Eliot's heart was racing, he remained there.

He thought Jaxon would defend himself. Refuse to believe it. Protect himself.

However, he didn't.

He simply walked away.

This just increased Eliot's discomfort.

The numbers didn't add up.

Eliot sat on his bed later that night and looked up at the ceiling.

All day, he hadn't eaten. He ignored his phone, which buzzed every few seconds.

Until he was awakened by a notification.

A film.

Sasha posted.

"Truth Hurts" is the title. Keep watching to the very end.

He paused. Then pressed the play button.

Sasha came into view. She had a fake smile.

"Hi, everyone," she said. "So, I'm kind of proud of myself, and I know the campus is buzzing right now."

Confused, Eliot leaned in.

"I was wounded. And furious. Indeed, it's possible that I made a poor choice. But that photo of Jaxon and Eliot? The leak came from me. Not Jaxon.

Eliot's look expanded.

When Eliot left it at my house, I discovered it on his phone. And I reasoned that perhaps he ought to experience my emotions. Betrayed. Exposed. Heartbroken. It was petty, I know. However, I succeeded. Jaxon was not involved in it.

The video came to an end.

Eliot let his phone fall to the bed. He had trembling hands.

It was the wrong person he had blamed.

Harmed the incorrect individual.

He snatched up his hoodie without thinking and dashed into the darkness.

He was completely soaked as the rain continued to pour down.

He was indifferent.

His feet slapping the damp earth, he ran across the campus. Not only did the exercise cause his heart to race, but guilt also did.

Since he hadn't done anything wrong, Jaxon had kept quiet.

And those were Eliot's words that had broken him.

With his chest hammering, he pounded on the door of Jaxon's dorm.

No response.

"Jaxon!" he exclaimed. "Open the door! Please!

No response yet.

He turned the knob. It pivoted.

The door opened with a squeak.

Eliot entered cautiously.

The room was... deserted.

They stripped the bed. Drawers are open. The desk is clear.

Lost.

Everything.

Eliot's heart fell to the ground.

He moved forward a single unsteady stride. "No."

Jaxon had left.

Disappeared.

Not a word.

Not a trace.

Standing in the centre of the deserted room, trembling and soaked, Eliot said to no one:

"Please, return."

The door behind him clicked closed.

However, nobody was present.