The Real Me

Chapter 15. The Weight Of Secrets

Third-Person Pov

'Faithfulness isn't just about staying; it's about showing up, fully and honestly.'

Gilbert's eyes lingered on the message illuminating his phone, the words twisting in his mind like a riddle he couldn't solve.

He frowned, glancing at the unknown number, contemplating whether this was some kind of prank or if someone was trying to stir trouble.

With a sigh, he pressed the call button, but the line went straight to voicemail, leaving a knot of unease tightening in his stomach.

"Yo dude, what's up?"

Felix entered the dorm, flopping onto the edge of Gilbert's bed, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with Gilbert's brooding silence.

Gilbert handed his phone to Felix, his brows furrowing as he waited for a reaction.

Felix squinted at the screen, his expression unreadable.

"What's this?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Gilbert shrugged, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior.

"No idea. Someone just sent it to me."

Felix's eyes scanned the message again, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Faithfulness isn't just about staying; it's about showing up, fully and honestly," he read aloud, his tone measured.

"What do you think it means?"

Gilbert leaned back against the headboard, his eyes narrowing. "I don't know, but it's weird. Do you think it's a prank?"

Felix tossed the phone back onto Gilbert's lap, his movements relaxed.

"Probably. Just forget about it."

Gilbert's gaze lingered on the phone, his mind racing.

"Forget about it? You think it's that easy?" He looked up at Felix, his eyes searching for answers.

Felix leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well, do you understand the message? Because I sure don't."

Gilbert's jaw tightened.

"No, I don't. And that's what's bothering me."

The air between them grew thick with tension as Felix studied Gilbert's face.

"Do you know who sent it?" he asked, his voice low.

Gilbert shook his head, frustration simmering beneath the surface.

"No idea. That's what's really getting to me."

Felix's gaze lingered on Gilbert's face before he looked away, his expression neutral.

"Maybe it's just some random person trying to stir up trouble," he said, his tone casual.

Gilbert's eyes narrowed. "Or maybe it's someone who knows something."

Felix's expression turned serious, and he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "What do you mean?"

Then.

His eyes widened slightly, as he lowered his voice.

"Are you being unfaithful in your relationship?"

"Really man? Off course not." Gilbert said, his gaze holding a hint of defensiveness.

The silence between them stretched out, heavy with unspoken questions.

Finally, Felix spoke up, his voice breaking the silence.

"Hey, let's forget about this for now. Want to hear about the party?"

Gilbert hesitated, his mind still reeling from the mysterious message.

"Yeah, sure. How was it?"

Felix's face lit up with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"Ohh bro, it was a disaster."

Gilbert's curiosity piqued, he leaned forward. "What the hell happened?"

Felix animatedly dove into the story of the party, his hands gesturing wildly as he recounted the chaotic events.

Meanwhile, Gilbert's focus waned, his mind wandering back to the cryptic message that haunted him.

"Faithfulness isn't just about staying..."

The phrase echoed in his thoughts, a relentless drumbeat that stirred a growing unease in the pit of his stomach.

While Gilbert wrestled with his worries, the sender of the message reveled in a completely different reality.

In a dimly lit hotel room at the heart of the town, passion ignited between him and his lover.

The air was thick with the sound of soft groans and muffled gasps, the bed creaking under the weight of their fervor.

Every thrust spoke of desperation, as if they were both trying to reclaim lost time, the world outside fading into oblivion.

As they reached their peak, a symphony of pleasure filled the room, and they collapsed onto the rumpled sheets, the scent of sweat and desire lingering between them.

“That was amazing,” the girl breathed, her head nestled against his chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns across his skin.

“Yeah, I miss you so much,” he murmured, brushing his lips against hers, a soft kiss mingling with the remnants of their shared ecstasy.

“I miss you too,” she replied with a smile, but her gaze flickered away, avoiding his eyes.

He caught the subtle shift—a fleeting moment that told him she missed the thrill, the intimacy, but not necessarily him.

A flicker of doubt crept into his heart. He loved her, but her lack of acknowledgment of his feelings left him feeling vulnerable.

“Uhm…” he began, the words hovering on the edge of his tongue, hesitation lacing his tone as he searched for the right thing to say.

He wanted to reach out, to bridge the emotional gap that lingered between them, but uncertainty held him back.

"Mm?" she replied, her eyes flicking to him, curiosity mingled with something else—perhaps irritation.

He shifted, propping himself up on the bed, the sheets rustling around him.

“How is it going, with…” His gaze dropped, but she knew exactly what he meant.

She sat up too, tension coiling in her posture.

“I thought we weren’t supposed to talk about it when we’re together,” she snapped, annoyance edging her voice.

“But you said you’d end it this semester,” he countered, a hint of desperation threading through his words.

“I don’t see any action on that front.”

“Oh, so you expect me to just wake up one day and make it happen?” Her tone was sharp, her frustration palpable.

“No! That’s not what I mean,” he said, frustration bubbling up too.

“You have no idea how it feels to see you two together while I can’t even hold you the way I want on campus.”

She stood, the air thick with unresolved tension.

“You know what? I’m not ready for this right now. I think it’s better if I just leave.”

Before she could step away, he reached out, gripping her hand gently but firmly, pulling her back to him.

“Don’t go, please.” His arms wrapped around her, holding her close as she squirmed against him.

“Okay, fine,” she relented, her voice softening slightly.

“But promise not to bring it up again and just leave it to me.” She settled back into his embrace, but her body remained tense.

“I promise,” he said, but beneath the surface, a different plan was already taking shape in his mind, one he had begun even before this moment.