CHOOSE ME
Kyle barely heard the laughter anymore.
The whispers.
The cruel comments.
The looks.
Everything blurred together as he pushed through the auditorium doors.
His chest felt tight.
His hands shook.
His worst memory had just been played in front of hundreds of students.
The entire university had watched him at his lowest.
And they laughed.
The golden boy.
The perfect athlete.
Kyle Blackwell.
Reduced to a joke in less than three minutes.
Behind him he heard a voice.
“Kyle!”
Henry.
Kyle kept walking.
“Kyle, wait!”
The desperation in Henry’s voice nearly broke him.
Inside the auditorium Henry was pushing through rows of seats trying to catch up.
“Kyle!”
Then suddenly—
A hand grabbed his arm.
Hard.
Henry spun around.
Damian.
His eyes were fixed on him.
Almost feverish.
Almost desperate.
“Let go of me.”
Damian didn’t move.
Instead he smiled.
A small smile.
The same smile Henry now hated.
Before Damian could speak—
SLAP.
The sound echoed through the auditorium.
Several nearby students gasped.
Damian’s head snapped sideways.
A bright red mark appeared across his cheek.
Henry’s hand trembled.
“Stay the fuck away from me.”
For the first time since meeting him, Damian looked stunned.
Henry’s eyes filled with tears.
“You did this.”
Damian slowly looked back at him.
“Henry—”
“You did this.”
The tears finally spilled down Henry’s face.
“I hate you.”
Something flashed across Damian’s expression.
Pain.
Just for a second.
Then it vanished.
Henry didn’t wait to hear another word.
He turned and ran.
Outside, the parking lot was nearly empty.
Cars were already pulling away.
Students leaving.
Talking.
Laughing.
Sharing the scandal.
Then Henry saw him.
Kyle’s black car approaching the exit gate.
No.
No.
No.
Without thinking Henry sprinted.
Ignoring the security guard shouting after him.
Ignoring the tears blurring his vision.
Ignoring everything.
He ran directly in front of the car.
The tires screeched.
The vehicle stopped.
For a moment neither of them moved.
Then Henry started crying.
Not elegant tears.
Not quiet tears.
Broken tears.
The kind that came from somewhere deep inside.
“Please.”
His voice cracked.
“Please don’t shut me out.”
Inside the car Kyle stared at him.
The sight nearly destroyed him.
Henry standing there.
Crying for him.
Fighting for him.
Choosing him.
Even after everything.
Kyle opened the door.
The second his feet touched the pavement Henry threw himself into his arms.
Kyle caught him immediately.
Holding him tightly.
Almost desperately.
“I’m sorry.”
Henry buried his face against his chest.
“Kyle—”
“I’m sorry.”
His voice broke.
“I’m such a fucking mess.”
Henry shook his head.
“No.”
“I am.”
“No.”
Kyle felt fresh tears burning his eyes.
Years.
Years of shame.
Years of pretending.
Years of trying to be perfect.
And somehow Henry was still here.
Still choosing him.
Still loving him.
Kyle wrapped both arms around him.
Holding him tighter.
Then he kissed the top of Henry’s head.
“Please don’t cry.”
Henry laughed through his tears.
“You first.”
For the first time that day Kyle managed a small smile.
A real one.
Tiny.
Fragile.
But real.
They stood there for a long moment.
Just holding each other.
While the rest of the world fell away.
Finally Kyle pulled back.
Brushing tears from Henry’s face.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
Kyle looked toward the mountains in the distance.
“My family’s penthouse.”
Henry blinked.
“The one in the mountains?”
Kyle nodded.
“No parents.”
“No students.”
“No Damian.”
A tired smile appeared on Henry’s face.
“Just us?”
“Just us.”
Kyle squeezed his hand.
Then together they got into the car.
Leaving the university behind.
Leaving the whispers behind.
Leaving the scandal behind.
Neither of them noticed the figure standing on the auditorium steps watching the car disappear into the distance.
Damian.
His cheek still red from the slap.
His jaw clenched.
His eyes locked on the retreating vehicle.
Then slowly—
He smiled.
And whispered to himself,
“This isn’t over.”
