Chapter 1
“I caught my boyfriend fucking my stepbrother."
I finally confessed to ChatGPT after spending weeks trying to get my head around the horrifying scene I witnessed two weeks ago at my stepbrother Adam’s dorm.
I didn’t wait for Chat’s response before tossing the phone aside and plopped down on my bed, staring at my ceiling decorated with glow-in-the-dark stickers.
The stickers Nate, my boyfriend of eight months, helped me stick on my 18th birthday. Out of all my shitty boyfriends that I was cursed with, he was the only one whose love I genuinely felt. He prioritized me; he was considerate and funny too.
I should have known it was too good to be true.
Friday felt like the perfect day to visit Adam because it was the beginning of the weekend. I should have listened to the universe when the storm decided to brew right as I was about to step out. Maybe if I had stayed in, I wouldn't have found out the way I did.
It was the moans and Adam’s giggling that made me pause. At first, I grimaced. “I thought he said he didn’t have a girlfriend," I muttered to myself as I turned to leave. That was until I heard him repeatedly panting Nate’s name.
“Yes, Nate. More, Nate.”
I froze in my steps, blinking rapidly. Yes, that was Adam’s voice. and I was sure none of his female friends bore the name “Nate.” Still, I figured it wasn’t any of my business. But then, I heard him speak.
“Fuck, Adam. You're driving me crazy.”
I recognized that raspy, throaty, and sleepy voice instantly. It belonged to my boyfriend, Nate!
I didn’t think twice before turning back and bursting Adam’s door open. It all happened slowly. My eyes widened at the scene before me. My hand holding the doorknob trembled vigorously. Nate was plowing into Adam from behind. Both men were sweaty, with the utmost look of pleasure on their faces. A look I saw on them for the very first time. They didn’t realize I had barged in until a scream broke out of me.
“I wanted to tell you," Nate confessed. It was raining on that fateful day; I had nowhere to go but stay in Adam's room and listen to Nate break my heart to a million pieces. Adam couldn't look at my face, so he disappeared. Leaving me with my “boyfriend.”
“So what?” My throat was clogged with the tears I refused to spill. I wasn’t going to cry this time around. “You forgot to tell me you were gay when you told me you wanted to be my boyfriend?”
Nate looked like he was in physical pain; his eyes were glossy, like he was about to cry, but I've been here before. Only this time, I didn't think Nate was faking his look of regret.
“I-i-I was struggling with my sexuality.”
I scoffed.
“I swear, i was.” he cried.
“So why didn’t you tell me, Nate?” My voice broke at the end. “We had all these amazing memories. We shared something special, and all this while, I thought you loved me.”
“I do, Victoria.” He tried to touch me but quickly retracted his hand. “I love you so much, and I thought that alone would change me. I wanted it to change me so bad. I wanted to be wrong about my sexuality so bad—"
“How long?” my voice was cold. The more he spoke, the more stupid I felt. He didn’t reply. “How long have you been fucking my stepbrother, Nate?”
“It’s our first time," he whispered.
“I didn’t even know Adam was gay.” I let out a bitter laugh as I ran my hand through my red hair.
“He doesn’t want to be.”
There was something about the way Nate admitted it that broke me. I was the one hurt; I was the one betrayed, yet I felt bad for the both of them. If Dad should find out about Adam, hell would break loose, and Nate...Nate was the school champion for the hockey team. It made sense now. Despite how sweet and flirty Nate was, we never got passed the kissing stage. I thought he was just being patient, but no…he just wasn’t attracted to me.
“Please say something, Victoria.” Nate pleaded.
I looked into his pale blue eyes. The ones that always twinkled when he saw me. The ones that brimmed with determination right before he scored on the rink. I’ve had many heartbreaks, but this one was going to hurt the most. I could already feel my heart caving in, a result of suppressing my tears. I said I didn't want to cry, but this was too painful.
“Victoria–”
“It’s over, Nate.” It came out in a whisper. It was difficult to say, but we knew this wasn’t going to work.
“No, please…" A tear dropped from his eye. He struggled to find the right words, and I waited for him to think it through and realize there was no way around it. He shook his head and held my hand, holding it dearly. “It was a one-time thing. I’ll do anything, therapy…anything. Please just don’t leave me.”
I blinked away the tears and withdrew my hand away from his hold. “Goodbye, Nate.”
That Friday, I returned home soaking wet, and since that Friday, I've been thinking a whole lot of things. I even considered changing schools and becoming a nun.
This Friday, it rained again. The day began with heavy rain, but now it was 5 p.m. and it was drizzling. Either way, it was cold, and I hated it.
Then my phone rang.
I was going to ignore it, but it kept interfering with my music, so I had no choice but to answer it. It was Phoebe, my best friend since kindergarten.
“Hey,” I greeted with no enthusiasm. I didn’t tell her about Nate; I didn't want to ruin her summer with her surfer boyfriend. I’d tell her when school resumes next week.
“Guess who transferred to our uni and would be joining our freshman year?” she squealed into her phone’s speaker. I winced.
“Enlighten me,” I drawled.
“Ashton Walker!”
It took a few seconds for it to digest, and when it did, I jolted upright so fast the room spun. The recollection of that name made my heart skip too many beats.
Oh God. Why me? Not the same Ashton that—
“Remember how you used to bully him for being a stammerer and looking like a girl because his parents refused to cut his hair. You bullied him so much, the poor boy always cried when he saw you. He transferred before seventh grade because of you.” Phoebe continued ranting, oblivious to the mini heart attack I was having. “You won’t believe how hot he is now, and did I fail to mention he is a super hockey star?! Like really, really popular…"
I tuned Phoebe out to focus on the last memory I had of Ashton Walker.
My first year in senior school, he sent me a letter. I got it from the mail when I came back from school. I remember opening it while I ate the sandwich Adam’s mom made for me. It read.
"Dear Victoria, Thanks for making my childhood a living hell. You have made it so memorable that I will never forget. I am glad to be rid of you, but this isn’t goodbye because I will make sure to return and pay you back for all the terror you put me through. Yours patiently, Ashton Walker.”
