Chapter 4: The Truth Exposed

Marcus really did seem upset.

Without thinking much, I let him into the hotel room.

Somehow, it ended up with the two of us drinking together. He poured us both cheap whiskey from a plastic bottle, the kind that burned all the way down but took the edge off fast.

I couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Why are you so down?”

Marcus looked at me deeply. “The person I like keeps avoiding me.”

My heart skipped a beat. “You… you like someone?”

Marcus nodded softly. “Yeah.”

Suddenly, my emotions were in turmoil. I twisted the whiskey cap between my fingers, waiting for him to keep going. My mouth went dry, my head spinning with hope and dread all at once.

“So… what kind of person is he?”

“He’s very beautiful, works hard, has excellent grades. The only flaw is that he always tries to keep his distance from me.”

I don’t understand.

To be liked by Marcus—how lucky that would be.

Because of my abnormal body, I don’t even have the courage to like him openly.

Feeling sad, I took sip after sip of my drink. The bitter taste was a poor substitute for the ache in my chest.

I’d originally planned to look at his photos after Marcus left, but before anything even started, my heart was already broken. I watched the condensation bead on my glass, thinking about all the things I’d never have the courage to say.

In the end, I got drunk and staggered to my feet. “I’m going to shower.”

Marcus caught me. “You can barely stand. Let me help you.”

I shrugged him off. “Seriously, I’m fine. Just leave me alone, okay?”

I didn’t even know where this sudden anger came from. Maybe it was the whiskey. Maybe it was the heartbreak. Maybe it was everything.

I tried to unbutton my shirt, but my hands were clumsy and the buttons wouldn’t come undone. My vision blurred, and I muttered curses under my breath.

“Let me help.”

Marcus came closer, his cool fingers brushing my chest as he easily undid my shirt.

Then his hand slid down, about to take off my pants.

I quickly pushed him away, clutching my waistband tightly. “No need for the pants.”

I walked into the bathroom, took off my pants, and found my underwear stained with blood again.

As my pants slid to my ankles, my dignity seemed to fall with them.

The moment I smelled the blood, a wave of anger crashed over me.

I turned on the shower, scrubbing myself harshly, as if punishing my body for having organs that shouldn’t be there. I dug my nails into my skin, the hot spray mingling with my tears. I pressed my forehead to the cool tile, wishing I could scrub the shame away.

I scrubbed so hard my skin turned red.

The water poured over my head—I couldn’t tell if I was crying or not.

Just then, I accidentally stepped on a bar of soap and fell hard to the floor. The pain shot up my back, knocking the air from my lungs. For a moment, I lay there, the sound of water and my own ragged breathing filling the tiny room.

Marcus burst in. “I heard a loud noise—did you fall? Are you hurt?”

I lay on the floor, legs spread, naked, completely exposed, my back to him.

I saw his pupils contract.

It’s over.

My secret was completely exposed to him.

I wanted to disappear. This was the nightmare I’d rehearsed in my head a thousand times—and now it was real. The chill from the tile seeped into my bones as I tried to catch my breath. My heart thundered in my chest, louder than the pounding of the shower. I waited for the words, the judgment, the disgust that had haunted my nightmares for years—but Marcus was silent, just staring at me, his face unreadable, as the truth hung between us, raw and inescapable.

I braced myself for him to turn away. But Marcus just stood there, eyes locked on mine, and didn’t move.