Chapter 2: Almost Caught

That night, after everyone had finished showering, I slipped into the bathroom.

When I applied to this college, it was mostly because the dorms had private bathrooms.

After showering, the cool tile under my bare feet grounded me, and for a minute, I almost felt normal again.

I tossed my underwear into the laundry basket, planning to wash out the stains. Catching my reflection in the mirror, I saw tired eyes and a tight jaw. I moved quietly, hoping no one would notice.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. “Derek, can I come in to grab something?”

Startled, I dropped the basket, the crash echoing off the tile.

“Derek, what’s wrong in there?”

My heart hammered in my chest. The doorknob rattled. Any second now, everything could come undone.

“Don’t come in!”

Frantically, I yanked my bathrobe tighter, shoving my stained clothes out of sight.

Marcus stopped the roommate at the door, his voice cool and easy. “Derek’s from Georgia—he’s not used to people around when he showers.”

He said it like it was just a Southern thing, not a lifeline. There was an authority in his voice that made people listen.

“Oh, I see. Sorry!”

“No… no problem.”

Nothing happened, but my heart was still racing. I leaned against the wall, taking shaky breaths, trying to calm down before I went back out.

After my shower, I carefully hung my clothes on the balcony to dry, making sure the stains wouldn’t show in the streetlight. My fingers moved on autopilot, but inside, I was falling apart.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Marcus rubbing the hand I’d bitten, the bite mark red and clear.

Guilt hit me hard. The sight made my stomach twist. I wanted to say something, but the words stuck. I just watched him from a distance, wishing I could take it all back.

I must have really hurt him.

He probably hates me now. Or maybe he just thinks I’m weird, or unstable, or something worse.

That night, once everyone was asleep, I turned on my phone and, by the faint glow, scrolled through photos of Marcus.

All of them were stolen shots, hidden in a folder called ‘Econ Notes.’

Besides my body, my orientation’s different, too.

Back in high school, Marcus was the academic star at the neighboring school, always first in every joint exam.

I’d always set him as my goal.

When I found out I’d gotten into the same college, I was so hyped I nearly exploded. I remember refreshing the admissions portal over and over, hands shaking when I saw his name in the accepted students group chat.

To hide my feelings, I treated him like a rival, always fighting for GPA.

No one would ever suspect I liked him.

Sometimes I wonder—if I were normal, would we be friends? Or even something more?

I like him.

Especially since he sleeps right across from me.

I listen to his steady breathing, looking at his photos. The dark is soft and safe, a secret I can keep just for myself.

The dorm is so quiet you can hear every breath. Sometimes, the elevator hums down the hall, or a car horn blares through the window. The world keeps moving, but in our room, everything is still.

But just then, I couldn’t help myself—I let out a muffled moan.

I froze instantly.

The bed curtain across from me shifted.

Marcus seemed to turn over, but didn’t wake up.

I held my breath, waiting. When nothing else happened, I relaxed, slipped to the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face, and silently scolded myself for being this way.

If Marcus knew I felt like this about him, he’d be disgusted. I looked at my reflection, searching for answers I’d never find.

I have to keep this secret locked away.