Chapter 5: Truth Goes Viral

Ethan was one of the few who knew about my sponsorship of Eric. But he didn’t step in. He was proud, and maybe thought “two guys fighting over a girl” was beneath him. Eric wasn’t worth his jealousy.

Ethan was waiting for me to handle it, then catch up with him.

He always trusted me to handle my own problems. But I could feel his disappointment, his silent judgment.

Hearing my disappointed tone, Eric panicked. He grabbed my sleeve, stammering, “Alyssa, I’m sorry! Give me another chance, please? I didn’t mean it! I really like you! I’m just insecure! Why can’t a girl like you be with a guy like me? Yeah, I’m poor! But if we’re together, I’ll get rich! Then I won’t have any weaknesses!”

His desperation was palpable. But all I saw was greed—greed for me, for money, for a life he thought he deserved.

Eric was desperate. Looking in his eyes, all I saw was greed. Not just for me, but for money. The innocence that once shone in that small-town kid’s eyes was gone, replaced by something cold and hungry.

Maybe he was always like this. Maybe I was just too slow to see it.

Suddenly, I felt sick.

A wave of nausea washed over me. I wanted to go home, to crawl under the covers and never come out.

We parted badly that day. I deleted all his contacts. He tried to find me again and again—flowers, singing, kneeling, crying under the girls’ dorm window. It caused a lot of gossip, drew crowds. He even challenged Ethan to a fight, acting like some knight in a bad romance movie.

He made a spectacle of himself, and of me. Every day was a new embarrassment—a new headline in the campus rumor mill.

“Ethan, you’re just the student government VP! You used your power to force Alyssa to be with you! You’re a thief! Love can’t be forced!”

He shouted it loud enough for everyone to hear. It was humiliating, but no one stopped him. Some people even egged him on, loving the drama.

In college, student government is a weird beast. Some people think it’s full of overachievers. Others think it’s full of brown-nosers. So when Eric started spreading rumors that “the VP stole his girl,” he actually got some supporters.

There’s always a crowd for a scandal. Some people love to root for the underdog, no matter how wrong he is.

“Ms. Porter from Student Affairs called me in,” Ethan told me, always frowning. “You know, the previous president graduated, and I have a good shot at moving up. The difference between president and VP on a resume is huge. I don’t want any drama right now.”

He was always thinking about the next step, the next title. I understood, but it still stung.

I understood. Ethan was ambitious. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

I tried to reassure him, but I could see the worry in his eyes. He didn’t want my problems becoming his problems.

That day was November, Thanksgiving break. It rained, no moon in sight. I asked Eric to meet at a Starbucks near campus, to have it out. I told him flat-out we were impossible, and he had to stop harassing me.

I picked a public place, thinking it would be safe. I rehearsed what I would say, determined to end things once and for all.

Eric seemed calm, apologized, said he was out of his mind, but wouldn’t fantasize about me anymore. He hoped we could still be friends, that he’d repay my kindness someday.

He played the part of the repentant friend, but I didn’t buy it. I just wanted him out of my life.

I said there was no need. I never expected repayment. Once certain things are said, you can’t pretend nothing happened.

There was an awkward silence. He looked down at his coffee, swirling it around like he was searching for the right words.

A look of sadness came over Eric. “Does it have to be like this?”

I nodded. I couldn’t fake it anymore. I needed closure, not more empty promises.

I answered with silence. He sighed. “Fine, let’s go.”

I picked up my bag, but suddenly felt dizzy. I’d been drugged.

The world tilted. My vision blurred. I clung to the table, trying to steady myself, but everything felt wrong.

He made his move. There was something in the latte he bought me.

I remember the taste—sweet, with a bitter aftertaste. I should’ve known better. I should’ve trusted my instincts.

He dragged me along, making it look like we were a couple. Inside, I was terrified. I couldn’t even scream for help.

I tried to fight, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. To everyone else, we looked like just another couple heading out for the night.

There are a lot of motels near the university. Eric took me to one. I struggled, but to outsiders, it looked like we were just another couple.

I wanted to scream, to beg for help, but the words wouldn’t come. My body was a prison.

That night was Thanksgiving, and there were plenty of student couples getting rooms.

The front desk clerk barely glanced at us. Just another pair of college kids looking for privacy. I wondered if anyone could see the fear in my eyes.

He held me close, tried three motels before finding a vacancy. At the front desk, I was crying. Eric wiped my tears, acting like a caring boyfriend. “Don’t cry, I’ll love you, isn’t that enough?”

His touch made my skin crawl. I wanted to disappear, to become invisible.