13 Thirteen

"Hey, are you okay? You didn't call me back since last night." Chris said as he saw Xysto sitting alone in their classroom, "Do you have something in your mind? You can talk to me, you know." he added. The latter looked at him which makes Chris widen his eyes since Xysto has dark circles and swollen eyes. It feels like he didn't sleep well last night and just cried.

"What happened?"

The younger didn't hesitate but he grabs his best friend into a hug and cried himself, "Remember when I was about to get some chips in the kitchen during Nicaise's party and you left me because the drinks are in the dining room? Jake pulled me to him and kissed me and someone took a photo of us and sent it to my dad's private email." he whispered. Chris broke the hug and looked at him with a confused face.

"What the hell? Who would do such things like that?" The latter shrugged and Chris wiped his tears, "It's okay. We will find that person and I promise, I will beat the shit out of Jake when I see him."

●—●

Morning classes just finished and Xysto is not his way to the cafe hop to meet his friends when all of the students are staring at him from head to toe. Some looked at him in disgust and some were giving a laugh. He bowed his head down and walked faster to get out of the hallway and get rid of their evil looks. He entered the cafe and scanned his eyes to where his friends are sitting, still he has no idea why all of the people are staring at him. If stares can kill, he should be dead by now. He saw Blaire and Chris sitting at the window seat doing nothing. Like they have something on their mind.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Blaire and Chris exchanged their glanced at each other and Blaire heaved a sigh before he faced him. She opens her laptop turned the device to Xysto. The younger widen his eyes and began to bawl.

"I'm sorry. We didn't tell you earlier. We just found out." Blaire stated and closes her laptop.

Xysto has nothing to say. He froze when he saw the picture of him and Jake and it's leaking on the internet like a virus. His dad will deeply be furious if he finds out that the photo got leaked. "Did Nicaise know about this?" Chris asked her.

Blaire shook her head as she types something on her phone, "No. But I'm texting my friend. Maybe he can hack this and delete the photo."

Chris patted Xysto's shoulder and the younger is still processing his mind. "It will be over soon. I promise you that," he said. Xysto suddenly stood up from his seat and walks outside the cafe. Chris chased him back but the younger told him that he needed to be alone. He was walking into the parking lot when a car suddenly stops in front of him. One of the men in a suit gets out of the car and opens the backseat for him. He parted his lips knowing that his father already found out about the photo that's been leaking online. Soon as they arrived at the building and the men were guarding Xysto against the media and press. The younger immediately ran into the elevator to get into the floor where his father's office is.

He opened the door revealing that his father is standing near the glass window while looking at the big city and Nicaise is sitting in front of the table. Nicaise took a glance at the younger who just got into the room. Mr. Chen notices Xysto's arrival and he didn't think twice to walked towards the younger. Xysto looked down as his father was in front of him. There was silence in the room when a palm hits his cheeks. Nicaise jumped out from his seat when he heard it and ran into his brother. He pulled his brother away from their father's sight.

"You ruined the image of Chen clan!" he yelled, "You know that right? And yet, you let it be and ruined our reputation, my reputation! I know that this would happen!" he added.

"Dad! It's not Xysto's fault! It's not his fault that some guy took advantage of him and some douchebag took a photo of them and post it online!" Nicaise defended.

"Get your nose out of here, Nicaise!"

"If I know that this is going to happen, I shouldn't take you back in the first place. You are a disgrace!" he yelled as he pointed his index finger to the younger.

"Dad, enough! Stop putting the blame on him!" Nicaise yelled back at him.

He took a deep sighed and pinch the bridge of his nose. He then turned around from them and walked away to face the big city. "I want you to leave, Xysto. I'm sorry, son but you have to accept and face the sanctions. I am temporarily disowning you. I'm cutting you off which means, no more penthouse, cars, drivers, and allowance. You have to go back to your old life and I am also withdrawing everything that you will be inheriting especially the company. I will tell you when you are going back."

Nicaise looked at him with his eyes widens and lips parted- dumbfounded at what the older said. He let go of his arms from his brother and walked to face his father. "That's too much! You can't to that to him, Dad! That's so much! What the hell! You can't take everything from him!" he defended as he held his tears back.

"I said what I said! Leave!" he yelled at him.

"No! I won't leave unless you take everything back!"

"Do you really want to be drag outside?"

Xysto on the other hand only wiped his tears from his cheeks. He didn't have the voice to defend himself. He knew that this day will come. Of course, he is one of the elite now and people watch his life like he's on TV. He expects that when his dad finds out everything, he will react like this. While Nicaise is having an argument with their father, trying for the old man to take back everything he said, Xysto slowly turned his back and left the office without bothering them both.