Chapter 02

Marcus drives Elliot to school. They are classmates. "You look worried. What's up?" Marcus broke the silence. Searching for a space in the parking lot.

Elliot fixed his eyeglasses and flashed a winsome smile. "No, I'm not. Are you?"

"Because we're half an hour late for our first class? No," Marcus winked at him and showed his charming smile. The one that makes Elliot blush effortlessly.

"It's your fault," Elliot muttered.

"My fault? You're the one carrying that fat ass."

"S-Shut up, Marcus."

"Elli, you know I couldn't resist temptation when you're under the shower."

"Someone might hear us!"

"So? Everyone here at school knows we're a couple."

They descended from the car and walked together, holding hands in the hallway. Marcus is proud of Elliot to be his boyfriend.

Bullies can't come their way. Marcus either scared them off with his sharp stares or by bruising their faces.

The teacher was already discussing a new topic as they arrived at their classroom. "Elliot and Marcus?"

"G-Good morning, Miss."

"G'morning."

Elliot elbowed his boyfriend because of the way he greets their professor. "I mean, Good morning, Miss," Marcus ends it, showing his charming smile.

"Late… again," she shook her head. "Just because you're near to graduate doesn't mean that it's fine to arrive late. Your grades aren't finished yet."

Marcus heaved a sigh, faking a sympathy. "Pardon us, Miss. It won't happen again."

"Take your seats now."

Elliot felt a little worried with his professor's word. He is running for the Magna Cum Laude spot. And graduating with Latin Honor means a lot to him.

Marcus scooted his chair closer to his boyfriend. He interlocked their fingers. Elliot's gaze fell on him.

They smiled at each other. "If she finds out, she'll call us out.. again."

"Let her. Jealousy is an ugly color on her anyway," Marcus lifted their fingers closer to his mouth and kissed Elliot's knuckles.

He's all that Elliot could asked for to a guy.

Charming.

Sweet.

Reliable.

And mostly, loved him for who he was. "How come a straight guy like you fell in love with me?"

"Remember the time you paid me to get you laid? Yeah, I'm broke and I'm just using you for money and for free shelter," Marcus chuckled.

Elliot slapped Marcus' arm. "You're disgusting! You're the one who's stalking me like a killer in the locker then threatened me that if I won't do your assignment, you'll bully me for a whole year!"

"In fact, you're the one who's rich and I'm broke, Marcus. You're the one paying our rent too," Elliot cooed.

"Oh yeah, that, I remembered," Marcus chuckled silently.

"Paying our rent?"

"No. Stalking and threatening you."

"Yeah, you're mean back then—"

"Wait, you didn't pay me to get you laid?"

"Why would I do it?"

"That must've been a different gay guy—"

"Marcus!"

The corner of Elliot's eye twitched. Meanwhile, his boyfriend continued laughing. "I'm just kidding Elli baby. No one paid me to do shit like that."

"Really?"

"You just said that I'm rich — well, not technically, but the way you said makes an impression about me," Marcus scratched the back of his head. He stole a kiss from Elliot.

Elliot was taken aback. "I'd never go gay for pay. But if it was you who is paying, baby, I'm yours," Marcus winked at him. He's so in love with Elliot.

And he never felt this happy for so long.

Marcus' phone vibrated. His eyebrows crossed and cursed in the air. "Look at this, Eli," he showed his phone.

Elliot almost puked upon noticing the dead bodies, all pale. "Wait… is that? H-here?"

"I'm afraid so, yeah," Marcus shrugged.

All heads turned at the lady sitting in front of the row. Their professor took the phone that the lady was holding. "What the hell!?"

The class gathered around and watched what the phone was showing. Like Elliot, they felt repulsed and wanted to puke.

The students are advised to stay in their classroom with their doors locked.

The principal called the authorities for conduct actions and to have a proper report to the police. Elliot shuts his eyes, covering his face using his palms.

"Hey, baby, are you okay?" Marcus caressed his back. Elliot tilted his head. "I'm good," he muttered. Marcus sighed and hugged his boyfriend.

"Hey, no one can and will hurt you, okay? I'm here to protect you. I'm your knight in shining armor, remember that, okay?"

Elliot hugged him back. "I know. And thank you for that, Marcus. You're so brave. I wish I can be like you," he whispered in his ears.

Marcus kissed his head. "Gays like you needs a strong, muscular, handsome, and loving straight guy like me. Love knows no boundaries, right? I'm here for you."

"Why do you always have to brag about your physique and look?"

"As if you don't like them."

"I-I don't—"

"You like it too when I tease you with my biceps and my armpit—"

"Stop it, Marcus!"

"Hey, you two!" their professor yelled. Marcus and Elliot separates, unlatching themselves from each other.

Marcus apologized, chuckling. While Elliot remained looking at his shoes with a flushed cheeks.

"Argh," their professor scoffed and shook her head.

When their professor was calling someone on the phone, Marcus noticed the cops and ambulances from afar.

His brows crossed due to curiosity. He looked at his boyfriend. "Who could do something like that?"

Elliot looked up to Marcus' handsome face. Then followed where he was looking at. Outside the window are the authorities and the coroners, they even have soldiers to scout the inside and outside of the campus, trying to find the culprit.

"Can I see the photos, Marcus?"

"Are you sure? You looked scared when you first saw it."

"I'm determined to. I-I… just want to see it."

Marcus handed his phone to Elliot. He knows Marcus' password and unlocked it. Elliot resisted the urge to retch as he examined the corpse closely.

Elliot's eyes squinted and zoomed the picture below the ears. He gasped and noticed bite marks.

"Did you find something?"

"N-No."