He hesitated, then shook his head slowly.
I turned to Brittany. “You call this a surprise?
Setting me up with Ethan?”
She continued filming, adjusting the angle.
“Yeah! Aren’t you happy?”
Happy my ass. “Should I be?”
<
Brittany put on an innocent expression. “Why
not? Isn’t Ethan amazing?”
Ethan flinched, his gaze darkening with a
mixture of resentment and hurt.
I bit my tongue, the pain grounding me. “Ethan,
you know I… like girls, right?”
He looked away, his brow furrowed, as if I’d
said something disgusting.
I faced Brittany again, gesturing towards Ethan.
“You know I’m into girls, and you set me up
with him? He’s the smartest guy in our class!
What if this affects his grad school
applications? Can you take responsibility for
that?”
Brittany was speechless. I turned back to Ethan.
“Brittany’s just… really concerned about your
love life. But I’m gay. I felt like I had to be
<
honest with you. It wouldn’t be right otherwise,
almost like catfishing. You’re a great guy,
Ethan. You deserve better than this.”
I bowed deeply. “As Brittany’s roommate, I
apologize on her behalf. Please don’t blame her.
She’s just… overwhelmed by all the attention.
She wants everyone to be as ‘lucky‘ as she is.
You’re a great guy, but… I like girls.”
Brittany snapped. She switched off her phone
and shoved me. “What are you saying? That’s
not what I meant!”
I stumbled, feigning shock. “Then what did you
mean? You wouldn’t… you wouldn’t just be
messing with us, would you? Just for fun?”
My voice rose with each question. The cafeteria
was buzzing now. People were taking pictures,
recording videos.
Brittany’s face was bright red. She bit her lip,
く
12:12
70
her voice trembling. “I just want you guys to be happy!”
I shook my head, stepping back. “Brittany, I’m gay! A lesbian! You know that. How would we be happy together? You’d be ruining his life! Don’t you have a conscience?”
Ethan stared at Brittany, visibly shaken.
Brittany stamped her foot. “Oh, come on! It was
just a spur–of–the–moment thing!”
I sighed and backed away further. “You’re so
spoiled by all the attention.”
She blushed, oblivious to the pain and hatred in
Ethan’s eyes.
“Brittany,” I said, “I’m really disappointed in
you. Just… don’t talk to me anymore.”
I practically ran back to the dorm.
12:12
