Both Aiden and Mark whipped around, instantly recognizing the voice.
It was Lucas, standing before them with tears already streaming down his cheeks. His voice trembled as he spoke, "Where the hell are you going, man?" He knelt down beside Aiden, grabbing his shoulder, his gaze locking onto his friend’s. "How co I’m just finding out about this? You weren’t even planning to tell , were you?"
Aiden’s expression softened, but before he could answer, Mark chid in, his tone laced with seriousness. "You wouldn’t have listened even if he tried to explain. You’ve always ignored him, no matter what."
Lucas swallowed hard, his throat tight with guilt. "I’m sorry, man," he whispered, pulling Aiden into a tight embrace, sobbing bitterly into his shoulder. "I knew sothing was wrong. I felt it, but I was too angry to ask. I had to follow you guys to the hospital today... that’s when I found out it was a cancer clinic."
Aiden tensed in his arms, his own tears flowing freely. "I’m sorry too," he choked out, his voice cracking. "I hate that we stopped talking. I hate myself for it. I’ve felt so miserable about it every single day."
Lucas pulled back slightly, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "It’s okay. I’m sorry for not being there for you during this... this journey." He sat down beside Aiden, with Mark on the other side, the three of them staring up at the moon, lost in thought.
Mark sighed heavily, breaking the silence. "Aiden’s cancer didn’t go into remission," he explained softly, his voice carrying the weight of the truth. "He thinks he’s going to die soon. That’s why he’s saying he’s leaving."
Lucas’ eyes widened in shock, but Mark continued before he could speak. "He still has to go through the second treatnt... who knows? Maybe this ti, it’ll work, and the cancer will go into remission."
Lucas, his face set with determination, nodded fiercely. "He has to take it. He will take it," he declared, gripping Aiden’s hand tightly. "We’re not giving up on you, Aiden. We’ll do everything we can to make sure you get better. Please, don’t refuse the treatnt. Just... just give it another chance."
Aiden exhaled deeply, his gaze shifting from the sky to his friends. After a long pause, he finally nodded. "If I do... whatever is going to happen would happen. I’ve already made peace with the fact that I might die soon, but if you guys want to give the second treatnt a chance..." He shrugged slightly. "I’ll do it."
A look of surprise and relief spread across both Lucas and Mark’s faces, their expressions softening as they exchanged glances.
"Woah!" Mark exclaid, still in disbelief. "Lucas, you convinced him that quickly?"
Lucas chuckled, wiping away the last of his tears. "Well, it wasn’t just ." He squeezed Aiden’s hand. "I’m just glad you’re giving it another chance, man."
Mark wrapped an arm around Aiden’s shoulders, pulling him closer. "We’re all relieved. I really hope this ti, everything turns out fine."
"Yeah, too," Aiden muttered, though the weight of his words hung heavy in the air.
"We can’t keep things from each other anymore," Lucas whispered, his voice barely audible but enough for both Aiden and Mark to hear. "No matter what happens... we’ll face it together, as friends."
"Yes just like we’ve always done before. There shouldn’t be any secret whatsoever between us." Mark chid in and the three broke free from the hug.
"About that, then I guess Aiden should know about Arthur’s gender. He’s not a boy but s girl and her na is Olive." Lucas revealed but he and Mark couldn’t help but got shocked as Aiden didn’t react to it.
"You knew?" Mark raised an eyebrow and Aiden nodded in response. "Since when man?"
"Well Lucas made it quite obvious. Always staring at her side during lectures and yes, finally confird it at her recent birthday party you guys threw for her. I followed you guys unknown to you but left quietly afterwards." Aiden revealed promting Lucas and Mark ri swallow hard.
"Woah! Well thanks for not revealing her secrets. And yes... that’s what I’m keeping away from you but glad you’re aware now so there’s no more secret. We shouldn’t keep secrets." Lucas replied with a warm smile.
Aiden stiffened at Lucas’ words, guilt gnawing at him. He stood up and pacing in front of them, unable to face their gazes. "There’s sothing I need to tell you guys," he began, his voice shaky. "We just promised not to keep things from each other, right?"
"Yeah," Mark said, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "What’s troubling you, Aiden? You can tell us."
Aiden inhaled deeply, his head hanging low. "I’m the one who leaked the girls’ sex video to the school group... and to social dia," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I did it to sha them."
Lucas and Mark were both stunned into silence, their eyes wide with shock.
"What?!" Mark exclaid, unable to believe his ears. "How could you? How did you even get the video? Louise deleted it from our phones that night, didn’t he?"
"I got it back from him before he died," Aiden said quietly. "We didn’t talk much in school because of his family’s history, but we were still friends, even if it wasn’t obvious to others. He trusted enough to give a copy of the video."
Mark stared at him, incredulous. "And I told everyone at school that the three of us Lucas, you, and weren’t close to Louise. That we weren’t friends with him anymore. But you? You were still talking to him in private?"
Aiden nodded, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Yeah. I considered him a friend."
"But why leak the video, Aiden?" Lucas asked, his confusion evident. "There must be a reason."
"There is," Aiden replied, his voice hardening. "I wanted to ruin Anabella and her friends. I found out their secret, the girls were responsible for an old man’s death, and they’re drug addicts. They frad Louise for the drugs, so he ended up in rehab while they got off scot-free. Even while he was in rehab, they sent people to kill him so he wouldn’t get out. But their plan didn’t work."
Mark gritted his teeth in anger, piecing it together. "So that’s the secret. I knew sothing dark was going on between them."
"Yeah," Aiden confird. "Louise wanted revenge. Videoing their sex tape was his way of starting that. He planned to use it to threaten them before going to the police with their voice recordings, evidence that would reveal everything."
"This was between Louise and the girls," Lucas said, frowning. "Why did you get involved?"
Aiden’s voice wavered. "Because... Anabella infected with HIV. She knew she had it, but she still slept with , before she started treatnt. We were having sex while we’re not in this country. I didn’t know I was infected until I got back to this country and ran a text which ca out positive."
Lucas reeled back, his eyes wide with shock. "What? You’re HIV positive?"
Aiden nodded slowly. "Yes. I’ve been on dication since finding out, but when Belmont beca a mixed school again and you started dating Anabella, I got scared. I didn’t want her to infect you too. I was going to tell you, but when I realized you weren’t interested in her anymore, I kept quiet."
"And Anabella always insisted on using condoms with . She wasn’t planning on infecting ," Lucas said, the realization dawning. "I always eefused her, though... and she went back to you."
"Yeah," Aiden muttered. "I was relieved when you found out about and her."
"So you released the sex tape because she infected you with HIV?" Lucas asked, his expression a mixture of anger and confusion.
"Yes," Aiden whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I’m going to die soon anyway. I just didn’t want to die alone. I wanted her and her friends to suffer like I have. I got the video from Louise while I waited for him to release the voice recordings. I figured they’d eventually be killed for their cris, just like they killed that old man."
Mark ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "I can’t believe it... and Louise? He never told you about Anabella’s HIV status while you were with her?"
Aiden shook his head. "No. I was angry at him for that, but I eventually forgave him. The night he died, I had went over to his house to erase every bit of evidence that could tie to him. I knew all his passwords, and I’d been to his house enough to know where the CCTV caras were. I erased everything but who would have thought he was going to die."
Mark stared at him, his face pale. "Who killed Louise then? You called him out to et Clara that night, but he ended up dead. Who’s responsible?"
Lucas, his expression grim, interjected. "Henry’s been acting suspicious. We think it might be him."
"Henry? That frail kid we used to bully?" Aiden asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Lucas said, his tone dark. "People can surprise you. Sotis the quietest ones are the most dangerous."
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