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The picture was everywhere. Everyone was talking about it. Rumor after rumor popped up and there was no way for Vil to escape any of them. He knew this would happen when Cater insisted on dragging him out to an amusement park and then a shopping district on the western side of Sage’s Island for the weekend. He knew it would happen, so why did he still go? Why did he do this to Cater?
He couldn’t bring himself to go onto Magicam knowing he would see post after post trying to figure out who the mystery guy was. Was it a friend? A lover? Was he using Vil? Was it the other way ‘round? It was all of that over and over again and it made Vil sick. Even at school that day, he saw more glances and side-eyes than usual. And more whispers at that. Even his own dorm’s curiosity grew after the media let that photo out.
He tried to ignore it. After all, it’s not the first time he’s been accused of dating someone. He was used to it. Many people would wonder if Vil and Neige were together whenever a movie with the two of them come out. He was the most common, at least.
But that was the issue. These weren’t stupid accusations. Though the press didn’t know it, he was dating Cater. And he wanted to be able to post photos of them together like anyone else would. But he couldn’t and he hated that he couldn’t.
For, one his agency would probably be livid with him. He was forced to keep his social media a certain way, portraying the side of him that was not who he really was. And for another, even if his agency wouldn’t get in the way, he didn’t want this to happen to Cater. It was so much attention so quickly and most of it, wouldn’t be the best. People were insane on the internet and some were even worse in person. If he could keep Cater safe, he would.
Luckily for him, Cater understood. He didn’t seem to care. But that was a whole other issue in itself. Cater wants this. He wants to post candid photos of Vil and Vil knows it. Try as he might, Cater can’t hide that. Vil knows without Cater saying a word about it and it hurts.
He wants to be able to give Cater the love he deserves and he wants to be in a normal relationship but he can’t. And he hates that he can’t because it is what Cater deserves. He can’t stop himself from feeling like he’s not doing enough for Cater. And Cater’s reassurances and loving words never have helped. If anything, it almost made him feel worse.
He felt selfish. And sure, love is selfish. He heard his dad say that so many times, but this wasn’t a good kind of selfish he felt. He felt like he was holding Cater back. Cater could find someone better. Someone who wouldn’t insist o keeping their relationship secret. Someone who wouldn’t be gone for months at a time filming. Someone who would always be there with him. Someone who would let him post his stupidly sweet candid photos and who could talk endlessly about him to everyone.
But no. Cater chooses to stay with him and as happy as it makes Vil feel. There is always that small little part of him that doubts Cater’s happiness. And in times like this, when the press is running rampant and insomnia is kicking in at one in the morning, that small voice is the loudest one.
He stares at the photo, and he knows that tomorrow someone will call him, furious that he could be so careless, that he let something like this happen. They would start doing damage control having him go out and “save his image”. He hated it. And as much as they told him it just wasn’t a good idea for him to promote a relationship, he knew why it was. They didn’t need to lie to him for him to know what they were really worried about. Maybe his main agent thought it was stupid but the higher-ups only care about one thing. Money. And if everyone finding out one of their large money makers is gay will make some people angry…they aren’t risking that.
Maybe that’s why he ended up texting Cater at one-fifteen in the morning. Maybe that’s why he didn’t give a shit about his image anymore. Besides, the image they made for him, isn’t him and people have disliked him for it. He didn’t care anymore if he was yelled at for hours. Because he knew no matter how badly they wanted to, the agency wouldn’t, couldn’t give up on him. He was worth too much to them. He was tired of putting his image and career before his own happiness.
So, he texted Cater. It was a vague message but he didn’t care. Cater would understand it and Vil was right. Because in less than a minute there was a response.
“Are you sure?” He didn’t think twice before sending out another text. He was sick and tired of everything at this point and he knew Cater knew that.
“Yes. Post all you want. I’m not stopping you.” And with that, Vil got a message five minutes later. Cater posted the pictures. Going to his account, Vil saw them and he smiled. They weren’t only pictures from the weekend they had spent together. They were scattered throughout the past year, some of them before Vil gave Cater a chance and some from when they were friends. Half of them, Vil didn’t even know Cater had taken and it was obvious how he didn’t.
He was already letting one thing that wasn’t supposed to happen, happen. So what was one more? He followed Cater’s account. And a few of his friends. He was definitely getting an earful within the next three days but he didn’t care. If anything, he wanted to make it worse. Maybe post a picture or two himself. But he didn’t. Eventually, he would but not right now.