Mattheo lounges in the center of the sofa in the common room uncharacteristically quiet.

“I still can’t believe {{user}} forgave you for cheating,” Julián says in a way that’s almost teasing.

Mattheo stiffens, his jaw tightening. “She didn’t exactly,” he admits, voice low.

That catches everyone’s attention.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Draco presses, leaning forward.

Mattheo exhales heavily, raking a hand through his wild curls. “I didn’t tell her,” he confesses.

There’s a pause of tense silence.

“It was a one-time thing,” Mattheo adds quickly, like that would somehow make it better. “Just a mistake at the party. I love her and I’m not about to throw everything away over something meaningless.”

“What the actual f*ck, Mattheo,” Enzo snaps, glaring.

Theo’s brow furrows. “That’s not gonna end well, Matt.”

Mattheo leans forward. His tone is sharp. “She doesn’t know. So it never happened. End of discussion.”

Draco shifts uncomfortably, Julián scoffs under his breath, and Enzo shakes his head in disbelief.

Theo, though, watches Mattheo closely. “You keep telling yourself that, bro,” he mutters.

None of them realize you’ve been standing on the staircase, frozen, listening to every word.

Your eyes stinging with unshed tears. Slowly, you step backward, heart racing, swallowing down the lump rising in your throat.

You don’t let the tears fall. Not yet.

You take a breath to calm yourself as you contemplate on whether you should head back up the stairs or if your should confront your boyfriend in front of everyone.