Cedric glanced at Kate.
"Irvin, I really am doing this for your own good."
I nodded slowly.
"Then don't regret it."
On the way to the hospital, I couldn't shake the unease coiling in my chest.
I didn't understand.
Why had Cedric always been so good to me, only to transform into a completely different person at the wedding?
Announcing to everyone that I had some filthy disease.
Demanding to get to the bottom of it.
A terrible thought flickered through my mind—
Every single one of Cedric's friends was plain-looking at best.
Could it really be true, what people said online? That some people deliberately surrounded themselves with less attractive friends just to make themselves shine brighter?
I shook my head hard.
I refused to believe it.
Our little procession swept into the hospital, and I was pushed to the front of the department office.
"Excuse me—did he pick up a report here recently?"
Cedric asked the doctor.
The doctor studied my face for a moment, then nodded.
Cedric's eyes went wide.
"Irvin, you really did...
"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you come get it alone? I told you I'd come with you!"
"What?"
Kate stared at me in disbelief.
"You came to pick up the report by yourself?"
I kept my expression flat. Said nothing.
She grabbed my arm.
"Irvin Dickerson! You are hiding something from me!"
"I'm not!"
"Then why did you come alone? What are you so afraid your friend will find out?"
"I was afraid that—"
I stopped mid-sentence.
Turned to look at Cedric.
That day, we'd both gotten tested.
But only my phone number was left on file.
I'd originally planned to pick up the results with Cedric.
But then the doctor called—and told me Cedric's results were bad.
That's when I decided to collect them first. For him.
After a moment's hesitation, I kept my mouth shut.
Kate's brows drew together.
"You bastard!"
She shoved me hard.
"This is how you treat me?
"Did you fake the premarital exam too? Are you trying to kill me? If Cedric hadn't told me the truth, would I have ended up just like you?"
I opened my mouth to speak—but a familiar figure burst through the crowd.
A palm cracked across my face.
I stared at the person before me, unable to process what had just happened.
"Mom?"
"You worthless disgrace!"
My mother's eyes were red-rimmed, her finger jabbing at my chest.
"You really do have that disgusting disease! What the hell have you been doing?
"I thought—yes, your face got scarred, but at least you were still a good kid at heart. I never imagined you'd let yourself sink this low!"
I tried to explain. "That's not it, Mom. I—"
"Stay back!"
She cut me off.
"What did I always teach you? A person doesn't have to be good-looking, but they must have integrity. Did all my words go in one ear and out the other?
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to raise you? And this is how you repay me—running around doing God knows what?"
My eyes burned.
"Mom, I really didn't. That report isn't mine—I picked it up for someone else!"
"Irvin, why are you still lying?"
Cedric stepped forward, gently steadying my mother's arm.
"That day, it was just the two of us getting tested. If you 'picked it up for someone else,' you're basically saying you picked it up for me, right?
"I know you don't want to accept that you have this disease. But you can't drag me down with you by spreading lies.
"Apologize to your mother. Now."
Mom wiped her tears.
"Look at Cedric. Now look at yourself! You're not as handsome as he is, and your character isn't even half as good!"
My fists clenched so tight my knuckles ached.
"Mom, the report hasn't even been printed yet. How can you already decide I'm the one with bad character?"
