The room felt colder than usual.
Michael stood at the doorway of the administration office, his fingers tightening slightly against the edge of the wooden door. Inside, several lecturers sat around the long polished table. The air carried the heavy silence of people waiting for answers.
The rector sat at the center.
Beside him was Father Benedict.
Two other lecturers sat quietly, their eyes moving toward Michael the moment he entered.
"Come in, Michael," the rector said calmly.
Michael stepped inside slowly.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
When he reached the chair placed in front of them, the rector gestured toward it.
"Sit."
Michael lowered himself into the chair. His hands rested on his knees, but they trembled slightly.
The rector leaned forward.
"Michael," he began carefully, "we have received something disturbing."
He reached across the table and turned his phone around.
Michael's breath caught immediately.
The photo.
His stomach twisted painfully.
The image of him and Lucas kissing stared back at him from the screen.
For a moment, the entire room felt like it was closing in.
Father Benedict watched him closely.
"Michael," the rector continued, "can you explain this?"
Michael opened his mouth.
But no words came out.
His throat felt dry.
"I… I…"
His voice faded.
The rector sighed softly.
"Is the photo real?"
Michael looked down at the floor.
His heart pounded loudly in his chest.
The silence stretched painfully.
Finally he whispered, barely audible.
"…Yes."
The lecturers exchanged glances.
Father Benedict leaned forward slightly.
"Michael," he said gently, "are you and Lucas involved in a relationship?"
Michael's breathing grew uneven.
He remembered Francis' voice.
If you say anything… the photo goes everywhere.
His hands began shaking.
"I…" he whispered.
But he couldn't finish the sentence.
The rector's expression became more serious.
"Michael, we also need to ask you something else."
Michael slowly looked up.
The rector pulled a small stack of papers from the table.
"Several examination papers have been reported missing from this office."
Michael's stomach dropped.
"And," the rector continued calmly, "some students appear to have had access to those questions."
He slid the papers across the table.
"Do you recognize these?"
Michael's entire body froze.
His breathing became shallow.
Father Benedict watched him carefully.
"Michael," he said softly, "did you take these papers?"
The room felt unbearably quiet.
Michael's chest tightened.
He could feel the tears building again.
His mind screamed one name.
Francis.
The word almost escaped his lips.
But then he saw the photo again.
His vision blurred.
"…I…" he tried.
But nothing came out.
Tears slowly filled his eyes.
The rector frowned.
"Michael, this is serious."
A tear slipped down Michael's cheek.
"I'm sorry," he whispered weakly.
But he said nothing else.
Father Benedict's face softened with concern.
He could see the fear in the young man's eyes.
Something wasn't right.
But Michael remained silent.
Later that afternoon, Lucas was called to the same office.
He stood in front of the lecturers, his posture stiff.
The rector placed the phone on the table again.
"Lucas," he said, "do you recognize this photograph?"
Lucas glanced at the screen.
His jaw tightened.
"Yes," he said calmly.
The rector studied him.
"Is it real?"
Lucas didn't answer immediately.
His mind flashed to Michael's tear-filled eyes.
Finally he spoke.
"Michael is not a bad person."
One of the lecturers frowned.
"That was not the question."
Lucas remained silent.
The rector leaned back in his chair.
"Lucas, we are trying to understand the truth."
Lucas met his gaze.
"The truth," he said quietly, "is that Michael does not deserve what is happening to him."
The room fell silent again.
Elsewhere in the seminary, Francis paced nervously inside his dorm room.
He had already heard the rumors.
The lecturers were questioning students.
Michael had been called.
Lucas too.
Francis wiped the sweat from his forehead.
This wasn't how things were supposed to go.
Then there was Sam.
Sam's threat echoed in his mind.
If anything happens to Michael… I will post the video.
Francis clenched his fists.
For the first time since everything began…
he felt afraid.
That evening, Sam sat on the edge of his bed watching Michael quietly.
Michael lay on his back staring at the ceiling.
He hadn't spoken since returning from the meeting.
His eyes looked empty.
Sam sighed.
"Michael."
No response.
"Hey," Sam said gently, nudging his shoulder.
"You're scaring me."
Michael blinked slowly.
His voice sounded tired when he finally spoke.
"Everything is falling apart."
Sam shook his head.
"No. It's not."
Michael laughed weakly.
"They know about the photo."
Sam frowned.
"And?"
"And the exam papers," Michael whispered.
His voice cracked.
"I think they suspect me."
Sam's expression hardened.
"We'll deal with that."
Michael turned his head toward him.
"You don't understand," he said quietly.
"If the truth comes out…"
His voice broke.
"…Lucas will be destroyed too."
Sam didn't respond immediately.
But his jaw tightened.
Francis had pushed things too far.
And Sam was already planning what to do next.
Late that night, the dormitory hallway was quiet.
Most seminarians were already asleep.
A soft knock suddenly echoed on Michael's door.
Sam frowned and walked toward it.
When he opened the door, two seminary staff members stood outside.
"Is Michael here?" one of them asked.
Sam nodded slowly.
The man looked past him.
"Michael," he said calmly, "the rector wants to see you again."
Michael slowly sat up on the bed.
His heart sank.
"Now?" he asked weakly.
"Yes."
A cold feeling spread through his chest as he followed them out of the dormitory.
The walk to the administration building felt longer than ever.
When he entered the office again, the lecturers were already waiting.
But this time something was different.
A large printed photograph lay on the table.
Michael recognized it immediately.
The same picture.
Him and Lucas.
But this time it was zoomed out.
Showing more of the background.
The rector looked at him carefully.
"Michael," he said slowly.
"We noticed something interesting in this image."
He turned the photo toward him.
Michael leaned forward slightly.
Then his eyes widened.
Standing several steps behind them in the picture…
partially hidden by the trees…
was another figure.
Someone watching them.
Michael's heart stopped.
Because he knew that face.
The rector spoke again.
"Michael…"
"Do you recognize the person in the background?"
Michael stared at the photograph in horror.
The face in the shadows was unmistakable.
Francis.