The seminary woke that morning under a strange silence.
Usually, the early hours were filled with the soft sounds of students preparing for prayers or walking quietly across the courtyard. But today, whispers moved through the corridors like a restless wind.
Everyone had heard the news.
The bishop was coming.
And everyone knew why.
Inside his dorm room, Michael sat on the edge of his bed.
He hadn't slept.
His eyes were swollen from crying the previous night, and dark circles rested beneath them.
Sam leaned against the desk watching him carefully.
"You should lie down for a bit," Sam said softly.
Michael shook his head.
"I can't."
His voice sounded weak.
"What if they expel me?" he whispered.
Sam sighed.
"Michael…"
"What if they send me away today?" Michael continued, his voice trembling. "What will I tell my parents?"
His hands slowly clenched together.
"And Lucas…"
He stopped speaking.
The fear in his chest was too heavy to put into words.
Sam walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Whatever happens," he said quietly, "you won't face it alone."
A short while later, Michael stepped outside the dormitory.
The air felt cool against his face.
Students walking across the courtyard stared at him briefly before looking away.
Some whispered.
Some simply watched.
Michael lowered his head and continued walking.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called softly behind him.
"Michael."
He stopped.
His heart immediately recognized that voice.
Lucas.
Slowly, Michael turned around.
Lucas was standing a few steps away.
His expression was filled with worry.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Lucas walked toward him quickly.
When he got close enough, he noticed Michael's eyes.
They were still red.
Still swollen.
Lucas' chest tightened painfully.
"Hey…" he said gently.
Michael tried to look away, but Lucas reached out and gently held his shoulders.
"Look at me."
Michael hesitated before lifting his eyes.
The moment Lucas saw the tears forming again, his heart broke.
"Michael… Please don't cry again."
His voice was soft but full of concern.
"You've cried so much already. Your eyes are getting red and swollen."
He lifted one hand and gently wiped the tear sliding down Michael's cheek.
"If you keep crying like this, it'll only make things harder for you."
Michael's lips trembled.
"I'm scared," he whispered.
Lucas stepped closer.
Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around Michael and pulled him into a tight hug.
Michael immediately buried his face against Lucas' shoulder.
For a few seconds neither of them moved.
Lucas could feel Michael's body shaking slightly.
So he held him tighter.
"I'm here," Lucas murmured.
"You're not alone in this."
Michael slowly lifted his head.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Lucas gently pressed his forehead against Michael's.
They stood there quietly, breathing the same air.
"I meant what I said yesterday," Lucas whispered.
"No matter what happens today… I'm standing by your side."
Michael's eyes filled with tears again.
Lucas quickly shook his head.
"Hey, hey… don't start again."
He gave a small, worried smile.
"Please don't cry again, Michael."
His thumb gently brushed away the tears before they could fall.
"Your eyes are already red enough."
Michael let out a small, shaky laugh through his tears.
Lucas smiled softly.
"That's better."
Then his expression became serious again.
"If they punish you… they punish me too."
Michael's heart skipped.
Lucas leaned a little closer.
"I won't let you go through this alone."
For the first time that morning, Michael felt a small warmth inside his chest.
Before either of them could say anything else, a staff member approached them.
"Michael. Lucas."
Both of them turned.
"The bishop has arrived. You are needed in the administration office."
The moment had come.
Lucas gave Michael's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Come on," he said quietly.
"Let's face this together."
Inside the administration office, the atmosphere was heavy.
The bishop sat at the head of the table.
The rector and Father Benedict sat beside him.
Michael, Lucas, Sam, and Francis were called inside one after the other.
Francis looked nervous.
Sam stood quietly.
Michael kept his head lowered.
The bishop's presence filled the room with authority.
He looked at each of them carefully.
Then he spoke.
"I have been informed that a serious situation has occurred within this seminary."
His voice was calm but powerful.
He turned to Francis first.
"Francis," he said.
"We have been told that you secretly took a photograph of two fellow seminarians and used it to blackmail one of them."
Francis' face turned pale.
The bishop's gaze sharpened.
"Is this true?"
Francis swallowed hard.
He looked around the room.
Every pair of eyes was on him.
For the first time since everything began…
he realized there was nowhere left to hide.
His shoulders slowly dropped.
"…Yes."
The confession hung heavily in the air.
Michael closed his eyes.
Lucas' jaw tightened.
Francis continued weakly.
"I took the photo. I spread it. I forced Michael to steal the exam papers."
Father Benedict's expression darkened with disappointment.
The bishop nodded slowly.
"Thank you for telling the truth."
Then he turned toward Michael and Lucas.
His voice softened slightly.
"But this matter is not only about blackmail."
He paused.
"It is also about the relationship between the two of you."
Michael felt his heart sink again.
The bishop studied them carefully.
"Tell me," he said calmly.
"Why did you choose to continue the seminary… if your hearts were already bound to each other?"
Neither Michael nor Lucas spoke.
The silence answered more than words could.
After a long moment, the bishop stood.
"This situation requires careful reflection."
He looked at the rector.
Then at the students.
"Tomorrow morning," he announced,
"I will deliver my decision regarding all of you."
The room became silent.
Because that decision could change their lives forever.
Lucas glanced at Michael beside him.
Michael's hands were trembling again.
Quietly, Lucas reached over and held his hand under the table.
And this time…
Michael did not pull away.