Page 60 of The Bittersweet Bond

“Yeah,” Dominic chimed in, “she practically undressed you with her eyes. It was embarrassing to watch. Something had to have happened this time.”

“None of your business,” Bas muttered, pulling his shirt over his head. He wanted to shut it down, but the two of them were like vultures smelling blood.

“So it did happen!” Vinc laughed loudly, slapping Dominic on the shoulder. “I knew it! She got you.”

“What do you mean, ‘she got you’?” Dominic smirked. “Come on, if anything, he had her wrapped around his finger. She’s always acting like she’s better than everyone else. But in the end, she’s just one of those girls who picks the right guy to polish up her image.” Bas felt his muscles tighten but kept silent.

“So, was she good?” Vinc wouldn’t let it go. “Come on, man. You can tell us. Was she as hot as she looks?” “Or did she just tease you and then shut it down?”

Dominic smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’d be typical of someone like her.”

She’s not like that," Bas snapped, before he could stop himself.

“Oh, she’s not ‘someone like her’?” Vinc raised his eyebrows, snorting. “Come on, Bas, we know you. Don’t tell us she’s special. Or is she?”

“Man, don’t get all sentimental now,” Dominic joined in. “We both know she knew exactly what she was doing when she went after you.”

“Exactly. She practically begged for it, didn’t she?” Vinc laughed. “The way she was looking at you, bro... She was practically undressed before you two were even alone.”

Bas started to speak, but nothing came out. He wanted to defend her—he really did—but part of him was still angry. Angry about Ben. Angry that she had made him feel replaceable. And worse, he couldn’t risk looking like a fool in front of the guys.

“Yeah, she wanted it,” he finally said, and his heart sank the moment the words left his lips.

“Ha! Told you!” Vinc laughed triumphantly, high-fiving Dominic.

“And?” Dominic crossed his arms, looking at him challengingly. “Did she give you the full experience?”

That’s when Jonas, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke.

"What the fuck is wrong with the three of you?"

The laughter stopped.

Jonas’s voice was calm, but his expression was cold. He looked straight at Bas.

A heavy silence settled between them. When Bas finally looked up, Jonas was staring—not smirking like the others, not amused, just… disappointed.

"And you?" His eyes narrowed. "Didn’t think you’d be the kind of guy to sell her out."

Jonas’s voice cut through the laughter like a blade.

Bas felt his stomach drop, but his face stayed blank. Jonas just shook his head and grabbed his bag.

"Whatever." That was all he said before walking out.

One comment led to another, each exaggeration fueling the next. By the time Bas even considered responding, their version of events was already set.

__________

Now, hours later, he sat on the steps, the weight of his own silence pressing down on him like a noose.

Evin’s words had hit him like blows. But the worst part? She was right.

"You practically invited them to see me like that," she had said. And Bas couldn’t deny it.

He hadn’t protected her. He had let Dominic and Vinc reduce her to nothing more than a joke, twisting reality into something she wasn’t. And he had said nothing.

Worse—he’d played along.

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