UTOPIA HIGH

The truth

Reon looked at Rehina, saying, "No, I can't. I'm just gonna head out. It's so hard for the two classes to ever get along since we live in totally different worlds."

Rehina smiled at Reon and replied, "Well, I might have a solution. What if after the party, I live a stunted life back at St. Marble? I'll rent a tiny house, and maybe we can just have fun together."

Reon, smiling, asked, "Why do you want to risk it for me?"

Rehina answered, "Maybe I'm also tired of my life, and for once, I need to live a life of mystery – waking up not knowing what to eat, wear. It's so fun."

Reon countered, "It's not as cool as you make it sound and it won't be the same. You always have an option to get back."

Rehina sighed and said, "Yes, but at least let me live before being sucked up into this."

Reon hesitated, "I don't know. I'll kinda feel responsible for you."

Rehina smiled and reassured, "Well, obviously, you'll be my mentor."

Reon, feeling bad about the decision, relented, "Well, it's fine by me."

Rehina held Reon's hands and said, "Now, let's go party. I'm in a good mood already – a way out thanks for walking to this corridor," as she pushed him towards the party.

Reon, being dragged, mumbled, "Why do I always get myself in tough spots? Can't I just say no? But her cute face made it hard for me. Oh, what the hell."

Rehina pulled him to the table, and as they sat alone, she smiled, saying, "Well, this is nice. So, tell me all about the girls who made you miserable. You're so handsome."

Reon, sipping champagne, replied, "Tell them that."

Rehina, still smiling, slid her phone to his table, saying, "So, I've always checked for houses at St. Marble, and I came to these three choices. Which one is your favorite?"

Reon, picking up the phone, remarked, "The first one looks like a drug dealer's house, the second one... mhh, looks kinda messy, and the third one, well, it's kinda nice, but why would a Beaumont want to live this life?"

Rehina, looking mad, sighed, "Uhh, you're so like other guys, always making me live up to my family wealth. Can't you just accept my choices and respect them?"

Reon, trying to diffuse the situation, said, "Okay, okay, no need to get mad. I choose the third one."

Rehina smiled, saying, "So did I."

Meanwhile, Latti, laughing with Damon, noticed Reon and said, "Is that Reon? No way, it can't be. How did he look so great? Maybe it's Morgan's money. But who is he sitting with? I'm gonna go talk to him."

She stood up, and Damon asked, "Where are you going?"

Latti replied, "Excuse me, I'll be back shortly."

Morgan, looking around, noticed Reon with Rehina and said to George, "Uhm, George, excuse me, I'll be right back." George nodded, and Morgan walked over to Reon. At the same time, Latti also arrived, and both said, "Hey, Reon," noticing each other.

Reon, looking around, noticed Morgan and Latti standing beside him. Rehina, rolling her eyes, folded her arms and remarked, "I finally had a guy listen to me for once, and they show up."

Reon greeted them, saying, "Hey, guys." Morgan explained, "I missed you at the table, so I had to look around," and Latti added, "I didn't know you were at the party. Why didn't you say hi to me?"

Reon smiled and replied, "I'm sorry, guys, but I just got caught up by Rehina. She's nice."

Morgan protested, "But you're my plus one! You have to be near me. What about a picture? You won't be near."

Reon stood up, telling Rehina, "Well, I'll see you." Latti asked, "So, wanna hang with me for a bit?"

Rehina, frustrated, shouted, "Why don't you tell them what you told me and be done with it? I mean, the truth will set you free."

Reon, Morgan, and Latti turned to Rehina. Reon, confused, said, "I don't know what you're talking about, so shush, please."

Rehina insisted, "I'm trying to help you. Why play nice while you end up getting hurt?" Morgan, confused, looked at Reon and asked, "What does she mean?" Latti also questioned, "Yeah, what do you mean?" Reon, still confused, responded, "It's nothing. Maybe she had a lot to drink, and now she's seeing things."

Rehina, with a disappointed tone, said, "You know, I thought you were a different man, an honest and kind man, and now you're just like the rest, lying to be accepted."

Latti, looking at Rehina, interjected, "Hey, you've got to stop talking about my friend like that." Morgan also chimed in, "Yeah, it's not nice. Reon is one of the best friends you could possibly ask for."

Rehina smiled and replied, "Friend, huh? Not from what I've heard." Reon, covering his eyes, asked, "Why are you doing this?"

Rehina continued as Latti and Morgan listened, "Well, Reon has a thing for both of you, and it has driven him crazy throughout this party. I found him confused in a dark corridor. Maybe it's best he tells you before I do."

Morgan, holding onto Reon, said, "What is going on? Talk to me." Latti, concerned, added, "You can be open to talk to me about anything, you know."

Rehina, emphasizing her point, said, "Better tell them because I will if you chicken out."

Reon, breathing heavily, confessed, "Look, here goes. Latti, I kissed you, and you told me you can't be in a relationship at the moment. Seeing you kiss Damon in front of all these people made me feel like I wasn't enough for you. And Morgan, I've always had a crush on you from the first moment I saw you in the van, holding an espresso cup in a beanie at the airport. When I finally had a chance to spend time with you and be your plus one at the party, it made it more special until George showed up and took your attention. It made me feel left out, and the fact that he started talking down on me at the table made me realize it was too good to be true."

Rehina smiled, saying, "Isn't it so hot over here?"

Morgan, confused with watery eyes, said, "I took you as my friend. The fact that you told her and not me just makes me feel mad at you."

Reon stammered, "I, uh, I was gonna tell you, Morgan, but I couldn't find the strength to. Besides, you were still all over George and Joseph; all up on you. I didn't want to fit the puzzle."

Morgan took a step back, processing the revelation. "So, the story you told me that night at your room, you were talking about us all along?" Reon, looking down, admitted, "Maybe."

Morgan wiped her eyes, saying, "I took you as my friend while you never even considered me as one. Everything you did, I thought you were being kind. Turns out you did it out of love for me."

Reon tried to comfort her, "Morgan, come on, don't overthink it. I mean, it's not a sin for a person to have feelings."

Morgan replied, "It's not, but this changes everything. I can't sit with you and look at you in the eyes and not think about your feelings for me. I'm sorry."

She walked away, leaving Reon feeling upset. He held his chin as she walked away, grappling with the consequences of his revelation.