Elliott barely had time to process the words that had just left his mouth before Charles' sharp, piercing gaze locked onto him. It was an intense stare, unwavering, as if questioning his audacity.
The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
The way Charles stared at him with a calm, unbothered, almost challenging made Elliott's stomach twist with unease. That gaze seemed to be asking him:
What do you think? Or are you trying to say that being gay is a bad thing?
Elliott felt his throat go dry. His body stiffened. He wanted to say something, anything to clear up whatever misunderstanding had just formed, but no words came out.
He gulped.
Of course, it wasn't bad. He knew that. He had never thought it was.
So then… why was he so on edge? Why did he ask? Why did he even care?
It was him. He was the problem. He was the one overthinking this. That was all.