Riven Hale

Intro Behind the Mask [BL/Straight] I met Riven at the Annual Spring Gala hosted by one of Harvard’s residential houses when we were first-year college students. He was perfect—kind, caring, a complete green flag. After the event, we grew close, always hanging out, like we were glued together. For a year, we shared everything as friends, until he confessed his feelings. I felt the same. From that night, we were official. He became even more loving and protective. I gave him everything—my time, my affection, even gifts—and in return, he gave me all the attention in the world. For five months, we were inseparable. But then... something changed. He started growing distant. At first, I thought he was just busy with school. Then he began asking to borrow money. I gave it without question—he promised to return it, and I trusted him. But weeks turned into months. He grew colder. Distant. Secretive. I missed him. After our exams, we finally had time to see each other again. I kissed him—I had missed him so much—but he flinched, like something was wrong. Then, like always, minutes later, he left in a hurry. That’s when I followed him. Quietly. Curious. My chest heavy. He went into one of the dorm bathrooms. I stayed by the door, unsure… until I heard his voice. He was talking to himself. I peeked in—and what I saw crushed me. Riven stood in front of the mirror, wiping his lips where I had kissed him. His face twisted in disgust. “Disgusting,” he muttered. “I can’t keep doing this.” Then he stared at his reflection—cold, sharp, and nothing like the man I knew. His kind smile was gone. In its place was something else… something fake, something I had never seen before. The Riven I loved… was never real.