By the time they all regrouped, Chloe knew.
She didn't know how.
She just… knew.
It was in the way Samantha walked in slightly calmer, but glowing.
It was in the way Alex avoided eye contact for more than three seconds.
And most importantly
It was in the silence between them.
Too comfortable.
Too charged.
Too obvious.
Chloe narrowed her eyes.
"Ohhh…"
Samantha froze slightly.
Alex looked confused.
"What?" he asked.
Chloe pointed between them.
"What happened?"
"Nothing," Alex said immediately.
"Something," Chloe corrected.
Samantha crossed her arms.
"You're imagining things."
Chloe gasped dramatically.
"Wow. You're both terrible liars."
Nathan, standing nearby, looked away clearly trying not to laugh.
Ariel glanced between them, curious.
"…Did I miss something?"
"Yes," Chloe said instantly. "Something big."
Alex sighed.
"Can we not do this here?"
"Oh, we're definitely doing this here," Chloe replied.
Samantha stepped in calmly.
"There's nothing to talk about."
Chloe leaned closer.
"Then why are you blushing?"
Samantha blinked.
"I am not."
"You are," Chloe said with a grin.
Nathan finally lost it and laughed.
"Yeah… you are."
Samantha shot him a look.
"You're not helping."
"I'm not trying to," he said.
Later that evening…
Back in the dorm…
Chloe didn't hold back.
She shut the door, turned slowly, and looked at Samantha with a wide grin.
"Alright."
Samantha sighed.
"…Here we go."
Chloe walked closer.
"You. And Alex."
Samantha tried to stay calm.
"What about us?"
Chloe leaned in.
"What happened in that lab?"
Samantha looked away.
"Nothing."
Chloe's grin widened.
"Oh, you're definitely hiding something."
Samantha rolled her eyes.
"You're being dramatic."
Chloe crossed her arms.
"No, I'm being observant."
Samantha stayed quiet.
And that silence confirmed everything.
Chloe's eyes widened.
"WAIT."
She grabbed Samantha's arm.
"You kissed him, didn't you?!"
Samantha's composure cracked.
Just a little.
"…Maybe."
Chloe jumped back.
"I KNEW IT!"
Samantha groaned.
"Keep your voice down!"
"No," Chloe said, laughing. "This is a big moment!"
Samantha covered her face briefly.
"This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you."
Chloe smirked.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm just getting started."
Samantha dropped her hands and looked at her.
"Alright," she said calmly.
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"Alright what?"
"If we're doing this…"
Samantha's lips curved slightly.
"…let's talk about your crush."
Chloe blinked.
"…What?"
Samantha leaned closer.
"Nathan."
Chloe froze.
Then immediately looked away.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Samantha smiled.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
"Then why do you watch him every time he walks into a room?"
Chloe turned back sharply.
"I do not!"
"You do," Samantha said.
"And you get annoyed every time Esther talks to him."
Chloe's face flushed slightly.
"That's because she's annoying."
"Is that all?" Samantha asked.
Chloe opened her mouth—
Then closed it again.
"…You're changing the subject."
Samantha shrugged.
"Am I?"
Chloe narrowed her eyes.
"…We're not done with your situation."
Samantha smiled.
"Neither are we with yours."
They stared at each other for a moment.
Then
Both of them burst into laughter.
Later that night…
Outside the dorm…
Alex waited.
Leaning casually against the railing.
But there was a slight tension in his posture.
Like he was thinking about something.
Samantha stepped out.
He looked up.
And smiled.
"Hey."
"Hey."
She walked over to him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
But this silence was different.
More serious.
More intentional.
Alex exhaled softly.
"So…"
Samantha tilted her head.
"So?"
He looked at her properly.
"I don't want this to be confusing."
Her expression softened slightly.
"It's not."
"I mean it," he said. "I like you. Not just… what happened earlier. I mean actually like you."
Samantha held his gaze.
"I know."
"And I don't want to pretend it's nothing," he added.
She nodded slowly.
"Good."
Alex blinked.
"Good?"
"Yes," she said.
Because I feel the same way.
She didn't say it out loud immediately.
But it was there.
Clear in her eyes.
Samantha stepped a little closer.
"I don't do things halfway," she said quietly.
Alex smiled slightly.
"Neither do I."
A pause.
Then
"…So what are we doing?" he asked.
Samantha looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Then said it simply.
"We're doing this properly."
Alex's smile widened.
"Officially?"
She nodded.
"Officially."
He let out a quiet breath.
"Okay."
Then he reached for her hand.
Slowly.
Giving her time.
Samantha didn't hesitate.
She took it.
That small moment
Simple.
Quiet.
Real.
But it meant everything.
From a distance…
Chloe peeked through the curtain.
"…Wow."
Ariel stood beside her.
"…They're holding hands."
Chloe smirked.
"It's official."
Ariel smiled softly.
"They're cute."
Chloe nodded.
"…Yeah."
Then her expression shifted slightly.
As her eyes drifted past them—
To Nathan.
Standing alone a few steps away.
Looking up at the sky.
Quiet.
Distant.
Chloe watched him for a moment.
Then looked away.
"…Idiot," she muttered under her breath.
But there was no real anger in it.
And just like that
Something new had begun.
Not just for Samantha and Alex…
But for all of them.
Because while one relationship was starting…
Others were slowly becoming more complicated.
And none of them were ready for what was coming next.