The moment I stepped into my dorm room…
I felt it.
That strange, uncomfortable feeling—like I had just walked into something I wasn't supposed to be part of.
At first, I ignored it. I told myself it was just because I resumed late, that awkward feeling of entering a space where everyone had already settled in. But deep down, something didn't sit right.
And I didn't know it yet…
…but that room was about to change everything.
I had resumed my second year later than everyone else because of some issues I didn't even feel like explaining anymore. It had been stressful enough, and all I wanted now was peace—a fresh start.
I had already arranged to stay in the same dorm with Mia, my friend from first year. So when I finally dragged my box into the room, tired and slightly annoyed, I was at least hoping for something familiar.
The door creaked open.
Mia was there.
"Nuella!" she screamed, jumping up from her bed and running straight into me.
I laughed immediately, dropping my bag as she pulled me into a tight hug. "I missed you!"
"I thought you weren't coming again!" she said, pulling back to look at me.
"Me too," I muttered jokingly. "This school almost frustrated me."
We both laughed, and for a moment, everything felt normal again. Safe.
That was until I noticed the other girl in the room.
She was sitting on the lower bunk, watching us quietly.
"Mia, you didn't tell me we had a new roommate," I said, forcing a small smile.
"Oh! This is Cassie," Mia said quickly. "She's really nice."
Cassie smiled softly and waved. "Hi."
"Hi," I replied, returning the gesture.
She seemed calm. Reserved. Not too talkative, but not rude either. I didn't mind her.
The fourth roommate wasn't around yet. Mia mentioned she had gone out to fix her nails and lashes.
I didn't think much of it.
At least, not yet.
I turned back to my luggage and started unpacking, trying to settle in as quickly as possible.
"I think you should clean the bunk before putting anything on it," Cassie said gently. "It's dusty."
I paused, then nodded. "Oh… okay, no problem."
I grabbed a cloth and started wiping the bunk. That was when I noticed something else.
There was no wardrobe space left.
I frowned slightly. "Wait… where am I supposed to keep my things?"
Mia scratched her head. "Ahh… since you came late, all the wardrobes have been taken."
I stared at her. "You're joking."
She laughed nervously. "We'll figure something out…"
I sighed quietly. Great. Just perfect. Late resumption and now no wardrobe.
I pushed the thought aside and continued unpacking.
The door suddenly opened.
And that was when everything shifted.
A girl walked in.
Tall. Slim. Fair.
Her nails were long—sharp, polished, almost too perfect. Her lashes were full, dramatic, and her lip gloss caught the light in a way that made her presence impossible to ignore.
She didn't smile.
She didn't greet anyone.
She just walked in like she owned the room.
Something about her energy…
It wasn't fear.
I wasn't scared.
I just… didn't like it.
So I didn't say anything.
"Oooh, your nails!" Mia suddenly said, rushing toward her. "Where did you do them?"
The girl dropped her bag casually. "Downstairs."
"They're so nice!" Mia added.
She smirked slightly. "I know."
I rolled my eyes internally and walked over to Mia's bed, sitting beside her quietly.
Girls and their gossip, I thought.
Mia started chatting as usual, bringing up old memories, laughing about things from last year. Then she suddenly leaned closer to me.
"So… are you still with your boyfriend?" she asked.
I smiled slightly. "Of course."
"What's his name again?"
I hesitated for a second before answering.
"Sami."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
I didn't notice it at first.
But then—
"Wait…"
The girl's voice cut through the room.
I looked up.
She was staring at me now.
"You said… Sami?"
Something about the way she said his name made my chest tighten.
"Yeah," I replied slowly. "Why?"
She let out a short, dry laugh.
"Oh… I know him."
My brows furrowed slightly. "You do?"
She rolled her eyes.
"That stupid boy."
My heart skipped.
I sat up properly now, my full attention on her.
"You know him?" I repeated, my voice calmer than I actually felt.
She shrugged. "Yeah. We're… friends."
Friends.
Something about that didn't sit right.
Mia, of course, leaned forward immediately. "Wait, what happened? How do you know him?"
The girl—Marvel, as I later found out—smirked again, like she was enjoying the attention.
"It's nothing serious," she said casually. "We were close… but I thank God I didn't date him."
My fingers tightened slightly against the bed.
"Oh wow," Mia said, clearly interested. "Why?"
Marvel laughed lightly. "He's a playboy. Trust me."
I didn't say anything.
I didn't react.
But inside…
Something was already shifting.
Because the Sami I knew…
Wasn't like that.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
I glanced down.
Sami.
Almost immediately, I typed:
"I'm in the same room with one of your friends… and she just spoiled your name."
He replied quickly.
"Who?"
I stared at the screen for a moment.
"I'm not telling you."
A few seconds passed.
Then another message came in.
"Marvel?"
My heart stopped.
I slowly looked up.
Marvel was no longer in the room.
The door was slightly open.
And suddenly… everything started making sense.
How did he know?
Why did she leave immediately?
And why did this feel like something bigger than just coincidence?