The clock struck eleven in the evening.
Joseph walked silently down the corridor leading to the girls' dormitories. His steps were calm, deliberate — as though he had done this many times before. He stopped in front of a familiar door and, without bothering to knock, turned the handle and stepped inside.
A warm glow from a bedside lamp illuminated the room, casting soft shadows on the walls. She sat waiting for him, her face lit up with quiet anticipation.
A smile tugged at his lips.
He crossed the room and crouched on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in his. His long fingers moved gently along her skin, tracing lazy, affectionate patterns.
She tilted her head to look at him, a dreamy smile spreading across her face. Her eyes glimmered with admiration — not just for his looks, but for something deeper. To her, he was magnetic. Enigmatic. Irresistible.
She adored him.
She didn't care how different they were. In fact, it thrilled her. He was nothing like her — they were mismatched in every way — yet she had no intention of letting him go. She had fallen for him completely. Irrevocably.
From the very first moment she saw him, he had captured her.
When he leaned in and cupped her face in his hand, she closed her eyes. His lips met hers in a kiss that made her breath catch. She lay back on the pillow, pulling him down with her, her arms around his neck as she returned each kiss with longing and intensity.
Blinded by love, she gave no thought to the obstacles that might still lie ahead. She had fought too hard to be with him. She wasn't about to lose him now.
Her face glowed as he brushed her cheek with his fingertips and lay down beside her. His fingers found their way into her thick hair, playing idly with the strands.
"Joseph?" she murmured.
"Hm?" His voice was low, his gaze still focused on her.
"Are you upset that we can't use that room anymore?"
Joseph shifted onto his back, his eyes staring up at the pale ceiling.
"That girl's got guts," he muttered. "Not afraid of rumors. But it's only a matter of time before she runs. They always do."
She propped herself on her elbow, studying his expression.
"You don't mean to tell me you're the one teasing the people staying there...?"
He scoffed. "I'm not a child. Those kinds of games don't amuse me," he said, his tone clipped. "And I don't believe in all that ghost nonsense. It's probably some bored student playing pranks. Someone managed to ruin Halsey, and considering how many enemies she had, it could've been anyone. I just don't know if I'll ever find out who."
She rested her head against his chest and sighed softly.
"It's sad… what happened to her."
"Doesn't it bother you when I talk about her?" he asked after a moment.
She shook her head gently.
"No. Everyone has someone they cared about in the past. I know that now, I'm the one you confide in. I'll always be here. I'll always listen."
Joseph said nothing, but his arm wrapped around her protectively. He pressed his face into her hair, breathing in her scent.
For now, the silence between them felt like safety.
*
Mariah slipped quietly out of the room and glanced up and down the dim hallway. Her breath caught when she saw Jimmy pacing not far away, his shadow stretching under the soft glow of the overhead lights.
He noticed her and immediately closed the distance between them, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the door behind her.
"What kind of room is that?" he asked sharply. "What were you doing in there?" His gaze swept over her, suspicious and probing. "I knocked on your door. Your roommate said you weren't in bed, so I waited."
"What do you care?" she snapped. "You're the one who dumped me."
"Keep your voice down!" he hissed, cutting her off. "For Joseph's sake, we're only supposed to talk at night."
"If you're that afraid of him, then stay away from me!" she shot back, her voice trembling with restrained fury. "Pretend you don't even know me."
She tried to push past him, but he seized her forearm, holding her firmly in place.
"You're right," he said, his voice softening. "I don't want to lose his friendship. But I still don't understand why he hates you so much. I hate being caught between the two of you, having to choose. I thought ending things was the right move… but I can't stop thinking about you, Mariah." His eyes searched hers, filled with regret. "I don't want to lose you."
Her chest tightened. For the first time, he was opening up — something he'd never been able to do during their relationship. She had always chalked it up to his personality, made excuses for his emotional distance. Now, the vulnerability in his voice made her ache.
Then she froze.
A sharp click echoed from down the hall — the sound of a key turning in the lock of the sitter's office.
Mariah's instincts kicked in. Without thinking, she yanked the door open and shoved Jimmy into the same room she had just exited. He stumbled inside, his eyes darting around the cluttered space filled with forgotten furniture and discarded objects. A narrow bed stood against the far wall.
Mariah leaned her back against the closed door, straining to hear the sitter's footsteps. Her heart pounded in her chest. If the woman checked this room, they were finished — not just her and Jimmy, but the other boy who had hidden somewhere among the junk.
Her breath caught as the sitter's footsteps grew louder. She looked at Jimmy in panic, gesturing frantically for him to hide. He just shrugged, clueless or unwilling to move.
She had no choice.
Grabbing his shirt, she pushed him off the bed. They tumbled to the floor together, landing with a thud.
Mariah lay sprawled on top of him, one hand over his mouth to keep him quiet. Her hair brushed across his face, but he didn't flinch — just looked up at her with calm curiosity.
The door creaked open.
Light spilled into the room as the sitter peeked inside. For a moment, it seemed she might step in and inspect more closely — but a voice from the next room called her away.
"Where do you think you're going at this hour?" the sitter asked the unseen student, clearly distracted.
She muttered something under her breath and closed the door again.
Mariah exhaled sharply in relief.
She moved to sit up, but Jimmy's arms locked around her waist, keeping her where she was — pinned against him, amused.
"What are you doing?" she whispered. "First you yell at me, and now this? Is this some kind of game?"
"What did you do to Joseph?" he asked, ignoring her question. Her eyes narrowed. "Why does he hate you so much? Why does he forbid you from being with me, specifically? I'm the only girl at this school who's off-limits to you."
Jimmy's smirk faded.
"What did I do to him?" she repeated bitterly. "Why don't you ask him why he's such a freak?" she muttered, even though deep down, she knew exactly what the answer was.
"Do we have a chance?" he asked suddenly. "Could we… see each other secretly?"
Her expression turned cold.
"You picked your friend. You left me," she said, her voice trembling. "Do you seriously think I'd agree to some secret relationship? It's over, Jimmy."
He twisted suddenly, reversing their positions. Now she was flat on her back, and he was sitting above her, preventing her from getting up.
"I'm not letting you go until we talk — really talk."
"You sound like a child," she said, glaring at him. "You're starting to act more and more like Joseph. Don't follow his example, even if he is your friend."
He grabbed her chin gently but firmly, forcing her to look him in the eye.
"Admit it. You'd lose your mind if I started dating someone else," he said quietly.
Her eyes flashed.
He smirked. "Thought so. And I wouldn't be able to handle it either. So don't even think about replacing me. I'm warning you — I won't just sit back if I see some loser hanging around you."
"What is wrong with you?" she growled, her voice rising. "You dumped me, remember? You said you didn't need a girlfriend anymore. You chose him — so why are you trying to ruin my life now?"
He leaned in, but she quickly pinched his cheek hard enough to make him wince.
"So what?" she hissed. "You won't tolerate me dating someone else? What will you do if it turns out to be one of your friends? Beat him up? Ruin his life?"
"What are you even talking about—?"
"I want you gone!" she shouted, her eyes glistening. "I hate you for the way you treated me. And I'll never forgive you for it."
Jimmy's arms dropped. He stood up slowly and stepped away, allowing her to sit up.
"You say that now," he muttered. "But eventually, you'll miss me. You still love me. I know it."
She opened her mouth to protest — to tell him how wrong he was — but a sudden rustle stopped her.
A shadow moved from the corner of the room.
A boy stood up from behind a cabinet, his expression cold and full of disdain. He stared directly at Jimmy, unblinking.
"Surprised?" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Good. Because now I'm going to slap the shit out of you."
*
Hannah lay on top of the boy, speaking in a soft, teasing voice as she pinched his cheek. Jin tried to pull away from her, but she only clung to him more, deliberately provoking a reaction.
She cupped his face and kissed his lips, laughing at the displeasure written across his features.
Then, she nestled into him and gazed dreamily through the balcony window. The long curtains billowed in the breeze, and the sound of the sea drifted in. Everything about the moment felt warm and intoxicating — she wished it would last forever.
It felt good. It felt dangerously good.
"We're committing a crime," she whispered suddenly, spoiling the serene atmosphere. "Our parents are in the next room. Aren't you afraid of the chaos that'll erupt if they find us together?"
"I don't care," he replied without hesitation.
"You know we're not supposed to fall in love," she continued, resting her chin on her hands as she studied him. "We were meant to be siblings… not secret lovers."
His expression hardened — the subject had struck a nerve.
"I don't give a damn what they think. I don't care about anything anymore. If we have to, we'll leave them all behind."
The girl straightened and sat on his stomach.
"Hey, Romeo, didn't you get a little too carried away?" she said, hoping he was joking — but Jin's expression was far too serious. "What are you even talking about? You'd hurt your father over this?"
"We can't let them get married. I don't want your mother to become his wife. I want you to be the one by my side."
"That's selfish," she said, disappointment clouding her face.
"No. He's the selfish one," Jin snapped. "He knows exactly what's between us, and he's still going through with it. After the wedding, he plans to send you to school in America."
Hannah blinked in disbelief.
"Why?"
"He thinks that's the only way to keep us apart."
A shiver crawled down her spine, and she froze as a familiar whisper slithered past her ear:
"Ensure his happiness… save him from suffering."
She sat up abruptly, her wide eyes scanning the dark interior of the room.
It was always like this. Night after night, she experienced dreams that didn't belong to her. Visions that weren't fragments of her past, but illusions — illusions birthed by this room.
She couldn't explain what was happening to her. And yet, through these dreams, her thoughts increasingly revolved around Jin. A strange warmth bloomed in her chest, and sometimes it felt like… like she was remembering something. Something impossible.
Because she had never lost her memory.
There was something hidden in this room — a terrifying secret that could drive a person insane.
Everyone was right. She was in danger.
*
She cast a wary glance at Mariah, who had just joined her during break. The girl looked pale, her hands visibly trembling.
"Are you okay?" Hannah asked, concern creasing her brow. Mariah only nodded and leaned against the wall, clearly unwell.
"Are you sure? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"He's going to kill him," Mariah whispered, eyes shut as she massaged her temple. "That's the end friendship. He'll never forgive me for this." Her voice cracked. "Even though he started all of this… it's still my fault. I fell for the wrong boy. What have I done…"
She clutched at the fabric of her uniform, her entire body tense. Her eyes widened when Joseph walked past. He cast a fleeting glance in her direction — and paused slightly when he looked at Hannah.
Then came that cynical, chilling smile.
"Is this all because of him?" the 16-year-old asked, watching Mariah unravel.
Hannah's gaze shifted to Jimmy. His eye was bruised, his face hard with fury — not that he paid attention to the whispers around him. His eyes, however, were fixed on Mariah, burning with hurt and rage.
But "rage" didn't quite capture it. It was deeper than that.
He passed them without a word, fists clenched, jaw tight.
"I can't imagine being in the same class with them. It would be hell."
Hannah furrowed her brows, still unsure what exactly had happened. But something serious had clearly unfolded — and there would be consequences.
Mariah walked away slowly, heading to her classroom. She looked nothing like her usual self.
Hannah pulled out her phone and glanced at a message from her mother:I can finally relax now. Call me when you can.
"You deserve that rest, Mom," she murmured.
"Are you talking to yourself?" She looked up in surprise to see Tom's grinning face. "That's weird. And they laugh at me when I talk to Adams through the handle," he said, pointing at the boy beside him. "He's the worst. He told me I should get a girlfriend before I lose it completely. What do you think? Would we make a good couple?"
His bluntness caught Hannah off guard.
"You live in a cursed room. That makes you a high-risk case for insanity too," Tom added. "Let's save each other before the corridors of a psychiatric hospital swallow us whole."
"Don't listen to him," said boy. She turning her attention to the boy from her dreams — Jin. At once, that familiar warmth returned, a tingling sensation in her chest. "He lives in his own little world."
"I get it," she said aloud, almost to herself. The closeness they shared in her dreams… it was starting to make her uncomfortable around him in real life. These illusions — they were messing with her head.
She couldn't explain it.
"Want to hear who's even weirder?" Tom asked, defending himself, but Jin silenced him by covering his mouth. The younger boy muttered something, bit finger friend's in protest, and was ultimately shoved toward the classroom.
Hannah blinked as he stuck his rear out at them in defiance.
"I have to keep an eye on him. Some days he's impossible," Jin muttered, running a hand through her hair.
"That's true," she agreed. "But at least you have fun. His personality is funny."
He nodded — and an awkward silence fell between them.
She glanced at him at the wrong moment — he caught her staring.
Images from her dream returned in a flash. Her cheeks flushed a deep, telltale red.
"Meet me on the roof during the long break," she blurted.
None of this would leave her in peace. She had to know — were these really memories? Or just illusions created by a cursed room?
"Okay," Jin said, his voice calm. "Let's meet on the roof."
He, too, was hoping to find something out.
He needed to know what Hannah was hiding.