The long lunch break was every student's salvation — a chance to take a breather from the endless grind of lessons and to finally fill their stomachs with something warm and satisfying.
Groups of young people streamed toward the cafeteria in clusters, talking loudly, laughing, or walking quietly alone. Mariah, however, decided to take a detour. She couldn't bring herself to eat without washing her hands first. The thought alone made her stomach turn. To her, it was simply unhygienic. She wanted to scrub away any trace of bacteria before even thinking about food.
Pushing open the bathroom door, Mariah immediately noticed two girls leaning against the tiled wall, giggling over a phone. Their laughter was shrill and unguarded, the kind that betrayed how completely wrapped up they were in whatever they were watching. They looked like typical, excitable teenagers — the kind who would squeal over the newest photo of a pop idol without any shame.
Mariah walked toward the sink, her expression impassive. She caught sight of the girls in the mirror as she turned on the tap. They were pressed shoulder to shoulder, their heads tilted toward the glowing phone screen, cheeks flushed with excitement. Every so often, one would clasp her hands to her face as though she might faint.
Mariah couldn't help but smile faintly to herself. Their obsession was almost pathetic. And when she finally heard the name that left their lips, she rolled her eyes.
Joseph. Of course.
"Just look at this new photo," the gray-haired girl whispered dreamily. "How can someone be so handsome? His eyes… God, I would die if he looked at me like that up close."
Mariah raised one eyebrow, watching them through the mirror as she reached for a paper towel. She dried her freshly washed hands slowly, deliberately, listening to every word.
"How much I would give to have him pay attention to me," the brunette chimed in. "Not only handsome, but charismatic and intelligent too. He's my ideal type."
Mariah crumpled the paper towel and tossed it into the trashcan with a soft thud. A quiet snort of disbelief escaped her, loud enough that the other girls turned.
"Do you have a problem?" the gray-haired one asked sharply, her eyes narrowing in disdain.
"You're the ones with the problem," Mariah replied coolly, her voice carrying an edge of mockery. "You're in your senior year and you're still drooling over Joseph as if he's some prince." She tilted her head and smirked. "Oh, forgive me. I forgot… he is a prince. A dark ruler, right?"
She exaggerated the last words, shaking her head with feigned pity.
The gray-haired girl pushed off the wall and stalked toward her, her lips twisting into a cold smile.
"Listen to me," she began, her voice dripping with contempt. "All this time you were untouchable because of your relationship with Jimmy. We put up with you even when you pissed us off because you thought you were better than everyone else. Friends with the most popular boys in school, wasn't that it?" She let out an artificial laugh, the sound echoing sharply against the bathroom tiles. "Sure, you've got a pretty face, but when it comes to grades, you're far behind. If I were you, I'd burn with shame."
Mariah shrugged as if she didn't care. "Somehow, I don't give a damn," she said flatly. "I've never paid much attention to schoolwork, so the fact that I even got accepted here is fascinating. Clearly, I'm an intelligent girl."
The brunette, who had been silent until then, stepped forward abruptly. She grabbed Mariah by the collar of her shirt and yanked her closer. Her lips were pressed into a thin, furious line.
"Jimmy hates you now, bitch," she hissed. "We can use that, don't you think?"
Mariah snorted softly, the corner of her mouth curling in amusement. "So what? Are you going to beat me up in the bathroom?" Her tone was dripping with mockery. "At least admit why you're doing it. Because 'my ex-boyfriend hates me' is the weakest excuse I've ever heard."
The brunette's eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening. Without a word, the gray-haired girl stepped back and kicked the bathroom door shut with a sharp bang.
"You bark too much, bitch," the brunette growled, rolling up the sleeves of her shirt. "Don't you know the corridors are practically empty during lunch?"
Mariah's smirk deepened. "Well, I don't know… I think they're only empty in your heads."
That was the breaking point. The brunette's hand lashed out before she could stop herself, striking Mariah hard across the face. The crack of the slap echoed in the tiled room.
The gray-haired girl moved quickly, grabbing Mariah from behind, holding her in place so her friend could hit her again. But Mariah didn't give them the satisfaction. She used the moment to jump up suddenly, thrusting both legs forward and shoving the brunette back with surprising force.
At that moment, the bathroom door opened a crack, and another girl peeked in. She saw the slap, the aggression — and she did nothing. Her lips curled into a cruel smile, and without a word, she stepped back and shut the door again.
To her, Mariah deserved it. She had been sticking her nose into things that didn't concern her for far too long.
*
Hannah scooped another bite of food with her fork and stuffed it into her mouth, her eyes darting impatiently around the cafeteria. She chewed quickly, barely tasting what she ate, more focused on scanning the room than enjoying her meal.
At a nearby table, Joseph sat with one leg crossed over the other, his tray of untouched food growing cold. His sharp gaze wandered over the crowd of students, instinctively searching for someone — his chosen person — though she was nowhere to be found.
Instead, his eyes landed on Hannah.
She was seated with Tom, of all people, laughing so loudly that a few nearby students turned to look. She nearly choked on her food from how hard she was laughing, and rice spilled from her plate onto the table. Joseph's brow furrowed. The sight irritated him more than he liked to admit. It wasn't Hannah herself — not entirely — but the fact that Tom, his friend, was sitting beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
He let out a short breath and shook his head. Tom lived in a world of his own — naïve, warm, oblivious — so Joseph knew better than to scold him for poor taste in company. Even so, it gnawed at him.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Jin, seated a few tables away, frozen in place like a statue. He wasn't eating. He wasn't blinking. His gaze was pinned entirely on Hannah.
Joseph's mouth twisted in amusement. Jin looked like a lost mutt struck by a love spell. The image made Joseph croak under his breath in silent mockery. Then, without bothering to glance over, he sensed Jimmy nearby — lurking, searching. Pretending not to care, pretending he was over her. But Joseph saw through it. He always did.
Jimmy had broken up with her — loudly, publicly — and yet now his eyes roamed the cafeteria with that same desperate flicker. Joseph didn't even need to look. He just knew.
Back at the table, Hannah scrunched her eyebrows, turning to Tom with a half-chewed bite in her mouth. He'd just asked her another absurd question:
— "What do you think? Is the sparrow on the branch sitting or ponying up?"
She blinked.
Tom stabbed a piece of meat, chewed it slowly, and added, "He crouches. Because if he were sitting, his legs would be dangling."
There was a brief pause. Hannah stared at him blankly, as if still processing what she'd just heard. Then, without warning, she let out a loud guffaw, slapping her hand on the table. Her laughter echoed off the walls, drawing curious stares from nearly every corner of the cafeteria.
She didn't care.
— "You know how to cheer me up," she said between gasps. "You're irreplaceable. Say something else!" She placed her hand on his shoulder with affectionate familiarity.
Joseph and Jin didn't move. Neither of them took their eyes off her.
Tom rested his chin on his hand and puckered his lips in mock thought. He was silent for a moment before asking, very seriously:
— "When are you home without a head?"
Hannah blinked, confused.
— "When you look out the window," he answered triumphantly.
That did it.
She burst into laughter again, even louder this time, her shoulders shaking. In the rush of amusement, she completely forgot herself and patted Tom on the thigh like they'd known each other for years. It was careless. Natural. Too natural.
Joseph leaned toward Jin, a sly glint in his eyes. He saw Jin freeze mid-bite, his fork hovering in the air.
— "Don't you think the two of them are getting along really well?" he murmured, amused.
Jin's jaw tightened. He placed his cutlery down on the table with more force than necessary. The sharp clatter made Joseph raise an eyebrow.
— "Tom's just… friendly with everyone," Jin said stiffly. "It's normal that he gets close to people. There's not a single person who doesn't like him."
But his voice cracked slightly on the last sentence.
Joseph leaned back, satisfied.
— "She looks happy," he said with a shrug. "Should I ruin her mood?"
That earned him a warning glare from Jin — cold, sharp, and silent. Joseph raised his hands in mock surrender, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
— "Alright, alright. I'll let it go... for now."
*
When the class finally ended, Hannah collapsed onto her bed with a long, drawn-out sigh of relief. Her limbs felt heavy, and her mind buzzed with fatigue. She reached beneath her pillow, fumbling blindly until her fingers brushed the familiar shape of her phone.
Just then, as if perfectly timed by fate, the screen lit up with her mother's name.
— "Hannah, honey, how are you feeling?" came the gentle, familiar voice through the receiver.
— "Mom, I'm fine," she replied, shifting slightly on the bed. "You're back home, right? Then why haven't you come to see me yet? You know I have to stay here all weekends during the first semester. It's awful. Especially when I watch the upperclassmen walking out on Friday night, free as birds."
There was a soft chuckle from the other end.
— "The first semester will pass quickly, sweetheart, you'll see. You just need to stay focused and work hard. Show everyone what you're capable of — that you're the best."
Her mother's words brought a faint smile to Hannah's lips. Yes, she thought. That's exactly what I need to do. She had to prove it — to everyone, but most of all, to herself. And especially to Joseph. She wanted to surpass him, to rise higher than he ever expected.
Her expression faltered slightly.
— "Mom?" she asked cautiously. "Are you absolutely sure I haven't lost my memory?"
Mrs. Anderson laughed softly, the sound warm and reassuring.
— "Why are you asking me this again? Sweetheart, I promise — you're perfectly healthy."
— "It's just that… I've had a few strange feelings lately," she murmured, her voice growing quiet. "But never mind." She forced a lighter tone. "Which weekend will you come visit me, Mom?"
A sigh floated through the receiver.
— "There's just been so much going on... so many responsibilities at the company. I'm truly sorry I haven't managed to come yet. But I promise — I'll visit soon, okay, Hannah?"
The teenager's chest tightened. Her expression dimmed.
— "I understand. You have work. I'll wait."
— "Please don't be upset with me, honey," her mother pleaded gently.
— "I'm not mad, Mom. Really. I understand. I just... I miss you a lot," she admitted, her voice soft, almost timid.
— "I miss you too," Mrs. Anderson replied, her voice filled with emotion. "I promise I'll see you soon."
They said their goodbyes, and Hannah ended the call. She slid the phone back beneath her pillow and lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling. A heavy sigh escaped her chest.
Her eyes wandered to the plain white clock on the wall. Two hours left until her meeting with Mariah — the older girl had told her it was something important. Something that couldn't wait.
Hannah swallowed, a strange mixture of anticipation and unease settling in her stomach.
*
With a split lip and fresh bruises blooming across her face, Mariah sat silently in front of her dorm room door. She paid no attention to the curious stares, the whispers swirling around her like smoke. Students passed by, slowing down just enough to get a good look before murmuring speculations about what had happened to her — and more importantly, who had done it.
She looked terrible — that much was true. But the same could easily be said for the girls who had attacked her.
Her gaze lifted slightly when she noticed a familiar presence near her feet. Nick stood there, motionless, his expression frozen as his eyes took in the sight of her battered face. He blinked, visibly shaken.
— "Don't worry. I'll be fine," she muttered, pushing herself up from the floor with visible effort. She faced him and laid a firm hand on his shoulder, her voice calm despite the pain etched into her features. — "Idiots attacked me. But I provoked them. I won't put the blame on anyone else."
Nick exhaled sharply and shook his head, disbelief creasing his brow.
— "Haven't you had enough problems already? Jimmy's been making your life hell, Joseph loathes you, and now you're going after girls like them?" he asked, his voice low, worried. — "Just... please. Hold on until the end of the year. Stop reacting. Ignore the taunts."
— "I won't hide," she said firmly. — "I may look like this now, but I won't let anyone walk all over me. They got lucky this time... next time, I'll be the one swinging."
He reached out, gently brushing his hand against her cheek. His eyes filled with helpless anger as he examined the raw, swollen skin.
— "I'm not going to the nurse," she warned, catching his wrist before he could suggest it. — "I've got a first-aid kit in my room. If you want, you can play doctor."
She tried to smile, but it came out crooked, pain tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Nick gave her a silent nod. Arguing with her never worked. He followed her into the room, where — fortunately — her roommates were nowhere in sight. It gave them a moment of peace.
He sat beside her on the bed, carefully unscrewing the ointment cap while she leaned forward, bracing herself for the sting.
— "I have to meet Hannah soon," she said quietly, her voice laced with urgency. — "She needs to know what's going on. I'm going to tell her the truth. She's in danger."
Nick paused, dabbing a salve onto one of the cuts. His hand trembled slightly.
— "Are you sure that's the right call? The one who's haunting her… he's not someone you can cross lightly. I don't want you getting dragged deeper into this."
Mariah's eyes burned with quiet defiance.
— "You know me, Nick. I'm not afraid of anything. I can't just sit back and let that poor girl suffer. The line's been crossed."
— "You really think it's the same person?" he asked, his tone hushed.
— "I know it is."
Their conversation was cut short when the door opened and one of Mariah's roommates stepped in. Her eyes widened the moment she saw Mariah's face.
— "The rumors are already all over the school," she said, concern flickering across her features.
— "Let them talk." Mariah shrugged, wincing as the movement tugged at her sore muscles. — "I'm used to being the center of attention. That's what happens when you date the school's golden boy."
The roommate quickly pulled something from the closet, flashed them a tight smile, and slipped out again.
Nick narrowed his eyes.
— "She seems fake."
Mariah let out a bitter laugh and nodded.
— "Because she is. To my face, she acts like a sweet, supportive friend. But the second my back is turned, she's trashing me with the other girls."
Nick muttered under his breath, eyes scanning her face for any missed wounds.
— "She's a bitch."
Mariah burst into laughter at the bluntness of his words, but the sound quickly turned into a groan as a sharp jolt of pain sliced through her bruised cheeks. She clutched her side, still smiling despite it all.
*
The clock had just struck five minutes past 8 p.m. when Hannah made her way to the first floor. Her steps were light but hesitant as she stopped by the window and leaned against the sill, her eyes fixed on the bathroom door at the far end of the corridor. A classmate exited the room, glancing right past her without acknowledgment, as if she were invisible.
Hannah had grown used to this. Ever since the rumors about her involvement with Joseph had spread, people avoided her like the plague. It wasn't fear of her that kept them at a distance — it was fear of him. The school's infamous dark prince had claimed her in some unspoken way, and no one dared interfere.
From time to time, she glanced toward the staircase, her gaze flickering with anticipation. She and Mariah had agreed to meet ten minutes after eight, but Hannah had come early — perhaps out of nervousness, or perhaps because she hoped to get it over with quickly.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor. She instinctively stepped away from the windowsill, only to freeze when she recognized the figure approaching. It was Joseph.
She turned her back to him at once, hoping — foolishly — that he would pass by without a word. But his presence was like a storm cloud: thick, electric, impossible to ignore.
— "Well, what a pleasant surprise," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "I get the impression you choose these places just to run into me…"
Hannah rolled her eyes.
— "Don't pretend it's a coincidence," he added with a grin.
She shot him a look of pure disgust, but that only seemed to amuse him more. Joseph was impossible to read. One moment he carried himself like a cold-blooded villain, ready to set fire to the world. The next, he tossed around cheeky remarks like some boyish flirt.
— "I'm waiting for someone," she said firmly. "I have an appointment."
It was a clear dismissal, but Joseph only arched an eyebrow.
— "With Jin?" he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly as if trying to read her thoughts.
She didn't answer. That was all the confirmation he needed.
Before she could react, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off the ground. Her cry of protest was muffled by his hand clamped over her mouth. Without warning, he rushed her into the men's bathroom.
He set her down inside, slammed the door shut behind them, and held the handle firmly to block her escape.
— "What the hell do you want from me?! I need to talk to someone!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the tiled walls.
Joseph pressed a finger to his lips, his glare sharp and threatening.
— "You're not leaving until you answer some questions."
— "You're doing this on purpose!" she snapped. "You're malicious! You're trying to isolate me from everyone! Because of you, nobody even wants to talk to me anymore. You're a monster!"
He seemed unfazed. As her voice rose, he clamped his hand over her mouth again and pushed her into one of the stalls, backing her against the wall. His foot pressed against the door to keep it from swinging open.
— "Shut up, or you'll be sitting in here all night," he hissed. "Scream all you want. No one's going to save you. The teachers are long gone, and the dorm monitors won't bother coming out."
— "You sick bastard…" she muttered under her breath, slumping onto the toilet lid in resignation.
Joseph's eyes darkened.
— "What did you say?"
— "That it smells bad in here," she said quickly, covering her mouth when she realized what had almost slipped out. One wrong word could set him off, and she knew it.
He folded his arms across his chest, his smile razor-thin.
— "Are you going to behave, or should I rinse your face in the sink?"
His tone was mocking, but the threat felt real. Hannah stiffened. She knew how afraid the others were of him — and not without reason.
— "I'll answer your questions," she said quietly.
Just then, another student entered the bathroom but froze at the sight of Joseph and immediately backed out.
Joseph didn't even glance at the interruption. His focus remained on Hannah.
— "Did you see who did it to you?"
She blinked in surprise.
— "Excuse me?"
— "I doubt you saw their face. But anything — any detail. I'm talking about the incident with the dead bird."
Hannah pressed a finger to her lips in thought.
— "Why do you care?"
— "Just answer."
— "I didn't see a face," she admitted. "But I'm certain the person was tall — about your height. One meter eighty. So… probably a boy. There aren't many girls in this school that tall."
Joseph's expression flickered, and for a second, something unreadable passed through his eyes.
— "Anything else? Any detail at all?"
— "He wore a red devil mask," she said slowly. "I know because I saw him in the hallway at night. He attacked me."
Joseph went pale.
He knew that mask. It was his.
Without another word, he spun on his heel and bolted out of the bathroom. Hannah remained frozen, then slowly pushed open the stall door and stepped out. She stared at the exit, her thoughts racing.
Why did he care so much? Did he know something about it? Was he involved?
The thought gnawed at her.
Shaking off the confusion, she stepped out of the bathroom. Her mind returned to her missed meeting with Mariah.
Where was she?
— "She probably got upset when I didn't show," Hannah whispered to herself, heart sinking. She ran up the stairs to the second floor, hoping she could still make things right — if only she knew which room was Mariah's.
She was about to give up and head back to her room when she spotted an older girl heading toward the bathroom, a towel slung over her arm.
— "Wait!" she called.
The girl paused mid-step.
— "I'm sorry I didn't show earlier. Joseph stopped me. But I'm here now. What is it you wanted to tell me?"
Mariah hesitated. She had been about to pull Hannah aside and finally explain everything. But then her eyes flicked to the end of the corridor.
A shadow loomed there — a figure watching them in silence.
Something in her chest tightened. Panic curled cold fingers around her spine.
She froze.
— "Forget it," she whispered, stepping back.
And just like that, she turned away, retreating down the hall — leaving Hannah staring after her, heart pounding with more questions than answers.