The only piece of gossip in the school that had persisted over time—without anyone growing bored of it—was the scandal surrounding the boarding school's caretaker. The students had been shocked when it was revealed that the woman had been having an affair with Joseph. What stunned them even more was learning that she had been the one stalking female students.
Her actions had created trouble not only for herself but also for her father, the headmaster of the school.
That evening, Hannah had finally managed to come to her senses. When Jin looked after her that night, the two of them at last found a moment to speak openly.
"I'm sorry," she blurted out unexpectedly as the boy escorted her to her room and helped her sit on the bed. It was not the right time for such a conversation, and Jin had intended to save it for another day. Yet her sudden confession made him pause. She seemed determined to speak.
"Lately, I've been behaving meanly towards you," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't want to be like Danielle. I… got carried away."
He studied her carefully, curiosity flickering in his eyes. Instead of leaving, he stayed, letting her speak.
"All this time I've been pretending and lying to you," she continued, her gaze lowering. "I thought you might see Danielle in me. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, but I couldn't tell you she was dead. That's why I acted as if I were her."
Jin's eyelids closed briefly, as if to gather his thoughts.
"I know you're her twin," he said at last.
Hannah's head lifted sharply, her eyes filled with a guilty intensity.
"The first day I saw you at school, I was so excited… I thought you were Danielle," he explained. "The next day I realised something was wrong. You were different from her, but you confused me—sometimes you acted exactly like her, and you knew our secrets. I was torn between doubt and hope. When I saw the scar under your ear…"—he stopped, and she instinctively touched it with her fingers—"I became more and more convinced you were someone else. If I had known then that Danielle was adopted and had a twin sister, it all would have made sense immediately."
Monozygotic twins were identical, but there was always something distinct about each. Jin had noticed the difference early on but had kept it to himself until he uncovered the truth. He had wanted to understand the reason behind Hannah's strange behaviour.
"Danielle was playing a game with you," Hannah confessed. "I decided to continue it. It was immature of me." She didn't add that she had reasons—things she saw every night—that she couldn't share. "I heard from Danielle that you loved her very much, so I wanted to make you happy."
Jin gave a short, nervous laugh, sinking into the chair and rubbing his face with both hands.
"She was throwing a party for herself," he said, his voice laced with quiet bitterness. "She was selfish with me and never truly loved me. She told you that, didn't she?"
Hannah gave a hesitant nod.
"And you decided to keep playing her game to make me happy?"
She didn't need to answer—her silence confirmed it.
"Yes. I felt sorry for you."
Jin's expression softened into something more melancholy. He lowered his gaze.
"As I told you before… something about you never fit," he admitted. "I don't mean your face or your behaviour, but… you could be kind to others. Danielle despised everyone. She hated people, had no mercy for anyone."
Hannah couldn't deny it. Even in their short time together, she had seen the worst of her sister's flaws. But then again, who didn't have flaws?
"If you realised I wasn't Danielle, why didn't you ask me sooner?" she asked.
"At first, I truly thought you were her. But over time, I wanted to get closer to you—to find out who you really were. I just couldn't make sense of it."
It dawned on Hannah then that he hadn't been completely honest either. He had suspected from the start, yet pretended to believe she was his sister.
"So… we both lied?"
He gave a small nod. His hands clenched into fists as he looked at her, sadness darkening his eyes.
"As for… what happened…" Jin's voice faltered, and he swallowed hard. "You know… the accident. Do you know more about it?"
Hannah bit her lip and dropped her gaze. The topic was like a shadow that followed her everywhere—one she wished she could escape. It reminded her of the worst moment of her life, the one that had stolen her twin from her forever.
From the corner of her eye, she glanced at him. His expression, fragile and searching, made her force herself to speak.
"Danielle was on her way back to New York. It was late. At an intersection, a speeding truck crashed into them…" Her voice faltered, and she closed her eyes for a moment. "She was in the passenger seat… that side took the worst of it."
Jin didn't need more detail. The image formed in his mind instantly, enough to make his breath hitch. He looked down at the watch on his left wrist, then stood without a word and walked toward the door.
As his hand gripped the handle, he glanced back over his shoulder.
"We both made mistakes," he said quietly. "You claimed to be your sister. I kept the game going because I wanted to understand you. Despite everything… I can't be angry with you. I shouldn't be."
With that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.
Hannah sat for a long moment, then smiled faintly to herself. Nothing was lost yet. The most important thing was that Jin wasn't angry. Maybe—just maybe—she could still make him happy, and in doing so, keep the promise she had made to her sister.
*
The first semester ended with Hannah placing third in her exams. The recent turmoil in her life had chipped away at her concentration, something she had never struggled with before. Living in a boarding school, enduring sleepless nights, and wrestling with the shadows in her mind had all conspired to make her lose a bet with Joseph.
What gnawed at her most was the fact that Joseph knew her secret—and had warned her that if she performed worse than him, the entire school would know what she had been hiding.
Would he truly go that far?
That day, she had not told him the full truth. She had only admitted to communicating with her dead sister—but even that was not the whole story. The real Danielle had died the day before Hannah left for the boarding school. Her sister had warned her about a dark reflection—an entity that wore Danielle's face but was not her soul. And her sister had been right.
It came every night.
At first, Hannah had been terrified. She knew in her bones it wasn't Danielle. Something else was claiming to be her and was trying to drag her into its grasp, pulling at her mind and heart with relentless persistence.
The worst part was… she had already given in.
The darkness within her mind had begun to take control, wrapping around her thoughts like icy vines. Perhaps, she wondered, going home for the Christmas holidays might sever that hold. Maybe if she stayed away from Jin for a while, she could remember who she really was.
Now, the day had arrived. The sixteen-year-old began packing her belongings, folding and stacking clothes into the suitcase. The thought of returning to Chicago, to her mother, and escaping this place for a month filled her with relief. A break—she needed it more than anything.
A knock came at the door. Before she could respond, it opened, and Jin stepped inside. Hannah froze, surprised to see him. Without a word, he walked up to her and placed a small gift on the bed.
She stared at it, confused. Why was he doing this? Why was he being so kind, when she had been lying to him from the very beginning?
"Why do you look surprised?" he asked with a faint smile, his voice light but tinged with something unreadable. "You're not the only one who sinned. I played my own games with you. My way of approaching you… wasn't right."
Her eyes shifted to the package.
"Nevertheless, I don't deserve a gift," she murmured. "I pretended to be my sister to get close to you. You should be furious with me."
"It's better if we put it behind us. Now that we both know the truth…" He hesitated. Hannah's eyes widened, waiting for him to go on. "Should we start over when we come back for the second semester?"
Her heart stumbled in her chest. The question made her lightheaded with unexpected joy.
"Really?" she breathed. "You'd still want to be my friend, even though I'm Hannah?"
"Yes. And never try to be Danielle again," he said softly. "Your own soul is far more beautiful."
With that, he gave her a gentle smile, wished her a Merry Christmas, and left the room.
Hannah bit her lip to keep from squealing aloud. She stamped her feet in a burst of giddy energy and snatched up the gift. Tearing the paper open, she gasped in delight. A snow globe glimmered in her hands, white flakes swirling in a winter dance when she turned it over. She flopped onto the mattress, holding it above her, watching the tiny storm fall inside the glass.
The magic of the moment shattered when the door swung open without warning. Joseph entered, slamming it behind him. His gaze was cold and sharp.
"So this little celebration was for you?" he said with mocking sweetness. "If I were him, I'd have kicked you in the ass for what you pulled."
Hannah propped herself up on her elbows, her nose wrinkling in annoyance.
"And did you bring me something?" she asked, brows drawn down.
"Of course. After all, you came in third place… what an embarrassment. And you call yourself the best student?"
"You're no better—you only took second!" she shot back, ignoring the irritation tightening his jaw.
"You'll never beat Jin," she added pointedly. "You failed, even when he was going through hell. What an embarrassment."
His lips pressed into a thin line.
"Careful, little girl. I came here in a friendly mood, but keep barking and I'll make the second semester a living hell for you. That was our deal, wasn't it?"
Hannah pulled a face like a sulky child.
"Fine. You've had a rough time yourself, since your woman turned out to be a bitch."
Joseph's hand darted for a pillow, and he flung it at her face without hesitation.
"Watch your mouth, puppy."
She sat up quickly, the sting of challenge buzzing through her, but she held back. Not with him. Not with the boy who knew her secret—and could destroy her.
As Joseph dropped into a chair, Hannah studied him quietly. Something was different. His eyes weren't darkened with eyeliner as usual, making his face seem softer, less guarded.
His gaze swept the room, landing at last on her half-packed suitcase. He smirked faintly, about to make some remark about her sloppy packing—when his attention caught on something.
A handkerchief.
He froze, eyes widening. In a blink, he was on his feet, crossing the room in a rush. He snatched it from the suitcase, his hands trembling.
It was white, with golden flowers embroidered along the edges, and initials stitched delicately at the bottom. Her initials.
Hannah frowned, puzzled by his reaction.
"Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice unsteady.
She stepped forward, snatching it back. "It's the only thing I have left from my biological mother. Why? Do you like it?" She tucked it back into the suitcase with care. "It's rude to touch people's things. You'd murder me if I did that to you."
But he wasn't listening. He took several steps back, his face ashen. His wide eyes fixed on her, full of something that made her skin crawl.
"What's wrong with you?" she demanded. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Joseph opened his mouth, but no words came. He turned, yanked the door open, and slipped out quickly.
The door slammed. Outside, he leaned against the wall, chest rising and falling with uneven breaths.
He was shattered.