New York, September 2016
Few students could afford the luxury of a two-person dormitory room. The price was nearly double that of a room shared with four, but Hannah could not imagine cramming into a space with three other girls. Her mother had not needed much convincing. The woman wanted the best for her daughter, firmly believing that too much noise and crowding would only sabotage Hannah's studies.
Still, sometimes Hannah felt as if her mother's money was spoiling her. She worried that her desires were becoming indulgent, that she was beginning to take advantage of the privileges offered to her simply because she could. The thought embarrassed her. And yet, didn't everyone ultimately want the best for themselves? Was it really a sin to use the resources her family rightfully possessed?
She stood before the dormitory building, staring at it with wide eyes, and let out a long, shaky sigh. The realization struck her at last—this was the first day of her student life. A thrill ran through her, an almost childish excitement. She had watched countless movies about this moment, daydreamed for years about the freedom that awaited her. Now, at last, high school was behind her, and the door to a new life stood open.
When she stepped inside, she was immediately struck by the interior. The dormitory was lavishly decorated, clearly designed to justify the high rent. Warm wooden panels lined the hallways, chandeliers sparkled above, and tasteful furniture filled the lobby. Looking at the richness of it, she thought anyone would want to live here.
As she walked down the corridor, she felt eyes on her. Several boys passed by, their gazes lingering, their smiles sharp and predatory—like hunters spotting new prey. Their expressions suggested that they were more than pleased with the girls who would be joining the dorm this year.
Hannah's confidence rose. She knew she had blossomed in the past two years. Her style had grown bolder, her fashion sense sharper, guided by the latest trends. Her beauty no longer carried the hesitance of adolescence but the self-assurance of a young woman.
She pushed open the door to her room and froze. The first thing she noticed was the wall—covered top to bottom with posters. Every idol who had ruled the charts in the past few years seemed to be plastered there, staring down with glossy eyes. Pop stars, boy bands, solo singers—the kind who made teenage hearts pound and young women squeal. Apparently, her new roommate was devoted to them, for she sat cross-legged on the bed, gazing at the collage as if it were a shrine.
The sight almost made Hannah laugh, though she refrained. After all, she had been swooning over a few singers herself not long ago.
"Hello?" she said cautiously, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.
The blonde on the bed turned quickly, blinking in surprise when her eyes landed on Hannah.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, springing up with sudden enthusiasm. She rushed over and extended her hand, her voice warm with excitement. "I'm going to be jealous of myself for having such a beautiful roommate. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Bella."
"Hannah," the brunette replied, shaking her hand. Her gaze wandered again around the room, admiration lighting her expression. "You're right, it's really nice. And we even have our own bathroom. I can't say I'm surprised rent costs so much."
"It's true," Bella agreed, perching on the edge of her bed again. "At first, I wanted to take a four-person room, but my parents refused. They insisted I wouldn't be able to focus on my studies that way."
Hannah nodded and sat down on her bed, running her hand across the soft bedding that would be hers for the next four years.
"What are you studying?" she asked after a pause, taking in Bella's appearance more closely. The girl's hair was heavily bleached, almost silver in tone, but she wore it confidently. It framed her pale skin and striking blue eyes, which she accentuated with a graphite shadow. The color suited her, though not everyone could pull it off.
"Accounting," Hannah added after a moment.
"Me too!" Bella's eyes lit up. She clapped her hands together, her energy bubbling over. "What luck. Not only roommates, but classmates too. We'll survive this together."
Hannah smiled at her enthusiasm. Bella's vibrancy reminded her painfully of Tom—his cheerfulness, his unshakable aura that always lifted her spirits. She missed him more than ever in that moment.
Then Bella leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Do you know what hurts me the most? The fact that bringing boys over in the evening is strictly forbidden. But…" Her lips curled into a mischievous grin. "I'm not giving up that easily. I hope you won't mind if I sneak in a handsome guy every now and then?"
Hannah laughed, shaking her head.
"Relax. I've got friends here too, and some of them will probably drop by unannounced."
Bella's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Handsome friends?"
"Infernally hot," Hannah teased, her smile widening. "So hot you'll wonder which one I meant."
Bella folded her legs into a Turkish seat on the bed, her interest piqued. "Looking at you," she said slowly, scanning Hannah up and down, "I have no doubt you surround yourself with beautiful people. You must introduce me as soon as possible."
"No problem," Hannah assured her with a grin. "But fair warning—one of them has a nasty character. He's not easy to get along with."
Bella leaned back dramatically, fanning her face as though already intrigued. "And have you heard the rumor? The best-looking guys in the dorm all ended up in one room. Apparently, girls are trying everything to get close to them. There's even talk of a girl who managed to sleep with all of them last year."
Hannah's jaw nearly dropped. She coughed, choking on her own saliva, her eyes widening in shock.
"Really?"
"That's what I heard," Bella confirmed with a sly smile. "I've got a friend who's a senior here. She gave me all the inside scoop before I arrived."
Hannah gripped the edge of her blanket tightly, a surge of irritation rising in her chest for reasons she couldn't quite explain.
"With everyone?" she repeated incredulously, raising an eyebrow. "That girl must be either monstrously talented—or so gorgeous she could bring Scarlett Johansson herself to her knees."
"I haven't seen her yet," Bella admitted with a shrug. "So I can't tell you."
*
Bella already knew the entire building by heart, so she eagerly led Hannah through its labyrinthine corridors, pointing out the most important rooms of the dorm. To Hannah, the place seemed almost overwhelming; the hallways stretched farther than they had appeared from the outside, and the constant hum of voices made it feel alive, like a self-contained city. At first, it was difficult for her to remember all the turns and staircases, yet she followed Bella closely, impressed by how confidently her roommate navigated the maze.
As they reached the wide staircase at the end of the corridor, Bella's phone buzzed in the back pocket of her jeans. She slid it out, glanced at the glowing screen, and allowed a small smile to curl her lips when she saw the name. She stopped mid-step, just before the staircase that divided the dormitory—girls' rooms on the first floor, boys' quarters on the second.
Hannah, suddenly free to observe, leaned casually against the wall. From there she watched the students streaming past—measuring each with the precision of someone who was already categorizing them. She examined their faces, clothes, postures, judging who might be fun, who might be useful, and who might not matter at all.
"Have you arrived, little girl?" The voice in Hannah's ear was teasing, warm with familiarity. A slow smile curved her lips as Joseph's words filled the receiver.
"These aren't the days of high school anymore," she replied, admiring the silver sheen of her freshly painted nails. "Remember, I'm an adult now. I've been in the dorm for hours already. Why haven't I seen you? Haven't you and the others arrived yet?"
"Because my roommates don't know you chose our university," Joseph said, his tone tinged with mischief. "I want to give them a monstrous surprise. Let them collapse in horror when they see you."
"Do you really think I look so hideous that I'll terrify them with my appearance?"
"Eyes rimmed with black crayon and lips painted purple? You look like something out of a horror movie. Wait…" He paused, pretending to think. "There was that mask, the one with makeup smeared just like yours. What was her name again? Ah—yes. The Rotting Bride. That ghastly fairy tale creature. Exactly like you."
"You still watch fairy tales? Because I have no idea what you're talking about. This is the first I've heard of it." Her voice sharpened playfully, though she tilted her head, scanning the corridor with her eyes until she caught sight of him leaning against the opposite wall. "And let me remind you that you used to line your eyes with black crayon, too. You looked more like the husband of this Rotting Bride. Ha!"
Bella's brows furrowed; she had overheard the words, yet the strange exchange made no sense to her. She stayed silent, pretending not to listen, though her curiosity burned.
"How do you know what her husband looked like if you've never seen the fairy tale, silly girl?" Joseph taunted.
Hannah pressed her lips together in irritation. "I ditched the crayon after my high school graduation. It's been out of fashion for years."
"So you're claiming you started the trend?"
"Yes."
Her mouth fell open in indignation, but before she could retort, Joseph raised a hand in greeting. A ripple of excitement passed through the corridor. Several girls giggled, whispering feverishly, each wondering if his gesture was meant for them. Their hope faltered when the boy strode directly toward Hannah. The whispers multiplied, louder now, as eyes followed his every step. Who was this freshman who dared to know him so well?
Bella's eyes widened. Her hands trembled as she flipped through her phone gallery, confirming the boy's identity against the photos she had once seen. It was him. Her throat tightened with surprise until she hiccupped from the sensation.
"You look awful with that makeup," Joseph said casually once he reached her, his gaze cool. "You won't make a good impression on Jin if that's what you're aiming for."
Hannah stiffened at the mention of that name. Joseph did not know about the letter. He had no idea that she had erased a certain day from her memory, or that she and Jin were tied by a secret she kept buried, one too dark to share.
"Where are they? I truly miss them. It's been so long."
Joseph's lips curved into a mischievous grin. "They're around. You'll meet them soon enough. You have a whole year ahead of you." He glanced sideways, his brow creasing as he noticed Bella still staring. She had stopped breathing, frozen at the sight of him. "And what about her? Is she your friend?"
"My roommate."
"At least you won't be alone this time. I hope you won't go crazy again." His voice dropped, low enough that only she could hear. "You're still seeing the psychiatrist?"
Hannah gave a small nod.
"Good. Because if it fails… well, there's always the psychiatric hospital."
"Joseph!" Outrage sharpened her tone, though she tried to mask it under the murmur of voices around them. "Don't say things like that. It's already behind me. This is a new chapter. I'm starting college. I want to enjoy it."
"Studying isn't fun, little girl." He smirked, shaking his head as if she were hopelessly naïve. "Parties are forbidden in the dormitory, alcohol too. If you want to drink, you'll have to go outside the building. And every student must be back in their room by two a.m."
"Seriously?" Hannah groaned in disappointment. It felt like boarding school all over again—rules clamped around them like shackles, ridiculous for adults who were supposed to be free.
Joseph caught Bella's stare once more. "Will she keep looking at me like that? It's annoying."
"I promised her I'd introduce her to my friends. Her name is Bella, and—"
"I don't care," he interrupted coldly. "I don't talk to children." He smirked again before adding, "You are the exception, little girl."
*
Bella ran after Hannah into the parking lot, just as the girl suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to take out of the trunk the bag of food her housekeeper had prepared for her. Since it had been on her mind, she decided she would carry it up to her room and hide it in the small refrigerator she shared with her roommate. She didn't want the food to go to waste unnecessarily.
"How do you know him? Why didn't you tell me earlier that you have a good relationship with the biggest hunk at the university?" Bella asked breathlessly, her eyes shining with curiosity and disbelief.
The brunette already guessed that her roommate would not let go until she told her everything. For someone she had only just met, Bella's persistence was spectacular—almost overwhelming.
"It's a long story. I've known him for about three years," Hannah admitted as she walked to her car. She opened the trunk and pulled out a pink shopping bag stuffed with all sorts of delicious things. "The night is very long, and I doubt I'll be able to sleep tonight from the excitement. I can promise you that you'll find out everything."
"Luck favors me, since I got such a wonderful tenant." Bella laughed with an almost triumphant joy. "The other girls will either hate you or cling to you at all costs, once the rumor spreads all over campus."
Hannah smirked faintly at that. "I'm used to being hated. In high school everyone shunned me because of Joseph. He's obviously pulling some kind of curse on me."
"You don't even know how much I envy you."
"You won't envy me when I tell you what my high school life was like. It wasn't cheerful at all. And knowing Joseph and the other boys… well, that didn't bring sweetness either. A lot happened." Her eyes turned somber, her tone softening with the weight of memory. But Bella didn't notice—she was still brimming with excitement, too caught up in her own wonder.
Hannah closed the trunk and glanced around. The university stood close by—barely a five-minute walk from the dormitory.
"Did you take everything?" Bella asked. Hannah nodded."Then let's go back to the room. You still need to unpack, and above all, you must tell me about your life. It seems fascinating, judging by the company you keep."
They were about to head back inside when Hannah suddenly froze mid-step. Her gaze caught on a boy stepping out of a car nearby. Despite the distance, she immediately noticed the cheerful smile he flashed at his friend. Tom's hands danced through the air in strange, exaggerated gestures that looked ridiculous even from afar.
The brunette's lips curved into a smile without her realizing.
Then a strange shiver coursed down her spine when Jin's eyes landed on her. His expression faltered. He froze, mouth slightly open, staring at her with an intensity that pierced through the noise of the parking lot. For a moment, it was as if the world stopped. He leaned against the hood of the car, his hand bracing him, his face still caught between disbelief and recognition.
Hannah's eyelids fluttered shut. Her heart hammered painfully against her ribs. Images flashed in her mind—the letter, fragmented memories of a day she had long tried to erase.
For what felt like an eternity, they simply stared at each other, paralyzed, unsure of how to react. The silence was broken by Tom, who finally noticed her. His eyes lit up with pure delight.
"Wife!" he shouted, utterly unbothered by the fact that dozens of students lingered nearby. He sprinted toward her with his arms flung wide open. When he reached her, he wrapped her in such a crushing hug that she gasped, struggling for breath. "It's you, isn't it?" He pulled back just enough to look at her face, disbelief flooding his voice. "I don't believe it… What are you doing here? Could it be that you got into New York University? Destiny still connects us! It's been so long since I last saw you. I am so happy."
Tom rambled on like a wind-up toy, pouring out his joy without restraint. Hannah smiled softly at him, nodding here and there, but her eyes kept drifting toward Jin—toward the boy who now walked slowly in her direction, every step heavy with unspoken meaning.
Her nerves coiled tighter with each passing second.
Bella, watching from the side, pressed her hand against her mouth, utterly stunned. She had no idea what else this day still had in store.
"Hannah." Jin's voice carried a weight that sank deep into her chest. He held her gaze for a moment, then stepped forward and drew her briefly into an embrace. "It's been a while since we last met. I think… something has shifted between us. Should we talk?"
The girl hesitated, her eyes darting to Bella and Tom, who stood slightly apart.
"All right, Hannah. Give me your bag," Bella suddenly offered, stepping in to ease the tension. She reached out to take the heavy pink package of food. "I'll carry it upstairs and put everything in the refrigerator."
"Thank you."
Tom reluctantly let go of her, pointing a playful finger in her direction."In an hour, I'll come for you and hug you forever. Expect me!"
Hannah's lips curved into a small smile at his words.
"Meanwhile, I'm off to greet our devil. He must have missed me by now." Tom's grin widened before he finally walked away.
The moment he left, silence fell heavily between Hannah and Jin. She lowered her gaze to her shoes, almost afraid of what he might say.
"I think I know the reason you limited our contact," Jin finally said. She lifted her eyes, startled, her breath catching. "I know that three years ago you erased everything, but I guessed it was only a matter of time before the memories of that day returned."
Her eyebrows knitted together. "What are you talking about?" she whispered.
"You know very well. I told you this back in high school. From the very beginning, I didn't see Danielle in you. I recognized you."
Hannah's eyes widened further. "You… recognized me?"
He nodded slowly, his expression soft yet resolute. "We're both adults now. We shouldn't tear ourselves apart with this any longer. We've known each other for three years, but it's time to put the past behind us."
Her chest tightened painfully as his hands gently framed her face. His serene smile disarmed her completely.
"We may be hiding a secret, Hannah… but let's not allow it to poison what we have."
Yet the question remained—what had really happened more than three years ago? And how was it possible that Hannah had met Jin even before high school?