Hannah had taken three careful steps back as the tall girl approached Joseph, greeting him with a radiant smile that seemed to light up the dim room. She noticed immediately how his entire demeanor shifted in the presence of this stranger—how the sharp, almost demonic edge he usually carried slipped away, replaced by a softness she had never seen before. For a fleeting moment, he appeared to be an entirely different person.
"—Halsey—" he murmured her name, so softly that Hannah, only nineteen, parted her lips in astonishment.
"It's good to see you, Joe. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
They stood facing one another, and the brunette studied the older girl carefully. Only now did it strike her what Joseph had been called a moment earlier.
"I must confess," Halsey said, her voice tinged with amusement, "that I didn't recognize you at first. You look completely different. You've grown more handsome."
"I have simply grown up," Joseph replied calmly. "My former appearance was appropriate for a teenager."
Hannah frowned slightly, leaning back against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. Watching the scene unfold, she couldn't help but think that Joseph, so composed and polite now, was almost unrecognizable.
Why didn't he ever act this way in front of her? Why did he speak so respectfully only to Halsey? Was it because she was his first love? Did he still feel something for her, even after all these years?
"Shall we sit down and talk?" Halsey suggested warmly. Joseph turned his gaze toward Hannah for a lingering moment, then nodded in agreement.
Together, they walked away, Halsey laughing at something he said. Joseph, too, looked happier than Hannah had seen him in a long time. In her company, he was transformed.
Was this, then, the magic of love?
Hannah returned to the table with the sulky face of a child who had been denied her favorite toy. She sank into the couch, her frustration simmering.
"What's wrong with you?" Jin asked, puzzled, sipping from his glass.
"Don't pretend to care," she snapped, her voice rising with sudden anger. "You lie to me all the time anyway. You're all the same—perfect for one another!"
Jin blinked in surprise at her outburst but chose silence over escalation. He understood too well that Hannah had lost her trust in him, shutting him out the moment she began to suspect his secrets.
Her eyes drifted back toward the bar. There sat Joseph and Halsey, their bodies angled toward one another, the girl resting an elbow casually on the countertop, her posture suggestive, almost theatrical. She listened intently to Joseph, smiling constantly, and when she crossed her legs she looked every bit the practiced seductress.
Hannah sipped from her glass of water, her gaze sharp as a blade when it settled once more on Jin.
"Your friend is sitting at the bar with his first love," she said pointedly, tilting her head toward the pair. "And he looks happy."
Jin glanced over his shoulder, his eyes widening as he spotted the girl with the long, glossy hair.
"Is that… Halsey?"
He rose abruptly from the couch and strode toward her, leaving Hannah behind with only a nervous, bitter smile.
Clearly, everyone loves her.
Her gaze wandered across the crowded club. Laughter, chatter, and pulsing music filled the air, but her attention was caught by Tom and Bella, who had become the center of attention. They moved obscenely on the dance floor, bodies pressed together, their movements wild and unapologetic. The crowd cheered and whistled with delight.
"Could the night get any crazier?" Hannah muttered under her breath. The words tasted of loneliness. Her roommate was busy with her best friend, Joseph was lost in Halsey's spell, Jin had gone to greet her too, and she herself sat abandoned.
With a huff, she crossed her arms over her chest and slid lower into the couch, her head resting against the leather backrest. She pouted, watching boys pass by, each casting her looks of interest.
It didn't take long before one of them approached.
"What is such a beautiful girl doing here all alone?" asked a blond boy with slicked-back hair, the kind of style that screamed disco pick-up artist. He sat down across from her, flashing a rehearsed smile.
"Are you asking because you're curious," Hannah retorted, raising a brow, "or because you can't stand to let any girl remain single tonight?"
His expression faltered, clearly not expecting her sharp tongue.
"I'm curious," he insisted. "And I won't deny I'd like to cheer you up. You look tense."
"Tense?" She let out a dry laugh. "I was abandoned by my friends. They got caught up with some school beauty they hadn't seen in years. She made such an electrifying impression that they completely forgot about me."
"Not very pretty of them," he replied.
Hannah's eyes shifted to the dance floor, where Tom and Bella still clung to one another like wildfire and gasoline, feeding off each other's madness.
"I'm not asking them to babysit me," she said softly. "It's just… parties aren't for me. I get lost when I'm left alone."
She felt a sudden weight in the air, a gaze burning into her. Lifting her head, she found Joseph staring at her from the bar, his eyes narrowed, his finger flicking in a gesture that commanded her to approach.
"You don't get to order me around," she muttered under her breath.
Her gaze flicked back to the dance floor. Tom spun Bella with reckless abandon, her laughter ringing out like music. They were perfectly matched—both wild, both insatiable. Hannah couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculous sight.
"I see your mood has improved," a familiar voice said. Joseph stood before her now, his presence sharp and commanding.
"At least someone was willing to accompany me," she retorted bitterly.
Without warning, he seized her hand and pulled her roughly to her feet. Her eyes flashed with indignation as he positioned her beside him.
"Didn't anyone ever teach you not to trust disco creeps?" Joseph sneered, throwing a wicked smile in the blond's direction. "You can see from a mile away he's a lunatic. Good thing you weren't stupid enough to take a drink from him yet."
"What did you call me?" the blond snapped, fury twisting his features.
Before fists could fly, Jin stepped forward, placing himself between them.
"She's our friend," Jin said firmly, gesturing for the boy to leave. "Trust me—you don't want to start this."
Hannah stood in silence, her eyes darting back to the bar. Halsey was watching her, and the look in her eyes carried no trace of sympathy.
"Why should I forgive him?" the blond barked. "He insulted me! Who the hell is he to talk to me like that?"
"You'd better not push it," Jin replied coldly. "That's David Scott's son. You'd be looking for real trouble."
Joseph tilted his head, raising his brows in contempt, his expression alone branding the boy as worthless trash.
The blond hesitated, then backed away with clenched fists before finally retreating.
When he was gone, Halsey appeared at Joseph's side. Her eyes fell immediately on his hand, still wrapped firmly around Hannah's wrist.
"What happened?" she asked, suspicion glinting in her gaze.
"It's time for the little girl to go back to her dorm," Joseph replied coolly. "Clearly she's not grown up enough for clubs."
"So, you're leaving already?" Disappointment echoed in Halsey's voice.
"I'll take Hannah back," Jin interjected, his tone casual but his eyes sharp as they flicked toward the nineteen-year-old. "You stay here, catch up. It's been years since you've seen each other. I don't care much for clubs anyway, and I need to talk to Hannah about something."
Hannah's brow furrowed. Talk about what?
"All right," Joseph said finally, releasing her wrist. "Take care of her. I'll make sure her roommate gets back safely too."
*
Hannah stormed down the street beside Jin, her anger simmering hot and restless, sharp as a wasp's sting. Every step she took echoed with indignation, her breath quickening not from the walk, but from the storm raging inside her. They had both treated her like a child, dismissing her feelings as if she were incapable of understanding. In that moment, words failed her; silence was the only weapon she could muster.
But suddenly, she stopped.
"You!" she cried, spinning toward him and pointing her finger accusingly at the older student. Her voice cracked through the quiet night like a whip. "I've had enough of this! Finally, tell me what you're hiding from me."
Jin halted, his expression pained. "Hannah… I want to. I really do. But I can't. I told you before—I'm someone who keeps his word. I made a promise, and until you remember everything yourself, all I can do is stand here while you judge me for the worst crimes."
"And you think I don't already do that?" Her voice trembled with fury, her eyes burning as they locked onto his. "Last time, you didn't even deny it when I asked if we killed someone. So tell me, Jin—what are we involved in? Just thinking about it gives me chills."
He rubbed his forehead with a weary hand, his shoulders sagging under the weight of her accusations. His gaze softened, pleading with her to understand, but his lips held firm.
"Give me a little more time," he said quietly. "Maybe soon everything will come out on its own, and I won't have to lie to you anymore."
"Lie with what?" she shot back, folding her arms tightly across her chest. She leaned against the cold metal of a lamppost, planting herself there like a barricade. She refused to take another step until he opened up. "I don't understand, Jin. What's going on? Can't you see these secrets are tearing us apart? In high school, we were close. You supported me, you were always kind to me. So why the change? Why are you so different now that you know my memories of that day are coming back?"
He let out a shaky breath. "Do you know why I'm acting this way? Because I'm a fool in front of you. I can guess what you must think of me, and it kills me that I can't tell you the truth. If I did… everything could become even more complicated."
"Then at least calm me down," she pleaded, her voice breaking under the strain. "You don't know how terrifying it is to wonder what's hiding in my lost memories."
He stared at her for a long, silent moment, then closed his eyes as though the truth itself burned behind them.
"We did something wrong," he admitted at last, his tone heavy with guilt. "That much is true. But I swear to you, it wasn't intentional."
Her breath caught in her throat, panic flaring inside her chest. "It's connected to Danielle's death, isn't it? It was an accident?" Her words stumbled over themselves, frantic, as if saying them too quickly might lessen their weight. "I must have erased those memories for a reason."
"Yes," Jin whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of her own pounding heartbeat. "But never—not for a single moment—think that you killed your sister. You had nothing to do with it."
Her eyes widened, trembling as the words sank in. "So you did?"
The question was harsh, sharper than she had meant it to be, but her emotions had slipped out of her control. The anguish and suspicion spilling from her lips were stronger than her restraint.
Jin's head snapped up, his own voice hard now, almost desperate. "Neither you nor I are murderers. Don't ever think like that."
*
It was a few minutes before two in the morning when Bella finally stumbled back into the dorm room. She threw herself onto her bed with a dramatic flop, muffling her giggles against the pillow. The sound was enough to rouse Hannah, who stirred and rolled onto her side, blinking with bleary eyes.
"What about you?" she muttered sleepily, her voice rough from being pulled out of dreams.
Bella sat up immediately and flicked on the lamp, her face glowing with the kind of joy that refused to be contained. Her blonde hair was messy, her cheeks flushed, and yet her smile was unstoppable.
"Your friend walked me back to the dorm," she announced breathlessly. "You cannot imagine how much fun we had at the club. I couldn't leave his side for even a second. He's wonderful—handsome, funny, and so caring. He kept insisting that he had to look after me, since you left the party early."
The sparkle in her eyes was so genuine that Hannah's jealousy struck harder than she expected. Until now, she had always been the only girl Tom hovered around, the one he spoiled with his playful attention. Now Bella was glowing with his charm, and Hannah couldn't hide her displeasure; she wrinkled her nose, a childish gesture of protest.
"He's a good boy," Hannah said at last, her tone sharper than she intended. "But be careful what you believe. He's been calling me his wife since high school, and I know he's only joking."
Bella's grin faltered. "Really?"
"I just want you to be aware that most of what he says is teasing. But I'm sure he's already taken a liking to you. Tom doesn't waste time on people who mean nothing to him."
The blonde gave a thoughtful nod, then collapsed back onto her pillow, staring up at the ceiling with a dreamy sigh.
"You know what?" she murmured, her voice drifting lazily. "I feel like I'm going to be unconscious in class tomorrow."
Hannah chuckled at the remark, but the smile faded almost immediately as her thoughts slipped back to Joseph—and to Halsey. The image of the tall brunette clinging to him at the club clawed at her mind. She hesitated before speaking again.
"Before we go to bed… I have to ask you something."
"Hm?" Bella turned her head toward her, curiosity flickering in her tired eyes.
"Was Joseph with that pretty brunette until the very end?" Hannah's voice came out tighter than she intended, her lips pressed nervously together as she waited for the answer.
Bella propped herself up on one elbow, squinting as she tried to recall the final hours of the night. "Yes. She stayed with him the whole time. Who is she anyway? I was surprised when Tom ran over to say hello."
"She's his first love," Hannah admitted, the words bitter on her tongue. "And I think… she still means a lot to him."
Bella's face twisted at the revelation. "That's bad."
"Why?" Hannah asked, curious about her roommate's quick judgment.
"Because his first love suddenly appears out of nowhere, and at the same time, he's got his eye on another girl. His heart must be a mess right now."
Hannah frowned, her brows knitting together. "You're talking nonsense. Admit it—how much did you drink tonight?"
"I told you before," Bella insisted, her voice rising with conviction. "You can see it plain as day when he looks at you. Didn't you notice it even once? And when he covered your legs with his jacket…" She gasped dramatically and covered her mouth with her hands, squealing like a child. "You don't even know how jealous I was!"
"You're exaggerating, Bella." Hannah shook her head, though the warmth creeping into her cheeks betrayed her. "He's been playing the role of my big brother for years. That's all. Apparently, he enjoys it."
Her roommate scowled, her pout sharp enough to pierce. "What's wrong with you? You sound blind. Honestly, your eyes must be on backward."
"What!" Hannah burst into laughter at the absurdity. "What kind of vocabulary is that?"
"My vocabulary is the least interesting thing here," Bella shot back, glaring with mock severity. "The important thing is that you refuse to believe the biggest academic handsome boy is in love with you."
Hannah laughed again, her voice rough but bright. "Bella, stop watching telenovelas. Next you'll claim he's my long-lost brother, and soon we'll be swept into a passionate love affair, fighting against the odds." She pressed her hand over her mouth, still chuckling. Her laughter was so loud that she worried for a moment it might wake the neighbors.
Bella only shrugged, running her fingers lazily through her tangled hair instead of fetching a brush.
"I like that kind of wild, forbidden romance," she confessed with a dreamy smile.