Hannah sat on a bench in front of the university, her phone balanced in her hands as she tapped out a hasty reply to her mother. She barely glanced at the mess of errors littering the message before pressing send. With a small sigh, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her gaze drifting sideways toward Jin.
At that moment, he looked perfectly normal. He was laughing with Tom, exchanging jokes, even mimicking ridiculous gestures that left Tom wheezing. Yet, when Jin's eyes flicked casually in Hannah's direction, his expression shifted in an instant. The laughter drained from his face, his smile vanishing as though it had never existed.
Hannah frowned. He stared at her far too long, and then—just like that—he turned back to Tom, continuing their silly conversation as though nothing had happened.
"What are you hiding from me, Jin?" she whispered under her breath.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when Bella appeared at her side, moving like a shadow and thrusting a mug of coffee into her hand.
"You're going to kill me one of these days, creeping up like that," Hannah hissed, glaring at her roommate.
Bella only smirked, too delighted with herself to take the scolding seriously. Hannah took a grateful sip of the hot drink but kept her eyes fixed on Jin.
"OMG, there's Tom!" Bella squealed suddenly. She shoved another mug into Hannah's hand with such force that coffee sloshed over the brunette's fingers. Hannah shot her a look sharp enough to cut glass, but Bella was already busy checking her reflection in her phone screen, fussing with her hair.
"Tom doesn't remember much after he drinks," Hannah muttered darkly, unable to suppress the jealousy curling inside her. "Don't be surprised if he doesn't even know who you are."
"I'm unforgettable," Bella said with exaggerated confidence. "Even if he blacks out, he won't forget me."
Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the boys heading their way.
"Taking advantage of the last sunny days?" Tom asked as he approached, his voice unusually stiff, his posture straighter than usual. "October is treacherous—the weather could turn cold at any moment."
Hannah immediately noticed the change in him. He was trying to sound serious, impressive even, in Bella's presence.
Jin, however, raised his brows in disbelief. "Why so formal all of a sudden? A moment ago, you were telling me about your childhood obsession with the Teletubbies. Shouldn't you share with them how deeply in love you were with Lala?"
Tom's face flushed red, his glare sharp enough to slice. He looked utterly betrayed, as if Jin had just humiliated him in front of royalty.
"Jin is right," Hannah interjected quickly, sensing the tension. "Just be yourself, Tom. Everyone loves your crazy personality."
Tom licked his lips nervously and ran his fingers through his bangs before sighing. "So… pretending to be someone I'm not is pointless, huh?" His lips drooped into such a comically sad shape that Hannah burst into laughter, her amusement filling the air.
Beside them, Bella kept sneaking glances at him, her expression hopeful, as though waiting for him to finally direct a word her way.
"Hannah, should we talk again?" Jin said suddenly, gesturing toward the building with a pointed look that made his meaning clear.
She rose from the bench, but not before catching Tom's alarmed expression. He looked positively horrified at the idea of being left alone with Bella.
"Where are you going? What do you need to talk about in private?" he demanded, his voice edged with mock accusation. He jabbed a finger at her dramatically. "Are you cheating on me, wife?"
Hannah threw her head back and laughed, winking at him. "In my eyes, you're the only handsome guy, Tom." With that, she walked off at Jin's side, still chuckling.
They stopped just outside the entrance to the building, both glancing back at their friends, who now sat awkwardly together. Curiosity sparked in Hannah's eyes as she studied the new dynamic.
"Apparently he's smitten with Bella," Jin said quietly. "Ever since the party, he hasn't stopped talking about her. This is the first time, really. No other girl has ever caught his eye—well, except you."
Hannah blinked at him, caught off guard. "Tom has only ever looked at me as a friend. That's different."
"Now, maybe," Jin replied. "But back in high school, I think he was genuinely in love with you. He acted like a silly kid, so maybe you didn't notice."
She turned to him in surprise. "So he was serious when he said I'd be his wife someday?"
"I believe he was. But now…" Jin's gaze shifted back to the bench, where Tom and Bella seemed to have found common ground at last. "Now you'll have to let it go. He finally understands that you see him only as a friend."
Hannah watched them for a long moment. Tom was joking animatedly, and Bella was laughing, the tension between them dissolving into easy familiarity.
"They're actually a good match," Hannah admitted softly. "Bella is crazy, and Tom is the biggest fool I know. Together, they could be an explosive mix."
Jin didn't answer. His eyes lingered on Hannah, full of sympathy. Yet when he looked away, his expression darkened, guilt clawing at him again. What he hated most about himself was also what defined him—his loyalty to someone who demanded his silence.
*
It was late in the evening when Hannah slipped out of the dormitory and made her way toward the parking lot, intending to drive to the nearby store. A sudden craving for unhealthy snacks had overcome her—a craving that Bella had teased her about, warning with a laugh that one day she would get fat if she kept up her late-night habits.
Hannah had just reached her car and was about to slide behind the wheel when a hand clamped onto her shoulder and spun her around. Her breath caught in her throat, her wide eyes locking onto the older student who, only a few days earlier, had mistaken her for Danielle.
"What's the matter?" she asked, trying to sound steady, though a ripple of unease ran through her. Jin's warning to stay away from this man echoed sharply in her memory.
"I need a pretty companion," he replied with a smirk that unsettled her instantly. "I wonder if you're as crazy and dangerous as your sister."
The way he looked at her—like trouble wrapped in a smile—sent a chill down her spine.
"I'm not like Danielle," she answered firmly.
"Lucky you," he murmured. "At least you won't die young."
Her eyes narrowed. "What did you just say?"
"I heard your sister's dead. A truck, wasn't it? Hit her at full speed?" He shuddered theatrically, but the twisted smile never left his lips. "Terrible death. And honestly, I doubt it was an accident."
Hannah froze, her hand hovering over the car door. Then, with a sharp motion, she slammed it shut, anger flaring in her chest.
"What are you talking about? How was it not an ordinary accident?"
He tilted his head, amused. "Don't you watch movies? Trucks like that don't just appear. Usually, they're hired to kill someone."
"You're insane," she spat, brows furrowed. "What right do you have to come up to me and start talking about my sister like that?" Her voice rose, trembling with fury.
At that moment, another presence cut through the night. Joseph had just parked nearby, and as he stepped out of his car, Hannah's raised voice drew his attention. In a few long strides, he closed the distance. Without hesitation, he grabbed the older student by the shoulders and shoved him so hard that he hit the ground.
The boy scrambled to rise, lips pressed into a thin line, ready to retaliate. But when he lifted his head and recognized Joseph, his resolve faltered. Everyone knew who Joseph was—the son of one of the city's most influential men.
"You get a warning today," Joseph said, his tone sharp as steel. "Stay away from her." His gaze was cold, dangerous, leaving no room for doubt.
Hannah's eyes followed the student as he retreated in silence.
"Are you all right?" Joseph asked then, his voice low, though his eyes swept her figure with quiet scrutiny. "Can you explain what you were doing with that man between the cars—and what he wanted from you?"
"He mistook me for my sister once. This time he just… wanted company." Her voice softened, childlike in its obedience, betraying her relief that Joseph had appeared at the right moment. "I only wanted to go to the store."
"And your roommate? What is she doing that she can't go with you? I thought I made it clear she was supposed to keep an eye on you."
"Come on. She's not my babysitter," Hannah murmured, lowering her gaze. "Bella can't be at my beck and call all the time. She has her own life."
Joseph studied her for a moment, then asked, "Should I go with you?"
Her lashes fluttered as she looked back up at him. For a moment, her lips curved into a small, reluctant smile, a silent yes. He climbed into the passenger seat, his gaze falling almost immediately on the hands she gripped tightly around the steering wheel.
A strange tremor ran through him, something he couldn't quite suppress.
"Are you sure you're fine? Can you even drive?"
"I'm a novice," she admitted lightly, "but I'm doing well enough. You don't need to worry about me killing us on the way." She started the engine with a calm she didn't fully feel.
"In my company, you won't die," Joseph replied dryly. "Hell itself is afraid of me—Satan won't risk having competition."
The ridiculousness of the statement startled a laugh from her, breaking the tension. For a fleeting moment, the heaviness in her chest eased.
"That boy…" she said at last, voice trembling in the silence. "He mocked my sister's death. Said it was staged—that the truck didn't just happen to hit her car." Her grip on the wheel tightened. "It's impossible that he knows anything—he mistook me for Danielle at first—but…"
"But he might have heard something," Joseph finished, his tone heavy.
The light turned red. Hannah exhaled shakily and pressed her palms harder against the steering wheel, sneaking a glance at him.
"That's exactly what I thought. And it makes me… anxious."
"He's an idiot," Joseph said, shrugging as though the matter didn't deserve more weight. "The kind who needs a beating. I'd gladly do it myself—it's been a while since I've nailed anyone."
Hannah shot him a sideways look, amusement flickering in her eyes despite her nerves.
"You've been very docile lately," she teased. "When you met Halsey, you were downright polite. Now I understand what people meant when they said you become a completely different person around her."
"Are you laughing at me?" Joseph's gaze darkened, stabbing into her like a warning. She felt it on her skin, sharp and heavy, but she refused to meet it. Her lips pressed together, holding back the words that hovered too close to her tongue.
A soft grunt escaped her, half-suppressed laughter. The silence between them only made it harder not to burst out giggling—especially as Joseph continued to glower at her with that stormy intensity.
It was almost absurd, considering that years ago, at the start of high school, his very presence had once terrified her.
*
Hannah felt an unexpected surge of pride as she strode beside Joseph through the aisles of the store. Every few steps, she noticed glances thrown in their direction—young girls whispering behind their hands, and even older women lingering for a moment too long with curious eyes. Joseph seemed oblivious to it all. He moved with that casual confidence of his, his hands sweeping over the shelves as he tossed one caloric snack after another into the cart, as though he had come here with a single purpose: to raid the junk food section.
The nineteen-year-old leaned her hands against the cart and couldn't tear her gaze away from him. There was something magnetic about the way he ignored the stares, as if he were untouchable, existing in his own orbit.
"What are you grinning at like that?" he muttered suddenly, catching her in the act. Hannah startled and quickly reached for a stack of brightly colored chip bags, tossing them with uncanny precision into the cart.
"Weren't you the one who wanted to go to the store in the first place?" he pressed, arching a brow at her.
"We're already loaded with junk food, so I think I'll pick something out of it," she replied lightly.
"But it's all for me," he said with mock gravity, finally turning his full attention to her. "Since I'm here, I might as well stock up. The two uneaten pigs who share a room with me devour everything in sight."
"Then you're a good roommate, since you share with them."
"I don't share." His tone sharpened, and his expression made it perfectly clear how outraged he was by the mere suggestion. "I even had two padlocks on my locker. Gave them up eventually, though, because Tom kept breaking in. He may act dumb, but that guy's a canny beast."
Hannah couldn't help but giggle, but the sound died abruptly when Joseph's piercing glare shot toward her like a bolt of lightning.
"You think this is funny? Because for me, it's reprehensible behavior. I tolerate it with great difficulty."
Her lips twitched despite herself. "Joseph, you are getting sweeter and sweeter."
The words slipped out before she could stop them. The moment she heard her own voice, her stomach dropped. Her eyes widened as she froze, horrified, staring up at his surprised face.
"That… that sounded bad," she stammered, scrambling for an escape.
But Joseph stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. The warmth in his gaze changed, sharp and playful all at once. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.
"I think you're the one missing a decent dose of sugar," he said slowly, a roguish smile tugging at his lips. "Because you're starting to ice a little too much, little girl."
Heat rushed to her cheeks, setting them on fire. Hannah tried to look anywhere but at him—fixating on the linoleum floor, blinking too rapidly, probably resembling a fool.
When Joseph suddenly turned and strode toward the cash registers, she exhaled in relief, only for panic to replace it when he crooked his finger at her in a commanding gesture. Without thinking, she rushed after him, grabbing random snacks along the way as though it would disguise her embarrassment.
What on earth had gone through her mind to say something so idiotic?
*
It had been a long time since Hannah had felt so uneasy in Joseph's company. Standing in front of the dormitory, she reached into the oversized shopping bag dangling from her arm and pulled out the first item her hand landed on. All she wanted was to retreat quickly to her room and escape the charged tension lingering between them. But Joseph clearly had other plans.
"Give it back!" he barked, pointing furiously at the bell pepper chips clutched in her hand. "They're mine!"
Startled, Hannah reacted on impulse. She flung the package at him in a clumsy attempt to end the quarrel, but the move backfired disastrously—the bag smacked him square in the face.
Danger, her mind whispered the moment she saw his expression darken.
With a yelp, she bolted toward the dormitory doors, feeling like a mischievous child running from a furious teacher. Yet his response was far from playful. Joseph tossed the battered package onto the sidewalk and lunged after her with long, determined strides, as though intent on capturing and punishing her for her insolence.
Hannah reached the building's entrance in a breathless sprint, but Joseph was faster. His arms wrapped around her from behind, lifting her slightly off balance and locking her in place. She struggled, thrashing in his grip, her voice sharp with panic as she cried out for him to release her. Her shout echoed across the courtyard, immediately drawing the attention of nearby students.
"She's the only one he treats like that," one girl murmured to her friend, her eyes glinting with a mixture of envy and intrigue. "You can tell there's something between them. Maybe we should call her a lucky girl?"
The words stung Hannah, though she tried not to let it show. Lucky was the last thing she felt.
A figure lingering near the entrance stirred, her presence commanding immediate attention. Halsey—Joseph's ex-girlfriend—had been watching for a while, her gaze fixed with quiet intensity on the scene before her. To anyone else, Joseph's teasing might have seemed cruel or careless, but Halsey knew better. He reserved this kind of raw, unguarded behavior for people who mattered to him. That alone told her what she needed to know: the younger girl had carved a space in his heart that no one else had managed to occupy.
"Joe?" Halsey's voice cut through the tension as she stepped forward, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.
The single word was enough to silence Hannah's protests. Joseph instantly loosened his hold and released her, his focus snapping to the new arrival. His expression softened, though shadows of old emotions flickered across his features. Hannah recognized them for what they were—remnants of a past love that had once consumed him. Halsey, the one who had left, whose absence had twisted him into someone bent on lashing out at the innocent.
"Halsey," he said, his voice tight. "What are you doing here?"
Hannah frowned, studying the girl more closely. She had seen Halsey's pictures before—radiant, charming, almost impossibly sweet. But in person, the aura surrounding her felt different, darker. The smile she offered was flawless, almost too polished, but the glint in her eyes carried something Hannah couldn't quite name. Malice? Possession?
"I was going to call you down," Halsey replied smoothly, "because I wanted to see you."
Hannah's stomach sank. So they had exchanged numbers at the party. Charming.
"You could have called me first," Joseph said, his tone edged with suspicion. "What if I hadn't been here? You'd have come for nothing."
Halsey only lifted her shoulders in a careless shrug. "I needed to get out of the house anyway, so it makes no difference."
Joseph's brow furrowed. "What's going on?"
"I just… needed to talk to someone," Halsey admitted softly, her gaze deliberately avoiding Hannah. "And right now, you feel like the closest person to me."
Hannah forced a smile at the words but kept her silence. She had no intention of inserting herself into their history, into the lingering sparks between them. This wasn't her battle.
"In that case," she said briskly, stepping back, "I'll head to my room. By the way, don't forget about the chips lying in the middle of the sidewalk." She tilted her head toward the discarded package before flashing him a wry grin. "I'm going to load up on calories, because tomorrow I've got an important doctor's appointment."
Joseph turned to her, confusion knitting his brows. "What do you mean?"
"If my condition has really improved," Hannah explained evenly, "there's a good chance I'll be able to live without regular medication again."