There was absolutely nothing better than being happy on a beautiful evening, especially when your very first day at work went so well that you couldn't stop smiling about it. Jane felt lighter than air, almost like her footsteps weren't even touching the ground. She hadn't told anyone in the mansion about her new job at the café—she figured there wasn't really a need. Why should she? It was her little secret, something she wanted to enjoy privately, at least for now.
She walked home with her bag slung loosely over her shoulder, humming "10 Months" under her breath as the cool evening breeze brushed against her skin. The melody mixed with the faint scent of roasted chestnuts from a street corner and the distant chatter of people returning home. Jane let herself sink into that moment, hugging it tightly like it was hers alone.
Earlier in the day, she had actually checked in on Professor Kim, trying to say something about Ryan's behavior. She'd hinted at what bothered her, said just enough to raise concern—but she left out the biggest detail. The thing she caught Ryan doing. That was a piece of information she locked away, deciding that no one, not even Professor Kim, needed to know. At least… not yet.
When she finally entered the mansion, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The air was thick with something unspoken—tension you could almost see if you looked hard enough. The living room was unusually quiet, and Jane instantly knew that something had happened while she was gone.
"Hello," she whispered to Tim as she passed by, lowering her voice like she was afraid to break the uneasy silence.
Tim's lips curved into a soft smile the moment he saw her. "Hey, Jane," he greeted, his voice warm in contrast to the heavy vibe floating around the house.
Jane leaned toward him, her curiosity piqued. "What's going on?" she asked, scanning the room with her eyes.
On the couch, Alya and Rora were huddled under a blanket like two kids trying to shield themselves from the cold—or maybe from the tension. Their faces were blank, quiet. Meanwhile, Taylor sat apart from them, bent over a sketchpad. Jane blinked in surprise. Taylor could draw? And not just doodles—the lines were neat, focused, deliberate. Wow. Who would've thought?
Steven, noticing Jane standing there with that curious look plastered on her face, lifted his head and offered her a casual, "Hey there."
Jane smiled faintly, waved in acknowledgment, then decided she needed a shower more than answers right now. She turned toward the stairs, each step feeling heavier because of how off the house felt.
That was when Ryan appeared. He was coming down the staircase, now wearing a different shirt than the one he had on earlier. His expression was sour, and before she could move aside, his shoulder collided hard against hers. He stopped and scoffed.
"Watch where you're going," he said rudely, his tone sharp like a blade.
Jane didn't even glance at him. She simply brushed the spot on her shoulder with her hand like dusting away something unimportant and replied, cool and firm, "Watch your tone." With that, she continued climbing without missing a beat.
Ryan clenched his jaw, clearly annoyed, but he kept himself in check. He remembered, painfully well, that Jane had enough knowledge to blow up his image—especially if she ever told Steven what she'd seen. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked past the front door without another word. Nobody asked where he was going. Nobody cared.
Jane's hand rested on the doorknob to her room when something unexpected caught her eye. The door to Ivan's room opened, and a girl stepped out.
Jane froze.
She looked young, maybe Jane's age or slightly older. She had a presence about her—her style was on point, her outfit sharp and chic, like she walked straight out of a magazine. Cute, confident, a total diva in the best way possible.
Who was that? Jane wondered, her mind instantly buzzing with curiosity.
The girl's eyes flicked to Jane, and before Jane could even think of what to do, the stranger smiled warmly. It wasn't forced—it was genuine, effortless. Almost automatically, Jane found herself smiling back. The girl then walked past her, graceful, calm, like she owned the hallway. Jane finally turned the knob, entered her room, and let out a small sigh. What a day…
Britany was sprawled across her bed, holding her phone up to her face, scrolling endlessly through TikToks.
"Hey, Janey," Britney said casually without looking away at first. Then she adjusted her glasses and glanced up, eyes sparkling as if she'd been waiting for Jane to appear.
Jane tossed her bag onto her bed with relief, kicked off her shoes, and stretched her legs like she'd been running for hours. "Hola," she muttered, flopping onto her mattress. "Finally."
Britany rolled her eyes in a playful way. "Missed me?" Jane teased.
"Yesss!" Britney exaggerated with a dramatic pout. "Where have you been? I got myself into trouble while you were gone."
Jane's brows shot up. "Oh? What happened?" she asked, her tone laced with surprise.
Britney tilted her head, smirking slightly. "Can't tell you. But—" she leaned closer as if sharing a secret, "—you should check on Ivan when you can. He punched Ryan in the face. Now Ryan's left cheek is swollen like a balloon."
Jane sat up, eyes widening. Ivan punched Ryan? His best friend? What could've possibly happened to push him that far? She didn't know the details, but something inside her screamed that if Ivan hit Ryan, then Ryan was definitely the one at fault.
Her thoughts flickered back to that mysterious girl she'd seen stepping out of Ivan's room. She couldn't stop herself. "Hey… Britney… Who was that girl I saw in Ivan's room? Do you know her?"
Britany smirked again, mischief dancing in her eyes. "That? That was Ivan's sister. He wasn't feeling good—bad mood and all—and she came to cheer him up. No need to get jealous," she added slyly, emphasizing the last word.
Jane narrowed her eyes, refusing to let Britney get under her skin. "Jealous? You wish." She lay back down, resting her head against the pillow, eyes shutting almost instantly.
"Mmm-hmm," Britney hummed knowingly, a grin tugging at her lips before she returned to her TikToks.
Jane, however, couldn't brush away the strange urge gnawing at her chest. She usually didn't concern herself with what went on in the mansion. It wasn't her home, after all, and she liked to play it safe, avoiding drama, avoiding unnecessary invasions of people's privacy. But something about Ivan tonight… something pulled her toward him. She couldn't explain why. She just wanted to check on him. To know he was okay.
Yet exhaustion wrapped its arms around her faster than she expected. Before she knew it, her heavy eyelids surrendered, and she slipped into the dream world. And it was still only early in the evening...