"The gates promised dreams. The note whispered danger."
I stepped into the house, still flushed from the chaos at the orientation hall. My heart half racing from the canteen incident, half from anticipation.
"Welcome back, Sarie!" my parents chorused.
I froze for a moment—and then I saw it. Candles flickered softly across the dining table. My favorite dishes were arranged meticulously. Drinks chilled in glasses, perfectly poured. My cousins crowded around, cheering and smiling, all waiting to say goodbye. My chest tightened.
A smile tugged at my lips, but it was laced with unease. The memory of today's chaos in the orientation hall clung stubbornly at the edges of my mind.
"Mom, Dad…" I breathed, almost in disbelief.
"You're leaving tomorrow," Dad said gently, his voice carrying a quiet pride. "So we wanted to celebrate today. You've earned this—admission to one of the biggest universities in the world, and with a scholarship too!"
I nodded, trying to smile. It was true—my university wasn't far from home, but hostel rules meant I couldn't stay at home during semesters. Tomorrow, I would be living in the hostel, starting a new chapter of my life.
My mom, who had never given birth to me but loved me like no other, handed me a plate of food. I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat. I had never met my biological mother, though Dad once told me I'd inherited her green eyes—nothing more. I had never asked further. Somehow, that truth had always been enough.
The candles, the laughter, the familiar scents—it was overwhelming. I laughed softly at a cousin's teasing, but my mind kept flitting back to the canteen. The boys, the humiliation, the threat—it lingered, a shadow I couldn't shake.
Yet here I was, suspended between two worlds: the comfort and love of home, and the uncertain, thrilling, and frightening new chapter awaiting me. Tonight, I let myself be celebrated. Tomorrow… I would face everything else.
After dinner, I carefully picked out some of my favorite clothes—tops, jeans, and a cute pair of night pajamas. I packed my skincare products too. According to Google, everything I might need in the university area was available—restaurants, parlors, shopping malls, even small shops. But I didn't know if that was true. The university was secretive about its area, and I had signed a bond promising not to reveal any details about the campus or its surroundings on the internet or to any outsider, even after graduation.
A sudden crack of thunder pulled me back from my thoughts.
Packing done, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and crawled into bed. But as soon as my head touched the pillow, anxiety, nervousness, and fear surged all at once. My heart raced. I put on my earphones, playing my favorite song to calm myself, letting the music wash over my jittery thoughts. My eyelids grew heavy, sleep finally tugging at me.
Then—crash.
A stone slammed against my window, shattering the glass. My heart leapt into my throat. I froze, staring at the shards glinting in the dim candlelight. Wrapped around it was a small piece of paper. Hands trembling, I unfolded it and read:
"Don't be happy that much, sweetheart. You'll see hell tomorrow. Welcome, in advance."
Fear consumed me, freezing me in place. My thoughts raced—Who would do this? Why me?
Before panic could take over, there was a knock at my door.
"Are you okay?" Dad's voice called from outside.
I scrambled to open the door. Mom followed closely behind, worry etched on their faces.
I quickly waved them off, trying to hide my fear. "It's nothing, really. I was just packing and… found a ping-pong ball. I tried to play with it, and it accidentally hit the window."
Dad exhaled, half laughing, half scolding. "You silly child. Be careful!"
I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry…"
Mom gave me a weird smile I'd never seen before. Anxiety clouded my thoughts. But I pushed it aside, knowing she was just worried.
"Good night," she said softly.
I nodded, closing the door behind them. The sound of their footsteps faded, leaving me alone again.
I curled under my blankets, the familiar softness of my pajamas offering little comfort. Every shadow seemed darker, every creak of the house louder. Anxiety still churned inside me, fueled by thoughts of tomorrow—the hostel, the strict university rules, and the memories of today's canteen incident. My heart refused to slow, my mind racing with what-ifs.
Sleep remained just out of reach. I clutched the blankets closer, listening to the distant rumble of thunder, feeling both the excitement of a new beginning and the gnawing fear of the unknown.