Chapter 3: Shadows of the Past.
Rokib looked at the two girls , her smile strained, handed them their room assignments. "These are your rooms," she said, her voice a touch too bright, failing to mask the flicker of unease in her eyes. Despite the girls' excited chatter, a pang of discomfort settled in her chest, a premonition she couldn't quite shake.
"The rooms are beautiful!" the girls exclaimed, their voices echoing in the hallway. Evelyn turned to Marble, a warm smile gracing her lips. "Marble, what do you think? Isn't it nice?"
Marble's eyes sparkled as she nodded enthusiastically, but Evelyn caught a fleeting shadow of uncertainty in her gaze, a moment of doubt that mirrored her own unease. "Evelyn," Marble whispered, her voice barely audible, "it feels… different without…" She trailed off, her eyes clouding with a familiar sadness. "Please, I don't want to talk about what happened in high school. And Antosia is the last person I want to mention."
The mention of Antosia's name sent a shiver down Evelyn's spine, a cold tendril of anxiety tightening in her stomach. "Come on, then," Evelyn said, forcing a cheerful tone, "The lecture is about to begin in half an hour." They exited the room, their expressions carefully composed, as if nothing had been said.
As they walked towards their first class, the air buzzed with the chatter and laughter of other students, but Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that the past was a lurking shadow, waiting to disrupt their newfound peace.
"Evelyn, are you alright?" a gentle voice inquired. A warm hand lightly touched her waist, sending a jolt through her.
Evelyn's head snapped up. "Mikel, is that you?" she asked, her voice slightly breathless.
"Yes," he confirmed, his blue eyes etched with concern.
Evelyn's heart skipped a beat as Mikel's gaze held hers, his concern making her feel seen and noticed. A blush warmed her cheeks, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside, unsure of how to process it. She coughed, causing Mikel to pause, his hand dropping from her waist. He smiled gently, pushing his red hair back, revealing his handsome features and the faint scar above his left eyebrow.
The scar, a silent reminder of their shared past and the secrets they kept hidden from the world, lingered in Evelyn's mind.
The door creaked open, revealing a girl with an aura of quiet confidence. Her serene expression masked a cool intensity in her eyes, drawing the attention of everyone, including Evelyn and Mikel.
"Antosia," Evelyn murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
Mikel's gaze flickered to hers, then back to Antosia.
Antosia glided past them, her expression unchanged, but the air crackled with tension. Her gaze swept over Evelyn and Mikel, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips, before she disappeared into the crowd, leaving an unsettling silence.
Suddenly, a hand gripped Evelyn's arm, pulling her away, leaving Mikel standing alone in the hallway.
Evelyn stumbled, her eyes darting back to Mikel's concerned face, before she was yanked around a corner and out of sight. "Pristin?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Evelyn, Evelyn," Marble whispered, her grip tightening on Evelyn's arm. "What's going on?" Her eyes darted nervously around the empty corridor before settling on Evelyn's worried face.
"N-nothing," Evelyn stammered, "I just thought I saw Pristin."
Marble's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion. "Let's forget that, okay?"
"Come on, slowpoke!" Marble exclaimed, playfully wrapping her arm around Evelyn's neck. "Let's get to class. I bet this university is full of mysteries, just waiting for us to solve them!" Evelyn giggled, gathering her blonde hair and playfully tossing it over her shoulder.