"U-uhm… nothing? Hehe." Tiffany laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck while avoiding their eyes. Her gaze could've stabbed Andrew's chest twenty times if looks were daggers.
"Nothing?" Yvienna stepped forward, and Tiffany immediately took a step back.
"I-it's just a mobile game! Right! I'm… I'm playing in a tournament!" she blurted out, trying to dodge Yvienna's stare.
"Really?! What tournament?!" Andrew asked, amusement glinting in his eyes—until Tiffany jabbed her shoulder into him, her eyes screaming shut up.
"You idiot," she hissed under her breath. Realization finally dawned on Andrew.
"Oh! Right! I-it's a tournament!" he echoed, forcing a nervous laugh.
Yvienna was about to interrogate her further when a sudden noise echoed across the field.
"I-is that a ghost?!" Andrew trembled, immediately clutching Tiffany's arm.
"Tsk. Coward," Kyle scoffed, walking toward the sound.
"Be careful, I'm coming with you," Yvienna said, following behind him.
While the two searched for the source, the other pair were busy fighting each other.
"Get away from me, you fool!" Tiffany gritted her teeth, trying to shove Andrew off, but the coward only clung tighter with every push.
A rustling sound cut through their bickering. Everyone froze. Yvienna jumped and instinctively hid behind Kyle as a chilling clown's laugh echoed through the air. Kyle followed the noise, leading them beneath the bleachers. Suddenly, a box dropped in front of them—its lid springing open to reveal a clown's bloody head dangling on a string.
"AHHH!" Yvienna screamed. Kyle kicked the box away in anger while Tiffany, curious as ever, crouched beside it.
"What's this?" she murmured, picking up a sticky note that had fallen underneath. The others crowded around as she read aloud:
"This is just the beginning, Ms. Bratty."
Cold sweat ran down Yvienna's spine as goosebumps crawled over her skin. Her heart raced, her hands tangled in her hair as panic took over. The courage she was known for suddenly felt like it had vanished.
"Who the hell put this here?!" Kyle shouted into the darkness, his voice echoing.
"Look, I got goosebumps!" Andrew said suddenly, interrupting the tension. Tiffany rolled her eyes at him, then turned to hug her best friend tightly.
"I'm here, bestie. We're here, okay? Don't be scared," she whispered.
Tears welled in Yvienna's eyes as Tiffany held her close.
"I'll protect you, my BFF. I promise."
"Let's go. I'll have someone investigate this," Kyle said, gently taking Yvienna's hand as they walked back toward the cabinet to return the cleaning tools. The path was dark, but thankfully, the hallway lights flickered dimly to guide them.
"These scary moments make me want to pee," Andrew muttered before dashing toward the restroom. Tiffany could only sigh, shaking her head at his foolishness.
Kyle opened the cabinet and carefully placed the tools inside, but a sudden buzzing sound filled the air. The lights began flickering on and off. Yvienna panicked, clutching Tiffany's arm.
"Don't worry, my Luna," Kyle said, trying to calm her down. "Maybe it's just an electric issue—"
"AHHH!" Andrew came running back toward them. Everyone turned, eyes wide.
"W-what happened?!" Tiffany panicked, scanning him from head to toe.
"Why the hell is your arm bleeding?!" Kyle exclaimed, seeing blood dripping down Andrew's hand.
"S-someone attacked me! You better run!"
"Kyle, get my bestie out of here!" Tiffany shouted.
"B-but—" Yvienna tried to speak, but Tiffany pushed her toward Kyle.
Two men in all-black outfits appeared from the shadows, sprinting toward them. Tiffany reached for something strapped to her thigh—her dagger. Without hesitation, she ran straight at them.
The blade flashed under the flickering light, slashing for the wrists and legs. Yvienna gasped, frozen in disbelief as she saw a side of Tiffany she'd never seen before.
Her best friend's eyes had turned cold. There was an aura around her—dark, sharp, and fearless. Every movement was swift and precise; the attackers couldn't even land a hit.
Do I even know my best friend? Yvienna thought, trembling.
"I said run!" Tiffany roared, glancing over her shoulder. That voice—fierce and commanding—snapped Yvienna out of her daze. Kyle grabbed her arm and ran.
He looked back and saw Andrew already fighting off those men. Kyle knew this side of his friend — strong, fearless — and he trusted him completely.
"Be safe," Kyle muttered before continuing to run, dragging Yvienna with him.
"W-What the hell is happening?!" Yvienna trembled, clutching the front seat of the car as she sat down.
"I don't know. The university isn't safe. I have to tell my f-father!" Kyle's voice was sharp, filled with frustration instead of fear. This wasn't good — their family owned the university, and the guards clearly failed to do their job.
He gritted his teeth and slammed his phone against the steering wheel as he called someone, his tone low but furious.
Why is this happening?
"Let's go," he said firmly, starting the engine. But Yvienna stopped him.
"Tiffany's not here!"
"Don't worry. Andrew has his motorcycle — they can handle it."
Panic suffocated her. Anxiety clawed at her chest. Everything felt too much — like the problems kept coming without a single break. Her vision blurred with tears as the car began to move.
"H-hey, are you okay?" Kyle asked, glancing at her. She tried to answer, but her eyes wouldn't open. Everything went black.
The men suddenly fled, and Tiffany and Andrew gave chase.
"They're too fast! Go that way!" Tiffany shouted, breathless. They split up to corner them.
She was panting but refused to stop. "How the hell are they still that fast when I stabbed their legs?!"
"That way!" Andrew called when he saw her running toward him.
The men dove into a van where several others in black suits were waiting.
"Hide!" Andrew yelled as the men pulled out their guns.
"Sh*t!" Tiffany dropped to the ground, rolling to the side. She hurled her dagger, aiming for the wheels—but it missed.
"Did you see the plate number?!" she shouted.
"Yeah, I memorized it," Andrew panted, leaning against a wall.
"Good."
"Yeah, because I'm smart."
Tiffany spotted an empty bottle beside her and threw it at his face.
"Ow!"
"You're lucky it's empty!" she hissed, struggling to stand. Her body ached, bruised, but her stamina held strong.
"Yvienna and Kyle saw the way you fought," Andrew said, gently grabbing her arm to check her injuries.
"I guess I'll have to tell my best frie—ouch!" She punched his shoulder when he pinched her bruise.
"I'm sorry! Let's go!" he said quickly, raising his hands in surrender.
"Tsk." She scoffed, brushing past him.
When Yvienna opened her eyes, the room felt unfamiliar. Kyle sat beside her, holding her hand, his head bowed—he must've fallen asleep while taking care of her. She didn't want to wake him, but the sudden harsh sound of a door opening startled her.
"Oh my gosh! Are you okay, my darling?!" her mother cried, rushing to her side.
"M-Mom, I'm okay."
"I swear, whoever did this will pay!" her father said, his eyes filled with worry and anger.
Kyle stood up immediately, guilt washing over him as he faced them.
"Thank you for taking care of my daughter," Yvienna's mother said sincerely.
"We'll join the investigation," her father added firmly, turning to Kyle. He already knew Kyle was the son of the university's owner—Kyle had told them everything that happened.
The university was suspended for a week as the investigation began. The once lively campus fell silent, blanketed by unease and rumors that spread faster than the truth.
Yvienna stayed home after being discharged from the hospital. Her father had stationed guards around the house — a precaution that only made the situation feel more real, more frightening. The weight of it all pressed down on her chest.
This wasn't just an incident anymore. It was something serious… something dangerous.
"How are you?" Meg's soft voice pulled her back to reality. She placed a plate of cookies and a glass of milk on the bedside table before sitting beside her daughter.
"I-I'm okay, Mom," Yvienna murmured, her voice small and shaky.
Meg gently brushed her hair, the way she always did when Yvienna was younger. "Everything will be fine," she whispered, her tone firm yet comforting. "I promise — whoever did this to you will be punished."
Her mother's voice wrapped around her like a warm blanket — familiar, steady, and safe. No matter how chaotic her world became, that voice always made her feel secure. She was lucky, Yvienna thought, to have someone who never let her face the darkness alone.
Meanwhile, across the city, tension filled the dean's office.
"What do you mean the footage is gone?!" Kyle's father roared, slamming his palm against the desk.
The head of security flinched. "S-Sir, all cameras in the east field went offline around 5:47 p.m. — just before the incident. Someone must've overridden the system."
"Overridden?" Kyle's father repeated, disbelief lacing his tone. "That's impossible. Only the admin panel can do that."
Silence followed. Heavy. Suspicious.
"Find out who did it," he said coldly. "Before this becomes bigger than it already is."
Outside the office, Greg grabbed his son by the collar and shoved him against the wall.
"This is all because of that girl!" he shouted, his face red with rage.
"Wow. Blaming the victim now?" Kyle shot back, his voice sharp with sarcasm.
"Our university — our name — will be tainted because of her! Do you understand me? Cut all your connections with that girl!" Greg's grip loosened as his teeth ground together in frustration.
Kyle scoffed. "Unbelievable." He pushed past his father, disgust twisting in his chest. How could he blame Yvienna when it was the university's system that failed her?
Slamming the car door, he gripped the steering wheel tight. If his father couldn't find the truth — then he would.