The faint hum of the dormitory's radiator was the only sound in the room. It was midnight, yet neither Hannah nor Adrian could sleep. The light from Adrian's desk lamp cast a warm, golden pool over his textbooks, but his eyes weren't on the words—they were on her. She sat cross-legged on her bed across the room, phone in her hand, gaze distant.
Hannah had been quieter than usual ever since the confrontation in the courtyard earlier that evening. She'd barely said a word during dinner, choosing instead to pick at her food while the rest of the group chatted. Even now, her silence felt heavy, pressing in like the weight of an unsaid confession.
Finally, Adrian broke it. "You've been acting weird since we got back. What's going on?"
She glanced up, startled, as though she'd been yanked out of her thoughts. "Nothing," she muttered, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Don't give me that," he pressed, leaning back in his chair. "I know when something's wrong."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, she looked like she might tell him—but then she shook her head. "It's not important."
"Hannah—" He stopped, watching her expression tighten. He knew that look. It wasn't anger. It was fear.
He pushed his chair back and stood, crossing the small space between them. Sitting on the edge of her bed, he softened his tone. "If it's about what happened earlier, you can tell me."
Her fingers twisted in the blanket. "I overheard something," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something I wasn't supposed to hear."
He waited.
"It's about you," she added, her eyes locking onto his. "And… the fight with Damien wasn't as random as you think."
Adrian's jaw tensed. "What do you mean?"
She took a deep breath. "Damien's been saying things about you—things that could get you kicked out of the dorm. I think… someone told him about what happened last year."
For a moment, the air between them felt brittle. Adrian's mind reeled back to the incident she was talking about—the one he'd buried, the one no one was supposed to know about. His pulse thudded in his ears.
"Who told him?" Adrian's voice was sharp now.
Hannah hesitated. "I don't know for sure. But I think it might have been Sophia."
He froze. "Sophia? She barely even talks to me."
"Exactly," Hannah said. "That's what makes it strange."
Adrian's thoughts churned. He'd trusted Sophia once—briefly, reluctantly—but never thought she'd go this far. If Hannah was right, then Sophia had not only betrayed him but set Damien up against him.
"You can't confront her yet," Hannah said quickly, as if reading his mind. "If you do, she'll just deny it and cover her tracks. We need proof."
"We?" he asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah," she replied firmly. "If Damien's trying to ruin you, then he's messing with me too. You're not facing this alone."
Something in Adrian's chest shifted at her words. Hannah wasn't just saying it to be kind—he could tell she meant it. Still, the thought of dragging her deeper into this mess made him uneasy.
"This could get ugly," he warned.
Her mouth curved into a faint, almost defiant smile. "You think I scare that easily?"
Two days later, Hannah and Adrian found themselves in the library, pretending to study while keeping a careful watch on Damien and Sophia. The pair sat at a corner table, speaking in low voices, their body language tense. Every so often, Sophia's eyes darted around the room—paranoid, maybe even guilty.
Hannah's heart pounded as she slid her phone out and angled it discreetly to capture a video. Adrian leaned in, whispering, "Careful. Don't make it obvious."
She smirked. "Relax. I've done this before."
"Should I be worried about that?" he murmured.
She ignored him, focusing on Sophia's lips. Though she couldn't catch every word, the name "Adrian" slipped out more than once. And then, more damningly, "The Dean will believe it."
Hannah's stomach knotted. That was enough to confirm Sophia's involvement.
When Sophia and Damien finally left, Hannah and Adrian exchanged a look.
"That's proof," Adrian said.
"Not enough," Hannah countered. "We need them to say exactly what they're planning. Something undeniable."
That night, an idea formed—dangerous, but necessary. Hannah suggested staging a conversation loud enough for Sophia to overhear, baiting her into saying more when she thought no one was listening. Adrian didn't like the risk, but agreed.
The plan unfolded the next day in the cafeteria. Hannah and Adrian sat by the window, speaking in hushed tones but making sure Sophia could see them. They acted as though they were arguing—Hannah accusing Adrian of hiding things, Adrian looking frustrated.
It worked. Sophia's gaze kept flicking toward them, curiosity etched into her features. Minutes later, she slipped out of the cafeteria, phone in hand.
Hannah followed her to the hallway, keeping a careful distance. Sophia stopped to make a call, her voice low but urgent. Hannah caught fragments: "Yes… the Dean… tomorrow… he'll be gone."
She recorded every word.
That night, back in Dorm 304, Hannah and Adrian reviewed the recording. It was crystal clear—Sophia and Damien were plotting to have Adrian expelled by twisting the story from last year.
Adrian sat back, exhaling slowly. "This could end them."
Hannah nodded. "But if we use it, there's no going back."
He looked at her for a long moment. "Why are you helping me like this? You don't owe me anything."
Her expression softened. "Because I know what it's like to have people turn on you for something you didn't do. And because…" She trailed off, biting her lip.
"Because?" he pressed.
"Because I care," she said quietly.
The words lingered in the air, heavier than they should have been. Adrian's chest tightened—not in fear this time, but in something far more dangerous. Something that made him want to close the distance between them.
But before either of them could move, a loud knock rattled the door.
They exchanged a tense glance.
Adrian stood and opened it—only to find Damien, smirking.
"Nice night, isn't it?" Damien drawled. "Mind if I come in?"