Rachel yawned, eyeing the beauty-dazed girl before her.
Snapping her fingers to get her attention, she said,
"Give me a minute to dress up. Oh, and Drake, I need you to leave — my new roommate doesn't fancy seeing you here."
Rachel turned to the head of the basketball team — also her current boyfriend.
"Cute much,"
Drake said, eyeing Valentine while buttoning his shirt.
When done, he hugged Rachel and pressed a quick kiss on her lips before leaving.
Valentine stood frozen like a statue, watching the explicit scene unfold.
Bile rose in her throat.
"Hey, hey! Don't throw up here!"
Rachel exclaimed dramatically, dragging Valentine toward the bathroom inside the room.
---
Locking the door, Rachel began cleaning the chaos — clothes scattered, makeup smeared on the table, leftover pizza on the bed, and alcohol bottles everywhere.
This was a dead zone if a cleaning inspection ever happened.
Meanwhile, Valentine washed her hands and face, staring at herself in the mirror.
Her stomach turned again. The bathroom was a mess too.
She was mysophobic — and they'd paired her with the dirtiest roommate alive.
This was not going to work.
She'd apply for a change of room. Immediately.
But when she stepped back out, Rachel was already tidying up.
"I'm sorry, I never expected a new roommate so soon," Rachel said gently.
Valentine's heart softened. She sighed.
"I'm mysophobic. I can't stay here if it's going to be like this."
Rachel laughed, handing her a trash bag.
"Are you also romancephobic?"
Silence — and then both girls burst into laughter.
"Not really. I'm just not used to… this,"
Valentine admitted, gesturing as she helped pick up bottles.
"Yeah, you looked like it," Rachel teased, giving her a quick up-and-down look.
---
A few minutes later, they flopped onto the king-sized bed, exhausted.
The room was finally clean and wide enough to breathe again.
"So you're Rachel Vega?"
Valentine asked, eyeing the beautiful blonde beside her.
"Yes, why?"
Rachel raised a brow, then smirked.
"Don't tell me they said 'good luck surviving her'?"
"How… how did you know?"
Rachel laughed, flipping her hair dramatically.
"Everyone knows I'm crazy and wild."
"Wild, yes — but crazy?"
"Just a little bicker between me and a student I taught a lesson,"
Rachel said, brushing off the topic.
"Enough about me. What about you?"
"Valentine Loraine," she replied softly.
"Oh, come on! Everyone knows you. The white hair gave you away."
"I know, right? It makes me stand out too much," Valentine groaned.
"Not just that, girl — you're gorgeous. And that body? Eye-catching."
Valentine folded her arms, narrowing her eyes.
"Think whatever you want. I'm not explaining anything."
Rachel laughed, heading for the walk-in closet.
"Can you stop overthinking and get ready for the Welcome Ceremony?"
Valentine checked her phone.
Twenty minutes left.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
She rushed into the closet, grabbing a blue shirt and jeans.
Rachel sighed when Valentine emerged.
"You're not wearing that, are you?"
Valentine blinked.
Rachel rolled her eyes.
"You're not wearing that to the ceremony."
She rummaged through Valentine's luggage and pulled out a black off-shoulder crop top with delicate designs, high-waist blue jeans, silver earrings, a choker, and white sneakers.
"You've got the looks. Don't ruin them with grandma fashion."
"Huh? Rachel—"
"I'll be waiting outside," Rachel cut her off, leaving no room for argument.
---
Valentine stepped out moments later.
Rachel clapped in delight.
"Now that's what I'm talking about! I feel safer already, walking beside this beauty."
Valentine blushed, bowing her head.
"Why are you also heading to the Great Hall?" she asked.
"I thought only new students were supposed to attend."
"That's what only you would think. Why stay locked up when there's fun waiting outside?
"Fun?
Before Rachel could answer, a voice echoed through the dorm speaker:
"All new students, report to the Great Hall for the Welcome Ceremony hosted by the Student Council.
Please refrain from running in the hallways.
The Myst Boys are also part of the Council, so behave yourselves."
"Myst Boys?"
Valentine muttered, raising an eyebrow at Rachel.
Rachel's expression soured.
"Jasx, Louis, and André. The Myst Boys," she said with mock sweetness that dripped with disdain.
Valentine noticed the flicker in Rachel's eyes — that faint shadow she was good at reading.
She had always been able to read people. A strange little talent that made her wary of herself sometimes.
"Come on. And please — don't join the crowd," Rachel said, tugging her along.
Halfway down the hall, Rachel clutched her stomach.
"Restroom," she whispered, tapping Valentine's arm.
Valentine offered to go with her, but Rachel refused.
"If we're late, the Student Council will chew us alive. They're more powerful than the teachers — the school's elite strategists.
Every one of them comes from a long line of Council founders."
Still, Valentine insisted. She dragged Rachel to the restroom, waiting until she was done before running together toward the Great Hall.
---
The moment they pushed open the doors, all eyes turned to them — especially two.
Valentine's pulse quickened as her gaze locked with the most breathtaking creation she had ever seen.
Unbeknownst to her, her heart skipped a beat.