The evening sunlight spilled over the tall dorm building, painting golden streaks across the halls.
Valentine hurried along the corridor, her mind racing with questions for Rachel. She needed to know what had happened, and she wanted to tell her friend she had been right about the Myst boys—especially the President, André.
As she passed the room beside hers, a familiar figure caught her eye. Valentine paused, squinting to get a better look. It was the French girl—Maysha—the one she still hadn't decided whether to trust or keep at arm's length.
"What are you doing here?" Valentine wondered silently.
Maysha noticed her staring and smiled softly.
"Hey, I just moved in. I see this is your room," she said, pointing to the door a wall apart from hers.
Valentine raised her brows. "I thought you were in the second girls' dormitory. Why the sudden move?"
"My roommate is loud, and I read almost all the time. It's unbearable staying there," Maysha shrugged.
Valentine nodded, understanding. "Okay… I guess we'll be dormmates, then."
"Yeah," Maysha murmured, eyes wandering.
An awkward silence fell between them. When they both spoke at the same time, "Then… goodbye—"
"Goodbye then,"
They froze, exchanged a brief glance, and smiled. Valentine waved as she continued toward her dorm, oblivious to the storm waiting inside.
The moment she opened her door, she froze.
Rachel lay on the bed, sobbing softly. Mascara streaked her cheeks, and her usually vibrant eyes were dull with sadness.
Valentine dropped her bag and rushed to her friend, kneeling beside the bed and gently patting Rachel's back. She stayed silent, letting Rachel pour out her heart, until the sobs subsided into a tight, grateful hug.
Valentine winced but held her ground. She stayed until Rachel finally released her, smoothing her friend's hair and listening as she tried to breathe normally.
Night had fallen by the time Rachel composed herself. The stars shimmered outside their window.
Valentine, careful not to disturb the quiet, waited before asking gently,
"Can you tell me what's wrong now?"
Rachel lifted her eyes to meet Valentine's.
Taking a deep breath, she sighed then said:
"He… he came back into my life."
"By 'he,' you mean Jasx?"
Rachel nodded slowly.
"Yes. That's why I was called the Wild Girl."
She took a deep breath.
"Before Malcolm, we met at a charity banquet hosted by his family. We talked, became friends… then lovers. I was happy… until he left for school, and I transferred here."
Valentine listened, heart tightening.
Rachel continued, voice trembling slightly:
"Then Lira interfered. She convinced my father to send me to Malcolm and warned me about him. But when I arrived… he was with another girl."
Her voice wavered. "I went to confront them, slapped them both… and it was all recorded. That's how I got my reputation. And now… he's back, acting like some knight in shining armor."
Valentine's heart ached for her friend. She finally understood why Rachel despised the Myst boys. All the anger and resentment that seemed so random now made perfect sense.
Rachel lay back against the pillow, exhausted. Valentine didn't want to leave her friend in melancholy, so she settled beside her, lying on her back and staring at the ceiling. Silence stretched, comforting yet heavy.
Finally, Valentine broke it.
"I understand now why the Myst boys are… well, jerks with evil perks."
Rachel turned to her with a faint smile.
"Don't tell me you're only saying that because of me?"
Valentine chuckled softly.
"Partly yours… and partly mine."
Rachel's curiosity sparked.
"What do you mean?"
Valentine recounted her day with André, summarizing the late-coming punishment, the tension, and his strange behavior.
Rachel laughed suddenly, bouncing lightly on the bed.
"You know, you're so cute, everyone would want to bully you."
Valentine blinked, confusion written across her face.
"What does that even mean? How is that related to what I just told you?"
Rachel grinned.
"Fine, fine. He dislikes lateness. You angered him, and now Alex, the disciplinary head, gets to deal with it." She laughed again, her long legs jostling the bed.
Valentine stared at her friend with a deadpan expression.
"But… that doesn't change the fact that he wronged me. I hadn't even familiarized myself with the rules."
Rachel shrugged.
"Today's… torturing, right?" Her tone dropped low, almost teasing.
Valentine nodded, her eyes softening as she looked at her friend, who had finally fallen asleep. She gave Rachel one last glance before turning toward the window, staring at the dark, quiet sky.
Today had been exhausting and vexing, yet she felt grateful for the moments it gave her—the chance to comfort a friend, to connect, and to face the chaos head-on.
As she closed her eyes, the world outside succumbed to darkness… but she knew tomorrow would bring more challenges, and maybe, just maybe, more answers.