Chapter 62
Na Yeon emerged from the bathroom,her hair a damp tangle down her back, her skin radiating a warm glow from her bath. She padded across the room, her eyes scanning the space for her phone, but it was nowhere to be found. A note of panic crept into her voice as she exclaimed, "Oh my God, where is my phone?"
Her gaze darted around the room, searching every nook and cranny with a growing sense of desperation. It landed on Chuchu, who sat on the bed, her eyes fixed on a book "Did you see my phone?" Na yeon asked, her tone laced with a mixture of anxiety and supplication.
Chuchu looked up, a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Why are you asking me that?" she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do I look like a phone keeper to you?"
Na yeon's frustration simmered, then boiled over. She strode across the room, snatching the book from Chuchu's hands and flinging it across the space with a resounding thud. "I'm asking you, did you see my phone?" she demanded, her voice rising in urgency. "I clearly left it on the table, and now it's gone!"
Chuchu's expression shifted, and she burst out laughing, the sound husky and unapologetic. "You mean this?" she said, producing the phone from behind her back with a flourish.
Na yeon's eyes widened in relief, but her joy was short-lived. "Hand me my phone now," she demanded, her voice firm and commanding.
Chuchu's grin grew wider, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, I'll hand it over...if you can get it," she said, standing up with a fluid motion.
Before Na yeon could react, Chuchu sprinted out of the room, phone held aloft like a trophy. She ran with incredible speed, her footsteps light and effortless. And then, in a move that seemed almost reckless, she flung the phone across the room, out the window, and towards the stream that flowed in front of the house.
The phone soared through the air, its trajectory uncertain, and Na yeon's scream of horror echoed through the room. "Oh my God! That phone is expensive!"
The room erupted into chaos as Na yeon and Chuchu engaged in a fierce and physical altercation, their anger and frustration boiling over into a flurry of shouts and scuffles.
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Sarah's pov
As I stormed towards the room, the weight of my footsteps seemed to match the turmoil brewing within me. The sight that greeted me was like a slap in the face - my bags lay scattered outside the door, my backpack sprawled on the ground, and my headset and camera tossed carelessly beside it. The memory of leaving my headset on the table when I stepped out with Camilla seared itself into my mind, and the realization that she had made no effort to place it safely in my bag only served to fan the flames of my indignation.
I approached the door, my hand rising to bang against the wooden surface, the sound echoing down the deserted hallway like a challenge. "Camilla, what is the meaning of this?" I demanded, my voice low and even, yet infused with a quiet intensity that belied the turmoil churning within me.
But instead of the expected apology or explanation, Camilla's voice drifted from the window, her words slicing through the air like a cold wind. "Get lost." The two words hung in the air, a cruel dismissal that left me reeling.
I felt a stinging sensation, as if her words had physically struck me. "Camilla, where do you want me to go?" I asked, my voice tinged with a mixture of hurt and incredulity. The knowledge that all the rooms were occupied hung like a specter, casting a dark shadow over my already precarious situation. My voice faltered, the reality of my predicament threatening to overwhelm me.
I stood before the door, my anger and frustration boiling over. "Open the door now, or I'll report to the teachers," I threatened, my voice firm and resolute.
"Go, then," Camilla's voice taunted from the other side of the door. "Or better still, go to your boyfriend's room."
I felt a surge of exasperation. "Camila, I'm not dating him, for God's sake!" I shouted, my voice echoing. "There's nothing going on between us, for heaven's sake!"
But my words were met with silence, a deafening quiet that told me Camilla had no intention of responding or backing down. I couldn't believe I had considered her a friend.
With a heavy sigh, I bent down to pick up my bag, carefully placing my headset and camera inside. I slung the bag over my shoulder, the weight of it a tangible reminder of the situation. Without another word, I turned and walked away, leaving the door – and Camilla – behind.
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I trudged out of the last room, my body slick with sweat from the fruitless search. Every door I had knocked on had yielded the same response: "Occupied." The realization hit me like a physical blow - I was homeless, at least for the night. My pride rebelled at the thought of swallowing my words and accepting hyun min's offer, no matter how tempting it seemed. Begging Camilla was out of the question; something about that scenario left a bitter taste in my mouth.
The teachers' announcement about dinner was a welcome respite, a distraction from the turmoil brewing inside me. I watched as students poured out of their rooms, their laughter and chatter a stark contrast to my own somber mood. I made my way to the window of the room I shared with Camilla, hoping against hope that she would grant me permission to drop off my bag. "At least let me drop my bag," I called out, but the silence that greeted me was oppressive.
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I stood infront of hyun min's space, before the door, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. I took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing. The silence that followed was oppressive, making me question my decision to come here. I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob as I wondered if I should retreat. But the thought of being homeless, of having nowhere to call my own, kept me rooted to the spot.
Why did Camilla do this to me? I thought, a mix of anger and desperation swirling in my mind. I didn't want to report her to the teachers or stir up trouble, but what choice did I have? The uncertainty of my situation was suffocating me.
Just as I was about to knock again, the door swung open, and he stood before me. My breath caught in my throat as I took in his rugged beauty. The evening light spilled, illuminating his chiseled features and making his eyes sparkle like stars. He was dressed in a sleep pant and a white T-shirt, topped with a hoodie to ward off the chill of the night. The casual attire did nothing to detract from his aura, and he exuded a sense of quiet confidence that left me breathless.
He leaned against the doorframe, his piercing gaze holding mine as he waited for me to speak. I felt a flutter in my chest as I struggled to find my voice. "Hey," I managed to say, trying to compose myself. "I'm...your new roommate, I guess."