⋆ 𐙚 ̊.CHAPTER 7 ✶⋆.˚

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Evelyn stood frozen, her chest heaving as she stared at the empty doorway where Minho had just exited. His words echoed in her mind, cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. Projecting? The nerve of him to twist things around like that. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her mind swirling with frustration and a tinge of doubt she refused to entertain.

Kitty walked in a moment later, her camera dangling from her wrist. "Whoa," she said, pausing mid-step. "What happened? You look like you just fought a war with a blender."

Evelyn blinked, trying to compose herself, but the simmering anger was still evident in her tone. "Minho happened. Again."

Kitty groaned dramatically, tossing her camera onto the counter. "Ugh, what did that human disaster do this time?"

"Invaded my space, insulted me for no reason, and then had the audacity to act like I'm the problem." Evelyn crossed her arms tightly, her voice trembling with residual fury.

"Classic Minho," Kitty muttered, shaking her head. "He's like a walking storm cloud with great hair. Makes you want to punch him and ask for his conditioner routine at the same time."

Evelyn let out a bitter laugh. "I don't care about his hair or his stupid face. He just—he gets under my skin like nobody else can. It's like he knows exactly where to poke and prod to make me lose it."

Kitty leaned against the counter, her expression softening. "Yeah, that's his thing. He's like a little kid who pulls pigtails because he doesn't know how to use his words like a normal person."

"Well, he needs to grow up," Evelyn snapped, her voice cracking. "Because I'm done with his games. He doesn't get to just waltz in and make me feel like..." She trailed off, shaking her head, unsure how to finish the sentence without revealing too much.

Kitty tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Like what?"

Evelyn hesitated, her grip on her arms tightening. "Like I'm the problem. Like maybe he's right, and I..." She stopped herself again, taking a deep breath. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. He's not worth it."

Kitty frowned, studying Evelyn's face carefully. "You know he's just projecting his own issues onto you, right? Like, I bet he doesn't even mean half the stuff he says. He's probably just deflecting because... I don't know, he has daddy issues or something."

Evelyn let out a small laugh despite herself, the tension in her shoulders easing just a bit. "Daddy issues? Really?"

Kitty shrugged with a grin. "Hey, it's a valid theory. All I'm saying is, don't let him get to you. You're Evelyn Raven, queen of keeping it together. Minho's just—what's that word you used earlier? A mannequin with a superiority complex."

Evelyn smiled faintly, nodding. "You're right. I just... I need to focus on more important things."

"Exactly. Like finishing that smoothie and helping me decide which filter makes me look the most effortlessly perfect in this picture."

Evelyn rolled her eyes but allowed herself a genuine laugh this time. "You're impossible, Kitty."

"And you love me for it," Kitty said with a wink, looping her arm through Evelyn's as they headed toward the living area.

_______________________________________________________________

"I am deeply sorry you were not assigned a proper dormitory," Professor Lee said, his voice calm but laced with the slightest hint of impatience. His sharp eyes glanced over the two girls standing before him, lingering briefly on Kitty, who was shifting uncomfortably.

Kitty forced a polite smile, though her frustration simmered just beneath the surface. "That's okay," she replied, her tone overly sweet. But it wasn't okay. Not at all.

"Oversights like this one often happen at KISS," Professor Lee continued, his tone shifting to a practiced reassurance. "I understand that, as new students, it can feel daunting to speak up about these kinds of issues. That is why Minho—" he paused for emphasis, nodding approvingly, "—kindly alerted us to your egregious rooming mishap."

Kitty's jaw tightened, her forced smile faltering as the professor handed her a stack of official-looking forms. "Yes," she said through gritted teeth. "He is so selfless." Her sarcastic tone flew right over the professor's head, but Evelyn caught it.

Evelyn, however, stayed silent, her expression carefully neutral. She had no reason to involve herself in this particular mess since she already had her dorm assignment. Unlike Kitty, she wasn't caught in the chaos of KISS's administrative blunder. Still, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Kitty, who was practically vibrating with suppressed irritation.

"I'm sure you and your assigned roommates will become fast friends," Professor Lee said, adjusting his glasses as if that was the end of the matter. He gestured toward the door. "You're dismissed."

Kitty held her ground for a moment longer, her fingers gripping the forms a little too tightly. She plastered another strained smile on her face. "Thank you, Professor Lee," she said, her voice betraying none of the biting retorts she desperately wanted to unleash.

As they walked out of the office together, the moment the door closed behind them, Kitty turned to Evelyn with a groan, her face contorted in exasperation. "Can you believe this?" she hissed. "Minho, of all people, pretending to be helpful."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, biting back a smirk. "To be fair, he probably enjoyed the chance to make your life just a little more chaotic."

Kitty rolled her eyes dramatically, clutching the forms to her chest like they were her mortal enemies. "Of course, he did. He's a walking disaster wrapped in a designer jacket."

Evelyn shrugged, the corner of her lips twitching upward. "Well, look on the bright side. At least you'll finally have a proper room. Maybe your new roommates will be tolerable."

Kitty shot her a skeptical look. "You mean tolerable like Minho? Because if that's the standard, I'd rather sleep in a broom closet."

Evelyn let out a soft laugh. "I'm sure it won't be that bad."

"Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that while I pack my stuff and try not to commit a felony in the process." Kitty huffed, flipping her hair dramatically as she stormed off down the corridor, leaving Evelyn chuckling softly in her wake.

"It's not long before Lee comes to know about me bunking in the boys dorm. But can you blame me? They film freaking R-rated videos there, how am I supposed to stay there? I can't even complain without evidences." Evelyn was saying as her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen. It was a message from Professor Lee.

"Evelyn, please meet me in my office as soon as you can. There's an important matter we need to discuss regarding your dorm assignment."

Her stomach tightened, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest. "Kitty," Evelyn said, her voice suddenly more serious. "I think he found out. I've got to go to Professor Lee's office. He just texted me."

Kitty raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I'm pretty sure it's the other way round."

Evelyn managed a small smile but didn't respond. She walked quickly toward Professor Lee's office, Kitty trailing behind her. When they arrived, Professor Lee was sitting behind his desk, a thoughtful expression on his face as he looked up.

"Evelyn, thank you for coming," he said, gesturing for her to sit. "I've been reviewing your current dorm assignment, and there are some issues we need to address. Your current living situation is... not ideal, to put it lightly."

Evelyn's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Professor Lee exhaled deeply. "It has come to my attention that your dorm has become a hotspot for some rather disturbing activities. I wasn't aware of it at first, but students have been filming... inappropriate videos in the dorm, and the environment there is not conducive to a healthy living situation."

Evelyn was internally squealing, but she needed to act surprised.

He hesitated for a moment, but then his face softened with sympathy. "It's a situation I'm trying to handle discreetly, but I can't, in good conscience, allow you to continue staying there. The students in that dorm... they are a significant part of the problem. It would be unsafe for you to stay there any longer."

Evelyn blinked, "So... what does that mean for me?"

Professor Lee paused, looking through some papers before his eyes met hers again. "I'm offering you a temporary place to stay. The only available spot right now is in the dorm shared by Minho, Q, and Dae. It's the safest option for you, at least until we can sort out the mess in your current dorm. I understand this might be uncomfortable, but for your safety, I think it's the best solution."

Evelyn felt a wave of unease wash over her. Staying with Minho? Of all people, he was the last person she'd ever want to share a room with. But at the same time, the thought of remaining in that dangerous dorm was even worse. But isn't that nice? All her problem is solved. She won't have to act anymore. Only, there would be no Kitty.

She exhaled deeply, trying to gather her thoughts. "Okay. I'll stay there, but on one condition."

"What is it Miss. Raven?"

"Kitty gets to stay with me. I mean, you don't just expect me to stay with three guys, professor?" Evelyn loved herself for these tiny little moments, when she actually had some brain.

"Judging by the circumstances, it's mostly our fault, so anything you say will be considered. You are dismissed, and this is your form." Professor Lee handed out a form to her.

"This is your new room key. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything."

Evelyn took the key, her fingers brushing against it reluctantly. She didn't want to stay in Minho's dorm, but right now, it was the safest option. After all, her peace of mind was more important than the awkwardness of the situation.

As she left the office to meet Kitty, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life at KISS was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

"I guess I'm moving in with Minho and the guys," Evelyn said flatly, after explaining the situation to Kitty, holding up the key card as if it were a token of doom.

Kitty let out a low whistle. "Oh boy, this is going to be interesting." She grinned at Evelyn, though there was a trace of sympathy in her expression. "Just... don't get too comfortable, okay? We both know how that could go."

Evelyn just shook her head, trying to suppress the unease. "I'm not staying forever. Just until Professor Lee sorts this out."

But in her heart, Evelyn knew that even when things were sorted, the last thing she would want was to face Minho on a daily basis.

_______________________________________________________________

Evelyn wandered into the library, the key card still clutched in her hand as she tried to focus on anything other than the knot of dread in her stomach. She couldn't get the thought of staying in Minho's dorm out of her head. The very idea of sharing space with him, of seeing him every single day, was enough to make her want to disappear into the stacks of books and never come out.

She headed to the back of the library, to the quietest corner, where the old, dusty volumes stood like silent sentinels. She needed some time to herself, some space to think.

"Maybe a book will take my mind off of that situation," she muttered to herself. She found a few on literature and history, checking them out before she decided to treat herself to a small break. A quiet coffee sounded like exactly what she needed.

The coffee shop was just around the corner from the library, a cozy little nook that smelled of roasted beans and sweet pastries. Evelyn stepped inside, the warmth wrapping around her like a blanket. She ordered a cappuccino and sat by the window, the quiet hum of conversation and the soft clink of cups in the background comforting her for a brief moment.

But then, just as she was about to take a sip, the door swung open, and in walked none other than Minho.

Her heart skipped a beat, and her stomach flipped in protest. Of course. Of course he'd be here.

Minho spotted her immediately, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. A slow smirk crept onto his face, and he sauntered toward the counter, completely oblivious to her clear discomfort.

Evelyn let out a sigh, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup as she fought the urge to roll her eyes. She wasn't in the mood for any of his usual games.

"Well, well," Minho's voice cut through the quiet hum of the coffee shop, "If it isn't Miss Raven herself, enjoying the calm before the storm." He raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Evelyn bit her lip, trying to keep her expression neutral. She had no intention of letting him rile her up, no matter how easy it would be. "What storm?" she asked, her voice flat.

Minho chuckled, taking a casual sip of his drink before responding, "Oh, come on. You don't think I haven't heard about your little grand new living arrangement, do you? It's kind of poetic, don't you think? After all that talk about wanting to be left alone—now you get to share a room with me, Q, and Dae. The universe works in strange ways."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. "I didn't ask for this," she retorted, her words clipped. "I'm not exactly thrilled, but staying in that hellhole of a dorm was not an option."

Minho tilted his head slightly, studying her as if he were trying to read her every reaction. "Oh, I get it. You're sacrificing your peace for the greater good. How noble."

Evelyn's jaw clenched at his sarcastic tone. "I'm not here for your commentary, Minho."

He leaned closer, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "So, what? You're just going to pretend like this whole thing doesn't bother you? I mean, come on. You're staying in the dorm with the guys—guys you clearly can't stand. At least, that's the vibe I'm getting."

Evelyn stood up, slamming her cup down on the counter with a little too much force. "That's none of your business. You can stop acting like you have any say in it."

Minho raised both hands in mock surrender, the grin never faltering. "Okay, okay. Touchy subject. But you have to admit, the irony's there, right? You, the one who's always so self-sufficient... now you're stuck with us. It's gotta feel a little... I don't know... humiliating?"

Evelyn's fists curled into tight balls at her sides. She could feel her heart racing, but she refused to let him see just how much he was getting under her skin. She stood there, staring him down with gritted teeth, trying her hardest not to explode.

"Why don't you just leave it, Minho?" she spat, her voice shaking with pent-up frustration. "I'm not interested in your opinions about me or my choices. You don't know what I'm going through, and frankly, you don't care."

Minho's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before it returned, even more mocking than before. "Don't care? That's a bit harsh, don't you think? I've always been there, always poking fun, always here when you need someone to annoy the hell out of you."

Evelyn shot him a dark look, her patience starting to wear thin. "You've always been there, huh? Funny, because you weren't there when I needed you before. I don't need your pity, Minho, and I sure as hell don't need your twisted version of 'helping.'"

Minho's eyes narrowed, the lightheartedness fading from his expression. For the first time, she saw a flash of something different in his eyes—something deeper. It made Evelyn pause for a split second.

He took a long, slow breath, setting his coffee cup down on the counter with deliberate care. "Honestly," he said, his voice quieter now, tinged with a bitterness that Evelyn hadn't expected, "It should be me who's angry with you, and not the other way around. Not after how you just... disappeared." His eyes darkened, and his voice dropped, barely above a whisper. "No warning, no message. Just gone. Like I meant nothing."

The words hit Evelyn harder than she cared to admit, the weight of his confession pressing against her chest. For a moment, the air between them felt thick with unspoken emotions. She wanted to snap back, to tell him to stop fishing for sympathy, but the truth of his words gnawed at her.

She didn't say anything for a long beat, just staring at him, her heart in her throat.

Minho's gaze softened just a touch, but there was still that anger, that confusion swirling beneath the surface. "You think I didn't notice? You think it didn't hurt when you just... left? When you couldn't even say goodbye?"

Evelyn's mind reeled. The rawness in his voice, the emotion—she hadn't been prepared for it. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but the words caught in her throat. She didn't know what to say to him. Not now, not like this.

Minho sighed, stepping back, his voice returning to its usual, guarded self. "I don't know why I'm even bothering with this," he muttered, shaking his head. "You're impossible, Raven. But whatever. Do what you have to do. I'll see you at the dorm."

Evelyn watched him leave, her heart a confusing mess of emotions she wasn't ready to unpack. The weight of their conversation lingered in the air long after he was gone, leaving her with more questions than answers about the tangled web between them.

"My life is officially a disaster in the making"

ruka:

hii yall! its so cold here haha

having warm tea under the duvet is everything! y'all comment down your theories about this story! i love reading theories!