By evening, all five of them finally reached the hostel.
One room. One shared space. And—unfortunately—one restroom.
The moment they stepped inside, Lucien dropped his bag and looked around dramatically.
"…Wait."
He squinted toward the corner.
"Hold on. Don't tell me—"
Elara glanced at him. "What?"
Lucien pointed. "There's only one restroom?"
Elara nodded calmly. "Yes. Personal rooms aren't assigned yet."
Lucien's face fell. "Oh no. This is bad. Very bad."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Why? Planning to open a spa inside?"
Lucien shot a look toward Alice. "No. Because someone here takes longer in the bathroom than my entire morning routine."
Alice didn't even look up. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Lucien scoffed. "Please. You walk in like it's a beauty salon and walk out like you just signed a skincare brand deal."
Elara frowned. "What?"
Lucien grinned. "You'll find out."
Alice rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Lucien."
Lucien smirked. "See? Guilty already."
Noah burst out laughing, dropping onto the bed. "This room is going to be chaos."
Elara clapped once, sharply. "Okay—focus. Before this turns into a circus."
Everyone looked at her.
"Tomorrow," Elara continued, "we meet at the café at 5 PM. And no—"
She looked directly at Alice.
"—this is not a date."
Alice raised both hands innocently. "Relax. I didn't even say anything."
Elara narrowed her eyes. "Your face did."
Victor snorted.
Lucien leaned forward. "So… study date?"
Elara threw a pillow at him. "Study. Only."
Lucien laughed. "Worth a try."
She sighed and continued, calmer now. "Everyone brings ideas. No overworking tonight. First—health. Then—work."
Noah nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Finally someone who understands sleep is important."
Alice smirked. "Wow. A leader and a life coach."
Elara ignored him.
Lucien suddenly turned toward Noah, curious. "By the way… can I ask you something?"
Noah blinked. "Uh… sure?"
Lucien tilted his head. "Why is your name Noah? It sounds like a guy's name."
Victor winced. "Bro…"
Noah paused, then smiled sweetly. "Honestly? I don't know. My parents liked it. And now I enjoy watching people get confused."
Lucien opened his mouth—then closed it again.
"…Fair enough."
Elara laughed softly. "First smart decision you've made tonight, Lucien."
Lucien sighed. "I'm surrounded by powerful women."
Alice muttered, "Scary ones."
Elara shot him a look. "Excuse me?"
Alice smiled. "Respectfully scary."
She rolled her eyes but almost smiled.
Slowly, the room settled.
Lights dimmed. Bags were pushed aside. The noise faded into quiet murmurs.
Noah and Elara took one side of the room, settling into their beds.
Victor dropped onto his mattress with a dramatic groan. "First day and I'm already exhausted."
Lucien stared at the ceiling. "Same. But I feel like tomorrow's going to be… intense."
Alice lay back silently, arms behind his head, eyes fixed upward.
For once—he wasn't joking. Wasn't flirting. Wasn't teasing.
Just thinking.
Elara's voice broke the silence, softer now.
"Good night, everyone."
Noah whispered, "Good night."
Victor murmured, "Night."
Lucien yawned. "Try not to steal the blanket, Alice."
Alice smirked faintly. "No promises."
The room went quiet.
Five strangers. One project. One room. And the beginning of something far more complicated than any of them expected.
Tomorrow, things would change.
But tonight— They slept under the same roof, unaware that this forced togetherness was already turning into something unforgettable.
It was past midnight.
The hostel was unusually quiet—no laughter, no teasing, no chaos.
Just the faint hum of the lights and the soft rhythm of everyone breathing in their sleep.
Elara stirred in her bed.
Her throat felt dry.
She slowly sat up, careful not to wake Noah sleeping beside her. Grabbing her water bottle, she tiptoed out of the room, her footsteps barely making a sound against the floor.
The hallway was dim.
She reached the common area and gently flipped the switch.
The light turned on—
And she froze.
Alice was already there.
Standing near the counter, half-bent, quietly searching through the snack cabinet like a criminal on a secret mission.
Elara gasped softly.
"Oh—!"
She stumbled back, her bottle slipping from her fingers.
Before it could hit the floor—
Alice reacted instantly.
He stepped forward, placing one hand over her mouth and the other steadying her.
"Shhh," he whispered urgently.
"Everyone will wake up."
Her heart raced.
For a second—everything stopped.
His hand was warm. Too close. Too sudden.
She could feel his breath, hear his quiet heartbeat.
Then reality rushed back.
Alice quickly pulled his hand away, clearing his throat.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
Elara exhaled, pressing a hand to her chest.
"You almost gave me a heart attack."
They both stood there awkwardly for a moment.
Then Elara glanced at the open cabinet.
"…Why are you eating at this hour?"
Alice shrugged, holding up a packet of snacks.
"Night hunger. It attacks without warning."
She shook her head. "Unbelievable."
He smirked. "You're awake too."
"Water," she replied simply. "Then I'm going back."
She filled her bottle quietly. The sound of water echoed softly in the silence.
Just as she tightened the cap and turned to leave—
Alice spoke.
"Elara… wait."
She paused.
He hesitated, then finally said softly,
"Please tell me. Why can't we be friends like before?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Her fingers tightened around the bottle.
Then she sighed.
"…Okay. If you really want to know."
She leaned back against the counter, eyes fixed on the floor.
"When we were kids," she began quietly,
"I was carefree. Always laughing. Never serious. I never topped the class, never focused."
Alice listened—completely silent now.
"My parents wanted me to succeed. They believed in me… even when I didn't believe in myself."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"On my birthday… they were supposed to come home early. I begged them. I cried on the phone. I didn't want to be alone."
She swallowed hard.
"It was raining that day. Heavy rain."
Alice's expression softened.
"They were hurrying because of me," she continued.
"They didn't see the tractor on the road."
Her breath broke.
"That accident… they didn't survive."
The room felt heavier.
"I was the reason," she whispered.
"If I hadn't called… if I hadn't begged them… they'd still be alive."
Her voice cracked completely.
Tears streamed down her face as she covered it with her hands.
"I stopped laughing after that," she sobbed.
"I stopped having fun. I stopped being me."
She looked up at him, eyes full of pain.
"I buried the past. I focused only on studying. On being perfect. Because I never want to feel that guilt again."
Her voice shook.
"And that's why… I can't go back. I can't be that girl anymore. I can't be your friend like before."
"I don't want to remember," she cried.
"I don't want to feel it again."
Before she could say another word—
Alice stepped forward.
"Shhh," he whispered gently.
He wrapped his arms around her.
Not rushed. Not forceful. Just steady.
She froze for a second—then broke down completely, clutching his shirt as her tears soaked into it.
"You are not the reason," Alice said softly, firmly.
"You were just a child."
He gently wiped her tears with his thumb.
"Loving your parents didn't kill them," he continued.
"Wanting them with you didn't make you guilty."
She shook her head.
"But—"
"No," he interrupted quietly.
"You don't carry that blame. Not now. Not ever."
He hugged her again, tighter this time.
"You survived something impossible," he whispered.
"And you're still standing."
She slowly relaxed against him, her sobs fading into quiet breaths.
For the first time in years—
She didn't feel alone.
After a moment, she pulled back slightly, embarrassed.
"…Sorry."
He smiled softly.
"Don't be."
The silence returned—but it felt different now. Lighter.
Elara wiped her eyes, holding her bottle again.
"I should go."
Alice nodded.
"Yeah."
As she turned to leave, he added quietly,
"And Elara?"
She looked back.
"You don't have to go through everything alone anymore."
She didn't reply.
But this time—
She didn't walk away as fast
Elara slipped back into the room quietly.
Noah was still asleep.
She lay down on her bed, turning onto her side, clutching the water bottle to her chest like it was the only thing grounding her.
Her heart wouldn't slow down.
Why did I tell him everything…
She stared at the ceiling, eyes burning.
For years, she had locked those memories away—wrapped them in silence, buried them under grades, discipline, and control.
And tonight…
They spilled out.
I didn't plan to cry.
I didn't plan to break like that.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
I've told myself a thousand times that I'm fine.
That being strong means never looking back.
But when he stood there—listening, not judging—
something inside her cracked.
Her throat tightened again.
What if he thinks I'm weak now?
What if he sees me differently?
She turned her face into the pillow, breathing slowly.
No… worse.
What if he sees me clearly?
That scared her more than anything.
Because when Alice hugged her—
not like a childhood friend,
not like a joke,
but like someone who understood—
the weight on her chest felt lighter.
And she hated herself for needing that.
I promised myself I wouldn't rely on anyone.
That I wouldn't reopen the past.
Yet his words echoed softly in her mind:
"You don't have to go through everything alone anymore."
Her fingers trembled.
Why did that feel like permission?
She swallowed hard.
I can't go back to who I was.
But maybe… I don't have to keep punishing myself either.
A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
She quickly wiped it away.
This changes nothing, she told herself firmly.
Tomorrow, I'll still be focused. Controlled. Distant.
But deep down—
a small, dangerous thought refused to disappear.
What if… letting someone stay doesn't mean losing myself?
She turned onto her other side, finally closing her eyes.
Sleep came slowly.
But for the first time in years,
it didn't come alone.