Morning, 8:15 a.m.
The corridor outside Bat dorm was already alive—voices overlapping, footsteps echoing against tiled floors, doors slamming open and shut as students hurried through their morning routines. Laughter mixed with irritation. Someone shouted for a friend to hurry up. Another cursed under their breath while sprinting past.
Near the elevator and the main entrance, a sudden disturbance drew attention.
Two men came running out of Bat dorm, almost colliding with a group of students entering. Their hurried movements made several heads turn at once—girls and boys alike pausing mid-step, curiosity lighting their faces. Whispers followed them as they disappeared outside.
Marcus noticed it as he and Kevin burst out of Bat dorm, feet already pounding toward the exit.
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Time.
They both broke into a run.
Shoes slapped against the concrete as they sprinted toward Apple dorm, weaving past students who shouted complaints at nearly being knocked over. Marcus's breath came fast, chest tight from the sudden exertion, while Kevin ran beside him, jaw clenched.
"Why didn't you wake up early?" Marcus asked between breaths as they reached Apple, slowing only slightly.
"I woke up earlier than you," Kevin shot back, already angling toward the elevator.
They jumped inside just before the doors slid shut. Kevin punched the button for their floor repeatedly, impatience written all over his face.
The elevator hummed upward.
As soon as they stepped out, Marcus grabbed the arm of a boy passing by, backpack slung loosely over one shoulder.
"Bro," Marcus asked quickly, "did the warden start the rounds?"
The boy shrugged, clearly half-asleep. "No clue, man."
Marcus released him and exhaled slowly.
They walked toward their room, Marcus slowing to a stop a few steps away from the door. Kevin leaned against the wall, hands on his knees, catching his breath.
"Is that the only option?" Kevin asked, glancing at the door, then back at Marcus.
Marcus straightened, running a hand through his hair. "There's one more," he said. "Face him directly."
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "How about choosing both?"
Marcus looked at him, understanding dawning.
"You face him," Kevin continued, voice low, "I go call the warden."
Marcus's eyes lit up faintly. "That can work."
"Give me three minutes," Kevin said, already turning away. "Go in after that."
He ran back down the corridor, footsteps fading.
Marcus remained where he was, standing still, slowing his breathing, forcing calm into his muscles. Boys passed him, throwing curious looks his way, but he ignored them.
Two minutes passed.
Marcus opened the door and stepped inside—but didn't move further. He stayed planted at the entrance, blocking it.
There, sprawled across the bed like he owned the room, lay Derik.
Unlike the night before, he didn't stir. His body was heavy, limbs slack, chest rising and falling in deep, uneven rhythm. His face was slack with sleep, mouth slightly open.
Marcus stared.
People out there had lost sleep because of this idiot.
And here he was.
Sleeping like a log.
Marcus scanned the room slowly. Everything looked exactly the same as they'd left it the night before. Messy shelves. Clothes tossed aside. Books untouched.
Then his gaze dropped.
Shoes.
Marcus moved fast. He opened the shoe shelf and checked.
All shoes were there.
Socks lay exactly how they'd been left—inside out, shoved carelessly.
He checked the closet.
Both his and Kevin's sections were undisturbed.
"…Wait," Marcus muttered to himself. "Did he just come here to sleep?"
The door creaked open again.
Kevin entered with the warden.
"Where is the creature?" Warden asked flatly.
"Hi, Jim," Marcus greeted.
"Hi, boy," Jim replied, scanning the room. "Kevin said there's an unknown ugly giant creature refusing to leave. But I don't see anything."
"It was here a moment ago," Marcus said, gesturing vaguely, pretending to search. "I was trying to find something to let it out."
Jim followed his movement—and then saw the bed.
"Who's that?" Jim asked. "Your friend?"
"No," Marcus and Kevin replied in perfect unison.
"We don't know him," Marcus added calmly. "I came back from the gym and found him here."
Jim stepped closer, peering at Derik's face.
"Oh," he said slowly. "Now I understand why you called me… just for a creature."
Jim picked up the water bottle near the bed, twisted off the cap, and splashed a handful of water onto Derik's face.
Nothing.
Kevin and Marcus stared.
Jim turned to them. "Mind if I wet your bed for a minute?"
"No," Kevin said instantly.
Marcus shot him a glare, then looked back at Jim. "Just… try not to spill too much."
"I'll try," Jim said.
He refilled the bottle and splashed water directly across Derik's face.
Still nothing.
Jim frowned, leaned closer, pried one of Derik's eyelids open briefly, then leaned in to smell him.
"This guy's drunk. Completely wasted."
Marcus and Kevin exchanged a look.
Jim capped the bottle and stepped back. "He won't wake up till afternoon. You're better off getting ready for class. Ignore him. He'll leave on his own."
"Are you sure?" Marcus asked.
"Even if you dump a bucket on him, he won't move," Jim said evenly. "He reeks of alcohol. Eyes are bloodshot."
Kevin nudged Marcus. "Why don't you slap him once? Just to be sure?"
Marcus snorted. "Why don't you try, since you're curious?"
Jim turned to leave.
"Wait," Marcus said. "Just a second."
He stepped closer to the bed, took the bottle, and nudged Derik's shoulder.
No reaction.
He patted harder. "Derik?"
Nothing.
"He's wasted," Marcus said again, this time more to himself.
Kevin exhaled. "Thanks, Jim."
Jim patted Kevin's shoulder and left.
Marcus sat down on the floor beside his bed.
"Freshen up and lets leave fast," he said. "I'll stay. You go first."
Kevin grabbed his towel and headed for the bathroom.
Marcus pulled out his phone, snapped a picture of Derik sprawled across the bed, and sent it to Caroline.
Marcus:Derik became a log.
A moment later, her reply came.
Caroline:Good for us. If only he stayed every night like that.
Marcus smiled faintly.
He pulled out his clothes and double-checked his belongings again.
A notification popped up.
Charming Four — Cheez:Let's have breakfast at your room.
Marcus typed back.
Ham sandwich with milk for me. Kevin's in the bath—he'll text you.
Kevin came out later, towel over his shoulder.
Marcus relayed the breakfast plan.
Kevin grabbed his phone and typed in the group chat.
Scrambled eggs and milk.
He dressed, straightened the room, and glanced once at Derik—still unmoving.
A log.
And for once, that worked in their favor.