Mr. Maeron turned to one of the staff members and said gently, "Please show Miss Eirene to her room. She must be tired."
The woman, dressed in a pale blue uniform, nodded and gestured for Eirene to follow. Without a word, Eirene trailed behind her through a long, quiet corridor. Her eyes wandered as they passed rows of identical doors, neatly framed photos, and the soft glow of warm yellow lights lining the ceiling. Everything was new—and unfamiliar.
At last, the woman stopped in front of Dorm 1012. She gave a light knock before opening the door.
Eirene peeked inside.
Three girls, about her age, were in the room. Two were sitting at a small table, deep in conversation, while the third lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. The moment the door opened, all three looked up.
Seeing the staff member, they quickly stood and greeted her politely, "Good evening, Ms. Mary."
Ms. Mary smiled. "Good evening, girls. Meet your new roommate—Eirene. She'll be staying with you from now on. I hope you'll help her settle in."
Then turning to Eirene, she said warmly, "This is your dorm, dear. They'll take care of you. Make yourself comfortable."
Before Eirene could say anything, Ms. Mary gave her a quick pat on the back and left.
There was a short pause. The girls looked at Eirene with curious, friendly eyes.
"Hello," Eirene said softly, almost like a whisper.
All three of them smiled at once.
The girl on the bed suddenly bounced up, startling Eirene just a little, but she quickly grinned and said, "Oops! Sorry! Didn't mean to scare you."
"I'm Sophia," she continued cheerfully, pointing to the girl beside her. "She's Annie, and that's Ginny."
"Hi!" the other two chimed in with warm smiles.
For the first time since she stepped out of the black car, Eirene felt something soften inside her—a flicker of comfort. She nodded shyly and replied, "I'm Eirene… Nice to meet you all."
"Come, sit with us," said Ginny kindly, pulling out a chair next to her. "Take a bit of rest. We'll help you unpack later."
Eirene quietly sat down, her eyes wandering around the room. It was small but thoughtfully arranged. On both sides of the walls, neat sets of four almirahs stood in the corners—one for each girl's belongings. Study tables with drawers and matching chairs were placed below individual reading lights, creating a tidy and cozy space for learning.
Above the tables, four beds were attached to the walls like little lofts. Each bed had soft curtains hanging around them, probably to keep the light out and offer some privacy.
Noticing her gaze, Sophia pointed to the empty bed above. "That one's yours now," she said with a nod. "Your almirah and study table are just below it. Everything you need is there."
"Thanks," Eirene murmured.
After a few minutes, she glanced at the others. "Is it okay if I rest a little?"
"Of course," Annie replied gently. "We won't disturb you."
Eirene climbed the small ladder beside her bed and drew the curtain partway, settling into the mattress. It wasn't home, but it was quiet. Safe.
She curled up, holding onto the only thing she still had—her silence.
Below, the girls returned to their books, letting her rest without a sound.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was dinner time.
Ginny lightly knocked on the bed frame. "Eirene? It's time for dinner."
Eirene stirred from her rest. "I'm not really hungry," she mumbled.
"Come on," Sophia urged, "just a little. The food's not amazing, but you need energy. And we'll be with you."
Reluctantly, Eirene climbed down and followed them to the canteen. The large hall buzzed with chatter and the clatter of plates. The air was thick with the smell of warm soup and freshly baked bread.
They found an empty table near a window. Eirene sat down quietly, gazing outside at the darkening sky.
"Eirene," Sophia said softly, glancing nervously around, "let's move to another table."
Eirene turned toward her, frowning. "Why? This table's free, and it's quiet."
Sophia hesitated. Annie and Ginny looked uncomfortable too.
"Actually…" Sophia leaned in, lowering her voice. "This table is... reserved. A group of girls from Class 3 claims it as theirs. Their leader, Selena, is a real bully. No one dares to sit here. If we stay, we'll get in trouble."
Eirene blinked, confused. "Reserved? You mean officially?"
"No," Ginny answered quickly, "but everyone knows to avoid it. Even the seniors don't mess with them. They control everything—tables, lines, even group tasks at school. If you don't follow their rules, they make your life miserable."
Eirene's eyes narrowed. "So… you're telling me everyone follows their made-up rules out of fear?"
Sophia nodded. "Let's go, please, before they arrive."
Eirene shook her head slowly. "No. I'm tired of running—from war, from fear, from losing everything. I'm not moving."
All three girls stared at her, surprised by the firmness in her voice.
Sophia exhaled shakily. "Then we'll stay with you."
Minutes later, the atmosphere in the canteen shifted.
They arrived.
A group of four girls entered, walking like they owned the place. At the center was Selena—tall, with piercing eyes, a smug smile, and a presence that made others shrink back. She paused mid-step when she spotted Eirene and the others at her table.
Her eyes narrowed.
The group strutted over.
"Well, well," Selena sneered, folding her arms. "What do we have here? New girl and her little fan club playing brave?"
The hall went silent. Whispers fluttered around them.
"No one told me we were opening a buffet on my table."
Eirene remained seated, calmly finishing a bite of her food.
Selena slammed her hand on the table, making the plates rattle. "Didn't you hear me, country rat? This table is mine."
Eirene looked up, her voice clear and unshaken. "Is your name carved on it? Did the home management assign this to you?"
Selena's smirk faltered for a moment. "You're new here. I'll forgive your stupidity just this once. Get. Up."
"No," Eirene said.
A tense silence followed.
Selena's jaw clenched. She leaned in closer, her voice now threatening. "Do you want your food spilled over your head, princess?"
Eirene stood up slowly. She wasn't tall, but the fire in her eyes burned brighter than any threat.
"You can try," she said, her voice low and firm. "But you'll regret it."
Selena raised a hand to grab her collar—
Before she could react, Eirene caught her wrist mid-air, her grip like iron.
Gasps echoed around the room.
Eirene's voice dropped into a dangerous calm. "I don't like violence… but I won't let you walk over me or my friends. Ever."
Selena struggled, trying to pull her hand back, but Eirene didn't budge.
"Let go of me!" Selena hissed.
"I will," Eirene said coldly, "when you back off."
Finally, Eirene released her hand with a sharp push. Selena stumbled back a step, her pride clearly wounded.
She glared at Eirene. "You'll regret this."
"No," Eirene said, sitting back down. "You will. If you try this again."
Selena stared at her for a moment, her face dark. Then, turning on her heel, she stormed away, her gang hesitating before following her.
The entire hall remained frozen for a moment before returning to its usual noise—only now, filled with whispers about the new girl who dared to stand up to Selena.
Sophia, Annie, and Ginny stared at Eirene in awe.
"You were amazing…" Ginny whispered.
Sophia leaned in, eyes wide. "No one's ever talked back to Selena. You really scared her."
Eirene took another bite, her tone casual. "Bullies grow bold only when everyone stays silent."