Chapter 4 – Night of Distraction
Tears may fall, but friends still stay,
New voices guide the hurt away.
In lights of night, hearts may pretend—
Yet every escape has its end.
Clara stormed into the dormitory, her heart pounding with anger and pain.
The DreamLight dormitory was nothing short of luxury — crystal chandeliers glowed softly above, walls shimmered with silver accents, and each bed looked like something out of a royal suite. The AI gate at the entrance lit up as she approached.
"Clara Norway," it greeted in a calm digital tone. "You appear distressed. Why are you angry?"
"Just open!" she snapped, her voice trembling.
The AI door slid open instantly, obeying her command. Clara rushed inside and dropped onto her bed, burying her face in her hands. Hot tears spilled freely down her cheeks.
Moments later, Liona entered, panting slightly from running after her.
"Clara, please calm down," she pleaded, sitting beside her. "I didn't mean for any of that to happen."
But Clara didn't respond—her sobs only grew louder.
Then, a gentle voice called from the doorway.
"Hi, Liona."
Liona turned and smiled weakly. "Sonia! You're here too?"
Sonia grinned. "Of course. When I heard I got into DreamLight, I couldn't believe it. This is going to be the best school ever!"
Her eyes landed on Clara. "But… why is your pretty friend crying?"
Clara wiped her tears quickly. "It's none of your business."
"Clara!" Liona whispered. "Chill, girl, please."
Clara sighed. "I'm sorry, Sonia. I'm just… upset. Desperate and sad." She turned to Liona. "But why did you mention my name, Liona? You knew what happened."
Liona's voice shook. "I didn't know it would turn out like this, Clara. I'm so, so sorry."
Sonia stepped closer and smiled gently. "Hey, it's okay. Every moment in life is too precious to waste on what went wrong."
Clara frowned. "What do you mean?"
Sonia's smile brightened. "Let's have some fun. There's a night club event tonight! I swear it'll help you cool down."
Liona's face lit up. "That's a perfect idea! I'm in. And Clara will come too."
Clara shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I don't feel like it."
Liona crossed her arms playfully. "Oh, come on! Did you forget? We always went out when things got bad. If you don't come, that means you're still mad at me."
Sonia clasped her hands together. "Please, Clara! Just this once."
Clara sighed deeply. "Fine… okay. I'll come."
Sonia clapped. "That's the spirit! I'll take care of everything — dresses, makeup, all of it. We'll meet at six o'clock sharp."
Clara smiled faintly. "You're really something, Sonia."
Liona laughed. "That's Sonia for you!"
Sonia winked. "See you soon, girls."
Meanwhile…
At the Lovers' Bench, the mood was far from cheerful.
Nelson stood there, rubbing the cheek Clara had slapped. "That girl is really rude and annoying," he muttered.
Johnson didn't answer—his gaze was distant, his thoughts lost in the past.
"Boi, won't you say something?" Nelson asked.
Johnson blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Sorry, bro. Be gentle. It's just… it feels like I've met her somewhere before."
Nelson rolled his eyes. "Forget her name. I don't even want to hear it again. Let's go to the dorm."
When they arrived, the AI gate greeted them warmly. "Welcome back, gentlemen."
Johnson sat heavily on his bed, still replaying the moment in his mind. That name—Norway—echoed again and again.
Just then, the door swung open.
"Ma guys!" Peter called cheerfully.
Peter, Nelson's friend from JHS, stepped in. He was also a prefect, but from Class S1. He and Sonia were classmates—and everyone said the three boys were inseparable, like brothers.
Peter dropped his bag and looked at them closely. "Alright, spill it. What's up with those faces? I saw everything earlier."
He turned to Nelson. "Sorry, bro, but you shouldn't be too hard on her. She's a lady—stay gentle."
Then he grinned. "Anyway, I've got something that'll fix all this stress. There's a night club tonight—trust me, it's going to be fun!"
Nelson laughed suddenly. "I'm in!"
He nudged Johnson. "You too, right?"
Johnson smiled faintly. "Anything that makes you happy."
To be continued…