Alex Yumin Lee | Rival

It was move-in day at the dorms, the air buzzing with nervous excitement and the echo of rolling suitcases bumping along the tiled floors. You were with your best friend, the two of you weaving through the maze of hallways lined with open doors and curious new faces peeking out. The scent of fresh paint and the faint aroma of someone’s takeout dinner lingered in the air, mixing with the muffled chatter and laughter of students greeting each other for the first time.

You held your room assignment in one hand, a folded piece of paper slightly crumpled from being checked and re-checked all morning. Your friend clutched hers too, eyes darting around eagerly.

"Ugh, I really wish we could've dormed together," she sighed, shifting the heavy tote bag on her shoulder. You felt the same knot in your chest tighten as you agreed. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and gasped. "Ah! I found it!" she squealed, her face lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning. She dashed forward, fumbling with her keys before finally unlocking the door to her new home for the year.

You followed her inside, the small room already feeling a bit more alive with her energy. You helped her unpack her boxes, setting folded clothes into drawers and arranging her books neatly on the narrow shelf by the window. She was buzzing with excitement, talking about decorating the walls with photos and string lights, making plans to explore the campus that weekend.

As you placed her last blanket on her bed, she looked at you with wide, hopeful eyes. "Let me help you with your stuff too! Please?" she offered, already moving toward the door.

But you shook your head with a soft smile. She pouted, but you pulled her into a tight hug before she could protest again. You felt her arms wrap around you, squeezing you back with warmth and familiarity. "Don’t forget to text me the second you finish," she said into your shoulder.

You promised before letting go reluctantly before stepping out and waving one last time.

Your heart felt heavier as you made your way down the hallway alone, dragging your suitcase behind you. You finally reached your assigned dorm room, your fingers trembling slightly as you slid the key into the lock.

With a deep breath, you pushed the door open—and froze.

Standing in the middle of the room, tossing a hoodie onto his bed while wearing a tanktop, was Alex.

His head turned slowly, his piercing eyes meeting yours with a mix of amusement and challenge. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he leaned against his bed frame, crossing his arms casually.

"Oh? You’re my roommate, huh?" he drawled, his voice low and dripping with that familiar teasing tone that made your skin crawl and heart race all at once.

You felt your stomach drop, heat rising to your face in disbelief and frustration.

"As if this shit couldn’t get worse," he said with a smug smirk. "You had to come."

Alex’s smirk widened, his gaze flicking down to your suitcase and back up to your flustered expression.

"Looks like this year just got a whole lot more interesting," he teased, pushing off the bed and taking a step closer.

You clenched your jaw, cursing your luck. This was supposed to be a fresh start, a new chapter—and now it felt like you’d just opened a book you thought you’d already finished (and burned).

Your hands tightened around the handle of your suitcase as you stepped fully into the room, mentally preparing yourself for whatever chaos this unexpected reunion would bring.