The hallway was quiet when Talia finally got back.
Her footsteps echoed softly against the floor as she walked toward her dorm. The night still clung to her skin — the music, the flashing lights, Marco's voice, and that strange emptiness she couldn't quite explain. It all followed her like a shadow she couldn't shake.
She pushed the door open slowly.
No surprises this time.
Stella was on the bed, scrolling through her phone. The moment she looked up and saw Talia, her eyes widened in guilt.
"Oh my God—Talia, I'm so sorry about earlier," she said quickly, sitting up.
Talia blinked. "Earlier?"
"The whole me basically taking over the room," Stella continued, waving her hands slightly.
"I swear I didn't realize I was that loud."
Talia let out a small breath and dropped her bag beside the bed.
"It's fine. Really."
Stella studied her face for a moment, then tilted her head.
"Where did you even go after that?"
"Out," Talia said simply, slipping off her shoes.
Stella immediately straightened. "Out? With who?"
Talia hesitated for a brief moment before answering.
"A coworker. Marco."
That was enough to spark Stella's curiosity instantly.
"Ooooh," she said, grinning. "And?"
Talia gave a small, tired smile as she sat down on her bed.
"It wasn't anything dramatic. We just talked… danced a little."
Stella narrowed her eyes like she didn't believe a word.
"You don't disappear all night for 'just dancing,' Talia."
Talia sighed softly.
"Fine. We kissed."
Stella gasped loudly, almost bouncing on the bed.
"I KNEW IT!"
But Talia didn't share the excitement. Instead, she looked down at her hands, her expression unreadable.
"It didn't feel like anything," she said quietly.
That made Stella pause.
"What do you mean… nothing?"
"No spark," Talia repeated. "It just felt empty."
The room went quiet for a moment. Stella leaned back slightly, her excitement fading into confusion.
"That's… kind of strange."
Talia shrugged lightly, as if brushing it off.
"I think I'm just tired."
But that wasn't really it. She just didn't want to talk about it anymore.
After a few minutes of silence, she stood up.
"I'm going to shower."
"Don't take forever," Stella said, half joking again. "We still need details later."
Talia gave a small nod and grabbed a towel before walking into the bathroom. She closed the door behind her, locking it gently.
The silence inside was different.
Heavier.
Finally alone, she leaned against the sink and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face looked normal, but something about her eyes didn't feel right. It was like her mind was somewhere else entirely.
Something was bothering her.
She just didn't know what.
Almost absentmindedly, her hand slipped into her jacket pocket.
She froze.
There was something inside.
Something she didn't remember putting there.
Slowly, she pulled it out.
A small folded paper.
Her brows furrowed immediately.
"I didn't bring this in here…"
Her fingers hesitated for a moment before she unfolded it.
One word sat in the center of the paper.
PROJECT C
Talia went still.
The air in the bathroom suddenly felt heavier, tighter, like the walls had shifted closer without warning.
Her lips parted slightly.
"Project C…" she whispered.
Her mind immediately began to race. Who put this in her pocket? Marco? No… that didn't make sense. He would've said something. Someone at the club? Or someone she didn't even notice?
She stared at the word again, as if it might suddenly explain itself.
But it didn't.
A sudden knock on the door made her jolt.
"Talia? You okay in there?" Stella's voice came through.
Talia reacted quickly, folding the paper and stuffing it into her towel.
"Yeah! I'm fine," she called back, forcing her voice to sound normal. "Just a minute."
But her heart was already pounding too fast.
Too loud.
When she finally stepped out of the bathroom, her face was carefully calm.
Stella barely looked up from her phone.
"You good?"
"Yeah," Talia said, placing the towel down casually. "Just tired."
Stella nodded and went back to scrolling.
And just like that, the moment was gone.
But Talia wasn't calm.
Not even close.
That night, the room was silent except for Stella's steady breathing as she slept.
Talia lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
Minutes passed. Then hours.
Eventually, she reached under her pillow.
The note was still there.
PROJECT C
Her grip tightened slightly.
"Maya…"
If anyone knew what this meant, it was her.
Next Morning
The campus felt different.
Or maybe it was just her.
Every sound felt sharper. Every face looked unfamiliar in a way she couldn't explain. Talia moved through the crowd quickly, her eyes scanning almost instinctively, like she was searching for something she couldn't name yet.
Then she saw her.
Maya.
Standing in the same place as before.
Waiting.
As if she had been expecting this moment.
Talia stopped walking.
Her heart dropped once… then steadied.
Because this time, she wasn't confused anymore.
She was ready for answers.