"See? This way you won't be bored at home alone, and you'll be helping us too. Killing two birds with one stone, right?"
"If Rosalie finds out, she'll definitely be happy. Once her mood improves, she'll do much better on her next exam."
I forced down the wave of nausea rising in my throat.
If I tore off the mask now, I wouldn't get to witness the rest of their little performance.
Lowering my voice deliberately, I said, "...Alright. I get it. You two... have fun."
The moment I gave in, Kervin's tone turned outright cheerful, as though he had just solved a huge problem.
"That's my girl! Danna, you're always the most understanding."
"So it's settled then—you'll handle the seats for us. Preferably by the window, somewhere airy. Rosalie likes those spots."
"When we're back, I'll take you to that restaurant you've been wanting to try."
He even remembered to specify her seating preferences.
"Mm." The sound that escaped me was flat, indifferent.
"Good, then that's it. Rosalie is calling me—I'd better see what she needs."
Without waiting for my reply, he hung up hastily.
As the busy tone beeped in my ear, the last trace of my forced composure slipped from my face.
The next two days passed in calm silence.
Kervin didn't call again. He only sent me a message once, reminding me again not to forget to save seats in the library, as if Rosalie's academic success depended solely on my diligence.
On the other hand, Rosalie posted on her social feed.
It was a picture taken at a downtown café—the very one I had mentioned countless times, telling Kervin I wanted to visit.
The caption read. [It feels like hard work never pays off... I couldn't help but feel bad. Thankfully, someone is always here to comfort me. Hopefully I can relax a bit over the holiday~]
And there, plain as day, was Kervin's comment.
[I'll take you to eat something good during the holiday.]
Likes and consoling comments from mutual friends stacked neatly beneath.
Expressionless, I scrolled past, not even bothering to tap for a full view.
The afternoon before break, a knock came at my dorm door.
I opened it and, to my surprise, found Kervin standing there—with Rosalie by his side.
Rosalie's face lit up with a practiced, apologetic smile.
"Danna, we're not disturbing you, are we?"
Kervin leaned slightly, peering past me into my dorm. His gaze landed on the small suitcase I had deliberately placed in plain sight. His brows knit together ever so faintly.
"Something you need?" I asked coolly, blocking the doorway without offering to let them in.
"Oh, it's nothing serious," he replied casually, drawing his eyes back.
"Rosalie wants to head to the station early tomorrow, so I'm helping her pack. Thought I'd stop by to check on you, too."
His eyes slid back to my suitcase, sharp with scrutiny. "You... managed to get a ticket? A standing one? Are you on the same train as us?"
Rosalie blinked innocently at me, her voice tinged with concern. "If you're on the same train, that'd be perfect. We could look out for each other—help with luggage and all that."
I studied her fake, oh-so-considerate expression, and finally spoke, slowly and evenly, "I didn't buy a ticket."
Both of them froze.
Rosalie was the first to recover, her tone carrying just the faintest trace of gloating. "What? You didn't? Oh no, Danna, how are you going to get home then? Even the standing tickets are gone? That's... really troublesome!"
Kervin's face darkened. "Danna, what have you been doing these past two days? Didn't I tell you to hurry up and get a ticket? Now you're saying you don't have one? What are you planning to do—walk all the way home from campus?"
Watching the two of them play a good cop and the bad cop almost made me laugh.
"I have my own way of going back," I said lightly.
Kervin narrowed his eyes. "What way could you possibly have?"
