Chapter 2 A fucking angel

The warmth of the room embraced me as soon as I slowly opened the door, and I forgot why I had been in such a hurry to get inside as soon as my eyes finally took in the space.

I was immediately captivated by the majesty of the place. The structure, made entirely of white marble, evoked the elegance and grandeur of old houses, transporting me to a time of scholarship and tradition.

The light from the crystal chandelier radiated a soft yellow, bathing the entrance hall in a gentle glow that highlighted the purity of the marble. The floor was polished and cold beneath my feet, emitting a distinct sound with each step I took. There was a double door to my left and another to my right; when a girl gently pushed open one of the doors and stepped out, I could see it was a study room, with numerous bookshelves lining the walls, some tables in the middle, and even a few armchairs.

The white marble staircase in front of me stretched elegantly toward the upper floors, providing a sense of grandeur and magnificence. Each flight of stairs was flanked by intricately carved railings, as if each step was an invitation to an intellectual journey. Next to the base of the stairs were a few marble benches where some students were chatting among themselves, oblivious to the fact that someone else was nearby.

Other than the occasional voice of students around, everything else was incredibly peaceful and quiet, bringing me a sense of peace I didn't know I could feel. I tightened my grip on my bag strap and climbed the stairs, avoiding eye contact with the people hurriedly going up and down. Maybe I'd have time to meet them all one day.

The third floor was where my room was. I entered the hallway and began scanning the solid wooden doors to find mine. Almost at the end, I found it: 82. I bit my lip nervously and took out the key that came with the letter, letting out a relieved sigh I didn't know I had been holding when the door finally opened.

The room wasn't large, like the rest of the place, but it was something I could never take for granted. It was a single room, with a large window on the front wall and a desk. A single bed was against the right wall, just a few inches from the desk. On the left wall, there was a door, likely the bathroom, and just before the door was a simple dark wood dresser. Above the bed, on the wall, was a small shelf for some books. On the floor, a burgundy rug matched the rest of the sheets and curtains.

It was simple, very simple, but at the same time, it represented freedom.

I closed the door behind me and breathed in the scent of pine that the room exuded. This would be my new home for a while, and I needed to settle in, get used to it as quickly as possible.

I placed my suitcase on top of the dresser and opened the drawers to start putting away my clothes and uniforms. Since I didn't bring much, there were some empty drawers left. I placed a photo of me with my parents on my desk and sat on the bed, which was softer than I had imagined.

After the long trip from Eldoria, my parents' home, to here in the capital of Celestia, all I needed was a bath and a good rest, so I grabbed a pair of warm pajamas, my hair products, and headed to the bathroom. It was simple, like the rest of the room: a sink with a cabinet underneath, a mirror on the wall, a toilet beside it, a nearly transparent plastic curtain, and the shower. I got comfortable, took off my clothes, and turned on the shower. The steam from the hot water soon filled the space, relaxing me. I stepped into the water, feeling all my muscles unwind. I had been tense since I got into my parents' car to come here; entering this place didn't make me any less anxious, but I was at peace and happy, very happy.

But my relaxation didn't last long as the hot water gradually started to turn cold, and I had barely begun to wash my hair. Damn.

I turned off the water and wrapped myself in a towel, glaring at the shower, trying to understand what had just happened. Was the hot water limited? This had to be a bad joke. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom, my hair dripping all over the floor, and my skin covered in goosebumps from the cold air. I needed that bath.

I slowly opened the door to my room and peeked down the hallway to see if anyone was around. Nothing. No one was in the corridors. I stared at the door in front of me for a moment. Had the water run out for everyone? Should I ask?

Glancing around the hallway once more to make sure there was really no one, and clutching my towel tightly against my body, I took a few steps and knocked on the door across from mine, my heart racing. No response. I knocked again, this time a bit louder.

What if no one was there? Damn, I didn't think of that.

Before I could turn away, the door opened, revealing a beautiful girl with almond-shaped eyes and straight black hair, so smooth and perfect that I felt a bit envious. "Hi," I mumbled with an awkward smile. She was so perfectly dressed, and I was just in a towel, my wet hair sticking to my cheek. Definitely not the first impression I wanted to make. "Do you have hot water?"

I was sure my weak smile wasn't giving off the best impression. "It's just that I was taking a shower, and the hot water suddenly ran out." I pointed to the door behind me, trying to ease the awkwardness of the situation. "I'm new, I just arrived."

I knew I was talking too much, one thing after another, but I couldn't help it.

"Oh, sure, sure, come in, please." She gave me a friendly smile and stepped back to let me into her room. It was almost identical to mine, with the same furniture and everything, but the decor was more colorful, with posters of unfamiliar people decorating her walls. There were many photos on her desk and a laptop; her sheets were purple, as was her rug. It was cheerful and cozy, with a fresh orange scent. "Your room must have been out of use for a while. You'll need to speak to the office about that."

"I definitely will." I smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I'm Miyo Sinclair."

"I'm Elara, but you can call me Ella. Nice to meet you, Miyo." It was kind of cute how her eyes smiled with her. I would certainly appreciate it more if I hadn't shivered hard when the cold air from her open window hit me. "Oh, I'm sorry." She hurried to close the window when she noticed my chattering teeth. "Go ahead, here's the bathroom, make yourself at home." She pointed to the door, and I nodded gratefully before heading to the bathroom.

There were some purple crocheted rugs on the floor, even a plant I didn't recognize, but it somehow made the small bathroom feel even cozier. I definitely needed to decorate my room more like this as soon as possible.

I didn't waste any time lingering and quickly finished my shower so I wouldn't inconvenience Ella too much. While I was in the water, I realized she was talking to someone outside, and then there was silence. Maybe I had interrupted some of her plans by being in her room. I dried my hair so I wouldn't drip water everywhere and wrapped myself in the towel again, cursing myself for not bringing my clothes with me.

I opened the door slowly and noticed the room was empty; Elara wasn't there. I felt like an intruder, so I just carefully avoided breaking anything as I made my way out. I opened the door to the hallway and tried to leave, failing miserably.

In my haste, I hadn't noticed someone standing in front of me. He had his back to me, wearing a white long-sleeved shirt. My whole body collided with the wall that he was, and to avoid falling, I grabbed onto the side of his shirt, letting go as soon as I regained my balance. "Damn," I whispered, rubbing my sore nose and looking up to see who had gotten in my way.

My jaw nearly hit the floor when he turned around, and his golden eyes met mine, eyes so beautiful and sweet that they almost made me melt. His face had a confused and troubled expression, his light gray eyebrows furrowed. His hair was also a pale gray, and his jawline was perfectly chiseled, though his cheeks were a bit round. His nose was pointed, and his lips full and pink.

"Who are you?" His raspy voice hit me, and an unfamiliar heat flushed my face. Damn, he looked like a damn angel.