The evening slowly settled over the college campus. The bright afternoon sunlight had begun to fade, and the sky was painted in soft shades of orange and gold. One by one, students walked out through the college gate, laughing with their friends and making their way home.
Near the entrance stood Maria and Cathy. Maria kept looking toward the main building, and Cathy noticed it immediately. She crossed her arms and smiled mischievously. "Maria," she said.
Maria turned toward her. "What?"
"How many times are you going to look at that building?"
Maria quickly looked away. "I'm not looking at anything."
Cathy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then why have we been standing outside the college gate for almost twenty minutes?"
Maria remained silent, which made Cathy smile even more. "Waiting for someone?"
"Cathy, stop it," Maria said, immediately looking embarrassed.
"You want to see Nick."
Maria's cheeks turned slightly red. "I just wanted to—"
"You wanted to see Nick," Cathy interrupted with a grin.
Maria sighed. "Fine. Yes."
Cathy smiled proudly. "I knew it! Then go ask him out."
Maria's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Ask Nick for a date."
Maria stared at her best friend as if she had gone completely crazy. "No. I can't!"
"Why not?"
"What if he says no?"
"You'll never know unless you ask," Cathy said. She playfully hit Maria's arm. "If you really like him, tell him. Otherwise, some other girl might come and take him."
"Shut up, Cathy!" Maria said playfully. "I will kill you."
Cathy laughed, but Maria suddenly added, "Nick is only for me."
Cathy immediately stopped laughing and looked at her with wide eyes. "Oh?"
Maria suddenly realized what she had said, and her face became even redder. "I didn't mean—"
"Nick is only for me?" Cathy repeated teasingly.
"Cathy! Stop laughing!"
The two friends continued playfully arguing until Cathy suddenly noticed someone walking out of the college building. Her smile widened. "Don't turn around too quickly," she whispered.
Maria became nervous. "Why?"
"He's here."
Maria froze. Slowly, she turned around and saw Nick walking toward the college gate with Sophie beside him. Maria's heart immediately began beating faster.
Nick noticed her and smiled. "Hi, Maria."
For a brief moment, Maria forgot everything she wanted to say. "H-Hi, Nick."
Nick looked toward Sophie. "Sophie, this is the girl I told you about. She's the one who spoke to the headmaster about Jason."
Sophie looked at Maria curiously, then smiled. "So you're Maria. Thank you for helping my brother."
Maria smiled shyly. "You don't have to thank me."
"Actually, I already know her," Sophie said, surprising Nick. "She's my classmate. And this is Cathy, right?"
Cathy smiled. "Yes."
For a few moments, all four of them stood near the college gate. Cathy looked at Maria, then at Nick, and suddenly had an idea. She turned toward Sophie. "Do you want to go to a café?"
Sophie looked surprised. "A café?"
"Yes. We can have some coffee."
Sophie hesitated. "I'm not really interested."
"Come on," Cathy insisted, gently holding her arm. "It'll be fun."
Sophie looked toward Maria and Nick, then back at Cathy. Slowly, she understood what Cathy was planning. A small smile appeared on her face. "Okay."
"Perfect!" Cathy said immediately.
Maria looked confused. "Cathy?"
"We'll be back later," Cathy replied with a mischievous smile.
Before Maria could stop her, Cathy had already begun walking away with Sophie. "Enjoy!" she called.
"CATHY!" Maria shouted, her face turning red.
Soon, Maria and Nick were standing alone near the college gate. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The evening breeze moved gently through the trees as students continued walking past them.
Maria looked down nervously. She had been waiting the entire evening to see Nick and had planned to ask him out, but now that he was standing in front of her, she couldn't find the courage.
"Maria?" Nick said.
She looked up. "Yes?"
"I wanted to ask you something."
Maria became nervous. "Okay."
Nick hesitated for a moment before smiling. "Would you like to go on a date with me?"
For a second, Maria couldn't believe what she had heard. She had spent the entire evening trying to gather the courage to ask him the exact same question, but Nick had asked first. Her cheeks became warm as she looked down, trying to hide her smile.
"Maria?" Nick asked again.
She slowly looked up. "Okay."
Nick smiled. "Really?"
Maria nodded. "Yes."
For the first time, both of them stood there smiling at each other without knowing what to say. It was a simple moment, but for Maria, it felt like something special had just begun.
Meanwhile, inside a small café near the college, Cathy and Sophie sat at a table with two cups of coffee. Cathy looked extremely pleased with herself.
"What are you smiling about?" Sophie asked.
"You know exactly why."
"Maria and Nick?"
"Exactly!" Cathy said.
Sophie smiled slightly. "Maria likes my brother. I noticed that."
Cathy's eyes widened. "You noticed?"
"Of course. And Nick likes Maria too. That was obvious."
Cathy smiled happily. "Then you approve?"
Sophie laughed softly. "Maria seems like a good person. If my brother is happy with her, then I'm happy too."
Cathy smiled proudly. "She is a good person. You know, she has been talking about Nick since yesterday. She defended him in front of the headmaster, cleaned the blood from his mouth, and even asked for his name."
Sophie smiled. "And now she's probably on a date with him."
"Exactly," Cathy said proudly.
Both of them laughed. For the first time, Cathy and Sophie began to feel comfortable around each other, and a new friendship slowly began.
Outside the college, Nick looked at Maria. "So... when should we go?"
Maria smiled. "Tomorrow?"
Nick's face brightened. "Tomorrow sounds perfect."
The evening sky slowly grew darker, and the college campus became quieter. Finally, Nick smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow, Maria."
Maria smiled back. "I'll see you tomorrow, Nick."
Nick slowly walked away, and Maria remained standing near the gate, watching him disappear down the road. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heart still beating quickly. A smile slowly appeared on her face.
For the first time in her life, Maria felt that something beautiful was beginning. She didn't know where this relationship would lead or what the future had planned for her and Nick. At that moment, she knew only one thing—tomorrow, she was going on her first date with him.
After Maria and Nick had agreed to go on a date the following day, Maria and Cathy returned to their hostel room. The excitement of the evening was still fresh in Maria's mind. She couldn't stop smiling whenever she thought about Nick asking her out first.
Cathy noticed her expression and immediately began teasing her.
"So, tomorrow is the big day," Cathy said with a mischievous smile.
Maria looked at her and smiled shyly. "Don't start again, Cathy."
"I'm serious! You need to decide what you're going to wear."
Maria looked at her for a moment before laughing softly. "I haven't even thought about it yet."
"Then we'll choose it now," Cathy declared.
Cathy opened Maria's wardrobe and began looking through her clothes. She checked several outfits before finally pulling out a beautiful red dress.
"This one," Cathy said confidently.
Maria looked at the dress.
"Red?"
"Yes. Definitely red."
Maria smiled. "Are you sure?"
"Completely sure. It will suit you perfectly."
Maria took the dress from Cathy and looked at it carefully. She liked it immediately. She gently cleaned and arranged it, making sure everything was ready for the next day.
After preparing the dress, Maria carefully placed it where she could easily take it in the morning.
"There," she said with satisfaction. "Everything is ready."
Cathy smiled.
"Now you just have to survive the date."
Maria laughed.
"Cathy!"
The two friends continued talking for a while before eventually returning to their studies. The night became quieter as the hours passed.
After studying for some time, Maria closed her books.
"I've finished studying. I'm going to sleep."
Cathy was still reading.
"Okay. I'll study for a little longer."
Maria nodded and climbed into bed.
"Good night."
"Good night, Maria."
Within a few minutes, Maria fell asleep.
Cathy continued studying alone under the dim light of the room.
The hostel was unusually quiet.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Cathy suddenly stopped reading.
She slowly looked toward the door.
For a moment, she remained completely still.
Another knock did not come.
Cathy swallowed nervously and stood up. She walked toward the door and opened it carefully.
The corridor outside was empty.
There was no one there.
Cathy looked in both directions.
Nothing.
She slowly stepped outside and checked the nearby corridor, wondering if some students were playing a prank.
After looking around for several minutes, she returned to the room.
"Probably nothing," she whispered.
She closed the door, returned to her bed, and eventually fell asleep.
But soon, Cathy found herself somewhere completely different.
She was running through a strange forest.
Everything around her looked unnatural.
The trees, shrubs, and plants appeared to be covered in a deep red color, creating a terrifying landscape unlike anything she had ever seen.
Cathy ran faster, but she didn't know where she was going.
Suddenly, she stumbled and fell to the ground.
She looked upward.
The sky above her was dark.
Then, slowly—
Two enormous blue eyes appeared in the darkness.
Cathy stared at them in terror.
She heard Maria's voice.
"Cathy..."
The voice seemed to come from somewhere far away.
"Cathy..."
The blue eyes grew brighter.
Then—
"Cathy!"
Cathy suddenly woke up.
She sat upright in bed, breathing heavily.
Maria was standing beside her, repeatedly calling her name.
"Cathy! Cathy, wake up!"
Cathy looked around in confusion.
"Maria..."
"Are you okay?"
Cathy slowly caught her breath.
"Wait... what happened?"
Maria looked worried.
"Do you know who did this?"
Cathy frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Maria suddenly pointed toward the wardrobe.
Cathy turned toward it.
Her eyes widened.
The red dress Maria had prepared for her date was no longer in perfect condition.
The fabric was torn, and several deep scratches were visible across it, as though something sharp had dragged across the material.
Maria stared at the dress with fear.
"My dress..."
Cathy immediately got out of bed and walked closer.
"What happened to it?"
"I don't know," Maria whispered. "I kept it here last night."
Cathy examined the damaged dress carefully.
Maria looked increasingly worried.
"Who did this? Why would someone do this? Cathy, today is supposed to be my first date with Nick."
Cathy turned toward her and gently held her shoulders.
"Maria, don't worry. We'll figure it out."
Maria looked at her anxiously.
Cathy hesitated before telling her what had happened earlier that night.
"Actually... something strange happened yesterday."
Maria looked at her.
"What?"
"I heard someone knocking on our door."
Maria's expression changed.
"When?"
"After you went to sleep. I opened the door, but nobody was there."
Cathy continued quietly.
"I thought maybe some college students were playing a prank, so I went outside and checked the corridor."
Maria listened carefully.
"But there was no one," Cathy said. "When I came back inside, I didn't notice anything unusual."
She looked toward the damaged dress.
"But now... someone must have entered our room while we were sleeping."
Maria's eyes widened.
"You think someone came inside?"
Cathy nodded slowly.
"Maybe. I don't know who, but someone could have damaged your dress while we were asleep."
Maria looked frightened.
"Who would do something like this?"
Cathy didn't have an answer.
For a moment, both girls stood silently, staring at the torn red dress.
Then Cathy gently touched Maria's arm.
"Don't let this ruin your day."
Maria looked at her.
"You mean the date?"
"Yes."
Cathy gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Maria. We'll talk about this later. Right now, your date is still happening."
She walked toward the wardrobe.
"I'll find you another outfit."
Maria nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Cathy began searching through the clothes.
"Don't worry. We'll make sure you're ready."
Maria watched her quietly.
Although Cathy's words gave her some comfort, the strange incident continued to trouble her.
She couldn't understand who could have entered their room.
And she couldn't explain why someone would destroy the dress she had prepared for her first date with Nick.
Outside the hostel window, the morning remained completely peaceful.
But somewhere beyond the quiet corridors, a mystery was slowly beginning to take shape.
Neither Maria nor Cathy knew that the strange events surrounding them were only beginning.
As evening approached, Maria and Cathy were waiting near the college gate. Maria kept glancing toward the road, quietly wondering when Nick would arrive. A few minutes later, they heard the sound of a motorcycle approaching. Nick rode toward them, slowed down, and stopped beside the gate.
"Maria, come with me," Nick said with a smile.
Cathy looked at Maria and said jokingly, "Maria, you need to be careful. You don't even know where he's taking you."
Nick laughed. "Don't worry, Cathy. I'll bring Maria back exactly the way she is now."
Maria smiled and looked at Cathy. "You go back to the hostel. I'll come soon."
"Okay," Cathy replied. "Don't be too late."
Maria got on the bike, and Nick slowly rode away from the college. As they travelled through the evening streets, they talked about college, their friends, and the plans they had made for the next day. Maria seemed happy and relaxed, enjoying the unexpected time with Nick.
Cathy, meanwhile, returned to the hostel. But when she reached their room, she didn't immediately go inside. She sat quietly for a moment, thinking about everything that had happened. Her thoughts kept returning to the same questions.
Who had torn Maria's dress?
And what about the person she had seen the previous night?
Those strange blue eyes kept appearing in her mind. Cathy tried to convince herself that it had only been her imagination, but something inside her refused to believe it.
The scene shifted.
Maria and Nick were sitting together in a quiet restaurant. Their conversation had gradually become more personal, and Maria began telling Nick about her family.
"My family is in Los Angeles," she said. "I have several relatives there, and we all know each other very well. I know you're from Los Angeles too."
Nick nodded. "Yes. I'm from Los Angeles as well."
After a brief silence, Nick continued, "My parents aren't with me anymore. They died when I was a child. Since then, my sister Sophie has been everything to me."
Maria listened carefully.
"She used to be a very cheerful person," Nick explained. "But after we lost our parents, she became much quieter. She changed a lot."
Maria looked at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Nick. Is that why Sophie became so silent?"
Nick nodded slightly. "Maybe. Losing them affected both of us."
Maria was about to say something when suddenly a man wearing a mask appeared near their table. Before Maria and Nick could understand what was happening, several masked men surrounded them.
"Maria, stay behind me!" Nick shouted.
The men tried to take Maria away. Nick immediately stood between them and fought to protect her. Maria was frightened, but she managed to move away while Nick chased after the attackers.
A struggle broke out outside the restaurant. Nick confronted the masked men one after another, refusing to let them take Maria. Eventually, he managed to stop them.
One of the masked men fell back, and Nick grabbed him before he could escape. During the struggle, the man's mask came loose and fell away.
Maria stared in shock.
Nick was equally surprised.
It was Jason.
Jason glared at Maria angrily. "Because of you, I was suspended from college for six months! You ruined everything for me. I'm here to take revenge on you!"
Nick stepped forward. "Leave Maria alone."
Jason tried to attack again, but Nick stood his ground and forced him away from Maria. After a brief struggle, Jason and his friends finally retreated from the area.
Maria stood frozen for a moment, still frightened by what had happened. Then she ran toward Nick, relieved that he was safe.
"Nick…"
Nick turned toward her. "Are you okay?"
Maria nodded, and the fear on her face slowly gave way to relief. The two of them stood together for a moment, realizing how much they had begun to care about each other.
That evening, they finally admitted their feelings for one another. Their relationship had begun unexpectedly, but neither of them could deny that something meaningful had grown between them.
Cathy was sitting at her desk, quietly working on her assignments. The hostel room was unusually silent, and Maria still hadn't returned. Cathy glanced at the clock and continued writing. Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door.
Cathy stopped writing and looked toward the door.
Another knock followed.
She slowly got up from her chair and walked toward the door. For a moment, she hesitated before finally opening it.
A young woman was standing outside.
Cathy had never seen her before, at least not clearly. The woman was wearing an unusual outfit that immediately caught Cathy's attention. There was something strange and mysterious about her appearance.
"Hi," the woman said calmly.
"Hi," Cathy replied, looking at her carefully. "Who are you? You look familiar. I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."
The woman gave a faint smile. "Yes. I'm in your college."
Cathy looked at her with curiosity. "Really?"
"Yes. I came here because I need to tell you and your friend Maria something important."
Cathy glanced back into the room. "Maria isn't here right now. She's gone out with Nick. You can come back when she returns."
The woman remained silent for a moment.
Cathy continued, "But you can at least tell me what it's about. If it's important, I'll tell Maria when she comes back. What do you want to tell us?"
The woman's expression remained difficult to read.
"You will come and see me," she said quietly.
Cathy frowned. "Where?"
Instead of answering immediately, the woman reached into her clothing and took out a small visiting card. She handed it to Cathy.
Cathy looked down at it.
The card contained an address:
777 Utopia Crest Way
San Jose, CA 95000
Underneath the address were the words:
Meet me tomorrow.
Cathy looked up. "Why should we come there?"
But the mysterious woman had already turned away.
"Wait!" Cathy called.
The woman stopped and slowly turned around.
For the first time, Cathy looked directly into her eyes.
She froze.
There was something strangely familiar about them.
Those eyes...
Cathy couldn't explain why, but they reminded her of something she had been trying to forget.
The dark figure from the previous night.
The blue eyes she had seen in the darkness.
Cathy stared at the woman, trying to understand the connection.
"What is your name?" she finally asked.
The woman looked at her for a few seconds before answering.
"Ratih."
Then she turned around and walked away down the hostel corridor.
Cathy remained standing at the doorway, still holding the visiting card.
Her eyes followed Ratih until she disappeared from sight.
She slowly looked back at the card.
777 Utopia Crest Way.
Cathy's mind was filled with questions.
Who was Ratih?
Why did she want to meet Maria and Cathy?
And most importantly...
Why did her eyes feel so familiar?
Cathy quietly closed the door.
For the first time, she began to wonder whether the strange things happening around them were connected after all.
Maria finally returned to the hostel after spending the evening with Nick. The moment she entered the room, Cathy noticed that something was different. Maria looked exhausted, and there was a worried expression on her face.
Cathy quickly went toward her. "Maria! You're finally back. What happened? Why are you so tired? You even look as if someone attacked you."
Maria sat down and took a deep breath. "Something actually happened."
Cathy looked at her with concern. "What happened?"
Maria told her everything about the evening—the restaurant, the masked men, their attempt to take her away, and how Nick had protected her. She then told Cathy the biggest surprise of all: the masked man had turned out to be Jason, who blamed Maria for his suspension and had come back to take revenge.
Cathy listened in shock. "Jason? I can't believe he actually did that."
Maria nodded. "Neither can I. But Nick was there. He protected me."
Then Maria's expression changed, and a shy smile appeared on her face.
Cathy immediately noticed it. "Why are you smiling like that?"
Maria looked away. "There's something else."
"What?"
Maria hesitated before finally telling her that she and Nick had confessed their feelings for each other and shared their first kiss.
Cathy's face immediately lit up.
"Maria! I'm so happy for you!"
Maria laughed. "Really?"
"Of course! You finally got the courage to tell him how you feel."
The two friends hugged each other. After a moment, Cathy smiled and said, "But now that you've started a relationship, don't forget about your best friend."
Maria hugged her more tightly. "Never. You are my one and only best friend. I'll always be with you."
Cathy smiled. "Promise?"
"Promise."
For a moment, everything felt normal again. Two childhood friends, celebrating one of the happiest moments of Maria's life.
Then Cathy remembered something.
"There is something I need to tell you."
Maria looked at her. "What?"
Cathy told Maria about the mysterious woman who had visited the hostel earlier and handed her the visiting card. She showed Maria the card.
777 Utopia Crest Way
San Jose, CA 95000
"She told us to meet her tomorrow," Cathy explained. "She said she had something important to tell both of us."
Maria studied the card.
"Who is she?"
"She said her name was Rathi."
Maria thought for a moment. "Okay. Let's go tomorrow and find out what she wants."
The following day, Maria and Cathy arrived at the address written on the card. They stood outside a quiet house, looking at the door.
Cathy slowly raised her hand to knock.
Before she could touch it, the door suddenly opened from inside.
Rathi was standing there.
"Welcome," she said in a low, husky voice. "Maria... Cathy... I've been waiting for you."
The two girls exchanged a quick glance before stepping inside.
The atmosphere immediately felt strange. The hall was dimly lit, with unusual decorations and objects arranged around the room. Everything about the place made Cathy feel as though she had stepped into a mysterious world completely different from their college life.
Rathi gestured toward the sofa.
"Please, sit."
Maria and Cathy sat down. A few moments later, Rathi returned carrying two glasses of lemon drink.
"Have this," she said, placing the drinks in front of them.
Maria and Cathy thanked her and began drinking.
After a moment, Maria finally asked the question that had been troubling her.
"Why did you call us here? What exactly do you want to tell us?"
Rathi sat opposite them.
"I am a healer," she said calmly. "I use traditional practices to help people who are struggling. And because I am in your college, I have noticed something unusual around you."
Maria looked confused.
Rathi continued, "There is a negative presence around you. Something that keeps following you."
Maria immediately shook her head.
"I don't believe in those things."
Cathy nodded. "Neither do I."
Rathi didn't argue with them. Instead, she simply looked at Maria.
"I understand. You don't have to believe me."
Maria stared into Rathi's eyes.
Something about her expression made Maria uncomfortable.
Rathi didn't look like someone who was simply making up a story. There was a strange seriousness in her eyes, as though she genuinely believed every word she had said.
Still, Maria couldn't accept it.
After a short conversation, Maria and Cathy thanked Rathi and left the house.
Once they were outside, Maria looked at Cathy.
"Don't believe her. People like that say strange things and then try to take money from people."
Cathy remained thoughtful.
"Maybe. But what if she really knows something?"
Maria looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
Cathy lowered her voice. "What if she knows who's been troubling us? The person who tore your dress... and the other strange things that have been happening?"
Maria shook her head.
"It could have been someone from the hostel. Maybe some girls don't like me because I'm dating Nick. They could be trying to scare me."
Cathy wasn't completely convinced, but she didn't argue.
"Maybe you're right."
Maria started walking away.
"Come on, Cathy. Let's go."
Cathy followed her, but before leaving, she turned around one last time.
Rathi was still standing in the doorway.
She was watching them.
Cathy's eyes met hers.
For a brief moment, Cathy felt that same strange familiarity again.
Those eyes.
She had seen them before.
But where?
Cathy quickly turned around and followed Maria, leaving the mysterious house behind.
Neither of them noticed that Rathi continued watching them until they disappeared from view.
_____
Everything seemed to be going perfectly.
After the events of the previous year, Maria and Nick's relationship continued to grow stronger. What had started as an unexpected meeting on the first day of college had slowly turned into a deep bond between them. They spent time together whenever they could, supported each other through their studies, and shared countless memories during their college days.
Maria was happier than she had ever been. Nick had become an important part of her life, and their love continued to grow with every passing day. Cathy remained by Maria's side as her closest friend, just as she had always been.
Time seemed to move faster than they expected.
Maria and Cathy successfully completed their first year of college. The examinations, assignments, classes, and long days of studying were finally behind them. They celebrated their achievement together and looked forward to the next stage of their college life.
Their second year began, and once again, everything seemed normal.
Maria continued her relationship with Nick, while Cathy remained her constant companion. The four of them—Maria, Cathy, Nick, and Sophie—became familiar faces around the college. Their days were filled with classes, conversations, laughter, and ordinary college memories.
Months passed.
Before they realized it, Maria and Cathy had completed their second year as well.
Looking back, Maria felt that those two years had been some of the happiest years of her life. She had found love, strengthened her friendship with Cathy, and built memories she believed would remain with her forever.
But sometimes, the happiest moments in life come just before everything changes.
And somewhere beyond their ordinary college life, a shadow was quietly waiting.
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