The dorm room was small, cramped with two twin beds, two desks, and barely enough floor space to turn around. Bob had already claimed the bed by the window, his gaming setup sprawling across the desk beneath it. I took the one by the door, trying to ignore how thin the walls felt — how every sound would carry.

Yujin had texted me five times already, each message more teasing than the last. "New roomie looks strong. Bet he can bench press you." I’d rolled my eyes, but my pulse quickened. She was across the hall, in the girls’ wing, but her words were already inside my head.

Lottie wasn’t helping. She’d found an excuse to knock on my door within the first hour, wearing nothing but an oversized hoodie and a grin. "Hey, neighbor. Just checking if you survived the move." Her eyes flicked to Bob, then back to me, and she bit her lip. "Looks like I’ll be visiting a lot."

I introduced them. Bob was easygoing, laughing as Lottie immediately tried to challenge him to a gaming duel. "You’re on," he said, cracking his knuckles. I watched them settle in, wondering how long it would take for the tension to boil over.