Chapter 4
The entire night passed in measured silence. Becky pretended to be busy preparing for her classes on her side of the room, while Freen didn't even need to pretend—she genuinely had a mountain of work to get through. Most of her nights were spent overseeing her company with the backup assistance of Krik. Krik had been her best friend since childhood, a family friend who was also her grandmother's favorite—something Freen had never quite understood. Maybe her grandmother saw a reflection of her son in him, which explained why she trusted him the most with business matters.
Despite being a university student himself, Krik only showed up for exams; his entire focus was on strengthening his grip on Freen's business empire and ensuring its success.
As Becky lay in bed, trying to sleep, the constant sound of Freen’s keyboard clicks irritated her. She eventually gave up, plugged in her earphones, and turned on some music. Within moments, she drifted off, her songs still playing softly in the background.
At around 2 AM, when Freen finally shut her laptop, her gaze automatically drifted to the other side of the room. Becky lay sound asleep, looking innocent and peaceful. One leg was sticking out of the blanket while the other was tangled beneath it, her arms wrapped around a fluffy pillow, earphones still in her ears. Freen furrowed her brows, staring for a little too long, stuck between two choices—should she cover Becky properly with the blanket or remove her earphones and phone? She battled the urge, her fingers itching to brush away the few stray hairs across Becky’s face.
Standing up, she took a step forward—but then, as if struck by lightning, she abruptly turned, jumped onto her bed, and buried herself under the covers, muttering under her breath, "I can't, I can't, I can't."
With hushed steps, the early morning light tiptoed into the room through the arched window on Freen's side. The curtains were neatly pulled back, allowing golden rays to spill inside. Sunlight hit Becky’s face, making her stir and turn restlessly in bed. She knew morning had arrived but waited for her alarm to confirm it. The moment it went off, she snapped it shut with a groan.
The room’s layout was such that their beds were positioned parallel to each other. This meant that the first thing Freen saw upon waking was either the morning sky through the window or Becky in her bed. Becky, on the other hand, could only see either the plain wall on the opposite side or Freen’s bed—the source of the invading light.
Stretching her arms with a lazy yawn, Becky blinked sleepily. As her senses sharpened, she noticed the empty bed across from hers, perfectly made and spotless. Her ears perked up, straining toward the restroom, but hearing nothing, she sighed in relief.
Then, suddenly—the door swung open.
"Miss Freen Ice Queen" had returned, looking fresh from an early morning run, her breathing steady, her sports shoes slightly muddied. Becky hesitated, torn between rushing to the restroom or remembering her manners and greeting her roommate. Freen, meanwhile, peeled off her shoes and prepared to freshen up.
"Morning, P’Freen," Becky finally said, trying her best to sound civil—after all, they had to live together.
Freen looked up, her gaze locking with Becky’s for a brief moment. Expressionless as always, she took slow, deliberate steps toward her. Becky gulped, watching her approach, only to freeze when Freen smirked slightly.
"Such a waste," Freen murmured before brushing past Becky and entering the restroom without another word.
"Unbelievable," Becky scoffed, rolling her eyes.
Time passed, and soon Becky was ready for her first official day of university. She looked effortlessly stunning in ripped jeans and a white off-shoulder crop top, her open hair cascading over her shoulders. But it wasn’t just her looks—it was her aura. Becky had a presence that lit up the entire room.
The moment she stepped into her classroom, her eyes met Irin’s, who immediately waved excitedly like she had just spotted a long-lost friend.
"Here, Becky! Come here!" Irin called out.
"Hi, Irin! Good morning!" Becky greeted her with her usual bright smile.
"Morning, Becky," Nop and Mew chimed in unison, sitting nearby.
"Good morning to you two as well," Becky replied.
The entire class was buzzing with excitement, with most students arriving half an hour early.
"Becky, spill!" Irin demanded, leaning in eagerly.
"What?" Becky asked, confused.
"Well, everyone knows, sweetie! For the first time in history, someone dared to share a dorm with the Ice Queen Freen—and that someone is you!" Irin gushed, speaking so fast she barely took a breath.
"Oh, that… Yeah, it was my dad’s idea. He wanted the best for me, but only if he knows what kind of mess he has put me in," Becky sighed.
"Aww, BecBec, it can’t be that bad," Irin teased, trying to fish for more details.
"Bad?" Becky repeated, louder this time. "It’s worse. It’s terrible. It’s—it’s HELL!" she exclaimed, dramatically pouring out her frustration.
"Hey, but at least you get to stay in her luxurious dorm room. Rumor has it, it’s the best and most customized room ever. Is it true?" Irin asked excitedly.
"Oh, don’t even get me started! And don’t glorify such behavior. She’s just a student like the rest of us; she shouldn’t be getting special privileges. I still resent my dad for setting me up in this so-called ‘special arrangement’ that turned out to be a disaster," Becky huffed.
"And you know what, Irin? She has RULES. This morning, she literally lectured me: Rule number one—don’t touch my stuff. Rule number two—don’t talk to me unless absolutely necessary. Rule number three—no eavesdropping on my work, and if I ever talk about it outside these walls, I’m done for. Rule number four—never, under any circumstances, bring anyone into our room. At. Any. Cost!" Becky mimicked Freen’s cold, detached tone perfectly.
Irin chuckled and hugged Becky. "Aww, she’s such a b—"
"Hey! Watch your words," Becky interrupted instinctively.
Irin raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Since when are we defending the Ice Queen?"
"Let’s not ruin our mood talking about her," Becky deflected, smiling. But even as she tried to dismiss the thought, a small part of her mind analyzed what just happened. Freen Sarocha is rude. Ruthless. Unbearable. So why did I just stop Irin from calling her a…
Before Becky could dwell on it further, the professor entered the class, shifting her focus back to the day ahead.
Meanwhile, in the student president’s office, Freen was busy handling business on her laptop while Nam and Kade designed flyers for various student club activities.
"Freen, when do you think we should start forming fresher groups for the clubs? We should hold auditions soon," Kade suggested.
Nam nodded in agreement. Freen, still typing, responded, "Make sure we bring in the best talent—not just people doing this for fun, but true dreamers. Our aim is to nurture future artists."
Nam and Kade exchanged approving smiles. "Got it, Miss President."
On the other side, Becky and her friends were making their way toward the canteen when Irin suddenly exclaimed in excitement, "Oh wow, look at this, guys!"
Facing one of the notice boards, everyone gathered around to see a flyer that read: "All singers & songwriters are most welcome to join the Elite Singers' Club, which nurtures talent and offers a bright future to every passionate artist with a knack for singing."
All four of them lit up with excitement. Irin was a talented songwriter, Becky had a beautiful voice, and as for Nop and Mew—they were just happy because their beautiful girls were happy.
The auditions were in three days, and Becky needed to prepare. She was genuinely thrilled about this opportunity. When she returned to her dorm room, she was so caught up in the excitement that she nearly forgot about the devil she shared the room with. But as the elevator doors opened on the eighth-floor corridor, reality hit her. The thought of Freen—her icy demeanor, those piercing eyes, and her cold, unreadable face—sent a nervous jolt through Becky's heart.
As she stepped into Room 805, she sighed in relief. The demon was nowhere in sight.
Without wasting a second, Becky grabbed her guitar and began practicing. She had no idea if she was even allowed to play in their room, given Freen's ridiculous rules. But at the moment, she didn't care. She strummed away, getting lost in the music.
Time passed quickly. It was already dark—no, what dark? It was 9 PM! And still, no sign of Freen. Becky found herself unwillingly wondering if she would come back anytime soon. But eventually, exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep alone.
The next morning, Becky's alarm blared, shaking her out of sleep. Groaning, she sat up and scanned the room. Empty. She made sure to check every corner—still empty. Perfect.
Seizing the opportunity, she quickly grabbed her guitar. She didn’t care how early it was—the best thing about their room was that it was soundproof. She played and played, letting herself get carried away by the melody, until—
The door suddenly swung open.
There she was. The cold, bold, icy intruder.
Dressed in her sports shoes and running tracksuit, Freen stood at the doorway, bathed in sweat. Her bronze-brown eyes locked onto Becky's hazelnut ones.
Becky instantly froze. Panicking slightly, she stammered, quickly setting her guitar aside. Her heart pounded as she forced herself to be civil. "G-Good morning, P'Freen."
Freen broke eye contact without a word and walked straight to the restroom.
Becky scoffed under her breath. "Rude as ever."