The morning light filtered through Angela's dorm room window, pulling her from restless dreams of sunlit beaches and the warmth of Edmund's arms. She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the small clock on her desk. Her first day of college had arrived, but the excitement she'd once felt was now tinged with apprehension.

　　The faint hum of a bustling campus reached Angela's ears as she stared at the mirror in her dorm room. Her reflection showed a young woman trying to mask nervous excitement with calm confidence.

　　Angela got ready with a quiet determination, choosing a soft cream sweater and jeans that gave her a sense of comfort. She tied her hair back into a loose ponytail and adjusted the strap of her bag, the seashell necklace on her desk catching the morning sunlight. She paused for a moment, reaching out to touch it before letting out a soft sigh.

　　Before stepping out, she glanced at her phone. A message from Edmund awaited her, the sight of his name sending a flutter through her chest.

　　"Good luck today, baby. You'll be brilliant, as always. Call me if you need anything."

　　Her lips curved into a small smile as she typed back. "Thank you. I'll let you know how it goes. Miss you already."

　　His reply came almost instantly. "Not as much as I miss you."

　　"Day one," she whispered to herself. With a deep breath, Angela left her room, the weight of his absence settling like a stone in her chest.

　　The campus was alive with the buzz of students moving in groups, chatting animatedly as they navigated their schedules. Angela clutched her own schedule like a lifeline, the handwritten note from Edmund tucked inside her planner for comfort.

　　"You're going to be amazing. You always are." His voice echoed in her mind, steadying her nerves.

　　She glanced at the map on her phone, frowning. The sprawling campus seemed overwhelming. Just as she turned in a circle, trying to orient herself, a voice broke through the din.

　　"You look lost."

　　The voice startled her, and she turned to see a tall girl with striking features and an air of effortless confidence. Her dark hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and she wore a leather jacket over a floral dress that somehow looked both edgy and feminine.

　　Angela offered a sheepish smile. "I guess I am."

　　"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," the girl said with a grin, her dark eyes warm but piercing. "I'm Elena. And you, my friend, look hopelessly lost. Freshman?"

　　Angela laughed nervously, her grip tightening on her phone. "It's that obvious, huh?"

　　Elena nodded, looping her arm through Angela's before she could protest. "Come on, freshman. I've been here long enough to know this place inside out. Let me show you around. You don't seem like the typical freshman. Quiet, reserved."

　　Angela's cheeks warmed under her gaze. "I just keep to myself, I guess."

　　"Well, not anymore," Elena declared, looping her arm through Angela's before she could protest. "Stick with me, and I'll show you how to survive this place. First lesson: the coffee in the dining hall is only slightly better than poison. Stick to the café near the library."

　　Angela laughed despite herself, feeling a strange mix of amusement and unease. There was something magnetic about Elena, something that made it hard to say no.

　　Miles away, Edmund sat in his office, his focus shattered by thoughts of Angela. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the city skyline through the expansive windows. His phone sat on the desk, taunting him with its silence.

　　Mark entered with a folder, but Edmund barely acknowledged him.

　　"Everything is set, sir," Mark said. "Everything is handled as per your instructions."

　　"Good," Edmund said, his voice clipped. "Make sure she's comfortable. I don't want any issues."

　　Mark hesitated, his brow furrowed. "If I may, sir, do you think she'll notice the accommodations aren't standard?"

　　Edmund smirked faintly. "She's too preoccupied with her new life to question it. And if she does, I'll handle it."

　　Mark nodded and left, leaving Edmund to his thoughts. He picked up his phone, his thumb hovering over Angela's number. He wanted to hear her voice, to feel connected to her even for a moment. But he hesitated, knowing she needed space to settle in. Instead, he sent her a message.

　　"I hope your day is going well. I can't wait to hear about it tonight."

　　Angela's first class, a literature seminar, was held in an old lecture hall with high ceilings and tall windows that let in streams of sunlight. She slid into a seat Elena had saved for her, feeling both grateful and wary of her new friend's intensity.

　　The professor launched into a passionate discussion about romanticism, and Angela felt herself relax. The familiar comfort of literary analysis replaced her initial unease. When Angela answered a question about Byron's poetry with quiet eloquence, the professor smiled in approval.

　　"You're going to be a star in this class, Miss Iris," the professor said.

　　Angela flushed, murmuring a soft thank you as Elena gave her an exaggerated slow clap.

　　"Well done, genius," Elena teased as they left the room. "I think the professor already loves you."

　　Angela shrugged. "I just like literature."

　　Elena smirked. "Modesty's cute, but don't hide that brain of yours. Trust me, it's rare."

　　After their first class together, Elena steered Angela toward the campus café, ignoring Angela's protests about needing to review her schedule. They found a corner table, and Elena ordered for both of them, her confidence taking Angela by surprise.

　　"So, Angela," Elena began, her tone casual but her eyes probing. "What's your deal? You don't seem like the party type, but you've got this air about you like you're hiding something interesting."

　　Angela froze for a moment before laughing nervously. "I'm really not that interesting. I just moved around a lot growing up. Books were my escape."

　　Elena's gaze flickered to the necklace around Angela's neck. "And that? Looks pretty special."

　　Angela's hand instinctively went to the seashell charm. "It is. A gift from someone important."

　　"Ah, mysterious," Elena teased, her grin playful but her eyes sharp. "Let me guess… old flame? Childhood sweetheart?"

　　Angela shook her head, her cheeks warming. "Nothing like that. Just someone very very special."

　　Elena didn't press further, but Angela couldn't shake the feeling that Elena's curiosity wasn't as innocent as it seemed.

　　That evening, Angela sat at her desk, her books open but her mind elsewhere. She picked up her phone and stared at Edmund's name. Finally, she pressed call, her heart pounding as it rang.

　　"Angela," his voice came through, warm and soothing.

　　"Hi," she said, her voice soft. "I just wanted to hear your voice."

　　His chuckle was low and rich. "I was hoping you'd call. How was your first day?"

　　Angela smiled. "Classes are promising. It was overwhelming, but good," she admitted. "I made a friend. Elena. She's interesting."

　　"Interesting how?" Edmund's tone turned sharp, protective.

　　"She's bold. Curious. But she seems nice," Angela said quickly, not wanting to alarm him.

　　"Be careful," Edmund warned. "Not everyone has good intentions."

　　"I will," she promised. "I miss you."

　　"I miss you more," he said, his voice softening. "It's taking everything in me not to come and see you right now."

　　Her heart ached at his words. "I wish you could."

　　"Soon, baby," Edmund said. "For now, focus on your studies. And remember, I'm always here for you."

　　As they ended the call, Angela set the phone down, staring at it as though it might conjure him into the room. A sharp knock at the door startled her, and she turned to find Elena leaning casually against the frame.

　　"Thought I'd check on my favorite freshman," Elena said with a smirk. She glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on the seashell necklace for a moment before she turned back to Angela.

　　"Nice place. How'd you score a room like this? It's practically a penthouse compared to the rest of the dorm."

　　Angela shrugged, suddenly uneasy. "I guess I just got lucky."

　　Elena didn't respond, but Angela could feel her eyes on her as she started unpacking a box of books.

　　"Who's Edmund?"

　　Angela froze, her fingers tightening around the note. "The special one I spoke about."

　　Elena raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. Instead, she smiled, a curious, almost knowing look in her eyes. "Fair enough."

　　Angela nodded, her unease growing as Elena left. The door clicked shut, leaving her alone with her thoughts, and the unsettling feeling that her new friend might be too curious for comfort.

　　Over the next few days, Elena inserted herself into Angela's life with a determination that seemed almost calculated. She showed Angela around campus, introduced her to other students, and insisted on daily coffee breaks.

　　"You need to loosen up, Angela," Elena said one afternoon. "You're too serious for your age."

　　Angela smiled faintly. "I guess I just like my space."

　　"Well, lucky for you, I'm great at breaking people out of their shells," Elena said, her tone teasing but her eyes watchful.

　　Angela didn't notice the way Elena studied her, how her questions grew more pointed each time they talked.

　　"So, Angela, I've been thinking," Elena begins casually.

　　Angela glances at her, wary. "About what?"

　　"About you and that mysterious ‘someone special.'" Elena grins mischievously. "I mean, you're obviously keeping it under wraps, which only makes me more curious."

　　"It's complicated," Angela says carefully.

　　"Oh, I love complicated things," Elena says, her eyes sparkling. "Let me guess. Forbidden romance? Dramatic age difference? Hidden identities?"

　　Angela laughs nervously, though the accuracy of Elena's guesses sends a shiver down her spine. "You've been reading too many romance novels."

　　Elena shrugs. "Maybe. Or maybe I just have a knack for spotting a juicy story."

　　Angela changes the subject, steering the conversation toward their upcoming assignments. But she can't shake the feeling that Elena's curiosity might lead to trouble.

　　By the end of the week, Angela felt torn. She appreciated Elena's friendship but couldn't shake the feeling that something about her was off. Elena's bold demeanor made her an intriguing presence in Angela's life, but her pointed questions and lingering gazes hinted at a more complicated agenda. Still, she dismissed the thought, grateful for the companionship in an unfamiliar place.

　　Their lives were moving in separate directions, but the threads of their bond held strong, unseen by the world but unshakable in their hearts.