4SINS: DECEPTION OF LUCIAN MARCUS GREY

1

Glaryse Javelleno had spent the last few months imagining this moment. Her acceptance letter to Lake Wood University had arrived, and with it, a promise of a future that felt almost too good to be true. Weeks before her first day, she had decided to pack her things and go to her dormitory early. It was a modest 10th-floor building just a few minutes away from the university, located in a quiet part of town. She had spent a great deal of time searching for a cheap, comfortable place to stay—something that didn't feel like a concrete box but also didn't eat away at her savings.

Coming from a working-class family, Glaryse knew she had to be careful with her finances. Her parents had sacrificed a lot to get her here, and she was determined to make the most of this opportunity. But still, a strange mix of pride and anxiety buzzed in her chest as she stepped out of her small, sparsely furnished dorm room for the first time, ready to face her future.

The moment Glaryse opened the door to their shared dorm room, she was greeted by a burst of laughter and the faint sound of music playing in the background. The room was modest but cozy, with two beds pushed against opposite walls, each personalized with posters, fairy lights, and scattered books. Her new roommate, a girl with a warm smile and a tangle of curly hair, was sitting at the desk, scribbling something into a notebook.

"You must be Glaryse!" she said, standing up and offering a handshake. "I'm Zarisha, but you can call me Zar. Welcome to the chaos."

Glaryse couldn't help but laugh. "Nice to meet you, Zar. I'm Glaryse. Feel free to call me Ryse."

Zarisha grinned with an infectious energy that made Glaryse feel more at ease than expected. "Nice nickname," she said, pulling a chair from the corner and gesturing for Glaryse to sit. "So, what's your major?"

"Education," she replied. "How about you?"

"Same! I've been really into teaching since high school. I want to work with kids in middle school someday." Zarisha settled back into her desk chair and stretched, clearly at home. "What about you?"

"I want to be a teacher too," Glaryse said, her voice softening a bit. "I've always loved reading and writing, and I thought maybe teaching would be a way to share that with others."

"That's awesome," Zarisha said, her eyes lighting up. "I feel like we're going to get along just fine. Education majors are kind of rare, but we're like a secret club."

Glaryse smiled. It felt like the first real connection she'd made on campus, and it was comforting to know they shared something in common. They talked for hours about their plans, their backgrounds, and everything in between. Zarisha told her about her love for music and her dreams of one day opening a school that emphasized creativity in the classroom. In return, Glaryse shared her excitement about teaching, even though she was still unsure how to navigate everything at the university level.

The two of them got along effortlessly, their conversation flowing naturally. There was no awkwardness, no hesitation. It felt like they'd known each other for much longer than just a few hours.

By the end of the day, Glaryse felt like she had made a real friend.

The next morning, Glaryse woke up early. The first thing she noticed was her missing roommate. Then, she remembered that Zarisha had told her the night before that she would be staying at a friend's place before the semester started. She and Zarisha had bonded over the past week they'd spent together in the dorm. She had learned a lot about Zarisha—how hard she worked not to burden her family and friends, and how she always smiled brightly, even when there was a problem.

Glaryse was excited but also a little overwhelmed. Room 314, the lecture hall in the East Building, was where she was supposed to be for her first class. She hadn't quite figured out the best route yet, but she was sure she could manage. How hard could it be to find a room on the first day?