Days had passed since Lara’s tearful confession. Despite the emotional weight of that night, Christine was determined not to let things get awkward between them. The world outside was still gripped by the pandemic, and they had no choice but to share the same room during the lockdown. Christine wanted to believe that Lara would move on eventually, that things would go back to normal. To avoid further conflict, she tried to remain friendly, though the tension between them never truly dissipated.

One evening, the dorm was unusually quiet. Christine, Lara, Kate, and Rose had gathered in their room, huddled together watching a Thai BL drama. Christine found herself hooked by the story, utterly absorbed in the onscreen chemistry between the two male leads. They were so charming, so real. Every interaction between them tugged at her heartstrings.

"They're so cute together," Christine murmured, her eyes glued to the screen. She barely noticed the other girls exchanging glances.

After the episode ended, Kate and Rose said their goodnights and headed back to their respective rooms. It was late, and the campus curfew during the lockdown meant they couldn't stay long. The room now felt strangely intimate, with just Christine and Lara left behind. The soft glow of the screen still illuminated the room, casting long shadows over their faces.

“I love how the couple's relationship is written,” Christine said, stretching her legs. “They’re so natural together. It's just... so pure.”

Lara smirked slightly. “Yeah, the chemistry’s insane. Honestly, sometimes BL dramas do a better job of capturing love than hetero ones.”

Christine nodded. “It’s true. Love is love, after all.”

Their conversation began to drift into deeper topics—love, relationships, and LGBTQ struggles. Christine spoke passionately about the difficulties many LGBTQ people faced, from coming out to societal expectations, and how the drama had touched on those issues in a heartfelt way.

Lara leaned back against the couch, watching Christine closely. “You know... sometimes I think about Kate. Maybe she’s not straight,” Lara said casually, testing the waters.

Christine blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. There’s something about her vibe. Maybe she’s... gay?”

“Believe me, she’s not.” Christine smiled knowingly. “She proposed to Christian, remember? She told me all about it.”

Lara shrugged, but her gaze was still intense. “Maybe. But still... it wouldn’t surprise me if she swung both ways.”

Christine shook her head, laughing lightly. “I think she’s pretty certain about her sexuality. Christian’s all she talks about.”

Lara raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you should explore your sexuality, Kay. Who knows? You might be bisexual.”

The comment caught Christine off guard. She froze for a moment, then chuckled nervously. “I’ve never felt that way. I know who I am, Lara.”

“But have you ever really thought about it?” Lara pressed. “I mean, you don’t seem interested in any guy around here.”

“It’s not because I don’t like men,” Christine said, her voice tightening slightly. “I’m just... still stuck on Alex. That’s all.”

Lara’s eyes narrowed slightly, her lips forming a thin line. “Still stuck on Alex, huh? The guy who kissed you and then disappeared?”

Christine flinched, the reminder of Alex’s absence striking a nerve. “It’s not about that,” she said quietly, trying to shut down the conversation. “I just know I’m not into girls. Simple as that.”

“But you could experiment,” Lara suggested, her tone soft but persistent. “There’s nothing wrong with trying it out, Kay. You might like it.”

Christine’s stomach twisted in discomfort. Lara’s eyes were gleaming with a mix of intensity and something darker. “Lara... I’m not interested in experimenting. I know who I am.”

Lara’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “You say that now, but maybe you’re just afraid to explore. You don’t seem happy with anyone else. Maybe this could be different.”

“I’m still dealing with my feelings for Alex,” Christine said firmly, hoping to end the discussion. “Not because I’m confused about my sexuality.”

There was a moment of silence, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. Lara’s gaze lingered on Christine for just a little too long, making her feel exposed, like Lara could see right through her. The intensity was suffocating.

Christine quickly changed the topic, steering their conversation away from anything that could reignite the uncomfortable exchange. But Lara’s words lingered in the back of her mind, unsettling her more than she cared to admit.

The manipulation didn’t stop there. As days turned into weeks, Lara became increasingly insistent, finding subtle ways to push Christine toward the idea of exploring their relationship. Small comments would slip into their conversations, carefully veiled suggestions that were impossible to ignore.

One evening, they were working on their laptops in the dorm room when Lara suddenly spoke up.

“Hey, Kay, you know... if you ever want to talk about anything—anything at all—I’m here. No judgment. You can trust me.”

Christine glanced at her, unsure where this was coming from. “Thanks, Lara. I appreciate it.”

Lara smiled softly, but there was a strange glint in her eyes. “I just want you to be happy. And if you ever feel... confused or lonely, just remember that I care about you. More than anyone else does.”

Christine felt a chill run down her spine. She tried to brush it off, returning her focus to her screen, but the underlying message was clear. Lara was waiting. Waiting for her to change her mind.

It didn’t stop there. Lara began invading Christine’s personal space, in both subtle and blatant ways. She would find excuses to be physically close, brushing against her when they passed each other in the room, leaning in too close during conversations, or touching Christine’s hand when they sat together.

Christine tried to ignore it at first, chalking it up to Lara’s clingy personality. But soon, it became too much.

One night, as Christine was lying in bed, scrolling through her phone, she felt a presence near her. Looking up, she saw Lara standing beside her bed, staring down at her with a strange expression.

“Lara, what are you doing?” Christine asked, her heart pounding.

“I just want to talk,” Lara said quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately. About us.”

“There is no ‘us,’” Christine said firmly, sitting up. “We’re friends. That’s it.”

Lara’s face twisted with frustration. “Why can’t you just give it a chance? Why are you so afraid?”

“I’m not afraid,” Christine said, her voice rising. “I just don’t feel that way about you!”

“But you could!” Lara shouted, standing up abruptly. “You could feel that way if you just let yourself!”

The intensity of her voice startled Christine. She backed up against the headboard, her pulse racing. “Lara, stop.”

Lara’s chest heaved with emotion, her eyes wild. “Why are you always rejecting me? Why can’t you see how much I love you? I’ve done everything for you! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

Christine’s breath came in shallow gasps. This was too much. Lara’s obsession, her manipulative behavior—it was suffocating. “Lara... I can’t do this anymore,” she whispered.

For a moment, Lara seemed on the verge of breaking down again. Her face crumpled with pain, and Christine could see the desperation in her eyes. But then, just as suddenly, Lara’s expression hardened.

“Fine,” she muttered, turning away. “But don’t expect me to always be here when you finally realize you’ve been wrong.”

Christine watched as Lara stormed out of the room, the door slamming behind her. The silence that followed was deafening. Christine collapsed back onto her bed, feeling utterly drained.

She stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts a jumbled mess. Lara’s obsession was becoming dangerous—not just for their friendship, but for her own mental health. The constant pressure, the manipulation, the emotional outbursts—it was all too much.

Christine knew she had to do something before it got worse. But for now, all she could do was lie there, her heart racing, wondering how everything had gone so wrong.