Karma ━━ Jake Sim

𝟬𝟲 ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏⠀Eye of the Storm

"I know every face that comes through these hallways, you know." Sujin never asked, but the woman feels the need to inform her of this fact anyway, "I know a new girl when I see one."

Sujin shoots her a tight-lipped smile that practically screams, "Good for you!" in every way that doesn't actually mean, "Good for you!".

"Mrs Kwak." The dorm monitor introduces herself succinctly, "I run a tight ship here at the girls' dormitory. Matter of fact, I have been for over a decade - and I don't expect that to change any time soon. Certainly not for students like you, Sujin. Follow the rules and-"

"I already got this talk from the Headmistress, thanks." Sujin interjects, growing frustrated with the fact that everybody at this school already seems to know her business.

Mrs Kwak eyes the girl with a less-than-impressed expression. "I've got my work cut out for me," She murmurs under her breath, before spinning around in her chair and rifling through one of the many cabinets behind her desk.

Sujin impatiently raps her fingertips against the desk until the woman fishes out a set of keys. She extends them towards her with a pointed look, "Your curfew is 6pm on weekdays, and 8pm on weekends - subject to flexibility for extra curricular events, of course. Lights out by 10pm every night. And -" Her eyes harden in mention of the last rule, grip tightening on the keys as if battling whether or not to hand them over, "- No boys allowed inside. Ever."

Sujin scoffs, rolling her eyes as she snatches the keys in one swift movement, "Trust me, that's the least of your concerns."

As far as her priorities lie, the biggest bummer out of all those rules is the curfew. Back inside by 6?! She internally groans, this place is a joke.

"You can find the rest of our dorm rules in the handbook." Mrs Kwak finishes, gesturing to her left toward a pair of lifts, "Your room's on the fifth floor."

Sujin nods, wordlessly making her way to the lifts.

A group of girls come pouring out. They look a year or two younger, a flurry of pastel-hued clothing and flowery perfume. She unintentionally catches bits and pieces of their giggly conversation as they brush past - "Oh my god, your skirt is so cute!"; "Have you seen him? He got even cuter over break! How is that possible?!"; "I'm totally calling dibs on all the soccer players this year."; "Bitch, in your dreams!"

Sujin rolls her eyes at the indistinct chatter and steps into the lift, prodding at the '5' button impatiently. She's fully aware that pressing it multiple times does nothing to speed up the machinery, but she still does it anyway.

Much to her relief, the fifth floor is significantly quieter than the lobby. As she steps out of the lift and through the hallways, there's only the sound of quieter talk drifting through the doors of each dorm, interrupted only by the occasional whirring of the coffee machine in the common room.

Finally, she lets out a heavy sigh, some peace and quiet.

Though as she gets closer to her own room - 505, according to the engraving on her keys - she begins to realize that perhaps she'd spoken too soon.

"I know it's in there somewhere! Thief!"

Sujin frowns, pressing her ear to the door curiously.