New Rules

As Sitara and Koa hurried back to their dormitory, the tension from their encounter with Nyx and Hael still hung heavy in the air.

Sitara collapsed onto her bed, her heart pounding with adrenaline.

"That was too close," she gasped, trying to steady her breathing.

"I'll take a quick shower first," she announced, her voice tinged with exhaustion as she dropped her bag on the floor.

Sitara nodded in agreement, offering her a thumbs up before settling onto her bed to wait. 

After a few minutes, Koa steps out of the bathroom, wearing a robe as she starts to dry her hair with a towel. 

"You know, that Hael guy is the Vice-President, right?" Sitara's voice broke the silence, her tone cautious as she sought confirmation.

"Yeah, but he seems like he's got more authority around here than Nyx."

"I noticed that too. The way he handled that situation... it was like he was in charge, even more so than Nyx."

A moment of silent reflection passed between them as Sitara moved to prepare for her shower. With a wry grin, she turned to Koa before disappearing into the bathroom.

"Maybe Nyx and the Vice-President are lovers," Sitara joked, her words carrying a hint of mischief as she teased her friend.

"Who knows? Anything's possible in this place."

As Sitara disappeared into the bathroom, the room fell into a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the sound of running water.

[...]

Sitara emerged from the bathroom, feeling refreshed after her shower. The room was dimly lit, casting a soft glow over the sleeping figure of Koa, who had already succumbed to exhaustion. With a mischievous grin, Sitara tiptoed over to her friend's bedside, careful not to disturb her peaceful slumber.

Pulling out her phone, Sitara couldn't resist the temptation to capture the moment. With quiet giggles escaping her lips, she angled her phone to frame Koa's sleeping form, her hair tousled and her expression serene in the soft light of the room. Snap after snap, Sitara captured the images, each one a precious memory of their shared journey.

 After reviewing the photos, she tucked her phone away and settled into her bed. As the room fell into a peaceful silence once more, she drifted off to sleep as she closed her eyes. 

A faint sound of announcements echoed through the speakers of the school.

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Koa glanced at the clock and realized it was time to wake up. She stretched her limbs and sat up. Beside her, Sitara stirred as well, groggily reaching for her phone to check the time.

[ Emergency meeting in the common room. All students are required to attend immediately. ]

With synchronized movements, Koa and Sitara quickly got out of bed, exchanging hurried glances as they gathered their belongings.

The two hurried out of their dorm room and into the hallway, joining the stream of students making their way to the common room. 

As Koa and Sitara entered the common room, they were greeted by a sea of students, all gathered together in anticipation. 

Suddenly, the room fell silent as Nyx's voice echoed through the speakers, commanding the attention of every student present.

"Are all of the freshmen here?" she began. 

All eyes turned to the stage, where Nyx stood with an air of authority, flanked by four others, including Hael and the intimidating figure of the bully from the cafeteria.

"I am Nyx Monroe, the president of the student council. All freshmen stick to your standing. Starting today, we will collect all of your phones."

A hush fell over the room. Her announcement about collecting phones elicited a wave of surprise and disbelief among the students, evident from the murmurs and complaints that rippled through the crowd.

"Seriously? They can't just take our phones like that!"

"I know, right? How are we supposed to stay connected with our friends and families?"

"This is ridiculous! What's next, microchipping us to track our every move?"

"I can't believe they're doing this. It's a total invasion of privacy!"

"I need my phone for emergencies. What if something happens and I can't call for help?"

"Ugh, I bet they just want to control us even more. It's like we're living in a prison!"

"This is getting out of hand!"

"I'm so sick of all these rules. It's like they're treating us like children!"

Hael stepped forward, his authoritative presence commanding attention.

"Collecting phones will allow you to focus on your studies. No more complaints."

The room fell silent as he gestured to the other student council members, clad in their military-style uniforms, they began efficiently collecting phones from the students, who reluctantly handed them over.

Koa and Sitara exchanged wary glances, recognizing the implications of this new rule. It was clear that the university's administration was exerting strict control over the students, and they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease about what other measures might be implemented in the future.

As Koa handed over her phone without much resistance, Sitara hesitated, her reluctance evident in the way she clutched onto her device. When the impatient girl snatched it away, Sitara's irritation flared up, her expression turning sour. The girl noticed her annoyance and shot her a smirk before sauntering off, leaving Sitara fuming.

Koa, sensing her friend's frustration, placed a comforting hand on her back, trying to soothe her.

"That girl... I'm much prettier than her. My eyelashes are way better than hers."

Koa couldn't help but stifle a laugh at Sitara's complaint, nodding in agreement but also trying to diffuse the tension.

"Yeah, definitely. Let's not let her get to us. We've got bigger things to worry about than some petty girl with attitude problems."

"I hate this whole situation. It's not just about the phones; it's about control. And I don't like it one bit." Sitara muttered once again. 

After a few minutes of collecting every student's phone, Nyx approached the mic again. 

"Thank you for your coordination. I hope this continues"

And with that, Nyx's departure from the stage only seemed to fuel Sitara's agitation. 

"How can I update my Instagram? How can I take pictures now?" she muttered, her frustration evident in her tone.

"You're overreacting. There's more to life than social media," she teased, hoping to lighten the mood.

Sitara shot her a glare before retorting, "Easy for you to say, Koa. You're not into media like I am. You don't get it."

Koa sighed, realizing that arguing wouldn't solve anything. Instead, she simply nodded in agreement, deciding to let Sitara vent her frustrations without further argument. Sometimes, it was best to just agree and move on.