3.12

— What curse did Halsey's roommate leave behind? — Out of the corner of her eye, the brunette looks at her friend sitting next to her, who is sipping her drink, typing out messages to her boyfriend. For the moment, she has no interest in her conversation with the boarding school supervisor. — Why was every student so terrifyingly afraid of this room? — She focuses all his attention on the woman, watching her improve the ring on her finger.

— I think the suicide was reason enough for the kids to avoid this room by a wide margin. — Irene smiles under her breath. — Only Halsey showed courage since she stayed there. I took advantage of that and tried to get rid of her. I hoped that she would not change rooms but leave the school. Well, and I succeeded.

Hannah knows this. Irene got rid of Halsey from the school so she could get closer to Joseph. She used the whole situation to remove the competition.

— What was the reason that Halsey's roommate took her life?

— What do you think? — The woman looks at one point in front of her. — She was sick with love. You could say that she had something wrong with her head, which is why after her death, a rumor spread that her soul was able to possess the tenants.

A strange shudder runs through Hannah's body. She gets the impression that this case refers to her.

— Sick with love? — she repeats in a whisper.

— Maybe you haven't heard about it, but the students called this room "The Illusion of Love." Do you know why you and Jin were the center of attention from the beginning?

The brunette puts her hand to her face, and her eyes widen in horror.

— The students noticed that something was attracting me to him.... only, why Jin?

— Because he has the biggest part in Solar's death.

Her heart rises to her throat. She swallows her saliva harder, not taking her eyes off the woman.

— So Solar had deluded herself into thinking she loved Jin? Was she obsessed with him?

— This all started because of Joseph.

— What does he have to do with it?

Irene takes the phone in her hand as she notices a call on the display. She walks away from the bar, and Hannah tightens her lips, angry that someone called her just at that moment.

— What is this girl's death all about? What is the connection between Jin and Joseph? — Bella looks confused.

Hannah rubs her forehead and looks at her friend obliquely.

— I'd like to know that myself, Bella. So far, I have no idea what exactly happened in the past. If it goes on like this, things will get worse and worse between me and Joseph. Since he is actually involved in the affair and fiercely denies it in front of me.... then our relationship will seriously suffer.

And as if that weren't enough, it comes out that I might have been possessed by Solar, she adds in her mind. Overall, it all fits together perfectly.

The girl looks over her shoulder and notices the woman hurriedly leaving the bar. It looks like she took an important phone call.

— Well, there goes the thread of finding out the whole truth. Fate seems to be playing with me — she says in a whisper.

— Or me.

In the place where Irene was sitting a moment ago, Solar is now staying. The brunette feels like having a frank conversation with her, but remains silent because of the friend accompanying her.

*

Joseph can no longer remember the last time he drank so much. Nevertheless, he opens another bottle of vodka, not caring that he is sitting under a squalid tent, surrounded by people below his class. Perhaps if he hadn't been adopted by a wealthy family he wouldn't even qualify as a middle-class person? Who knows who his biological parents are?

The boy tilts his glass to his lips, with a snotty look at the people sitting at the tables. He is the only one without company this evening.

He keeps thinking about Hannah's words. He wonders by what means and only now did she find out about Solar? Could it be that Danielle mentioned something to her about it?

He looks at the phone and receives a call from Jimmy.

— What? — He says in greeting, not forcing himself to use a pleasant tone.

— I want to spend some time with you. I can no longer remember the last time we talked. Is this what a long-distance friendship should look like?

— Since there are long-distance relationships, friendship should also survive — he mutters uncomfortably, rubbing his eyelid. — I'm having a bad day, so if you like, you can join me and accompany me to drink. — She hands him the street, then hangs up.

He doesn't have the strength to talk. He is depressed.

His thoughts wander around the past. He recalls the day from which it all began. It can be said that he initiated this tragedy.

December 2011.

Halsey can't control her trembling hand as she brings the black crayon closer to Joseph's eye. He bursts out laughing every time, repeating that he feels like a person in rehab.

— Another moment and you'll gouge out my eye.

— Stop looking at me like that. I can't concentrate.

— Your vocation is definitely not to become a beautician. — He embraces her at the waist and pulls her close, the girl rests her cheek on his chest. — Are you sure your roommate won't be back soon?

— She snuck out to meet her older boyfriend.

Joseph crinkles his eyebrows, looking at the ceiling for a long moment.

— I can see that she's just playing the good girl.

— I think she is, too. She supposedly has a boyfriend from outside the school, and she keeps saying that a younger student has caught her eye.

— So she's just playing the virtue....

— Joseph! — The girl slaps him on the chest, pretending to be indignant as she can't help but laugh. — Don't express yourself like that about my roommate.

— What? She acts like an angel sent from heaven, showing what a perfect person she is, and her thoughts are full of filth.

The girl sticks her chin up and looks at her boyfriend with amusement in her eyes. It seems to her that she and his friends are the only people at school that he tolerates.

— You better tell me, what happened that you suddenly started highlighting your eyes with black eyeliner? Is this some new trend?

— I'm trying to be original, and at the same time I want to look sexy. — He runs his tongue over his lips. — I can feel your heart beating hard.

— That's because you're worrying me. I'm afraid for your mental health. — He embraces her with his legs and squeezes so tightly that Halsey is pressed against his chest. She can't move in any way. — I'll kill you, shithead.

Solar enters the room, who is surprised by the presence of the younger boy, and especially by the fact that he has turned to her:

— Weren't you supposed to be with your older boyfriend?

Halsey glares at him, letting him know to bite his tongue. Unfortunately, Joseph is direct and thinks he said nothing wrong.

— I'm sorry if I disturbed you.

— This is also your room, so what are you apologizing for? It is this individual who has to leave it at this time. — She helps the boy up from the bed and pushes him towards the door. — See you later, sweetheart.

He squints as he grabs the crayon she threw. His gaze shifts to Solar.

— Do you like my friend? — Halsey looks puzzled, even more so than her roommate. — This is no news to me. The larger half of the schoolgirl sighs at his pretty face and broad shoulders.

— Joe. — His girlfriend tells him to leave the room, but he's not about to move. — Get lost, or the babysitter will catch you.

— When you led me here, you didn't feel that fear. — He always manages to shut her mouth. — And you... — turns to Solar, pointing a finger at her — make a deal with me. — He walks closer to her. — Thanks to me, you can become special to Jin. — He sees that her eyes begin to shine. — I will arrange it for you, and you will occasionally escape from the room and let me spend some time here without telling anyone.

— Really? — Solar looks like an excited child. — Will you do that for me?

— Maybe I won't quite do it for you because I'm only thinking of my benefits. Halsey is afraid to sneak into my room, so he is trying to find a solution for us.

— Isn't Jin in a relationship? — His girlfriend looks confused.

— He and this chick are about to become siblings, so I'd bet more on friends who like to have fun from time to time. — He shrugs his shoulders. — So how about it? Do you want to rub the other girls' noses in it and show them that you're better? — He turns to Solar, who shyly nods her head.

Joseph lifts his face and looks at his friend, who silently sits down at his table. He pours alcohol into his glass and tilts it to his lips.

— You're not in love with me, are you? Isn't that why you care about me so much?

Jimmy croaks at his words and looks at him with distaste for a long moment.

— You're drunk, so I'll pretend I didn't hear that. — He shakes his head, realizing that he will have to take care of his friend. He won't be able to walk home alone in such a state. — Did you have an argument with Hannah?

The brunet's lips twist in a smile.

— If it was still a simple quarrel.... I'm afraid that any moment now our relationship may go sour.

— I don't believe it. You are too crazy about her.

— But one side won't save it, Jimmy. You know it from yourself. You tried to fight to keep Mariah with you, but she left you.

— And now she claims it's all my fault. — He runs his hand through his bleached hair and sighs heavily. — Why are babes so complicated?

— First, stubborn as a donkey — mutters Joseph. — Nothing but to kill.

*

Hannah can't stand it anymore and needs to talk, so she takes Bella to her apartment to completely open up to her and tell her about her school period. She is her closest friend and feels silly hiding the truth from her regarding her illness. She wants to make Bella aware of her problem, reveal her ailment and ask for help. The girl hopes her friend will help her get through this, and advise her so she can avoid unnecessary damage.

She has already made Joseph angry with her.

— You don't have to tell me that, Hannah, if it's hard for you. — Bella watches her friend carefully as they both sit on the living room couch. — I can accompany you this night so that you don't stay alone, but you don't have to reveal all your secrets to me. I understand that there are things that are sometimes worth keeping to yourself.

The brunette forces a slight smile.

— I can't do it alone, Bella.

— What's going on? — The girl sees anxiety in her eyes. — If it actually affects you badly, and you need help....

— I'm going crazy, I swear I'm going crazy — she interjects mid-sentence, looking at her with pained eyes. — I seem to have a relapse of mental illness. I suffered seven years ago, and now all these symptoms have returned. It's happening again.

Bella looks shocked, but tries not to show it from herself. She doesn't mean to offend Hannah in any way.

— I wouldn't have guessed that you were struggling with such a problem, especially since I've managed to get to know you well over so many years.

— I don't know myself anymore, Bella.... I have no idea if what I'm seeing is actually related to my illness, or if there's a possibility that it's not an illusion. Lately, it seems too real to me.

— So will you tell me everything from the beginning, so I can understand it and help you somehow?

Hannah nods her head.

With details, he tells her the whole story of Horace Mann, mentions the course of the disease. He tells her about Solar and also about what she is seeing now. He tries not to omit anything so that Bella can understand her better.

In this way, time passes and the clock indicates two o'clock in the morning.

— What if the curse of this room is real? Maybe there was something wrong with this girl? You said that Halsey wasn't affected by it, since it was the caregiver who abused her. Perhaps there is a specific reason behind it? Consider the fact that, after all, she was her roommate.

The brunette is getting cold feet. Either she thinks it, or a penetrating chill can be felt in the room.

— When you say that, you make me feel even worse. I don't know myself anymore whether it's better to be mentally ill or to be in contact with a persistent ghost.

Although it's bright in the living room, Bella is carefully looking around the interior, as if she'd rather make sure nothing is watching them.

— She's not here, is she? — She asks, swallowing her saliva harder.

— We are currently alone.

She lifts her face and looks at Solar, who is leaning over her friend. She is so close that she is almost touching her. Hannah prefers to keep this to herself. She would rather not frighten Bella to death. She guesses that the girl would run away from the apartment, screaming in terror. She prefers to avoid this so as not to endanger the neighbors.

— The day will come when everyone will move away from you, Hannah. Your lover, your friends, and even her. — She points her finger at Bella. — No one will help you, do you know why? Because people are terrible, even those you love. They will make you stay alone, without the will to live. You will want to fall asleep and never wake up again.... You will join me in suffering, and they will forget about you rapidly.

The brunette energetically rises from the couch and closes her eyelids.

— What is it? — Bella joins her and puts a hand on her shoulder. — Are you all right?

— I think someone will have to keep an eye on me all the time. — She turns to face her friend. — I'm afraid I'll inadvertently hurt myself....