The evening had settled over campus like a heavy blanket.
The soft glow of the TV painted the walls of my dorm in shifting colors, the sound barely above a whisper. I had no plans—just the simple goal of winding down after another brutal week of classes and pretending the world outside didn't exist.
And then—
Buzz buzz.
My phone lit up with a message.
> [REINA]
yo. open up.
don't ask dumb questions. I'm outside.
I barely had time to process before—knock knock.
Dragging myself off the bed, I cracked open the door.
There she was.
Reina.
Same usual uniform: black hoodie, short skirt, that ever-present band around her wrist pulsing faintly—reminding everyone who looked that her Z Chromosome wasn't just active, it was deadly. She shouldered past me like she owned the place, her duffel bag thudding heavily onto my floor.
"Took you long enough, slowpoke," she said, smirking.
Before I could answer, she flopped onto my bed like it was hers, grabbing the remote with a lazy stretch.
"I might've told my roommate I wasn't coming back tonight," she added. "So, congrats. You're my hotel now."
I raised an eyebrow. "Hotel?"
"Yup." She kicked off her sneakers, wiggling her toes smugly. "No refunds, no complaints."
I sighed, half-laughing. "Why me?"
Reina shrugged, flipping through channels. "I dunno. You're not as annoying as everyone else. And your bed smells like you... it's nice."
My face warmed, but I didn't say anything. Knowing Reina, making a big deal out of it would get a pillow thrown at my face.
Instead, I just grabbed a bottle of water from my desk and tossed it to her. She caught it one-handed without even looking.
Show-off.
As the night dragged on, whatever random show we were watching blurred into background noise.
At some point, Reina inched closer, leaning against my shoulder.
I stiffened—but only for a second.
"Hey..." she mumbled, voice low. "You're comfy."
I glanced down at her.
In the blue light of the screen, her usual sharpness softened.
She looked... almost vulnerable.
"If you were my boyfriend," she said, so quietly I almost missed it, "I'd probably spoil you. Like... embarrassing levels."
A beat of silence passed.
Then she blinked, realized what she said, and immediately threw the nearest pillow at me.
"Forget I said that!" she barked, face burning red. "J-Just be grateful a girl as hot as me is gracing your room, okay?!"
I caught the pillow easily. Tossed it back onto the bed with a grin.
"Ok, ma'am," I said, jokingly saluting. "I see it's about time we tend to our rest. Come now—let us depart into my bedroom."
Reina stared at me for a long second.
Then cracked up, snorting laughter into her hoodie.
"Dork," she said again, but this time... it sounded affectionate.
She dragged her duffel bag toward the bed, stretched dramatically, and collapsed face-first onto the mattress.
"Mmm. Your bed is better than mine," she mumbled into the blanket.
Without lifting her head: "You better not steal the covers."
I turned off the TV and climbed onto the other side of the bed, giving her space.
Not that it mattered.
Within minutes, Reina had scooted over, her hand brushing against mine under the sheets.
Neither of us said anything.
Just... breathed.
Out there, beyond the campus walls, the world was different.
More dangerous every day.
The Z Chromosome phenomenon had changed everything decades ago.
Awakenings were rare... powerful abilities even rarer.
Reina had unlocked her power, Mirklis, back in middle school—rumor said it was during a car accident that almost killed her whole family.
I never asked.
If she wanted to tell me, she would.
Me?
My power had awakened too.
But no one knew.
And I planned to keep it that way.
There was a reason some powers weren't meant for the public eye.
---
Morning came too quickly.
Reina was curled up next to me, her hand fisted in my shirt like she was afraid I'd vanish.
I stayed still, heart pounding louder than it should have.
Somewhere, distant but inevitable, the next chapter of our lives was already waiting.
The world of the Z Chromosome wasn't going to let us be normal for much longer.
And deep down...
I didn't think Reina or I wanted it to.