The Boy in Room 304

If there was one thing Rachel Adams had learned about university, it was that the administration could ruin your life before breakfast.

And apparently, today was going to be one of those days.

Rachel stood in front of the university's residential affairs office, staring at the piece of paper in her hand for what had to be the tenth time.

RESIDENTIAL ALLOCATION

Student: Rachel Adams

Residence: Maple Hall

Room: 304

She looked up at the three-story building behind her.

Maple Hall.

Her accommodation for the semester.

Finally.

After weeks of searching for a decent place she could actually afford, she had managed to secure a room on campus. It wasn't luxurious, but it was close to her lecture halls, safe, and—most importantly—within her budget.

Rachel smiled.

"Finally," she whispered.

"Why are you smiling like you've just won the lottery?"

Rachel turned.

A girl with shoulder-length brown curls, a colorful tote bag, and a wide smile was standing behind her.

Rachel had seen her around the department but had never actually spoken to her.

"Because," Rachel said dramatically, waving the paper in the air, "I have officially escaped the torture of looking for accommodation."

The girl laughed.

"I'm Amelia Carter."

"Rachel Adams."

"I know."

Rachel raised an eyebrow.

"You know me?"

"Public Administration. You're the girl who argued with Professor Williams for twenty minutes because he marked your answer wrong."

Rachel grinned.

"He was wrong."

Amelia laughed again.

"Of course he was."

Rachel liked her immediately.

They walked toward Maple Hall together, chatting about their classes and lecturers.

Amelia was studying Mass Communication, while Rachel was in Public Administration.

By the time they reached the entrance, Rachel had already learned that Amelia hated statistics, loved iced coffee, had an unhealthy obsession with romance novels, and had a personal vendetta against early morning lectures.

Rachel was beginning to suspect they were going to be friends.

She pushed open the door to Maple Hall.

"Well," Amelia said, adjusting her bag. "I'll let you settle in. My room is on the second floor."

"Okay. See you later."

"Definitely."

Rachel waved before heading upstairs.

Room 304.

She stopped outside the door and looked at the number.

Her heart fluttered.

New semester.

New room.

New beginning.

She inserted the key.

The door opened.

Rachel stepped inside.

And froze.

There was a guy standing in the middle of the room.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Black T-shirt.

Dark trousers.

One hand was holding a phone while the other was tucked casually into his pocket.

He slowly looked up.

Rachel stared at him.

He stared back.

Neither spoke.

Rachel looked at the room number.

304.

She looked back at him.

The guy frowned.

"Can I help you?"

Rachel blinked.

"Can I help you?"

His eyebrow lifted.

"This is my room."

Rachel laughed.

Not because anything was funny.

Because there was absolutely no way this was happening.

"No."

His expression hardened.

"Excuse me?"

"This is my room."

She held up her allocation paper.

"Room 304."

He glanced at the paper.

Then at her.

Then back at the paper.

"That's impossible."

Rachel folded her arms.

"Apparently, your definition of impossible is different from mine."

He sighed.

"Look, I don't know what kind of mistake the housing office made, but—"

"Wait."

Rachel narrowed her eyes.

She knew that face.

She knew that voice.

She knew that irritatingly calm attitude.

Her eyes widened.

"Fredrick?"

His jaw tightened.

"Rachel."

Silence.

Rachel stared at him in disbelief.

Fredrick Blackwood.

Of all the people in this university.

Fredrick freaking Blackwood.

The person who had somehow managed to become her academic rival, her biggest classroom annoyance, and the only person who could turn a simple group discussion into a full-blown competition.

He was the reason she'd spent an entire weekend studying Public Policy after he casually told her she couldn't beat his score.

She had beaten him.

By two marks.

He had never forgiven her.

And now...

He was standing in her room.

Well.

Technically, his room.

Apparently, both.

Rachel slowly lowered her paper.

"No."

Fredrick crossed his arms.

"That's exactly what I was thinking."

"You cannot be my roommate."

"I'm not thrilled either."

"Good."

"Good."

They glared at each other.

Rachel pointed toward the door.

"You're leaving."

Fredrick gave a humorless laugh.

"I'm not leaving my room."

"Our room."

"Don't start."

"I've already started."

Fredrick shook his head.

"Of course you have."

Rachel dropped her bag onto the nearest bed.

Fredrick immediately frowned.

"What are you doing?"

"Claiming my side."

"That's my bed."

She looked at the neatly arranged sheets.

Then at him.

"Not anymore."

"Rachel."

"Fredrick."

He stared at her.

She stared back.

Neither moved.

Finally, Fredrick grabbed his phone.

"I'm calling Residential Affairs."

"Great. Call them."

He dialed.

Rachel stood there with her arms folded.

A few seconds later, Fredrick's expression changed.

"What?"

Rachel smirked.

"What happened?"

He ended the call.

"They said the residence is completely full."

Rachel's smile disappeared.

"And?"

"They said they'll investigate the allocation."

"How long?"

"They didn't say."

Rachel stared at him.

"You're joking."

"I'm not."

She grabbed her phone and called the office herself.

After several rings, someone finally answered.

Rachel explained the situation.

The response was exactly the same.

No available rooms.

They would investigate.

She hung up.

For several seconds, the room was silent.

Then Rachel slowly turned toward Fredrick.

"So..."

"So."

"We're stuck."

"For now."

She dropped onto the bed.

"This is a nightmare."

Fredrick sat on the opposite bed.

"Trust me. I know."

Rachel glanced at him.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"You could at least pretend you're happy to have me as a roommate."

Fredrick looked at her.

"I'd rather repeat third year."

Rachel gasped.

"You're such an asshole."

"And you're loud."

"I'm not loud."

"You've been here for five minutes."

"And?"

"I already have a headache."

Rachel grabbed a pillow.

Fredrick's eyes widened.

"Don't."

She smiled.

"Oh, I'm definitely doing it."

She threw the pillow.

It hit him directly in the chest.

Fredrick slowly picked it up.

His expression was unreadable.

Rachel's smile faded slightly.

"Don't you dare."

He stood.

"Fredrick..."

He threw the pillow back.

Rachel ducked.

"HEY!"

The pillow flew past her and landed on the floor.

Fredrick smirked.

For the first time that morning, Rachel saw him smile.

And annoyingly...

It looked good on him.

She immediately looked away.

No.

Absolutely not.

She wasn't going to think about that.

This was Fredrick Blackwood.

Her rival.

Her academic nemesis.

Her new roommate.

And possibly...

the worst thing that had ever happened to her.

Rachel picked up the pillow.

"This is going to be a long semester."

Fredrick sat back down.

"Couldn't agree more."

Neither of them knew it yet.

But the housing mistake that had brought them together would soon become the one mistake neither of them wanted to fix.