Ethereal Bonds: Waiting For Your Love

“Attention to all participants! Now we will tour the campus before the orientation closing ceremony. Let me remind you once again, no daydreaming! Do you understand?” asked one of the senior guides who was ready to escort them. “Yes! Understood!” replied all the orientation participants in unison. At that moment, the day was turning into evening. They walked around the campus, starting from the main lobby and continuing to various rooms on the first-floor front corridor, the laboratory, administration office, department room, faculty office, and others. They eventually arrived at the back lobby on the second floor, which connected the Biology Faculty building with the Medical Faculty building. While the senior guide was explaining, Alexa struggled to focus. Her gaze wandered around the atmosphere of the back lobby. A gentle breeze brushed through her hair, pulling her attention to a room below. Several rooms were lined up like laboratories, accompanied by a small garden and neatly arranged benches. Alexa’s eyes then shifted to the staircase connecting the second floor to the laboratories below. As curiosity began to fill her thoughts, she unintentionally noticed a man standing in front of one of the laboratories. Unaware, Alexa’s gaze locked with the man’s. He was handsome, standing around 186 centimeters tall, with fair skin, light brown hair, wearing a white shirt, and an incredibly charming smile. Alexa was captivated. She blushed. She didn’t know his name, but one thing was certain—Alexa felt her heart race for the first time because of a man. “Alexa!” someone tapped her shoulder. The startling voice shattered the thrilling moment Alexa was experiencing. “Anna! You scared me!” Alexa exclaimed. “Stop daydreaming! Didn’t you hear what the senior just said?” Anna scolded Alexa, who looked lost in thought. “I… I didn’t hear it. What did the senior say?” Alexa stammered nervously. “He said it’s forbidden to daydream in the back lobby of the campus!” “Why?” Alexa whispered. Anna glanced around cautiously before whispering back, “This place is haunted!” Alexa was taken aback. “What do you mean?” “The senior said that not long ago, bad things often happened to students here.” “Ah, I don’t believe it!” Alexa dismissed her words. But just as the group began to move forward, a hysterical scream echoed through the air. “Aaaarrrgghhh!!!” Alexa and her groupmates exchanged glances, especially Anna, whose face was filled with fear. Alexa and Anna held hands tightly. The senior tried to calm everyone down, but instead of calming them, the situation grew more chaotic when another student’s scream pierced the air. “Everyone, gather in the auditorium!” the senior’s shout prompted them to run toward the hall. However, along the way, Jane stumbled and fell. Alexa and Anna, who were nearby, quickly rushed to help her. “Jane! Are you hurt?” Alexa asked anxiously. Jane remained hunched over, clutching her ankle. Anna reached out to grab Jane’s arm to help her stand. But something unexpected happened. Jane, still bowing her head, had her long hair covering her face. Suddenly, she lifted her head and laughed loudly and maniacally. Alexa and Anna stumbled back in shock, horrified to see that Jane was no longer herself. “Jane! What’s happening?” Alexa mustered her courage and approached Jane, but Anna pulled her back. “Help!” “Help!” Anna’s scream caught the attention of the senior guide and two groupmates, who realized Alexa, Anna, and Jane were no longer with them. The senior turned back, followed by Aron and Ben. The screams added to the panic among the orientation participants. Chaos erupted as Aron and Ben held Jane, who had fainted again. They carried her toward the auditorium. To their shock, several students in the auditorium were also possessed, making the situation even more chaotic. Anna and Alexa were reluctant to leave Jane, but the senior insisted they head home and leave Jane in the care of the senior guides. Aron and Ben persuaded Anna and Alexa to leave the premises. “I can’t leave her!” Alexa shouted. “But that spirit could target us too! It’s better if we leave and trust her to the seniors,” Aron insisted. Alexa held onto Jane’s hand tightly and whispered her name into her ear. She tried calling out to her. Alexa closed her eyes and focused, attempting to reach Jane in her subconscious realm. In the midst of the chaos in the auditorium, Alexa felt an eerie silence envelop her. She looked around, searching for Jane. In the distance, she saw Jane walking, following a girl whose figure was blurry and unclear. With a firm voice, Alexa called out to her friend. “Jane!” “Jane!” “Come back! We’re here!” Alexa’s voice rang out, causing Jane to turn and look in her direction. “Jane, come back!” Alexa shouted again. As Jane started running toward her, Alexa caught sight of the handsome and mysterious man standing by the auditorium door. He was looking at Alexa once more. Their eyes locked until someone tapped Alexa on the shoulder, breaking her concentration. “Alexa!” Anna shouted in panic, noticing Alexa standing still with her eyes closed. She thought Alexa had fainted. And sure enough, the moment Jane regained consciousness, Alexa opened her eyes briefly and then fainted. Aron became extremely worried. It turned out that Aron had liked Alexa since the first time they met. Alexa’s effort to save Jane had drained her energy. The seniors tried to wake Alexa up. After a while, Alexa opened her eyes, though her head was still spinning. When Alexa regained consciousness, everyone who had been possessed also returned to normal. They quickly decided to head home, and the orientation was officially concluded. *** Alexa and her four friends walked together toward their respective boarding houses. Ben and Anna parted ways at the first intersection, heading home together as their boarding houses were nearby. Alexa, Jane, and Aron continued walking together. Throughout the journey, both Aron and Alexa felt chills running down their spines, especially as they noticed Jane’s silence and cold gaze. The girl, standing around 160 centimeters tall with long straight hair, pale skin, and a somber expression, appeared like a lifeless shell. Aron and Alexa exchanged glances. Aron subtly signaled Alexa to start a conversation to lighten the mood. Alexa broke the silence to make things feel warmer. “Jane... where’s your boarding house? Is it still far?” “My boarding house is still far since I looked for a cheap one...” Jane grinned slyly behind her cold expression. “Oh...” Alexa started to feel chills upon hearing Jane’s response. Soon, Aron would part ways with them at the crossroads. However, he was concerned about Alexa’s safety. Aron couldn’t bear to leave Alexa alone on her way home; he also felt something strange about Jane’s behavior since the earlier incident. Therefore, Aron decided to escort Alexa first. They reached the crossroads leading to Aron’s boarding house. “Aron?” Alexa felt something unusual about his demeanor. “I’ll walk you home, Alexa... then I’ll head back to my boarding house.” Aron smiled. “Did I hear that wrong? Let me take her home instead!” Jane said in her flat tone. “But—but…” “What? Are you scared?” Jane smirked, staring at Aron. “It’s okay, man, I’ll go home with Jane. You just head to your boarding house!” Alexa smiled, though she was also scared to walk alone with Jane, who was acting strangely. Alexa mustered up her courage, even though it was already dark. “Oh… alright then… I’ll head home now!” Aron said goodbye to them. “Take care!” Alexa smiled as she watched Aron walk down the narrow path. Now, it was just Alexa and Jane. “Oh God… Walking with Jane this time is terrifying… a bit eerie, but I have to try to act normal,” Alexa murmured to herself as she walked alongside Jane. “What’s wrong?” Jane asked Alexa, as if she could read Alexa’s thoughts. “Oh… nothing, Jane.” Alexa smiled at Jane, who was now walking beside her. Alexa noticed Jane’s face turning cold and expressionless again. She often bowed her head, hiding her face while walking. Alexa’s chills intensified as the drizzle began to fall more heavily. “Oh, by the way… Jane, where’s your boarding house?” Alexa tried to break the silence, feeling uneasy about walking home alone with Jane. “Not far from your boarding house… why?” Jane smiled, as if she could read Alexa’s mind. “So… you’ll walk home alone later? Aren’t you scared, Jane?” Alexa felt something strange about Jane. “I actually feel comfortable in the dark,” Jane said, looking at Alexa with a mysterious smile. “Oh my God… Jane’s smile is giving me chills!” Alexa whispered in her heart. “Are you scared?” Jane asked, as though she could hear Alexa’s thoughts. “What? Does she know?” Alexa thought to herself again, her fear of walking with Jane growing stronger. Her steps became heavier, but she forced herself to walk faster. The drizzle turned into heavier rain, making Alexa’s vision blurry. “Jane?” Alexa called out, her fear intensifying as Jane remained silent the whole time. “Run quickly, Alexa! Let’s hurry!” Jane urged, urging Alexa to quicken their pace. “Jane… my legs feel so heavy, why does it feel like we’re walking in place?” Alexa became more frightened. The drizzle and the dim streetlights made Alexa panic. Then she remembered her father’s words. If she couldn’t control her fear anymore, she had to remember God. Breathe deeply and try to stay calm to overcome the negative energy. Alexa practiced it, and now she was starting to calm down. Before she knew it, she had reached the other side of her boarding house. Jane then said goodbye and continued her journey. "Jane, be careful on the road!" Alexa felt more at ease now, as the atmosphere in her boarding house was lively with many students who had just returned from orientation at the campus. The experience Alexa had just gone through made her question the eerie stories that had been happening on campus. She became curious and was determined to unravel the mystery of her campus. Alexa was curious about what had just happened at her campus. Despite feeling scared, she was determined to investigate and solve the mysterious case occurring there.