You pause in front of the last door on the left. The cold, dark wood of the door is unnerving as you raise your hand and knock.

After a moment, the door creaks open.

Mattheo stands there, shirtless with dishevelled hair, looking thoroughly unapologetic.

His eyes casually scan your figure, and he smirks. “Didn’t expect to see you wandering around here this late,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough.

You shift your weight slightly, ignoring the warmth rising to your cheeks. “Excuse me… have you seen… a white rabbit?” you ask, tilting your head slightly, trying to sound far more casual than you feel.

“Actually… I did,” Mattheo says. “In my dorm.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Where exactly?” you ask.

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he steps aside, holding the door open wider with a slight bow of his head. “Right this way,” he says simply.

Your heartbeat picks up.

The moment you step into his room, you’re hit by a rush of warmth accompanied by something else that’s harder to describe. The room smells of old books, firewood, and him.

The door clicks shut behind you.

“You should be more careful,” Mattheo whispers, closer than expected. “Wandering into people’s rooms after hours… is not the safest habit.”

He walks ahead of you, and there, nestled comfortably on his bed, you see a small white rabbit. It twitches its nose as you approach, seemingly unbothered by the situation it has caused.

“You want it back?” Mattheo asks, turning his head toward you.

“Of course,” you say carefully.

He studies you for a long moment. “Then stay here for a little chat,” he chuckles. “Just you and me.”