chapter 3
1221 Words
Chapter Three
I slowly pushed the door open.
The room was already filled with voices and laughter. A few girls were unpacking their belongings while others were arranging their side of the room.
I looked around until I found my name on one of the bunk beds.
The upper bunk.
My assigned bed was on top, but someone was already lying on the lower bunk beneath it.
As soon as she saw me, she sat up.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said with an awkward smile. "I'll move to the top later. I just... I don't really know how to climb up there yet."
I looked at her for a second before nodding.
"It's okay."
I didn't want any problems on my first day.
So, I quietly placed my bag beside the bed and waited until she left before climbing onto my bunk.
Lying there, I reached for my phone.
I discovered that I had been added to the academy's messaging platform, but somehow I had been placed in the lecturers' group instead of my class group. My class timetable wasn't there, and I didn't know a single person I could ask for help.
I sighed.
There wasn't much else to do.
So I opened w*****d and spent the afternoon reading novels, trying to distract myself from the loneliness creeping into my heart.
By evening, my roommate had returned.
I climbed onto my bunk, turned toward the wall, and pretended to be asleep.
I didn't feel like talking.
A few moments later, I felt someone gently tap my shoulder.
I turned around.
Standing beside my bed was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen.
She had kind eyes, a gentle smile, and a soft voice that immediately made me feel comfortable.
"Hi," she said. "My name is Flora."
"I'm Melanie."
"It's nice to meet you."
She smiled.
"The girls are going out to walk around campus. Do you want to come with us?"
I quickly shook my head.
"No, thank you."
Flora gently touched my arm.
"You've been lying here all day. You'll get bored. Come with us."
I hesitated.
Then I nodded.
"Okay."
I changed into one of the few casual outfits I had packed and threw on a sweater.
Without thinking, I left my phone plugged in to charge.
When I stepped outside, I immediately noticed how beautiful the other girls looked.
Some wore fitted dresses, others wore fashionable jeans and expensive sneakers. The sweet scent of designer perfumes filled the hallway.
I suddenly became very aware that I wasn't wearing any perfume.
I hadn't even brought one.
As we walked, Flora turned to me.
"Have you eaten?"
I shook my head.
"I don't even know where to get food."
She smiled.
"I'll show you."
She explained that students bought their meals around campus using their student accounts.
I nodded, but inside I was already calculating.
Breakfast.
Lunch.
Dinner.
How was I supposed to afford buying food every single day?
Flora looked at me.
"I noticed you didn't bring many things."
I forced a smile.
"We were rushing. My admission letter came late, so we didn't have enough time to prepare."
It was easier than telling her the truth.
As we continued walking, I noticed that almost everyone around us had an iPhone.
Some were taking pictures.
Others were making video calls.
Then I remembered.
My phone.
I had left it charging in the room.
A wave of panic washed over me.
What if someone stole it?
It wasn't expensive.
But it was the only phone I owned.
I wanted to tell the girls I needed to go back, but I was too shy.
Instead, I silently prayed that it would still be there when I returned.
The girls chatted excitedly as we walked.
"Every room has a final-year student assigned to guide the freshmen," one of them said.
"I heard ours is really cool," another replied.
I simply listened.
The campus looked magical beneath the evening lights.
Students walked confidently between buildings.
Some boys and girls sat together on benches laughing.
Others held hands as they crossed the courtyard.
Everything felt so free.
So different from the life I had always known.
Then someone casually said,
"Oh, and the Wi-Fi password changes every month."
I stopped walking.
"Wait..."
"There's Wi-Fi?"
Everyone laughed.
"Of course."
Back home, internet access felt like a luxury.
Here, it was normal.
As we continued walking around campus, we came across an empty classroom.
"Let's sit here for a while," one of the girls suggested.
We all walked in.
Not long after, phones started ringing.
One after another, the girls answered their calls.
"I'm at the lecture hall."
"Come and meet us."
Within minutes, several boys appeared outside.
The girls smiled, picked up their bags, and walked out to meet them.
Before I knew it, only Flora and I were left inside the classroom.
I looked over at her.
She had already taken out a notebook and was writing.
"What are you writing?" I asked.
"My notes."
I frowned.
"But today is our first day."
She laughed softly.
"I collected them from a senior student. I like preparing before classes start."
That was the moment I realized Flora wasn't just kind.
She was serious.
Exactly the kind of friend I had always wished for.
A few minutes later, she looked up.
"What course are you studying?"
I told her.
"Have you gotten your matriculation number yet?"
"No."
"You need to get it tomorrow morning. Without it, you won't be able to attend lectures."
I nodded.
Just then, two security officers entered the classroom.
"It's getting late," one of them said politely. "Please return to your residence halls."
We packed our things and left.
On our way back, Flora reached into her shopping bag and handed me a pack of Indomie noodles.
"Here."
I shook my head.
"No, I'm okay."
She smiled and gently pushed it into my hands.
"Take it."
"I can't."
"You look hungry."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
No one had ever noticed something so small.
"Thank you."
As soon as we got back to the room, the first thing I did was rush to where I had left my phone charging.
It was still there.
I quietly smiled to myself.
Thank God.
Later that evening, all the girls gathered in our room as our assigned fourth-year student came in to introduce herself.
She welcomed us warmly and explained how life at St. Ashford Academy worked.
"Tomorrow morning, make sure you collect your matriculation numbers early," she advised. "That office gets crowded very quickly."
We all nodded.
Then she smiled.
"And girls..."
She folded her arms.
"Be careful around the boys."
Everyone laughed.
"I'm serious," she continued. "University is very different from secondary school. As freshmen, you'll meet a lot of men. Some genuinely want friendship, but many—especially boys in my class—are only looking for one thing."
She paused.
"So..."
"Fear men."
The room exploded with laughter.
Even I laughed.
It was the first genuine laugh I had had since arriving.
That night, we stayed awake talking for hours.
We shared stories, joked with one another, and slowly stopped feeling like strangers.
As I climbed onto my bunk bed, I smiled to myself.
For the first time in a very long time...
I was happy.
- Writer
