MY PROFESSOR AND I

New Roommates

Episode 4

A sigh of relief washed over Tia the moment she stepped out of the registration office.

Her legs were tired, her back hurt from dragging her pink suitcase, and her head was full of forms and room numbers.

But it was done. She was officially a TIU Law student.

Now the only thing left was finding her dorm.

She couldn’t wait to meet her new roommates. The idea of having people her age around made Bangkok feel a little less big and scary.

The address on her paper said _Block C, Room 402_.

After what felt like endless stairs and wrong turns, Tia finally stood in front of a wooden door with "402" taped on it.

She took a deep breath, knocked once, then pushed the door open.

Four pairs of eyes turned to her immediately.

The room was bright. Two bunk beds, four desks, and clothes hanging on a line near the window. It smelled like detergent and instant noodles.

Tia froze for half a second, then forced herself to smile.

“Hi… I’m Tia,” she said, voice a little shaky. “First year law student.”

For a second, no one said anything.

Then a girl with curly hair and glasses stood up from her desk.

“I’m Katie,” she said, smiling wide. “First year law too! Oh my gosh, we’re in the same course!”

The girl on the top bunk swung her legs down. “I’m Gloria. Computer Science.”

The last girl, sitting cross-legged on the floor with paint on her hands, waved. “I’m Linda. Fine Arts. Welcome!”

Just like that, the tension in Tia’s chest melted.

_They are so nice,_ she thought.

The girls immediately jumped up to help her.

Katie cleared a space on the bottom bunk. Gloria helped Tia lift her heavy pink suitcase onto the bed. Linda found her extra hangers.

Within 20 minutes, Tia’s corner of the room looked like hers — photos of her family taped to the wall, her law textbooks stacked on the desk, her small Nigerian flag pinned above her bed.

When everything was set, the four of them collapsed onto the floor in a circle, exhausted but laughing.

Katie stretched her arms. “Okay, real talk. To avoid wahala in the future, I think we should say what we like and what we hate. House rules, you know?”

Gloria nodded. “Smart. I hate loud music after 11pm. I need sleep for coding.”

Linda groaned. “Same. I also hate when people borrow my art supplies without asking.”

Tia laughed. “I hate when people touch my food in the fridge.”

Katie grinned. “I hate group members who don’t do work. And I love jollof rice, movie nights, and early morning coffee.”

One by one, they went around.

Likes: music, reading, good food, clean rooms, helping each other.

Dislikes: drama, lies, messy kitchens, being late.

Tia was shocked. “Wait… we like almost the same things.”

Gloria threw an arm around her shoulder. “That’s why we’re meant to be roommates.”

From that evening, something clicked.

They cooked dinner together — Gloria made instant ramen, Katie tried to make jollof with Thai ingredients, Linda drew while she waited, and Tia told stories about Lagos.

They talked for hours. About their families, about why they chose TIU, about how scared and excited they were.

Before bed, Katie held out her hand.

“Room 402 pact?”

All four hands stacked on top of each other.

“Best friends forever,” they said together.

That night, Tia lay in her new bed listening to Gloria typing, Linda humming, and Katie breathing softly across from her.

She was 11 hours away from home.

But for the first time since landing in Bangkok, she didn’t feel alone.