My Hot Roommate

‘This Woman’ │Chapter 2 │

            AT LONG LAST, the maddening long drive has come to an abrupt stop, yet, behind this teeny-tiny happiness that I feel, everything makes me anxious. Stupid new people are everywhere. Wait, right, I was the new one here. But still, they are new to me in this new university. Although I know this will be really another lonely first week, because I am “new” here, I have to find a way to cope with the word “cope”.

            How I wish tomorrow is the end of the school year, and the next day of tomorrow is the day of my senior graduation to this certainly-pesky, unknowingly-strangers infested university. Oh, right. I am the stranger here. But, hey, they are strangers to me! We are all strangers! Never forget.

Yet, no. Tomorrow is the only second day of my sophomore year, and after tomorrow is my third day. Is travelling through time possible? Can I?

            Everything I came here for is for my parents – especially for my father. If this is what they think is the best for me, then I will go for it. I love them like how I love Photography.

            LA’s State University is quite elegant, unlike the school that I went in San Diego, which is named the “College of Fine Arts and Photography”. The view, the trees, the infrastructure’s design, the colour. All angles are perfect for taking excellent photos. Only these college students are my problem. How could I get rid of them to capture just at least one person-free picture of this whole, well-crafted university?

            The moment my father hit the brake of the car, after observing everything just through this transparent glassy thing beside my ‘pale face’, of all people inside this campus, one, what it seems to be a professor or so, an early middle-aged woman has just snatched my bright attention while seated in this infuriating car. She is standing straightly with her head high to mom and dad, lip is curling into a creepy but happy smile, wrinkled eyes, hands close palm to palm on her waist level. I can see how those cuffs of her bright red and white polka dots formal sleeve meet in the centre of her closed hands and her great styled hair. I hope she is kind.

            I watched mom and dad gets out of the car and greeted this woman. Her teeth are as white as the clouds above. The three of them were having an I-do-not-want-to-know conversation while I stayed in this seat, annoyed by the heat between my buttocks and this car’s seat. I think they are already burning, but I need to endure this inside while the three are obviously talking about me.

            Suddenly, my vex eyes run across mom, who is calling me from the outside. She is gesturing her left hand to me. From this inside of the car, I can read her lips pronouncing my name. Then, as I turn to the other two, my dad and the other woman, I immediately open the door beside me. Their eyes are at me, which is kind of uncomfortable. Finally, fresh air, my bottoms breathed out, but it was no time to celebrate. I have an about-me conversation to be involve in.

            “And this is him. The Louie of Coleman’s family. We do hope you welcome him with appreciation,” I hear that sweet tone of voice of my mother’s speaking to this early middle-aged woman. Then she faces me, adding, “Oh, and Louie, this is Mrs Hartley. The dorm supervisor of the dormitories. She will be taking you to your dormitory room.”

            “He’s quite tall than I expected,” replied the supervisor to my mom joyfully. I catch dad’s small smirk. Her voice is also sweet and kind, but I do not want to hear it anymore. “And well–proportioned.”

            I wish this moment to end in an instant.

            And my mother thanked Mrs Hartley’s compliments towards me, “Thank you, ma’am.”

            “No worries,” the supervisor dorm giggled. “I’m sure Louie could fit in anything?”

            Mom and dad evidently did not understand the question. They both exchange looks that seem upsetting to me. Mrs Hartley’s face is full of smiles, from the wrinkles on her eyes to the curving of her lips, waiting for either mom or dad to speak. And now, as the silence continuous, I realize how embarrassing it is to feel mortification. Really, I do not know what came to my parent’s minds when they heard the question.

            “Oh! Right! Yeah, yeah, Louie could fit in anything. And to tell the truth, he’s really good at taking pictures. So, if you’re university needs a photographer, Louie here, my son, is an excellent choice,” my mom’s voice gets higher and happier tone.

            I could not listen to this all day. If I have no care for my parents and this polka-dotted lady, I will walk myself straight inside and ask random people about this asinine dorm. Like, hey, I just had my 20th birthday. I am not a newborn child. But what can I do? ‘Even adults need assistance’ is my mom’s personal motto.

            “Great!” the supervisor dorm exclaims in a remark. I am not sure if that is the answer she is looking for from her question. She looks at my eyes and back to my mom’s, ending the discussion by saying, “I’ll have to show him his dorm room. Classes are expected at 9:00 this morning.”

            Finally, the end has come. I am thrilled that she ended the conversation, but it is not the right time to celebrate. According to her, after processing her last words in my mind, I believe I have to stay beside her as she said that she has to show me my new room. That lady. But I stood still, trying to interpret and put into action the notable word that is necessary for a new student like me, as well as for the new students around me. Cope. Genuinely, it is hard.

            I start to look around, attempting to distract my unease mind. The blue sky, the bright sun, the whisper of winds, the noise of those new Neanderthals. Why do I keep forgetting that I am the legitimate new here? Hold on, they are too, only in my place.

            My parents grin at me, dad has the wider grin, which I return at them. Thanks for their hard work, though this is not really what I desire. Mom move closer to me, begin arranging my loose collar while talking.

            “Don’t worry, honey. We’ll see each other on Sundays, right?”

            Though my age is 20, a sophomore already, I still don’t want to leave my parents and my sister at home in San Diego. But, since this is a must thing to do, my parents agreed that once a day in a week, where I have no schedule in classes, that is Sunday, I will be spending that day with them in San Diego. At least I get to see them in a week.

            Dad gave me my things from the car. I have not noticed him walk away to get this, patting my shoulder, leaving his words to me, “We’ll be good engineers.”

            As I secure my things on my hands, I miss them already. Others may think that I am a new kindergarten, and my parents are leaving me on my teacher, I don’t care. No bother. Coleman is the best family ever.

            This woman named Mrs Hartley, or the supervisor dorm, said her gratefulness to my parents, turns on me and gestures her head for me to walk with her. Then she starts to move her heels after I nod at her. I think this woman’s name deserves to be on the top list of Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest walker for an early middle-aged woman. I mean, she takes three steps in just two seconds. Is the time really running that fast? Does she leave her pesky son unattended? Well, if she has any.

            I hurried at Mrs Hartley, imitating her steps. Walking with her while maintaining to be beside her is tiresome. Utterly outrageous. No doubt, this woman this an athlete before. Or maybe, in some circumstances, she is currently battling with the fast walker she created in her own fantasy world. I am not sure.

            Then, she speaks to me. “I think your sweet parents did not understand the question I gave. How would you like to answer it in whatever?”

            What’s with the sweet parents? I am totally frighten. Anyhow, I answer her. This is the first time that I will be opening my mouth, “I am completely fine with any room you please.” I wish I dare to add at least it is comfortable and noise-free. But I’m terrified.

            Out of my shock, she instantaneously stopped, put her head up to me with her creepy-happy smile, and replied, “Perfect!” And she marches again, of course, I do too, beside her. “I informed your parents that this university ran out of dorm rooms already, except for one. Every dorm room here consists of two students only, which is you and your roommate. And genders are separated. We don’t want unwanted activities between male students and females inside a single room. Males are in this left building, while females are on the right. Ever been to a dorm before?”

            “No. I usually went home with my family. I don’t stay at the dorm,” I replied to her. I can feel my sweat run through my chest and to every part of my top. This is because we are walking too fast. I cannot believe this woman.

            “So, you have not heard of any HRD?”