CHAPTER 58

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''Excuse me, i believe this is my room ?'' There was momentary silence before the noisy female chatter continued. The girls who had paused to glanced at me, ignored me once more. There were three of them and i assumed they were all my new roommates.
Unfortunately, it wasn't possible to have a single room all to myself and i loved my privacy. Alright then, not the most welcoming bunch. I thought as i took a few steps into the room and shut the door behind me. I felt my heart sink at the sight of the two bunk beds in the room, well it was to be expected but i couldn't be blamed for hoping otherwise. The floors were cream-tiled and the walls were painted a light shade of blue. A white ceiling fan spun at the center of the ceiling a gentle breeze within the room. The only surface which was free of any personal belongings was one of the top bunks.
Oh great, i was left with no choice.
''Hello, I'm Lisa''. One of the girls said before she turned to throw a pillow at another girl who had ear buds in the whole time, nodding her head to music.
''What ?'' She asked, looking confused. Lisa tucked one of her loose braids behind her ear and jerked her head towards me.
''Oh hi''. The second girl said. ''You must be the girl we've been expecting. I'm Stacy by the way''. She was a slim, tall girl with smooth fair skin.
''I'm Alison'', the third girl smiled, flashing a set of clean, white teeth. ''What's your name?'' Her accent had a distinct British hit to it.
''I'm Monica, nice to meet you all.'' I guessed they weren't that bad after all. ''What department are you in ?'' Lisa asked with a bit of enthusiasm. ''Physiotherapy''. Her face fell at my reply. ''Oh'', Don't mind her, She's been hoping for more course mates in her department''. Alison explained. ''Stacy and I are both International Relations Students while she's in Political science.''
''Why did you resume late? Lectures started weeks ago but lucky you, Orientation is a few days''. Lisa said, watching me curiously with her wide-set, almond shaped eyes as she twirled another loose braid round her finger.
''I had some stuff to prepare at home''. I replied vaguely, looking away. ''Give the girl her breathing space, Lisa.'' Stacy said, throwing the pillow back at her. She had taken out her ear buds and turned her attention towards me. ''It looks like you're going to be me my new bunk mate, so you better settled in. We've got lectures tomorrow''.
''Is it just me or do weekends fly past way too fast'' ? Alison sighed, starting off another round of chatter.
I was so glad to be ignored this time around as i arranged my stuffs into the empty wardrobe. I was lucky enough to get a table or chair of my own so i knew i had to be ready to improvise.
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Once in a while i would feel curious eyes watching me but when i turned to look the girls would just give me a small nod or smile and continue with their gist.
I had just stuffed all i possibly could into the wardrobe when a few girls walked in with barely a knock. I looked up in irritation, nearly forgetting that the room wasn't mine alone.
''Lisa, I've come for the wardrobe''. A tall, fair lady announced. She stopped short when she saw me. ''New roommate?'' She asked the girls. They confirmed it. ''But you promised you would give her the wardrobe today''. Another girl spoke up, folding her arms. ''Now someone else has come to claim it just like that.'' I remained where i was silently, automatically figuring out that neither of the girls was a fresher like i was.
Sorry girl, but she just came today and she was assigned to our room''. Lisa said, shrugging apologetically. I was made to clear out the wardrobe. Everything that i'd neatly arranged just a few minutes ago, I'd dumped back into the box and sat cross-legged in the corner of the room, trying hard to keep my annoyance in check.
Eventually, the girls had a change in heart and left the room, without the wardrobe. It was then i knew that furniture was a scarce commodity in our hostel. That i got a wardrobe was a miracle on its own. I spent another half an hour rearranging my belongings, foregoing the artistic effort I'd put into the task the first time. Later in the evening, the girls went for dinner and invited me along but i wasn't quite ready to step out of the room yet so i declined and made do with my provisions. I savored the little time i had to myself. My phone rang and i set down my bowl of Cornflakes to answer it.
''Hey Tonia, that was quick''. I was impressed. ""Of Course i need to check up on you, how's so far?'' Tonia replied and evident in the tone of her voice.
""No mental breakdowns, I'm fine''. I replied
''Okay dear, take care of yourself and remember if you need anything--- ''Just call''. I completed her sentence and we said goodbye. I rinsed the bowl and cleared up anything else of mine that wasn't yet in place. I was in need of a shower so i ventured out of the room with my bucket and bathing items to locate one.
There were four bathrooms it toilets each but i imagined that there would still be rush-hour mornings. Once i was through, i returned to the room to get ready for bed since i had nothing else to do but i couldn't sleep, not even when it was past midnight. I knew it was normal for me, being in a new place but if i wanted to be early to class, i had to sleep and i had only less than that few hours to do so.
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Not my face! I thought as my hand slipped and my head almost went slamming into the desk.
"I've received many comments about my teaching technique but it hasn't been compared to sedatives yet. The Briton voice was filled with disapproval and a hint of humor.
My eyes snapped open and i stared, half-dared at Bio 102 lecturer as if he was an apparition.
I was running on barely two hours of sleep and I'd gotten to the class late because i was too shy to get dressed in front of my roommates, ironically, they had no problem stripping down and getting dressed, I'd stood there moisturizing one potion of my body for as long as possible, trying to buy time . When they finally left the room, there i was nearly late to class.
"N--no--not at all Sir, I'm sorry". I stuttered, discreetly wiping the corner of my mouth of any sign of drool. Thankfully, there was none.
he regarded me for a moment before gesturing at me for me to get to my feet. "Remain standing until i say otherwise. He said before he turned to board to continue the lecture.
"Isn't he so dreamy?" A girl whispered behind me. My eyes pricked in Curiosity and i turned to glance at her. She was a chubby girl and had a baby-face that made her look sweet and innocent.
"I just want to wrap him up and take him home with me". Okay, not so innocent.
"Forget it, he's our lecturer for God sake". A girl behind her hissed in annoyance, I think i choked mentally. That was a bit too loud because it attracted the lecturer's attention.
"Who was that?" He asked as he turned around to survey the hall. Students giggled mischievously, drawing his attention away from the actual culprit. 'I repeat, who did that?"
"Sir, i think it came from over there." A male voice spoke up. I turned to find one of the students pointing directly at me. From what I remembered about high-school, everything about him screamed teacher's pet.
"Thank you Daniel," The Lecturer then turned to me. ''I'm sure you're a newbie here and i really don't expect this sort of behavior from you. Shall remain standing for the duration of class. "I said nothing and cast a deadly glare at the guy who landed into trouble. This wasn't what i expected for crying out loud. How was this any better than high school ? I was glad that I'd opted for home-schooling during my final years of my secondary education.
"Even the way he scold is just so attractive." The girl behind me whispered gently. I clenched my teeth together in annoyance. Not another word. After class, all i wanted to do was disappear to my hostel but that hope was shattered when someone stopped me at the exit.
i raised my head and i met a pair of dark, intelligent eyes that regarded me silently.
"What's your name?" He finally asked. He was so far the first student to ask for my name without introducing himself first.
"Monica" I replied as i took a step away from him. He noticed my gesture but said nothing about it.
"Back there, what happened? Why didn't you speak up?" "What do you mean?" "I know you didn't do it".
Does it matter? I retorted. "Well, it does if you care about your reputation.
Right then, i didn't care about much other than leaving the place.
I'm just saying, you should speak up for yourself next time, rarely would others do it for you". He turned without saying another word and left me standing there.
I realized he never introduced himself.