Rosalia
Mum was still crying as I hugged her goodbye. "Mum, oh my God, you do this every semester" I groaned. I would definitely miss her but she didn't need to cry every time I came back to uni. "We're going to miss you baby, you won't be back for months" she said.
"We can do a video call once you've gotten back home, I love you bye" I reply getting out of the car and waving. She doesn't drive off even as I enter the gates.
I pull out my phone and call Myra; my best friend "hey my love" her cheery voice comes across immediately. "Hey, I just got back on campus, have you gotten a room?"
"Yes, I have a roommate already, she's not in our level though, I'm still unpacking" Myra says
"Oh, that means we won't be roommates" I reply with a sad voice.
"Girl, you know we don't need to be roommates to do our thing"
"Alright bestie, I'll call you back later, let me get my room number" I reply, she follows by giving me kisses before ending the call.
I walk into the dorm office, show her my clearance receipt and I'm walking out in no time with my room key.
By the time I reach my room, I'm exhausted, hauling all my luggage was tiring, I fish out the keys and open the door and drag my stuff inside, only to turn and see the bare back of a man. I scream instantly the shock taking over me. He turns to face me looking thoroughly displeased "yeah, shout the roof down Lia" he says.
I scream again this time because of his face, it's Trevor, the one person I absolutely hate in my level. He's my academic rival always trying to be better than me. "What are you doing here?" I ask
"I was cooking before you came in, we're roommates this semester, weren't you informed?"
"No I wasn't, why would you be my roommate, and why are you calm about this?"
"Had my crash out already in the dorm office, they couldn't do anything so I left, you'll get used to it"
He was way too calm about this, I scanned the room, it was as usual as every other one I'd been in, three doors, two leading to the separate rooms and one being the bathroom. Then the general room which we were currently in has the mini kitchen and parlor.
"Which one's my room?" I ask him, I just need to unpack then bath and eat then from there I'll find a solution for this. Classes don't begin till two days after so that's enough time to find someone willing to switch with me.
"The bigger room is yours, by the right" he says and I can't help but look at him at that. Usually whoever comes first to the room would take the bigger room as it's more preferred. "Don't look at me like that I just hate big spaces" he says and turns away.
I drag my stuff into the room that's mine and it's so beautiful, a big bed, a dresser, a big wardrobe. I quickly video call Myra and plop the phone against a pillow, she picks quickly. "I just finished unpacking and bathing, what's your room number, I can help you then we can go eat" she says.
"Aren't you tired? You can eat, I'll sort myself out, thanks Rae" I say and I can see that she's relieved.
"But I'll stay with you on the call" she says before I can say we should end the call. "Who's your roommate?"
I sigh "girl you just reminded me"
"Oh no, who's it?" She asks
"Trevor" I say and she gasps
"No, you're joking"
"I wish, I'm going to look for someone to switch with" I reply as I shelve one of the boxes.
"Oh honey, didn't you get the new memo?" She says and I feel my stomach drop.
"What? I really can't take any more bad news Rae" I say
"They've banned students from switching rooms, the memo was sent two days ago"
I stare in shock, all my hopes just dashed. "Tell me you're joking" I reply.
"I'm not" she says.
"Yeah well, I'm going to end this call now and go cry" I say.
"Girl, take a bath, and eat and you'll be fine, we can go out tomorrow, I hear there's a big 24 hours party" Rae says.
"Oh, you sure know how to cheer me up, who doesn't love parties" I say as I shove my last box in the wardrobe. "I'm going to take my bath now, talk to you later" I say.
I've never had a problem sharing a bathroom before but I guess there's a first time for everything. Trevor's products, ranging from skincare to hair care are taking all the space, I've got nothing for my stuff.
I storm back out to the parlor where he's sitting, pressing his phone. "There's no space for my stuff" I say.
He looks up "yeah I already ordered some extra racks, I just need to put them up" he says and gets up, walking to his room. He soon comes out with about 4 racks. "They need to be screwed on, can you help me hold these ones?" he says and passes the other 3 to me.
"You know, the rooms aren't soundproof" he says as he starts screwing on the first rack. I think for a while before realizing he must have heard how distraught I was that I couldn't switch rooms.
"As if you wouldn't be happy if I left" I reply sharply.
He paused briefly before continuing, "I guess" he says. He makes no attempt for small talk, just quickly fixes the racks and leaves. I can't help but feel like I've said something wrong.
After my bath, I dress up, ready to leave for the cafeteria to get something to eat. Trevor is sitting in the parlor eating. "I cooked too much, I can't finish it, help me finish the one in the pot" he says just as I'm putting on my shoes by the door.
"What?" I ask shocked
"I cooked too much, I don't want it to waste"
"Put it in the freezer" I reply swiftly
"Too much work, just eat it" he says
I think about it for a while, walk to the kitchen and check it, his food smells nice.
"How am I sure this isn't poisoned?" I ask, and he offers such a fake laugh. "Very funny Lia, I can take some of it if you're scared"
So I take the food and join him in the parlor, shocked by how odd the entire situation is. We eat in silence and I thank him afterwards and go back to my room, where I call my mum before settling to a deep sleep.