Chapter 1: New Beginning
Anna Gabriela had been dreaming of this day for as long as she could remember. The crisp morning air of the prestigious university campus filled her lungs as she stepped onto the walkway, clutching her neatly organized folder of enrollment papers. She was officially a freshman, a student of accounting technology in one of the country's most respected business and accounting programs. Her heart fluttered with excitement and a tinge of nervousness.
"Anna, slow down!" a familiar voice called.
Anna turned to see her cousin and best friend, Irene, jogging to catch up. Irene was her partner-in-crime, the one who had cheered her on through all the late-night study sessions and the countless applications. With her usual wide grin and boundless energy, Irene grabbed Anna's hand and tugged her toward the campus.
"You made it! I can't believe we're finally here together!" Irene said, practically bouncing on her toes.
Anna laughed, feeling her nerves ease. "I know, right? Four years of accounting—and we survived the entrance exams!"
The campus was buzzing with students hurrying to their first classes, the chatter of friends reuniting and the sound of wheels rolling on suitcases blending into a lively symphony of new beginnings. Anna and Irene paused for a moment, taking it all in. The modern architecture, the manicured lawns, and the grand clock tower standing proudly in the center of the campus—it was everything they had imagined and more.
"Look at the campus," Irene said, pointing toward the courtyard. "This place is… wow. It's like something out of a movie!"
Anna smiled. "Yeah… I never thought I'd actually be here. I mean, we worked so hard to get in." She paused, glancing at the crowd of students milling about. "It's… kind of intimidating, though."
"You mean exciting!" Irene corrected, tugging her toward the business and accounting building. "Come on, future accountant, we have to claim our spot in history—or at least in this campus."
Inside the building, they joined a small group of other freshmen, each as eager and nervous as they were. A senior student, tasked with welcoming the newcomers, guided them through the corridors, pointing out classrooms, the library, and the cafeteria. Anna and Irene whispered to each other, sharing observations and quietly teasing the other students.
"Do you think we'll actually survive this?" Anna asked, peeking at a group of seniors who were laughing boisterously nearby.
Irene shrugged. "Of course we will. We're unstoppable. Plus, we have each other, remember?"
By the time the orientation ended, Anna felt a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration. She and Irene found a quiet bench under a flowering tree. Anna pulled out her notebook, jotting down her goals for the semester: make friends, excel in her classes, and most importantly, enjoy every moment of this new chapter of her life.
"Don't forget," Irene said with a playful nudge, "we also have to survive the senior crush sightings. You know, the ones that make all the freshmen go weak in the knees."
Anna's cheeks warmed, just thinking about it. As if on cue, a tall figure walked past, radiating effortless charm. Anna looked away quickly, glancing at Irene, who raised an eyebrow and smirked knowingly.
"See?" Irene teased. "Freshman year just got interesting."
Anna laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Let's focus on classes first," she said, though the tiny spark of curiosity refused to fade.
After a short walk through the campus gardens, the cousins stopped by the library. Anna ran her fingers over the stacks of books, imagining herself spending hours buried in accounting textbooks and case studies. Irene, on the other hand, found a cozy corner and started planning their campus adventures.
"You know," Irene said, eyes sparkling, "we should make a list of everything we want to do in these four years. Clubs, events, secret hangouts… everything."
Anna smiled at her cousin's enthusiasm. "Deal. But first… we survive our first week of classes."
As the afternoon sun cast golden light across the campus, the cousins stood together on a bridge over a small koi pond, watching the reflections ripple in the water. Anna took a deep breath. This was her moment. Freshman year had just begun, and Anna Gabriela, with Irene by her side, was ready to embrace it fully.
Little did she know, the "senior crush sightings" weren't just rumors—they were about to become a very real part of her life.