The sound of my alarm woke me up. Waking up with a hangover is not the best at all. Anna is sprawled on her bed, maybe thinking about her boyfriend. She will surely wake up with a hangover since she drank most of the soda. Taking some advils, I open my wardrobe to pick my outfits. I have a class by 10am, looking at the current time, it read 7:30 am. I enter the bathroom; the shelf is filled with different flavors of body wash. I pick my strawberry body wash to use. My father knows I love strawberry wash, so he fills my bathroom with it, I never run out of them. I stop myself from thinking about the memories. Soaking myself in the tub, playing with the bubbles, I recall the memories of last night. Finding Anna drunk and carrying her into the car, I drive the car even though my driving wasn't perfect. In my mind, I vow not to follow Anna to a party till I finish studying. Washing off last night sweat, smell and make up, I wrap myself with a towel. I enter the room and still meet Anna sleeping. I wake her up to get ready for school. She let out a yawn.
"What is the time that you couldn't let me sleep some more"
"It is 7:50 am drunkard" I say, teasing her
She throws a pillow at me. "I am not a drunkard; I just got drunk because I was having fun" she pouts.
"A person who gets drunk is a drunkard" I say, smiling.
"My head is banging, please keep your voice down" she says, holding her head.
"You are lucky I love you; I left some advils for you, here, take" I say, handing her a pill.
"Thanks babe"
She stands up to head to the bathroom while I wear my clothes and head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. The female's dormitory has a kitchen and a common room where we gather to share stories and watch films. Friendship grows here, and memories take shape every day. Going into the kitchen, I meet others thus making the place full. Seeing a lady finish cooking, I rush her space to use. I prepare hungover soup and carry to the room. Entering the room, Anna finish dressing.
"Is this how you cook every day? The kitchen is full" I say, giving her a bowl of soup. "This will help soothe your head"
"Thank you and no, I don't cook. I buy meals in the canteen."
"Why can't you just get ingredients and cook in the kitchen"
"Girllllll, do you see the state of the kitchen? That is why. I can't stress myself"
"Ohhh, I understand you. I can't live here like this"
"Me too, I will be moving out soon. Do you want to come along?"
"Sure, you can't leave me here. Anywhere you go, I will follow." I say and we both laugh.
Looking at the time, it is already 9:00am.
"Great, we have an hour left before lectures"
Anna studies economies while I study accounting, so basically, we share the same lectures. We quickly finish what we are doing and carry our bags to leave the dorm. Locking the door, we set out.
We enter the lecture room together and sit down waiting for lecture to begin. The lecture hall rises like a quiet cathedral of learning. Long rows of benches curve upwards, each tier giving a clearer view of the stage below. The air is cool, faintly scented with paper and ink, and the murmur of students drifts across the room like a restless tide. At the front, a tall wooden lectern stands beneath the glow of suspended lamps. The whiteboard stretches wide, waiting for words and diagrams to fill its empty surface. The professor enters, his footsteps echoing against the polished floor, and the hall falls into silence. Pens hover, laptops flicker, and the atmosphere shifts. The room becomes a theatre of thought, where ideas take shape and knowledge is spoken into being. Students pay attention and scribble on their notes, capturing the formulas and calculations. Their pens scratch across the paper in quick strokes, capturing each detail as the lesson unfolds. The lecture draws to a close, a pause lingers in the air. The students gather their belongings, some exchange quick words, others reflect silently on what they have learned, and the hall gradually empties, leaving behind the faint echo of ideas. I follow Anna to the canteen, my stomach killing me. Getting to the canteen, students gather in lively groups, their voice blending into a cheerful hum. Trays clatter as they line up for food, the aroma of warm meals drifting through the air. Some sit together at long tables, laughing over shared stories, while others quietly eat, lost in thought after their lectures. The scrape of chairs, the chatter of friends, and the occasional burst of laughter create a vibrant rhythm. Plates of rice are passed around, notebooks lie close beside them, and the atmosphere shifts from studious silence to the easy comfort of camaraderie. Looking over the bustling canteen for an empty seat, I spot one tucked away near the corner. Without hesitation, I tug Anna gently by the arm and steer her towards it, weaving past trays and chatter. The relief of finding a place settles in as we slide into the chairs, the noise of the room fading slightly now that we have claim our spot. After a couple of lectures, we retire to our room. The remaining years pass into a blur, and suddenly it is my graduation day. The campus is alive with excitement, gowns flow as students gathers in proud procession. The air carries a mix of nervous anticipation and quiet joy, the weight of countless lectures, notes, and late nights distills into this single moment. Families beam from the rows of seats; cameras poise to capture every smile. As my name is called, I step forward, the applause rises like a tide, and the certificate placed in my hands feels heavier than a paper, it carries the story of years lived, friendships forged, and the dreams pursued. I hear Anna name being called, she steps onto the stage like the drama queen she is. Her gown sways with every exaggerated movement, her smile dazzling as though the spotlight belongs only to her. The audience chuckles softly, some clap a little louder, amused by her flair. She lifts her chin, soaking in the moment, and for a heartbeat the ceremony feels less formal, more theatrical. Anna turns convocation into her own grand performance. The ceremony ends, graduands run off to their families, arms opening wide for embraces. Hugs come amidst tears, laughter mingles with sobs, and the air fills with the raw joy of achievement. Friends exchange congratulations with voices trembling from excitement. The once formal hall transforms into a scene of reunion and celebration, where every hug carries the weight of years of effort and every tear shines with relief and triumph.
Looking over to Anna's parents, they hug and pat her with pride. The sight stirs memories of my own father and my first love; faces I carry in my heart. A quiet ache rises as I wish they are here, to see that their baby girl is no longer small, but stands tall in this moment of triumph. The joy of the day mingles with longing, and I hold the thought close. Memories of my father and my first love came, I wish they were here to see their baby girl is not small anymore. I see Anna coming over to meet me.
"Come, let me introduce you to my parents." she says, holding my hands and dragging me to meet her parents.
"Dad, Mom, this is Alisha, my roommate"
"Hello ma, hello sir, nice to meet you"
"Oh please, you can call me Claire and my husband, Dan. It is nice to meet my daughter roommate. You are beautiful and nice, I like you already" she says, smiling and giving me a hug while Dan shakes my hand.
"Thanks for taking care of my daughter." he says.
"How about we celebrate your graduation over lunch at the restaurant?"
"That is a good idea, Dan. Girls, let us go over to Nettle restaurant to celebrate"
I follow them into their car, and we start heading into the restaurant. A few minutes later, the car stops at Nettle restaurant. The glow of string catches my eye as they sway gently above the outdoor seating area. A doorman greets us at the entrance, holding the door open with a polite smile. Inside, the restaurant hums with quiet conversation, the clinking of glasses, and soft notes of jazz drifting from hidden speakers. The air catches the aroma of different dishes, we step across polished wooden floors, and the warmth of the place wraps around us like a welcome embrace. I am accustomed to restaurants like this, so the designs don't surprise me.
A waiter guides us to a table and asks for our orders. Scanning through the menu, we pick the beef wellington and risotto, while we choose chocolate fountain with fruit and marshmallows with sparkling wine as dessert.
"Coming right up" the waiter says and leaves.
"Alisha, tell us about yourself" Claire says.
I tell them everything they want to know. The waiter brings our order in between the talks.
"Bon appetit" he says and leaves us to continue.
"Enough of the talks, let us dig in"
Graduation day has passed, and we return to a different life. I lie on my bed, reading a novel, when my phone suddenly rings. I glance at the screen and see that the call is from home. I connect the call, and as the voice on the other end speaks, I receive bad news that demands my immediate attention at home.