"Thank you." She collected the sheet ready to leave.
"Seriously, you are just going to leave like that?" He stopped her before she could take a step.
She scowled her brows as his hand touched hers. She hated physical contact especially with a stranger.
She glanced at the hand in front of her, slim and slender. She was surprised that it belonged to a male.
His lips curl up into a half smile.
"You want to submit the remitta, don't you? Let's go together." He moved ahead of her before she could refuse.
"You…" She was cut off by the voice. It was not loud, but she heard it.
Her mom's voice, calling on her, through the crowd to reach her even though she was far away. It wasn't a mystery. It was one the gift she possessed,hearing from afar.
"Are you just going to stand there?" He looked back at her.
Grumbling, she stumbled towards him. She planned to walk past him but he was one who could tag along.
"I have a secret too." He said, causing Rumie to glance at him.
He has been trying to make conversation but she said little in reply. She was in no mood for a conversation, especially with him. He was like a chattery box, one which never stops.
His mouth pulled up in a cheeky smile, pleased that he caught her attention.
"I'm forced to be here by my mom." He said. "I mean to resume.."
"Do you always talk this much?" She asked, unable to bear his chatter any further.
"No. Only with you." He sent her a wink causing her to roll her eyes.
When they got to the office, her parents were there waiting for her.
She noticed her mom send a smile her way, one mixed with all knowing. She rolled her eyes.
'It's not what you think' she mouthed to her mom as she placed the papers on her waiting hands. But she only smiled wider.
"Darling see I told you that you will enjoy your stay here. You already made a friend." She said and tapped her dad who was half asleep.
His eyes snapped open with a tap.
"Have you gotten the papers?" He asked. She nodded and her mom showed it to him.
"Here. And she even made a friend along her way." She nodded at her or maybe the person besides her.
Rumie wished she could clamp her mom's mouth shut but she only wink her way.
She knew how protective her dad was with her when it got to her friends.
All her friends were carefully screened by him before she could be friends with them.
Yet her mom was here pulling his attention to... She turned to look at him. She had not even bothered to ask for his name.
With a grunt, he reached out his hand for a handshake.
"I'm her dad," He said, nodding to her
"Ivan Lawson." His lip curled in a polite smile against her dad's hard glare.
Her mom cut through the tension.
"You know you both should be each other's keeper. Especially here in 'DELL'" she said, whispering the College name.
"Alright, go ahead and submit it." She handed the sheets back to her.
"Your dad and I should be on our way home now," She said, pulling his hands back.
One thing Rumie admired most about her mom was her ability to flicker between switches. And didn't have to deal with the burden that came with it.
She headed over to the secretary, handing over her paper. Ivan was right behind her, following her steps.
The secretary handed them their dormitory and room number along their class schedules.
Rumie didn't understand why they needed a class schedule. Were everyone not here to practice how to defend some stupid troublemaker?
As they turn to go, she asked Ivan
"Did you come alone?"
She had expected that he would go back to wherever he came from when they got their schedule, but no, he was still sticking around.
He raised his brows at her questions as if trying to make sense of what she was saying.
"Are you asking because you feel that I am bothering you or because you genuinely want to know?" She shrugged.
True she felt he was bothering her.
She still planned to persuade her parents to change their mind but with him trailing her around, it felt impossible.
"Both." He faked a gasp.
"And here was I hoping that we were getting along,"
Rumie sneaked him a disgusted look.
'He was also dramatic, nice,' She said under her breath.
"I didn't come alone. My parents are just like yours. They were being fussy over me just like yours"
"They did?"
"I noticed." He said. "Your dull and bored expression mirrored mine and I thought we could enjoy each other's company instead."
She made to correct him but a voice interrupted them
"Ivan! Here you are. We went searching for you everywhere," She said.
"Oh is this a friend?" Her gaze turned to her.
"No..." Rumie started
"Yes..." Ivan's voice said.
The woman's eyes lingered on both their faces as if confused by their reply.
"Mom, meet my best friend…" He raised an eyebrow at her
"Rumie." She managed a smile.
"Right. Rumie, meet my mom, the one I have been telling you beautiful things about." He grinned
"How come I am just learning that your best friend got admission here as well?" She put on a strict face.
Then said "No wonder you were mopping earlier. You must have been missing her."
He put on a shy expression but Rumie knew better. He was pretending.
She looked back at the woman whose energy reminded her of her mom. They would make a good pair of friends if they met.
Speaking of the devil, she appeared with her dad trailing behind her. They had gone into the principal's office.
Her mom hurried to her side, introducing herself right away.
"Melody, Rumie's mom." Her face in such a bright smile that Rumie thought would make her go blind her if she kept looking on.
"Oh, I'm Kira. You sure look pretty and young."
"I can say the same of you." See very much alike.
"My son was just telling me about how great of a friend he is with your daughter. He never mentioned it back home," She said
"Wow really?" They laughed.
Just as she thought. They would make a great pair of friends.
She looked to her dad who just stood, saying nothing. She makes a gesture, with her eyes, hoping he stepped in.
He noticed and understood. He cleared his throat, and the two women turned to him. Rumie could see the look of irritation that her mom flash him, but he didn't seem to mind. Instead he pulled her closer to his side.
"Dear, I think it's time we left. Let's give our kid time to settle in."
"He is right," Kira said.
Turning to Ivan she asked, "Have you submitted your receipt?" He nodded, showing her his hostel and class schedule sheet.
Her dad offered to accompany Ivan to his room. But Rumie knew better. He was probably going to be interrogating or threatening him.
Rumie smiled as she imagined Ivan's poor face as her dad threatened him.
Rumie had the two other women behind her chatting as though they long lost friends.
As she stumbled with her bags, she couldn't resist the feeling of annoyance that creeped on her skin each time someone paused to look over to her.
She knew she always got people looking at her wherever she went and has always loved it until now.
She intended to keep a low profile, as though she was never here.
She wished that the six month period expired soon so she could go back home and never return.
She looked down at the sheet which had her room number.
Room Three(3).
And then looked at the label on each room door. She was now in the hostel.
Her eyes caught sight of the half curve figure at the end of the rear door label.
She moved closer to have a proper look. It was her room. The number three was already faint; only the lower curve could be seen.
She pushed the door, but it didn't bulge. It was locked. She inserted her key, unlocked it. It creaked open under her push and she stepped in.
There were no bags or luggage, she was probably the first to check in in her room.
Her mum stepped in some time later.
"My my my. Look at our room." She squealed, her hands on Rumie's shoulders.
Rumie followed her eyes as it took in the features of the room.
"Where would you choose?"
"The one at home."
"Darling. Let's not do this again. You may not know this but I have my reason for letting you school here."
"To increase your social life and make more rich friends?" She asked. She had caught her mom's reaction when Ivan said his name.
"Yeah that and another reason." Her gaze flick for a moment, before landing on her.
"Listen, your destiny is tight to you being here and I'm doing what any mother would do for her child, wanting the very best for their child. You may not know this yet but you will when the time is right." Sha said.
Her mom's eyes bore through hers. For a few seconds, she thought she saw them turn red. It was the third time since this month.
"You will obey me and be here," she said,
She felt a dull sense over her mind. For some odd reason she felt she should comply rather than argue further.
Her mom turned around. "I'll be leaving now." She said and walked out, leaving Rumie alone in the room.
Rumie could only watch her leave as she slumped onto the nearest bed exhaustion taking over.