Chapter two _First Day
Michael's POV
The university didn't feel like just a school—it felt like a whole city folded into a campus. The first thing that hit me was the size. Buildings stretched high into the sky, all glass and steel, their windows flashing with sunlight. Some looked modern, with smooth walls and wide automatic doors, while others carried an older dignity, brick and ivy climbing their sides as if the past refused to let go.
I clutched the strap of my backpack like it was the only thing keeping me upright. My heart was pounding, not from excitement, but from the chaos.
Charles spotted me across the crowd, waving his arms like a maniac. "Mike! Over here!"
He was already dressed like he'd been on campus for weeks—fresh Jordans, gold chain glinting in the sun, and a smile too wide to be real. He pulled me into a hug that nearly cracked my ribs.
"Bro, we made it!" he said, grinning ear to ear.
"Yeah, we did," I muttered, though my stomach felt like it was in knots.
"Look at you," he said, stepping back. "You look like you're heading to detention, not college. Where's the smile?"
I tried, but it came out crooked.
Charles slapped my shoulder. "Don't worry. By the end of today, you'll be grinning so hard your face will hurt."
We hauled our bags up to the dorm. The hallways smelled like fresh paint and pizza. Posters were already taped to the walls—flyers for parties, open-mic nights, soccer tryouts. Music blasted from one room, laughter from another.
My dorm room was smaller than I'd imagined—two twin beds, two desks, two dressers. A window overlooked the street, where people looked like tiny ants moving between taxis and buses. My roommate hadn't arrived yet, which gave me a few quiet minutes to breathe.
But Charles wasn't letting me off the hook. "C'mon, let's explore. Meet people. This is your chance, bro."
I wanted to argue, but he was already pulling me down the hallway.
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Outside, the campus was alive. Students sprawled on the grass, tossing footballs, balancing coffee cups, snapping pictures with parents who were trying too hard not to cry. The red-brick buildings stood tall against the September sky, banners fluttering with the St. John's crest.
I tried to soak it in, but everything felt too big, too loud. Back in high school, I knew where I fit. Here, I felt like a stranger in my own skin.
Charles, of course, was in his element. He stopped to chat with anyone who so much as glanced his way. Within minutes, he had numbers saved in his phone, invitations to two parties, and a free slice of pizza from a student group handing out flyers.
Meanwhile, I hung back, nodding politely, pretending I wasn't itching to escape.
Then I saw her.
She was standing under a tree near the library, laughing with a group of girls. Light brown hair framed her face, catching the sunlight in a way that made her glow. She wore a simple white top and jeans, but somehow she looked like she'd stepped out of one of those college brochures they send in the mail.
For a moment, everything around me blurred—the noise, the crowd, even Charles's nonstop chatter. It was like the whole campus had shifted focus onto her.
Charles must've noticed the way I froze. He followed my gaze, then smirked. "Ohhh. I see you."
I snapped out of it. "What? No. I was just—"
"Don't even lie," he cut me off. "You were staring at her like she was the last slice of pizza on earth."
I felt my ears burn. "Shut up."
"She's cute, though. You got a good taste." He elbowed me. "Go talk to her."
"Are you insane? I don't even know her."
"That's the point! College is about meeting new people. Bro, you've been hiding from girls your whole life. This is your chance."
I shook my head. "Nah. Not today."
"Alright," Charles said, grinning like he'd caught me in a trap. "But mark my words—you'll run into her again. And when you do, you better not chicken out."
I rolled my eyes and tried to brush it off, but deep down, I knew he was right. There was something about her that already felt important, though I couldn't explain why.
Mary POV
The air buzzed with movement. Students hurried across wide walkways, their backpacks bouncing, coffee cups in hand, earbuds plugged in like they were tuning out the world. Some laughed loudly in clusters, others walked alone with their heads down, focused and untouchable. Bicycles zipped past, skateboard wheels clattered against the pavement, and the campus shuttle hummed as it pulled to a stop near the fountain.
I stood beside my blue Chevrolet and glanced around, my heart can't help but make heavy thuds that if care is not taken, passerby may hear, I clinched my fist and inhaled all the air I could and gradually exhaled it .
"Hey , you new right " a voice echoed from behind
I slightly turned and met the prettiest blue eyes I have ever seen , yeah ," I'm Mary from New York, I said offering a handshake"
"Ok , Mary from New York, I'm Emma from California and behind me are, Jane and Claire, hiiiii" Clair and Jane wave simultaneously, with smiles plastered at the corner of their lips.
"Anyways we are also new here but not this new , she said pointing at my luggages , we started last week and have been asked to welcome the other new intakes" so if you don't mind, follow us " she commanded stylishly before heading towards what looks like a hall and I turned to my driver and signals him to go before sheepishly trailing behind them.
Everywhere, there were bulletin boards covered in posters—bright flyers for club meetings, poetry slams, soccer tryouts, and a dozen causes asking for signatures. Music drifted faintly from somewhere, clashing with the distant sound of construction. It was a world alive, a world that never seemed to pause.
Inside the main hall, the atmosphere shifted. The air smelled faintly of books, floor polish, and the coffee shop tucked in the corner. Voices blended into a low murmur, punctuated by the occasional laugh or the slam of a locker. Screens flashed announcements about upcoming events. Maps and signs pointed in every direction, but still, it was easy to feel lost, swallowed by the endless staircases and corridors.
For a newcomer, it was overwhelming. Too many faces, too many places, too much sound. But beneath the nerves, there was a pull—a sense of possibility. As if somewhere among the buildings, the people, the noise and silence, something was waiting.
"Hey , New York, there's going to be a party tonight, I don't know if you wanna go , crap , I mean you should come, all the new students would be there including the hot guys, "Emma said for the first time after the long silence from walk , grinning from ear to ear
"No , especially the hot guys "Jane corrected, winking at me .
"I mean you're hot and I could see the guys drooling at you already. Why not put them off their misery by attending tonight's party, I'm sure you have one of those clothes " Claire added teasingly.
"I swallowed hard, I will think about it" , I muttered .
"Don't think about it. Just come, and we are here, room 24" , Emma said, dragging the 24 while taking a long glance at my card which has 24 written over it .
Sure thanks, I replied ,slotting the card inside the slotting machine beside my door. The door makes a small beep before cracking open, I faced Emma and muttered thanks again to them before walking in .
Before we forget, 10 .00 is party time, they said chorused before leaving.