The school gate stood tall and wide,making me shudder at the fear of being so small and unimportant at this very moment. I clutched my bag of groceries tightly hoping it will give me a bit of stamina. My dad trailing right behind me holding my suitcase, he insisted on carrying everything else, including my underwears and my toiletries.
"I hope u didn't forget anything at home" he said for the umpteenth time.
"No, I didn't forget anything, I packed my stuff like a week ago and occasionally put in things that I forgot" I replied as calmly as possible.
"Oh!...I see!"
He seemed to be Searching for words, as he nervously looked around him as if he was searching for an excuse to take me back home.
"i'll be fine dad, I always am. You seem to be forgetting that I attended a boarding school, I can take care of myself " I said, more to myself than to him.
"Alright, I suppose you can do that". He replied and gave me a big hug." Just call me if you need anything" he added.
"You don't have to tell me that twice, sir". I chuckled.
"Also, make sure you focus and stay away from bad friends and always-"
"Daddy, please go home. You've told me this same thing like 20 times today. I've heard you, I'll call you if I need to okay?".
"Okay". He smiled and hugged me again. Then he walked towards the taxi that was waiting for him, got in and the taxi drove off. I waved him goodbye and so did he.
"Well, the sky suddenly became grey within a few minutes". I said to myself and took my things in.
I walked into the two storey building with the type of confidence that no one would ever believe that it was faked. I had already been given a key when I went for hostel clearance. I walked down the hallways looking like a I knew where I was heading to. 'Room 52 was the goal' I kept saying to myself.
"Hey!" a sharp but deep voice rang out. "This floor is for the guys only, except you're looking forward to some other activities" he added with a smirk.
The audacity of this guy to scare me like that and think of "other activities" is actually very alarming. Today is my first day in this hostel, it's best not to get into a fight with a loudmouthed student who could be my senior colleague.
"Oh!.... I didn't know that, sorry". I replied casually and attempted going upstairs.
" My name is Victor and I'm your course mate. I'm sure you can use some help packing in". He said with a politeness that I believed was fake.
"Thanks alot but I believe I can do just fine on my own pal". I responded as strictly as I could once I found out he was just a newbie like me.
"Suit yourself then, pal." He shrugged and went back downstairs.
"Such a drag, isn't he?" a thin female voice said startling me.
"You guys sure have a thing with sneaking up on people" I mumbled.
"Huh?" She asked
"Oh!...It's nothing". I answered
" I believe you're looking for room 52, that's my room. Let me help you with your stuffs" she said and hastily ran across the hallway with my stuffs. "My name is Benita by the way, what's yours?".
"Jennifer" I replied after an afterthought.
"Nice to meet you Jennifer, you'll be staying down bunk"
"Same here Benita."I answered.
I think I've had a lot of conversations for one day. I'm already drained out from all the talking. I quickly unpacked my stuffs and tried to make my corner as homely as possible....or even better. I. quickly took a shower and settled down on my bed. I didn't bother to make dinner because I was feeling a bit unwell.
Perhaps I'm feeling homesick. Homesick?....I. laughed at the thought of that. This place would. be more homely than my home could ever be. I just hope I'm able to make friends, smarter than me or maybe just nice. Either of them would be great. I just want to belong somewhere, somewhere nursely- if that's even a word - I just want to be around people who are themselves and like me for who I am. I'm certainly not so terrible that I can get one tomorrow right?..... Tomorrow will definitely be better!. And with these thoughts I dozed off.