Finally. After two gap years and a thousand refreshes on his college portal, Tim was officially in.
The campus shuttle rumbled away, leaving him and his friend Oreon standing at the main stop, backpacks slung over their shoulders.
Oreon took a deep breath, eyes wide. "Ahh, college life. We actually made it." He pointed toward a tall, glassy building gleaming in the sun. "That's the admin block, the heart of all academic evil."
Tim looked. It was... a building. He didn't feel whatever awe Oreon did. He barely knew what the admin block even did.
"You know what, Tim?" Oreon said, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret.
"What?"
"I'm running for student government. I want to be part of the people who actually make decisions." His grin was all ambition.
"Why?" Tim asked, half-curious.
"Because influence beats intelligence any day." Oreon laughed. "You'll see."
'Politics?' Tim hadn't thought that far. He knew he was just an average student, but maybe, if he couldn't be the smartest, he could at least be connected.
"Yeah," he heard himself say. "Same here. Let's go for it."
As they walked toward their department building, Oreon sighed. "Kinda sucks we didn't get the same major."
Tim just nodded. The university had 'helpfully' switched his preferred course to Chemistry. Oreon, who'd wanted Aerospace, got Physics instead.
"At least we're in the same building," Tim said.
"True. The Science Complex!" Oreon said, "Let's link up later."
The Science Complex looked sleek and intimidating, clean glass, white walls, a smell of sanitizer and stress. They didn't yet know it would soon feel like a prison.
---
Tim climbed the stairs, glancing around for signage. "Okay… departmental registration should be here."
A small line of students waited near a door. He spotted a girl sitting off to the side, brown skin, braids, calm expression.
"Hey," he said, stepping closer. "Is this where we register?"
"Yeah," she said without looking up from her phone.
"Cool, thanks." He took a seat beside her.
After a some long silence, he blurted, "You got placed in Chemistry too, huh?"
"Yeah." The girl responded, still not looking up.
'Eighteen years on Earth and i still have no idea how to talk to girls', he thought.
After another painful minute, he inhaled, then went for it. "Can I get your number? Y'know, so we can… compare notes or whatever."
She finally looked up, expression unreadable.
"Sure," she said.
He fumbled his phone out. She typed it in.
"Name?" he asked.
"Abigail."
"I'm Tim," he said, pocketing his phone like evidence from a crime scene.
---
When his turn came, he walked into the office and, for some reason even his brain couldn't explain, he said, "Big man in the house!"
He immediately felt instant regret, but the upperclassmen behind the desks burst out laughing.
He felt Relieved, ' Okay, maybe this wasn't a total disaster'. He thought to himself.
"I like your energy, man," one of them said, wearing a backward cap.
Tim smiled weakly and paid his registration fee with a credit slip. Just as he was about to leave, one of the girls at the desk gave him a look.
"You know, you've got the look for our freshman showcase."
"The what now?"
"Mr. Freshman. A little fun contest during orientation week."
"Oh, no, no, I'm good," Tim said quickly. Stages were not his thing.
"Come on, don't be shy," Cap Guy said, grinning. "I already added your name."
Tim blinked. "You what?"
"You're in. Welcome to campus fame."
He walked out in silence, half-annoyed, half-dazed. His first step into campus life and he'd already been signed up for something he didn't want.
---
With nowhere to go, he wandered toward a student café a friend had recommended, a cozy spot run by two friendly baristas. The smell of espresso and muffins hit him immediately.
He sat down quietly and pulled out his phone, scrolling aimlessly.
The door chimed. Two girls walked in, laughing, one petite, with a confident walk; the other taller, wearing a hijab and a bright smile. Both looked effortlessly put-together.
Tim pretended not to notice them, though he absolutely did.
A cheerful voice snapped him out of his scrolling.
"Hey!"
He looked up. One of the girls, the shorter one was standing right in front of him, smiling.
---
Weeks had bled into a routine, and Tim was finally getting used to the rhythm of campus life. He'd made a few new freshman friends and settled into his off-campus apartment.
One afternoon, sitting outside with his phone, he sent a message.
Tim: I mean... you didn't respond very well to me when we met.
Abigail: Sorry about that. I was just stressed out that day.
Tim: I'll head back to campus soon for faculty registration. Want to meet up later?
Abigail: Oh, right. I almost forgot that's today.
Abigail: Sorry, can't. Busy all week. Bye.
Tim stared at the screen for a second before sighing, 'So much for that' he muttered to himself.
He stood and went inside his room, and got dressed for campus.
---
The Science Faculty building, wasn't far from the Science Complex building. Inside, room MBB 103 buzzed with the chaos of registration, run by a few tired-looking faculty executives. Tim found a seat and waited, half-listening to the chatter.
While he waited, an impromptu class rep election was held in his department, for his class actually. A girl and a boy volunteered for Industrial Chemistry, two boys for Pure Chemistry. A quick vote was called, winners were crowned, and assistants were assigned.
Tim missed all of it, It was only two hours later, after finally finishing his registration, that he saw the missed calls and texts.
Unknown girl: You weren't around for the class rep election.
Tim: Sorry, just finished my registration.
Even if he'd been free, he wouldn't have shown up. They were all still clueless freshmen, and he had zero interest in signing up for stress disguised as leadership.
His phone rang, it was his dad.
"Hey, Dad."
"Hello, son. How's campus life?"
"It's fine. Just wrapped up faculty registration."
"That's good," his father said.
"Oh. I almost forgot, they just held class rep elections for class."
"Did you contest?"
Tim didn't answer. Luckily, his father didn't push. They talked a little longer before hanging up.
---
Later that day, Tim stopped by his favorite café. Inside, he spotted his hometown friend Reign with Promise, Fatimah, and another guy, Light.
"Hey, guys," Tim said, approaching.
Fatimah stood up and hugged him. He was getting used to the gesture, but he was not used to the feeling of her chest against his. He forced himself to stay calm.
"Wagwan," Reign greeted.
Tim dropped into a seat just as Promise was saying, "Light said I can't twerk."
Tim arched a brow.
"I'm not lying," Light said. "You've seen her try?"
The table erupted in laughter.
"Prove him wrong," Reign challenged. "Go on, show Tim."
Promise stood up and attempted to twerk. It was the first time Tim realized that not all women could twerk. He bit the inside of his cheek, trying not to laugh and crush her very public confidence.
"Yeah, I see what you mean," he said, controlling himself from laughing.
"You guys are bullies," Fatimah said, still laughing. Her phone rang, she stepped outside to answer.
Reign and Light also went to grab drinks. As soon as they were gone, Promise leaned closer.
"You know, Tim, you're wasting your chance."
"Excuse me?"
"Fatimah likes you," she said simply. "And if you're slow, another guy might snatch her."
The statement landed like a shock, even though he'd seen the hints. He'd written it off as just her friendly nature. Besides, Fatimah wasn't really his type. He was more of a 'thicc thighs and backside' guy. His eyes flicked to Promise. 'You, on the other hand'... he thought.
He just smiled, and Promise, wisely, didn't push it further.
Reign and Light returned with drinks and muffins, and Fatimah rejoined them. As everyone started chatting again, Tim found his mind elsewhere.