CHAPTER THREE
STARTING COLLEGE
[Martha's POV]
''Are you sure you are going to make use of all these clothes?'' Seth groaned as he carried two bags containing my clothes.
' 'You should not complain baby brother, you are the one always complaining that I am not lady enough'' I said to him with an evil glimmer in my eyes.
''Packing more clothes than needed still doesn't make you lady enough'' said Michael from behind me, as from he carried two boxes stacked on each other that contained my books.
''Whatever peasants, just make sure you treat those with the utmost care' I said in a fake British royalty accent to annoy them.
They turned to face me simultaneously and dropped what they were holding to the ground.
''You guys are no fun''.
They picked the items from the ground and continued moving towards the waiting van dad hired. When they were done packing everything I needed, Seth sat in the shotgun seat of the van while Michael and I sat with our dad in his car as we tailed the van.
Today was the day of arrival and everyone was expected to pack into their designated hostels. I was assigned to Hostel J.
Our vehicles parked in front of the hostel and my brothers helped carry my things to the Porter's room where my things were investigated before they carried it to my room - Room 311.
We met the door opened and on entering, we saw a girl who looked more like a boy. She greeted us and introduced herself.
''Hi, I'm Raven''
''I'm Martha, nice to meet you''.
I called Lily to let her know I was arranging my things in my room and seven minutes later she came into my room. On entering my room, I noticed how Seth seemed to stop what he was doing and swooned at her. The fool.
We hugged and she greeted my dad and brothers.
"You really brought some things here Marth'" Lily said facing the contents of my un arranged boxes.
''They still did not let me take some things here and they are currently at the porter's office. My family would take them with them as they go.''
''Yes, I alone, would help her carry the things'' Seth butted in looking from the ceiling and to her face dramatically.
"Hi, I'm Seth" Seth said stretching his hand to Lily.
''Okayyy. I am Lily and I know you already. You are Martha's junior brother'' she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes as she shook his hand.
''Errr, not exactly ju...'' Seth tried to counter before I cut him off.
''I think the reason for this gathering is to get me settled. Can we just get back to that?'' I said through gritted teeth as I put my right hand on Lily's shoulder and my left on Seth's. Seth eyed me and I knew he wasn't happy.
The afternoon went by quickly and we were soon done.
''Call me if you need ANYthing'' my dad said to me as he patted my head while we were walking to his car.
"Sure my old man'' I assured as I hugged him. I was going in for a casual hug but as I felt my dad's hands at my back hugging me back, I took in his scent. That scent that felt like home and peace that only him gives. I have only known him for two years but I know how much of a support he has been. My transformation from Elizabeth Stephan to Martha Jordan was made possible because this man believed in me and saved me. I owe him my life.
I drew out from the hug rather reluctantly and my brothers took turns to hug me also. I was feeling quite emotional because the last time true family members left me, my life took a bitter turn and this scenario felt kind of familiar except this one is for my own good and they are not dying- by GOD.
I saw Lily leaning by the wall of the stairs and I dried my eyes so she would not see me as childish as we went back to my room. She filled me up on some information that she termed as necessary and vital for a student and I guess some would actually be useful. We said our good nights and I had my night bath. As I was about to sleep in my unfamiliar room and strange bed for the first time, I scrolled through my gallery and took out a picture of Nathan.
I zoomed in and out of the picture for a while before I turned off my phone in mild anger and frustration and tossed it to the other side of the bed. I really am hopeless.
I began to dream.
In my dream, I saw Nathan kissing a lady. I wanted to walk up to them but it was like there was an impenetrable wall preventing me. I banged on the transparent wall over and over again, screamed his name numerous times but he just did not hear me or could not even see me.
I woke up with a start. Today is my first day as an English and Literature student and I just had a terrible dream. I thought I was finally moving on from him but this is proving more difficult than I thought. I wanted to dash off to the bathroom but my roommate was having her bath. I used that time to select my outfit for the day.
My outfit consisted of a black hoodie with a boyfriend jean and a pair of black sneakers. I checked my time table for the courses I was offering that day which were on Syntax and Phonology. I arranged the textbooks and a notebook into my black tote bag and placed it on my bed. On the bag, my name Martha Jordan was printed on it with colourful designs of butterflies added.
Once I was done with my little arrangement, Lily sent me a text saying she would be done in the next fifteen minutes. She asked that I should be at the front of myll hostel since she would be passing that route to our department.
As I sent her my reply which was a sticker of a teddy sending love, my roommate came out of the bathroom and I quickly rushed in with a time frame in mind.
I bathed the fastest I have ever in my life and I did not regret it because I was done with dressing up in sixteen minutes and was standing at the front of my hostel in the seventeenth minute. I soon saw her energetically trotting towards me as soon I rested on the wall and we made our way to class.
We sat in the third row of the class and chattered quietly as we awaited our first lecture. After about ten minutes of waiting exhaustedly, a young man in a black trouser, black shirt with a brown jacket walked in. He looked too young to be a lecturer though.He climbed the podium and quietened the rowdy class.
"Good day class. My name is Marcus Ranks and I am in my final year in Geography. I am an SUG representative and I am sorry to announce to you that your first class has been cancelled due to an unavoidable circumstance preventing Dr Coleman from making an appearance here today. He sends his sincere apologies knowing how expectant you all must have been for your first class as first year students. He also told me to tell you all that this would never happen again. Thanks so much and once again, sorry for the inconvenience" he concluded and got off the podium. The eyes of all the students were trained on him as he walked out of the class.
"He looks like a dashing young man, don't you think?" Lily asked with a wide grin and a dazed look on her face.
"Wake up from whatever you are day dreaming of Lil and let's think of what we would use this free period for'' I said to her as I shook her arm.
''Hey, do not call me Lil, it sounds like the abbreviated form of little. I hope that is not what you meant?' she asked eyeing me in an interrogative way. I looked away from her face surreptitiously.
"You are such a rat Martha" she said and we both burst out laughing boisterously