After realizing I was indeed lost, I needed to find a way to move past the pain and humiliation. The soothing ambiance of the campus parks helped me find the strength to confront my fears and insecurities. I decided to take this time alone to rediscover myself and learn to appreciate my own worth. While I was processing everything in the darkness, I saw lights flashing in and out of focus. I heard shouts, and slowly but steadily, those shouts came closer and closer. Until I could make out the silhouette of a person, and soon after that, there were two more. One of those silhouettes towered over the others. Jacob had found me. Through the blinding lights, I noticed him running towards me after a long, bad day. Finally, he approached me and did something that took me completely aback. He hugged me for 10 full seconds. That embrace encompassed everything that had transpired the whole day, from spending a great afternoon to having an awful time at the cinema, and finally, to me running off to the groves.
"Levi, we've been looking for you everywhere. I was dead worried about you. Never do this to me again," he said exhaustedly. Before letting me go from his hug, I could feel his heart pounding in his chest like a sledgehammer.
"I didn't mean to, Jake. Well, I kind of did, but my point is that I didn't mean to scare you like that or worry you. I was just so upset, and I needed to be alone. Fortunately, you found me because I'd have no idea how to get out of this part of the campus parks," I said, releasing a long sigh.
That was when the two other people with him made themselves known; they were the University's groundkeepers. They chided me about running off and told me not to stay after dark because sometimes it can be dangerous, even though it's gated. They prompted us to head back home briskly.
While I was following Jake down the trail, I got a little ahead of him, and suddenly I felt an acute but tolerable pain on my forearm. I looked around, and Jacob said, "Next time you do this, it'll be more painful," cracking his knuckles. For a moment, I believed him, although it probably was just jesting. At last, we arrived at the Apartment's gate, and I could finally appreciate how far in I had gone when I bolted out of the car. I also noticed how massive the campus parks were. And even though I had covered a great expanse, I had still not reached the main college building, so that meant it was probably even bigger. After crossing Melian's Ave, we reached the male Housing Building; we were greeted by the receptionist who, unbeknownst to everything that had happened for us, warned us in the most amiable way not to return too late back to the dormitories. We climbed the stairs until we reached our room. When the door closed behind me, I let out a big breath and sat behind the door for a moment. Jacob stared at me for a long moment and said:
"It's going to be okay. We can always just hang out, the two of us, and we could also include Jess and Aimee if you want, buddy." Already, it was a good thing he got both names right, this time.
"You're right, help me stand up, please," I said, while he extended his hand. I grabbed it, and he pulled me to my feet. "Thank you for being there for me, as well. I appreciate it," I said, and nodded while I smiled warmly towards him, feeling grateful for everything he was doing for me.
"In fact, I brought my computer from home. Would you like to play some video games with me? We could divide the screen, or we could watch Netflix. A movie would be really cool," he said, displaying an excited grin.
After the horrible day I had just spent, playing video games with Jacob or watching a decent film would be wonderful. As soon as he proposed that, I felt my spirits lift, and I knew I could finally enjoy and relax next to my new friend.
"I'm sure you won't mind if I let out a small scream if we're watching another horror movie," I held my thumb and forefinger barely apart, visually emphasizing the size of my screams, trying to add a note of humor after today's event.
He just looked at me, put his arm around my shoulder, and ruffled my hair. I didn't try to let go. I enjoyed these gestures from him.
We wrapped up our night, playing Mario Kart on a PC emulator, and watching a suspense movie. Fortunately, I didn't let out any screams of any sort. Time flew by, and before we knew it, it was already 1 am, and we both had to get up early the next first day of school.
I went to bed, still feeling slightly upset. Although the worst was over, I needed to understand that it is up to me to define what things I allow others to say about me. I am not defined by other people's opinions and perspectives. That's my job, and giving them that power will only make me miserable and powerless against bullies. Certainly, stereotypes can be wrong, like Jacob's, but they can also be right, like his friend's. Today, I did not make new friends, but I undoubtedly deepened my relationship with Jake. Tomorrow would be a hard day, full of new experiences. I would have my first college class of my life. The thought of what was to come made me feel a jolt of electricity course through my body. Before drifting off, I checked my phone and saw that Aimee had messaged me, asking if I was alright and letting me know how her day with Jessica had gone. I replied that I was going to sleep, that my day had been complicated, and that I would tell her more the next day. I closed my eyes, feeling the urge of tiredness to let go and allow it to take me to other imagined worlds.
The next day, I woke up early, feeling sore all over after having run around the park and moving muscles I rarely ever use. Luckily, I didn't have any nightmares, and it was a restful night. I rubbed my eyes; the sun hadn't risen yet. Usually, I didn't need any alarms; I had a natural, well-calibrated clock because throughout my life, I always woke up on time. I sat up in bed, glanced around, and noticed Jake was still deeply asleep. I supposed I would have to wake him again that day. I chose the clothes I was going to wear and headed towards the bathroom. I turned on the bathtub faucet and let the hot water fill the room with vapor. It was a cold morning, and I preferred warming up the bathroom without wasting much water. As soon as it was the right temperature, I stripped and hopped into the bathtub. Feeling the hot water on my face and body was a necessary comfort for the day that lay ahead. Once I finished, I dried myself off, feeling more calm and relaxed. I dressed in a standard white shirt with small dark blue asterisks, letting it hang outside of my dark blue pants and some green leather shoes. I combed my hair as neatly as I could, which sometimes proved to be a daunting task, and brushed my teeth. When I was about to leave the restroom, I heard an alarm go off. Probably Jacob's.
I exited the bathroom to find him opening his eyes and yawning. When he saw me, his eyes widened, and he sat up, naturally with his torso naked. "Looking good today, eh?" he said, seeming impressed by my choice of clothes. "Thank you," I replied, feeling my cheeks starting to get warm. "I'm glad you like it," and honestly, I needed a compliment like that. Jake promptly took a shower and we got ready to leave. We climbed up to the fifth floor and had breakfast. There weren't as many students as there were the other day. On the table we chose, it was just Jacob and me. He didn't pay me much attention, since he was focussing really hard on his cellphone, I figured he was talking with his friends, trying to fix what happened the previous night. So I ate in silence and was disheartened not to find Jessica and Aimee there, but I supposed their classes were either later during the day or else they wouldn't have breakfast today. When we finished, we reached the stairs to make our way down and head to college.
"Ready for today's first day?" I asked Jacob, trying to seem confident, but my stomach was a knot of nerves.
"As ready as one can be," Jake answered, sounding uncertain. "I just don't know how it'll be like with my mates after…" he added and stopped mid-sentence, with an air of anxiety hanging heavily over him.
"I understand, Jake. If anything goes awry, you've got my number. Just send me a message, and I'll go to the rescue, OK?" I told him, trying to make my voice sound more reassuring.
Once we reached the ground, I put on my crimson red overcoat for the cold and exited the building, Jess and Aimee were waiting for us. When I heard Jacob say, "I wanted to give you a little surprise," I could hardly contain my excitement as I saw them waiting for us. I looked at him, smiled, ran towards my friends, and hugged them both. I had already made up my mind that I was going to have to be alone, as soon as Jacob and I parted ways. I realized that at this point, I had never inquired about what my new friends were going to study, so I decided to ask them:
"Guys, I just noticed that we never talked about our majors. What are you going to study?" I asked them, half-laughing with genuine curiosity.
"I'm majoring in Political Science," Jessica answered. "I'd like to be a lawyer one day."
"Personally, I'm going for Journalism and I'm also doing a college course in Computer Algorithm," said Jacob, confidently.
"And I'm studying Psychology," said Aimee excitedly. Honestly, the thrill of the moment left me breathless and giddy. I was taken aback because I was going for Psychology too! So I replied, "No way! Me too! What class are you having right now?" I pressed, still feeling elated with the idea.
"Right now, at 8 am, I'm having Introduction to Psychology," she said. I couldn't take it in that we even shared the same schooling program because I was having the same class at the same time.
"Me too! That's so awesome. Do you want to sit next to me?" I asked her excitedly, already feeling like the way things turned out were pretty smooth. "No, actually," she replied, steadying her face in a way that made it seem like she was being really serious about it until she added, "Just kidding, of course, Levi, I'd love to," which made me breathe out because, for a moment, I believed her.
We walked across the school campus, following the signposts indicating the Humanities college building. In particular, there was a sign that drew my attention the most. It warned students about deer and fawns crossing the campus roads and instructed them to be careful and not to bother the animals. The parks were as lush as ever, although there were signs that fall was beginning soon. Leaves started to fall, blown away by the wind, their colors turning into shades of yellow, orange, and green. The groundkeepers had piled up mountains of leaves, ready to be collected. The breeze was gentle, but it was a cloudy day with some bits of sunshine pouring through the clouds. Personally, I enjoyed days like this, but what lay ahead was scary. An air of anxiety hung heavily over me. After traversing several miles of campus, we arrived at the Humanities Department.
The building was constructed in the Romanesque style, featuring galleries at the front and marble pillars. Three entrances with intricate religious designs graced the facade, while two bell towers flanked the doors, surpassing the triangular dome, with an HD inscription written in the stone. We ascended the steps and approached the middle gate, which was open for students to come and go for the ceremony. As soon as we entered, we noticed that the Humanities Department resembled a cathedral, with a large ceiling decorated with classical paintings of angels studying and handing each other books. We were greeted by several sculptures, donated by the Arts and Design students. One particularly caught my eye; it was a capybara with three little baby capybaras looking at their mother with affection and naivety, made in metal but realistically brought to life. Several other indicators pointed to the different secretaries within this department.
Further along the way, seats had been put out for students, and there was a large stand at the end of the hall with a speech podium. Most of the school had been gathered by the Humanities Department's Dean for a beginning-of-term speech. There were other adults I had yet to meet, probably department secretaries, the Dean, and other important religious figures of the school. We approached the first-year selected seats, near the podium, and I noticed that most of them were nervous and trying to listen eagerly to what the school authorities had to say.
"Did you know there was a beginning-of-term speech?" I asked Jessica, feeling puzzled.
"I had no idea," she replied, looking as curious as I was.
An adult, approximately in his sixties, approached the speech podium and said, "Dear students, faculty, and honored guests, my name is George Gaunt, one of the many esteemed University's deans, and I am honored to welcome you to the beginning of the new term here at our prestigious Christian university. As we gather today, we are reminded of the great responsibility that we hold as members of this community and the profound opportunity that we have to learn and grow together in faith and in knowledge. This university was founded on the principles of faith, integrity, and service to others. It is our mission to educate the next generation of leaders who will go out into the world and make a positive difference in the lives of others, guided by their faith and their commitment to excellence. As we embark on this new term, I encourage each and every one of you to approach your studies and your work with a spirit of humility, curiosity, and dedication. Our faculty and staff are here to support you every step of the way, and we are committed to providing you with the best possible education and opportunities for growth. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the world around us. In closing, I wish you all the best for the new term. Now I'll leave the podium for the first-year counselor, Ms. Forms. The rest of the students are dismissed, and we hope you have a wonderful first day of classes. Thank you for your attention." He concluded, exiting the main hall as Ms. Forms took up the podium.
"Good morning students. I am Isadora Forms, for those who haven't made my acquaintance last Saturday. I am happy to welcome you all to Midnight Sun University. I am one of the first-year counselors. Not many students in our country have the pleasure of studying at our prestigious university, which follows and focuses on the Bible's morals and values, but it's already 8 am, and it's time for you to start your classes." She announced, grouping the different students based on their majors and their classes. She introduced us to our peer mentors, who were supposed to guide us on this first day and the days to come. Jacob went to the Journalism group, and Jessica went to the Political Science one. Aimee, our group, and I were led to our first class, "Introduction to Psychology," by our peer mentor who proceeded to introduce himself, "My name's Benjamin Parker, as you already know, I'm your peer advisor and now I'm leading you to your first class. For your next classes, follow the signs and check the school website to know the assigned classroom. If you need anything, send me a text message during business hours, please, guys," he said, moving along briskly while giving us his phone number. We reached our classroom door, and Benjamin left. The classroom was very standard, loaded with desks and brown leather cushioned seats, windows overlooking the campus and a white school board.
I sat next to Aimee while we waited for the professor to arrive. I felt excited to see how this class would unfold, considering it was my first one. My train of thought was interrupted when a student entered the classroom after everyone had already settled. My head spun, and I felt a little dizzy. I stared at a tall and muscular young man with chiseled features, auburn hair and piercing green-blue eyes; we looked directly at each other for a moment. I heard Aimee say under her breath, "My god." I followed him with my gaze as he took a seat at the back of the classroom. I suppose I was not the only one shocked by this guy's presence. Immediately, I was determined to find out who this enigmatic boy was.
The professor entered, and the class began. He introduced himself as Mr. Mortimer. He gave us another introductory speech, but I couldn't make myself pay attention to what he was saying. I kept glancing toward the back of the room and locking eyes with the new student. He held my gaze and didn't try to look away until I turned my head back to the present. Suddenly I heard, "Am I interrupting something, Mr…?" The professor asked me, determination in his tone. I was taken aback, caught off guard.
"Winters, and no, excuse me, sir, I thought I had seen something at the back," I replied, trying to sound courteous.
"The board is at the front of the classroom; please pay attention to it," he responded, sounding strained.
Certainly after such reproach, I concentrated as intently as I could while the teacher started reading the student list to take attendance. I wanted desperately to find out his name.
"Levi Winters," he called out, instinctively mispronouncing my first name.
"I'm here, and it's pronounced Leh-Vee, sir," I corrected him automatically, but feeling my voice tremble.
"Anything else, Winters?" He replied coolly, to which I decided to was best to remain silent.
After a while of calling each student's name, I was fully focused on the moment, he called out, "Edmund Plaintgenet." I turned around as he politely replied, "That's me, sir." As soon as he said that, he stood up, picked up his backpack, hung it over his shoulder and left the room, which no one else had done at that point. The professor looked after him and finished the class. Briskly, I gathered my school laptop and exited the room. Unfortunately, he was already gone.