I wasn’t supposed to start college like this.
Late. Lost. Standing in a crowded cafeteria pretending I knew what I was doing.
Everyone else looked comfortable—laughing, talking like they had known each other for years. I just stood there, holding my coke like it was some kind of shield.
I could feel the noise pressing against me, like it expected me to join in.
I didn’t.
Missing the first day wasn’t the problem.
Not knowing where my classroom was… slightly less fine.
and ending up here like this was definitely not something I was hoping for on the first day of my college.
I could ask someone; I should ask someone- afterall i have to ask for help and navigate through all of these if I wanted to live alone here in this city.
The cafeteria had already started emptying
The time in phone was a cue for me to reach for the first lecture . I had to ask someone if i didnt want to be late and have all the attention on me.
It was a worst nightmare, especially for me.
I looked around once, trying to find a easy person to talk with
I spotted a girl nearby and walked up to her. " Heyy...do you know where the first year classroom are?" I asked keeping my voice low
She looked up, slightly confused. “First year? I’m in third year, I’m not sure. It’s in one of the other blocks though, I think.”
Right.
Of course.
"Okay..thanks"I said noding like that helped.
She gave a quick smile and made her way out the cafeteria.
"I can show you" a voice came behind me
I turned slightly. A guy had stopped mid-step, like he’d overheard just enough.
“I’m heading that way anyway,” he added, casual and certain.
"...okay"I uttered after a silence of second.
The relief in me was instant palpable.
He just gave a small nod and started walking, expecting me to follow.
So I did.
The relief started turning into a little annoyance when he started walking fast and my little legs couldn't catch up with him.
