College is an open door to higher learning.
Whether achieved academically
or about oneself,
The decision is in your hands,
Incoming Freshman.

[1] Opening the Past

There was movement, a little shuffle on my desk. A light "swish" and a light "click" was the only sound I heard apart from the soft thudding of the air conditioner motor. It was the epitome of complete and utterly depressing boredom. Tomorrow will be another day, I console myself. I will not make the same mistake of putting myself in self-exile once again. After all, I cannot hide from the world any longer. One way or the other, I have to crawl out of this protective shell, and man-up.

"Man, Anberlin University? Way to go!" This simple statement came on my dull-lighted screen together with a slight beeping sound that I was waiting an entire hour for.

I typed in my reply, "Thanks."

Enter.

"You, what university are you in?"

Enter.

While I waited for his reply, I looked closely at his chat ID – 'ricopek1992'. We had always called him Pekto in our former school whenever we just wanted to piss him off, and because of accustomed habit, I seemed to have forgotten his real name—'Rico'.

Tapping lightly on the mouse, I found myself quite irritated with the wait, what could have been taking his reply so long?

ricopek1992 is typing...

He was being just his usual talkative self yet again. With a sigh, I minimized that window and shifted my attention to the Yahoo Messenger online list. There's quite a number who are actively using the software at this hour, scan, scan, scan...

Felice_915 is now online.

It's her again. It's like she's haunting and taunting me wherever I go. I saw her this morning flocked by her huge block while she was laughing at some joke that I wasn't able to hear.

We met roughly around 4 years ago, and when we met, she was all over me. It's not so much that I hated her, but I just didn't want to be chased. Luckily enough for me, we didn't go to the same school since I was from an exclusive boys private school and she was from an exclusive girls private school. One thing's for sure though, once I stepped into Anberlin, I became aware, became very, very irritatingly aware of her presence.

Ding-dong, a buzz?

I clicked the IM messenger open again. I was so lost in thought that I forgot I was talking to someone else. I took one good look at the box, and upon seeing so many words, I typed in, "Sorry, GTG, good luck." and closed the box. After placing the computer on stand-by mode, I climbed into bed.

——
Groan. 7:30, are you kidding me?

Skipping everything else, I came to look forward to my 2-hour break. Being grounded, I wanted to save some money to buy my mom flowers, so I wasn't able to leave campus. I was with my block in the little campus garden when a few girls walked by. I saw them coming towards our way, but as usual, I didn't greet them first, I waited for them to acknowledge me.

Today was a feakin' Friday and I was late.

I got my first cut in English since I wasn't able to attend half of her Period. No quiz today, thank the heavens! Literature class went by so slowly it was crappy. I looked at the professor with a critical eye as I tried to read his lips since I couldn't damn well hear anything from where I was seated, but to-no avail, it did me no good.

"Hi, Anthony!" She waves and I give them a smile as I tilt my head to show recognition. A few seconds later, another group comes by, and as expected, they knew me as well. "Anthony, hey!"

"Popular on your first year, Tony?" One of my block mates snickered.

"I told you not to call me Tony," I said annoyed as we left the garden to go to the study place.

Math came around and I wasn't excited since I knew we were getting our Diagnostic Test results today. If I don't pass, well then, I'm quite dumb. If I do, well good for me. "Mr. Anthony Tan," the lady said as she gave me my paper, and as I glanced at the score, I saw my golden ticket to fame.

"Fuck you man, an 85?!" One of my block mates joked around as we walked to the classroom where we'll be transferred. He got a 55 and was also going to Math 101, so I don't see why the hell he was complaining.

Upon entering the room, I see this dark brown hair that kind of shines against the fluorescent lighting. When she turned, I instantly regret to be actually caught looking at her hair, or if I had known any better, she might have thought that I was looking at her. The most intriguing thing happens next, she frowns and looks away. I don't get it, wasn't she into me? I knew she was, I felt it, I even detested it, and now she frowns at me? She's not even pretty.

"Hello... Anthony, you can find your seat or decide to stand the whole duration of the period." The professor stated as my block mate snorted at me.

I looked around the tables, not one seat was available, well except that one next to... No, oh no... I wouldn't dare—

"Uh, sir, please take your seat." The professor said quite irritated withme now.

I had no choice then. The kind of table we had for Math was that big wooden thing with lots of vandalism that only gives space for two, and lucky me, I was expected to sit right next to her. Her block mates were in front and behind her, while my block mates were on the sides. I thought of my options at this moment, and since Math was a relatively easy subject; I don't think I'd have to talk to her.

At least, I hope so.