Jonathan grew up in a vibrant Nigerian-American household where music, love, and conversation never ran dry. His parents were successful but laid-back — the kind who valued education but never forced a specific path. They gave Jonathan the freedom to explore, and he did just that. He discovered his love for music early, teaching himself to play the keyboard and guitar before the age of 12. While his official major is Psychology, everyone who knows him says he's a natural-born performer.
Where Justin was quiet, reserved, and observant, Jonathan was loud, friendly, and full of life. He walked into a room like he owned it, his confidence radiating in every step. He wasn't just an extrovert, he *thrived* in the noise, the attention, the constant interaction. Parties? He loved them. Crowds? He felt most alive in them. Conversations? He could talk to a wall and still make it laugh.
He wasn't perfect, he procrastinated a lot, got easily distracted, and sometimes talked so much he forgot to listen. But beneath the outgoing persona was a heart that cared deeply. He noticed when someone was uncomfortable, picked up on subtle emotions, and had a way of making people feel seen, even if they barely knew him.
Moving in with Justin was… unexpected. Jonathan could sense the quiet sadness behind his new roommate's eyes. He knew Justin carried weight probably grief, maybe fear and while Jonathan didn't push, he was determined to bring some light into his space.
They were opposites in almost every way.
But maybe, just maybe, that's what made them good for each other.
Justin helped Jonathan with unpacking his things. It was around 8pm when they finally finished putting things in place.
Both of them decided to order takeaway from a nearby bistro. The aroma of warm food filled the small dorm room as Justin and Jonathan sat cross-legged on the floor, their takeaway boxes open between them. The city lights outside flickered through the window, casting soft shadows over the room. Despite the exhaustion of the move-in day, a quiet energy lingered between them.
Jonathan broke the silence first, breaking a piece of bread. "So, Justin, tell me what brought you to Lifetime? I mean, besides it being close to home."
Justin looked down at his food, then shrugged. "I guess... I wanted a fresh start. After everything that happened with my parents, it just felt right to be somewhere new. Somewhere I can focus on myself."
Jonathan nodded slowly, his usually bright eyes softening. "Yeah, I get that. Losing family... it's rough. My mom's still around, but she's always working. Sometimes it feels like she's there but not really there, you know?"
Justin glanced at Jonathan, surprised at the openness. "Yeah, I can imagine. I miss my parents a lot. It's like, they were always the ones keeping everything together. Since they're gone, it's like the weight of the world's on my shoulders."
Jonathan leaned back, thoughtful. "Man, that's heavy. But you don't have to carry it alone. That's why we're here now, right? To start fresh but also have people to lean on."
Justin sighed, a faint smile breaking through. "I want to believe that. Sometimes it just feels like everyone expects me to be strong, like I can't break down."
Jonathan's smile was warm and genuine. "You can break down. Cry, vent, whatever you need. It's okay not to have it all together. Trust me, I've had my share of bad days."
Justin's eyes met Jonathan's, the trust growing. "Thanks, John. It means a lot... having someone who gets it."
Jonathan chuckled softly, reaching for a slice of pizza. "We're roommates now. Might as well be friends too."
They both laughed, the tension easing. The night stretched on with stories, laughter, and a budding friendship that promised to make the journey ahead a little less lonely.
Justin didn't get to walk around as he planned since he was caught up with helping Jonathan move in. Thankfully though, after asking a worker who was there during the move-in, their first day in University wasn't going to start with classes straight away. The freshmen were going to be given a tour around the campus ground to get familiar with it. They would also be taking a picture of their Student ID Card. It's pretty important since it's needed to access certain parts of the University.
The next morning, Jonathan woke up first. He recited his usual morning prayer out of habit and had taken a long and fresh shower. After he was done dressing up, he went to Justin's room in the apartment and woke him up.
"Hey Justin, wake up. We've got a tour to attend today" Jonathan said while switching on the lights in his room. Though it was 8am and the sun was already up, Justin's bedroom curtains were effectively blocking out any light from the outside, making his room pitch black.
Justin covered his eyes because of how the bright lights were blinding him. He groaned and tried to adjust his eyes quickly to the light. "Okay..." he responded groggily. "What's the time now?"
Jonathan took a glance at the clock in the living room. "It's eight. The tour is at ten o'clock, so we should probably head out to get breakfast."
Justin slowly stood up, stretching.
He then turned around, "Oh, you're already dressed." he yawned, walking into his bathroom. "I uh - I'll get ready now."
Justin got dressed in a comfy but stylish outfit. It was 9am when they got to the cafe right across the building for breakfast. They both got a cup of cold coffee to freshen themselves up, buying a bag full of pastries too. The two were well dressed, catching the eyes of the people around.
Soon after breakfast, they both hopped into Jonathan's car and zoomed off to Lifetime University.