The boy Infront of me looked out of place, he seemed to be covered in clouds. His jacket looked like candy pink and fluffy, white pants, white mittens, pink sport shoes that I was sure I had seen someone's niece in during some family gathering.
Beside him were two huge bags stood with another at his feet.
I knew I had a roommate, I just hadn't known it was a literal princess. He was cute, like someone I should shield from the world. The moment I'd walked in, he seemed to have been crying, those boba eyes looking glassy with tears that made you want to tear someone apart for them. But we'd just met, I didn't want to seem overbearing.
"Hi, my names Riley!"
He nodded then turned his head away.
"Have you chosen that bed?"
He nodded and I nodded back. Okay so not necessarily a talker, nice! I was also not much of one though my elder brother wanted me in a dorm for just that so... this wasn't going to work.
I opened my suitcase, got my bedding, made my bed then got out clothes that I begun arranging in one of the wardrobes. The boy at the inner part of the room has been watching me all along. Once done, I turned to him.
"What is it?"
"I am Blane...I don't know how to..."
He gestured at my bed.
I looked around, had that been why he hadn't moved and seemed to be crying before I came in? Before I asked him, I'd seen resolve written all over his face. It was the reason I'd chosen to ask him one last time before I let him be.
"It might sound awful but I have never done this before."
His voice was tiny, his hands rubbing against each other...damn I love that voice.
"Okay, I'll help. Which bag has beddings?"
He blinked a couple of times before standing and dropping both to the floor. He had to call someone to get the codes. The person very adamant about talking to me. It was an elderly lady who introduced herself as nana... his sitter or nanny I guess.
-He might need help a little but don't overdo it. We don't want to keep him pampered so let him fall, cry, stand up. Next time he'll learn not to cry, then not to fall.
Okay, but have they met the person they don't want pampered? We exchanged contacts and I helped with the beddings. Then clothes and at some point toiletries.
"You can't go to the bathroom with this one...they absorb water...pick one toothbrush then let's keep the rest...no barsoaps are for clothes."
Good thing someone's aunt's and uncle's are grandparents...and they love rubbing it in our parents faces by bringing those rascals home so I have lived with kids... intermittently. This one though seemed like a full time job.
Lunch had passed without notice. Outside, there was still a rackus of people moving in, inside, I was waiting for him to come out of the bathroom. And he did come out... covered in pastel towels...steam trying to run away from said bathroom...but he was smiling so...
"Get dressed then I'll help you dry your hair."
"Okay!"
Maybe I should have emphasized that he cover himself up. I quickly turned around as a towel got unwrapped and internally cursed. Don't parents know they are throwing their kittens into wolve dens? The outside world and home are two totally different places.
Maybe I shouldn't get friends that would want to come over...or just keep off friends for the sake of this kid...he was too cute.
-Hello!
-What faculty are you in? I can't find your name in business management.
-Engineering!
-Dude! He said engineering...you serious?
It was a different voice. I tried to stretch my arm but felt something heavy on it. I turned to said arm only to see someone's face.
Okay! I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and mind from everything then opened them and turned back to the person whose head was on my arm... arms circling my torso and a leg over mine.
Keep calm brain...keep calm heart... keep calm mini-me
-What dorm...
_I'll call later
And I hung up. Looking at the screen, it was seven. We hadn't had lunch...and dinner. We had somehow fallen asleep on the same bed. The last time I was awake, I was telling Blane I'd wake him up for dinner. We had been on different beds...
"Blane! Blane!"
"Mmmh!"
God, he looks better waking up.
He opened one eye...then the second before stretching like a damned cat then sitting up and rubbing his eyes...not at all shocked at us sharing a bed. Was I thinking too much?
"Go and wash your face then we'll go find something to eat."
"Okay!"
Keep calm mini-me, damnit!
I should have taken the shower first. The phone ringing made me turn towards it, Kristoff. Okay matters solved.
-What?
-What dorm are you in? The four of us want to meet up for dinner.
-Let's meet tomorrow, okay?
-Classes begin tomorrow.
-You're in photography, someone's in communication, there's art then management.
-I revised to management.
-I told you before, hobbies pay. Don't force yourself into something you might hate. We'll talk later, I need to eat.
-Fine dad.
"Put a coat on!"
I told Blane as I walked into the bathroom, cleaned up and walked out. I picked a pair of shoes from the cabinet by the door after getting the keys and wallet.
A week ago, the five of us had been here to look around, book dorms and scout the area. I hadn't known my brother had already booked a room...to keep away from trouble makers.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Something light."
"Sweet, spicy or sour?"
"Sweet and sour."
"Chicken then. They serve it with rice and soup."
"Okay, let's have that."
He wasn't much of an eater...took tiny nibbles...but he seemed to love the soup...and the salad that I had ordered last minute. Bit of rice, bit of chicken, nice to broth and great to salad. Good to know.
After, we walked around to digest and somehow got sweet corn in our hands that he'd been interested in. He didn't mind the lemon juice as well which is nice I guess.
"What course are you taking?"
"Design."
"Fashion or interior?"
"Fashion, I wanted to take architecture or interior decor but mom didn't think it was a great idea. I love clothes and dressing up I guess, so..."
"But you still have that in mind."
"Yes, is that wrong?"
"Not at all. You can learn the first semester. If you still have a problem we can talk to them about it, okay?"
I can already imagine his old man coming at me for corrupting his son but okay. I think I am ready for that. Ready to fall out and come up again because I think I already love... no, like his son. I like being around his son. I wasn't going to lose because it was the boy's future we were talking about at the moment.
"I am taking engineering... business management too but I'll start that during my second year."
That is hopefully my engineering 'note taking' lessons reduce by more than half by then. Business management was a must. I had a sum of pocket money before and somewhat invested and was positively raking in.
Engineering was because I also like machines. From bikes, motorbikes, cars, heavy-duty. Even those little machines in hospitals... well not so little. Anything with a running motor. I had liked them since young.
To the point I became a collector... money has to go somewhere, right?