Memory lane

June’s Pov

SEVEN YEARS AGO

The ride from my home at the countryside to the city was far and stressful but the happiness and joy that ran through me was like an electric shock didn’t make me feel the stress I was going through. I was happy because I was free, free from that hole that we call a town and I was ready to mingle with the city girls but I was scared that I might get labeled as a country side pumpkin. 

I was seventeen and I was finally fulfilling my dad’s wishes of going to college in D.C to study nursing, my love for the profession was fueled by my dad’s passion for it. According to my mom, he was not able to become one himself because of his financial incapability at the time, so he retorted to learning car repairs and everything automobile and right before he died, he owned the biggest automobile store in the whole town and since he was a thoughtful husband and father, he had prepared the future for us, making sure that we won’t’ suffer even after he’s gone. 

I’m proud of you, June. I could hear my mom’s voice whisper to me through the wind and I smiled.

I headed towards the dorm rooms and checked my college acceptance form to see that I had been assigned to Hall 12b room 4. Getting to hall B, I traced the numbers of my room down the hall till I got to 12A, and when I turned I saw a redhead and decide to ask her where I could get hall 12B and she directed me to go up the stairs and as I dragged my heavy luggage behind me up the stairs, I remember to give the people who designed this hall a bunch of blessings for making my life miserable. After successfully getting myself and the load to the first floor, I realized that there was an elevator that I could have easily used and I shake my head at my own foolishness.

This is college, June. You need to be smart. This isn’t high school, young lady. I reminded myself.

By the time I got to my room, the door was opened widely and as I entered I saw a blonde smiling widely at me.

“Hi, I’m June and I’ve been assigned to this room” I dropped my bag near an empty bed that I saw there. As I looked around the room, I saw that it had only two bed spaces, which signified that it was only for two persons and two wardrobe and two desks and chairs and also a walk-in bathroom and toilet. I heaved a deep sigh of relief.

This is a good sign. I told myself

“Hi, I’m February. I’ve also been assigned to this room” I stared at her trying to see if she was trying to joke or something.

“I was actually serious when I said my name was June, I didn’t make that up” I said

“I was not joking too, my name is February and you can call me Feb, most of my friends call me that. It’s actually nice to see that I have a roommate with no tattoos all over or someone who looks like a former inmate” I laughed and started bringing out my stuffs from the bag.

“As I was saying, since you’re June and I’m February, I guess we will be very compatible. That’s a good thing. You can use that side of the room while I use this one. I don’t have a problem staying with someone and I’m the rough and untidy type. Also, you can bring in your friends; I don’t have a problem with that, since I’ll be bringing my friends too. I like cooking but I don’t really enjoy it, so most of the times, you can cook too, but it’s not like someone is assigned to that task specifically and for the washing and sweeping, I heard the janitors will come in and do that every three days, how old are you?” she didn’t wait for me to reply before she started talking again and it was then that my excitement died down, I’m so in for this, my roommate talks way too much.

“I’m seventeen by the way and my mom was saying something about me being the youngest student in school and I guess ….” I didn’t wait for her to continue before I responded

“I’m also seventeen, so I don’t think there’s any reason why you should feel somehow” 

“Really?” she screamed with excitement. “This is like fate, like we were predestined to be like this and I know this is destiny”

“I don’t believe in fate. Things just happen, things we call coincidence” I retreated to my side of the room while she studied me hard before facing her pile of clothe’s back.

“Guess you’re from the countryside” I nodded. I wanted to ask her why, but I decided to keep quiet about it, I can’t afford to have a bad Impression on the first day here. We’ll be spending a whole year together till I get enough money to rent an apartment for second year. I’ve promised myself to work my ass off.

“June, there’s a fraternity party tonight, we must go together, I’ll come back to pick you up around 7, be ready by then” I wanted to say no to the offer but she had bolted out of the door, already leaving my words hanging in my mouth.

Later that day, I was sleeping when I felt a heavy load on my body and it kept launching itself into the air and back to my body.

“Get off me, you bag of flour” I screamed and when I opened my eyes, it was my roommate behaving like a kid pumped full with sugar.

“You need to pick up your call and get dressed too, it’s almost seven”

“I’m not going with you” I replied and picked up my phone from the small stool placed behind my bed. 

It was my mom who called and I redialed her number 

“Hey mummy”

“My baby, why didn’t you call me when you got to campus, I was so worried” 

“I’m so sorry about that, I was really tired when I got here that I forgot to call”

“I understand you darling” She’ll always understand you no matter how badly you behave. “Have you called her?” I knew she was going to ask

“I will call her when I have the time, just because we are in the same place doesn’t mean I should call her”

“Whatever you say June, just promise you’ll call her”

“I will mommy” that did the magic and she ended the call not without showering me with a lot of kisses and when I turned, my roommate was glaring at me. Why is she even still here?

I raised my hand up in total surrender and replied

“Okay, I give up. Let’s go, it’s just a fraternity party, it won’t hurt” I got into the bathroom, took my bath and wasted a lot of time thinking she would have left but the talkative bird was still there waiting for me. As I got dressed, she kept on glaring at me giving me no chance to change my mind.

We got to the party, it was being held at a far end of the college environment and there were lots of students, both new and old ones. New faces and all and I was among those new faces, new preys too.

“Come June, let me introduce you to my cousin” Feb dragged me through the crowd to meet with a set of boys sitting down with the red cups in their hands.

Not boys, but Greek gods, they were drop dead gorgeous. I was blushing so hard my cheeks turned red.

“This is my cousin, Ned. Cousin, meet my roommate, June” I stepped out from behind her and showed my face to the guy, he was the most handsome of them all.

“Hi June, its nice meeting you” he stretched his hand towards me for a handshake. I never knew it was that one handshake that would change my life forever. From there, I stopped living. 

&

“What are you thinking about? You’ve been really silent for a while and its unusual” Harry’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts and brought me back to the present. It was about to rain and my prediction and weather forecast ability was no good. 

“Nothing exactly. It’s about to rain; I think it’s time to go home, unless you’ll love to dance in the rain with me” 

“Not in this lifetime woman” he replied

“Stop denying it, I know you’ll love to”

“Maybe someday but now, I want to go home” I laughed again because I knew he just admitted to the fact that I knew he was lying.