Ethan Ring rushed through many people to finally reach the Building of Crease, where the orientation will be held. "Excuse me," he said while making his way into the crowd and finally entering the hall as he opened the door. The big wooden door creaked, and some have turned into him, and some do not care.
He took the empty seat nearer by the door and put his bag into his lap.
"And as we go on with this academic school year, I am hoping that everybody will have a great time enjoying your years and learn as well. We all have different paths to take, and it is not guaranteed for you, students, to reach your dreams in the same time frame. But remember, all you got to think about is you and your success," the Head of the College said, ending his speech.
"It's done?" Ethan asked. "Or is it just the introduction?"
"This is just the introductory. We will be having more activities later for us to get to know one another," said the man beside him.
"Yeah, being late on the first day, on the orientation, what a great academic year to start."
"There's still more days to be early, bro. Just be early next time," the man said. "Also, what course are you taking up?"
Ethan answered, "BS in Business Administration." Then he asked, "You?"
"Bachelor of Science in Biology," the man answered. He added, "By the way, I am Neil Jackson," offering his hand to Ethan. Ethan accepted his hand and shook it.
"I am Ethan Ring. It is nice to meet you."
"Everyone, there are still many activities to be held later, and I hope we can all find you there and let us socialize and enjoy this fresh academic year. Cheers to your batch!" the Head of the College said.
"I guess I got to go now. See you," the man, Neil Jackson, said. Ethan just nodded his head.
He does not know where to go now. He wishes that he has a dorm to stay in the university so he could have a place to kill time.
He went out of the building, and started to pick up his brochure again, and searched for the cafeteria. "Cafeteria," he reads. Then he started walking towards the cafeteria, which is the opposite of the Building of Crease. He is getting cautious now, not knowing when someone will bump him again.
There, he arrived and stood in front of the cafeteria with its wall made of glass, and there's a variety of food and drinks to choose from. Tables and chairs are all made of high-quality wood, which makes them more relaxing and more eye-pleasing. Vendo machines are present too. There are tables for groups, chairs, and tables for one attached to the wall. He chose to sit on the latter.
He left his bag on the chair, proceeded to go into the counter, and chose a salad, a soft drink, and brownies—one brownie. No, three of it, all of the food in one tray. Then he proceeded to pay it at the counter. Then he brought his food to his table.
Upon placing the tray, he checked his bag. Nothing's missing. He's just cautious, and he does not know how people living in the city acts. Or maybe he should learn how to trust city people just like the guy that lent him his pants.
He ate, and with that, as he took a spoon of his salad, the door opened into the cafeteria, and he noticed that some people are looking at the door. No, people are looking at the people entering the cafeteria.
The man that bumped him was one of them. Then he noticed that another man had taken a seat beside him, removing his eyes from the group of men and looked at the man beside him. It's the guy from the orientation, Neil Jackson.
"I do not know anyone from here. We sit with each other during the orientation. Remember? Just in case you forgot," Neil chuckled.
"Yeah, I did not. I also don't know anyone here," Ethan answered. "You have a dorm here?" he added.
Neil said, "Yes, I headed there right after the orientation and headed here right away because my stomach is growling."
"It must be great to have a roommate. You can both be stressed and still have fun."
"Yeah, but I wish I can own the whole room, and it does not work like that here. You gotta share."
Ethan asked as he took his last bite of salad, "So, do you want to go together? On the activities to be held later?"
"We both have different courses, and there are different activities for each course, so yeah, maybe not," Neil answered.
"Oh." Ethan has then again shifted his eyes on the group of men where they have seated at that long table. That man, Ethan thought to himself, seems popular.
Neil Jackson noticed where he's looking and said, "They're kinda popular here even though they're freshmen just like us. The school has accepted athletes earlier than us, and they already have gone through some training; they also have made some fame, which I think they're excellent in sports and deserve the popularity."
"What sports do they play?"
"Baseball."
Ethan nodded. He was still curious about that guy he met in the elevator and bumped him on his way to the hall. He's one of the popular kids.
Ethan checked his watch and said, "I think it's time for us to go. It's now the time to start the activities." Neil got up on his chair and brought his bag with him.
They both exited the cafeteria and walked just a little bit, and Neil said, "We should part ways now; I'm going to Building Caesar. You?"
"I'm headed to Building Calliope," Ethan answered. And then they bid their goodbyes. Ethan thinks he just made a friend. And he thought I did not even get to have his mobile number. And he has also forgotten to ask the name of the guy that bumped him. If he's popular, then maybe he'll soon know him; there's no rush.
He headed towards the building where the activities will take place for their course and first-year students. He's excited.
"Welcome, freshmen! We are here today to get to know each other, to offer support, and for you to know that you have someone that will be going through what you're going to go through in the future. In these activities, you're going to show your solidarity. Welcome, freshmen of BS in Business Administration!" The crowd shouted, and some cheered, and some made just poker faces. Ethan? He's grinning. He's been so excited for this to be brave, to think about what he wants, and to get into college officially.
The first activities have been easy. They only made two rounds and circles to know about the people on the other circle.
"I'm Ethan," he said as he faced the girl on the other circle.
"I'm Aubrey," she said, and they shook hands. And the circle went on and on, and Ethan introduced himself to a bunch of people, and he does not even know if he can even get to remember all of their names and if they will remember his. What matters is that he had fun. He's having fun.
There were more activities, and they all had fun with it. Ethan pulled out his handkerchief from his pants and wiped his sweat from his forehead. Then he realized it's not his. It's from the man that owns the pants. He smelled it; it smells great. It smells manly. How we wish he could be as attractive just like that man.
He brushed off that thought. What am I thinking? Praising, that is all, he thought.
He continued to have fun as he inserted back the handkerchief into the pockets of his pants. And again, the new activity started.
"For this last activity, you have to pair up with someone. Friends or strangers, you have to show that you are solid with just the two of you, and you have to make them feel that they're not alone in this journey," the host said.
Someone tapped him on his back.
"You?" Ethan said.
"Hey! You're the one I bumped into earlier," the man said. "And I see that you've changed your pants," he grinned. And that made Ethan pissed off again.
How much will this guy be pissing him off on this day?
"Yeah, and what you are saying is?"
"Man, chill. I choose you to be my partner."
Ethan raised his brows. "What if I do not want to? You already caused me trouble earlier."
"Look around you. They got pairs now, and we haven't." Then Ethan browsed his eyes into the crowd and saw that they all got their own partners.
"Okay. Let's pair. What's your name?"
"Troye. Troye Hamington. And you?" Troye asked.
"You got to figure it out, for all the trouble you made, I am not gonna tell my name," Ethan answered. Thinking that he finally get this guy's name, and his name wasn't disclosed.
Troye smirked.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, for the last activity for this day, just like the cliche game we have been playing when we were kids, it's the apple face!"
People look excited, and some are dismayed, and some are disgusted.
"It's a game where you put the apple between your faces and hope for it not to fall and lose. Or kiss!" Lots of people laughed, some are nervous.
"Let us start the game," the host announced.
And it did start.
"We should take this seriously," Ethan said. Troye just nodded and smiled.
He placed the apple into his cheek. And into Troye's. The exciting part of this activity? They have to keep it moving and not gonna be on standby as they'll lose. And they'll lose when it falls too.
As Ethan and Troye are making the apple move through their faces. Ethan has locked his eyes with the man that lent him the pants. Mr. Jeans, Ethan thought. He's roaming around, and it seems like he's a facilitator. He's a senior? Ethan thought and not realizing that he has caused the loss of the momentum of the movement of the apple.
The apple fell. Ethan faced Troye. And Troye thinking that he could save the apple, well, he did not.
Their lips just met. And they're both in shock. People beside them were shocked as well. And some that witnessed it were smiling. Then they parted their lips.
When Ethan looked in the direction of the man that lent him pants, Mr. Jeans, he's nowhere to be found.
"Dude, I thought you said we should take this seriously?" said Troye.
Ethan faced Troye and wiped his lips aggressively, showing disgust on his face, and walked out.
Ethan picked up the toys that were scattered on the floor. He put those toys one by one onto the treasure box. As he picked up the last toy, he stumbled upon the Christmas gift, and he placed it back again where it should be. He stood up straight, touching the Christmas tree with his hands. It's that time of the year again, and every time this holiday comes, sadness seeps in. The nostalgic feeling always comes back because this is the time where he and Chad end things.And here he is after seven years have passed, still carrying the feeling that happened on that day. He still remembered it clearly up to this day, letting himself take a trip down memory lane."…maybe we can even marry each other!" Rebecca said as Ethan remembered clearly. That's when he realized that when things go smoothly and perfectly, something will always ruin that moment.When he looked at Chad at that time, he just smiled, like it was nothing. Like they were just friends and roommat
Time seems to fly fast. A year has passed after they were both kicked out of the university. When the people living in the apartment, Pearl Haven, heard the news about Chad being the professor and the manager of the apartment, some of them didn't mind, and some moved out. The news spread fast in the city to the point that they must lower the unit prices to attract more people. Although they moved already past that, and now they are making more income than ever when people saw how much they had changed their apartment, and there's no issue with Chad being the manager.They matured more, particularly Ethan, who has learned how to save financially. He's also trying to get new ideas to improve more of the apartment. It looked so expensive, but the price was just affordable, and that's what they are after because they knew that's what people want. He didn't get to finish what he came here in the first place, but he's thankful for Chad and Yohan for helping and staying by his side.
He opened the door to the unit. Chad greeted him with a smile only to see him deep in thoughts. Chad greeted him and said, "How was it?""It was bad," he said as he walked towards the living room and let himself fall on the couch, "It was very bad, Chad."Chad walked up to him and caressed his face. He is getting tear-eyed at this moment because when everything is getting too perfect, something and someone will always come to ruin that. He wanted someone to blame but couldn't bring himself to blame others but himself for being so vulnerable and easily deceived."Don't you think we should stop it now?" asked Ethan; a tear fell from his eye. He saw Chad stunned hearing what he said. "Dianna took pictures of us, and Mellow, you know her, she took that camera and run away with it, and maybe now she's already uploading it. It doesn't matter for me now because my parents aren't here anymore and that I have my apartment, I can live with that. How about you? You are a p
Ethan woke up holding his head and groaned and massaging his temple. He had a blurry memory of what happened yesterday. Chad’s usually on the bed next to him when he wakes up in the morning, but he wasn’t there this time. He heard someone inside the bathroom, showering. It must be Chad.He put his other hand on the bed for support as he continued massaging his head. He wondered how in the hell does he went home. He knows it’s Chad that took him home, but how did he do it without anyone noticing?He felt a cold breeze. He wrapped his arms around his body and looked at it, and he realized that he didn’t wear anything. He looked under the sheets and noticed that he wasn’t wearing any underwear either.What happened had sunk in as his hands gripped tighter, remembering what happened yesterday.As they finished making out yesterday, they went out of the room after the person next to the cubicle had left the bathroom. They made sur
"That was hard," said Chrystyn as she put her pen back in her pencil case and then zipped it. "I guess it was easy for you, huh, because Chad's tutoring you?"Ethan rolled his eyes. "Of course not. It doesn't mean we are living together means he's teaching me. We are just a normal couple."Ethan and Chrystyn have reconnected their friendship when they meet again for their next class. They talked a lot about things during the weeks they have missed to converse. They also stroll around the town before classes. Chrystyn's also just planning to stay over at Ethan's unit.Chrystyn shrugged. "Just kidding. You're too smart!"She grabbed Ethan by the arm and whispered, "You think I wouldn't notice how both of you were looking at one another earlier?"Ethan blushed. Chad was their proctor for their last exam, and they have been teasing one another with their stares. He remembered biting his lips and spinning his pen with his fingers while staring at Chad.
"In my place," said Ethan as he buckled up. The class has just ended, and as Chad told him, he is taking him home when it's his class schedule.Chad sighed. "I'm still thinking about it because first, Yohan is there. His room is just meters away from yours. Not that I don't trust him, but wouldn't that be awkward that I am dating the boss, and he's working with me?"Ethan shook his head. "When we choose your place too, that means I'll leave Yohan behind. Yohan isn't just a person I can leave because he stood by me when my parents cut off connections. He took care of me, and he's a family. That unit, that's the only place I can call mine, my possession."Chad gripped the steering wheel. He hasn't turned on the engine yet because right now, they have to decide. They have already been arguing over this for weeks now, and the exam is already coming. So Ethan wanted to decide with no arguments involved because this conversation was taking a toll on him. He doesn't kn