Setting: In a university with a dormitory
Conflict: Stigma of Menstruation (Man vs. Man)
Theme: Women empowerment
Perspective: First point of view
Timeline Updates: Every Weekdays
Story Status: Finished
Today onsets a humble beginning of this school year of Hampton University, Metro Manila
I am Reese Zimman, a single 18-year-old freshman mindfully ready to mingle with studies and grand friends. Not expecting this wholesome welcome advent since I do not feel confident with my look. You may see me wearing a casual teenager's attire, but deep inside, my soul wriggles like a worm trying to find its way out. As I entered the school premises, I constantly eyed my pockets, touched my hair, and rolled my sleeve to ventilate my armpits. I just didn't want to properly humiliate myself on this first day.
"Sighs, Reese, this is your time." Gasping, I needed air to breathe out the anxiety. Then, I approached the staff room on my right side for my class schedule and dormitory designation. The lobby was humongous by its ceiling, more like a mosque, but you can easily locate the hallways and rooms as they have those chumpy signs nailed by the door. Those labels seriously needed a better architect to fix that, because they looked like a restaurant's signage. For me, it was hilarious that I forgot I was presenting myself to the registrar. She looked confused about my unexplained, sudden reaction.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am." I quietly apologized with shame. "Why?! Why did I not control myself?" I screamed inside. The registrar knew my intention, so she handed in a brochure for my class schedule and a map. I trailed my fingers through the map and there! "I found the dorm!" I exclaimed with joy, unaware of people staring at me. Some were annoyed, and a few were bewildered. Fortunately, I wore a cap and a face mask that covered 80 percent of my face. I dashed forward to the next building beside the school with burdens and worry carried upon my shoulders.
10 minutes later, I arrived at the front gate. The building looked decently newer than the school itself. "Oh, this was finished in construction six months ago," I said when looking at the brochure. Suddenly, someone shrugged my shoulders, and I tripped. The girl broke off, "Watch who you mess with! And stay out of the doorway, gosh." Well, I should expect rude people rather than nice ones. But no, it seems that guy had to deal with some emergency because I kind of saw her carrying something white that was wrapped with plastic. Okay, another humiliation sank in me, plus I didn't get to say sorry. "Why is the first thing here I say is sorry? What's wrong with you, Reese?" I complained.
I entered the dorm, flooded with female students. Ugh, no one is helping me, yet they did not notice my presence. My expectations for the school's students became a diminishing margin. Although there were roommates who needed to pass through, I barely stepped another foot into the hallway. "Sheesh, I thought I could smell the aroma of fresh paint," I whispered to myself. Good thing that the crowd surrounding me did not hear it. "Hey, hey, hey!" A familiar voice exclaimed. I wonder who this person is calling. "Reese!" She clarified. Great, I guess she is probably my roommate. But, how does she know I'm there when it's crowded? Her voice sounds like the person who bumped me seconds ago.
Then, someone grabbed my hand forcefully. "Excuse me!" I yelled at the person. "Don't worry! I'm your roommate. I'll explain all these later." a girl with a bob cut said. We successfully went into our assigned room, and I am speechless. There were linear trails of clumpy blood from the doorway to another doorway. Another girl near the other door was crouching on her stomach in pain, it seemed like the blood was from her. But how? Did someone slash her? Was she involved in a fight?
"I apologize for making you uncomfortable." The bob-cut girl sincerely said. "No no, it's all right. May I know what happened here? And why is there a crowd outside?" I asked while pointing my finger to the left. The other girl crouching suddenly screamed in agony. I think I was too hard on them, but I still deserve an explanation. This is my first day here in school, which is the strangest event that happened in my life. "Let's talk about it later, (name). I really need to assist (supporting character's name) right now. Uhhh your room is there *pointing directly at my opposite position*" The bob-cut girl explained. I thanked her for the hospitality she had while helping out my other roommate.
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*Photo from Vice*
I staggered as I viewed my tiny cubicle with a bed on the left corner and a desk facing the bedside. My closet is also facing the bed straight, while the trash bin is behind my desk. The space is small compared to my bedroom in the province, but I'm satisfied since I hate reaching for my stuff from afar. Well yeah, I'm too lazy to get up from the bed sometimes because I rarely sleep well. Enough of this contemplation, I unpacked my clothes, school supplies, and other stuff from my carriages. Maybe after 1 hour, I was able to settle myself in a new room in a different world.
