Sonia
I watch the two run down the hallway before dragging my bags inside.
The room was smaller than I'd imagined for such an opulent school. Though functional, it lacked the sophistication of the rest of the school. Two twin-beds occupied each corners of the room with built in closets at the foot. The desk between the beds was cluttered with books, wrappers and what looked like crumpled notes. A faded blue rag lay sprawled on the floor, it's edges as though weary of its own existence.
I cringed at the sight of clothes strewn across the floor and wrappers tucked into corners. My roommate had plastered her walls with pictures of basketball players and sports cars, but that did little to distract me from the general dismay of the space. How can someone live like this?
The window, framed by a white curtain offered a view of the sprawling campus — lush greenery, modern architecture, and a distant glimpse of the massive library that I plan to spend most of my time in.
I drew the curtain to let the sunlight flood in and start unpacking my things, careful not to disturb any of her things. My bed was stark and bare, a black canvas waiting for a touch of personality. It would have been nice for my mother to be here but the scene that unfolded earlier and the state of the room made me thank the heavens that her job kept her busy today.
The first shock came as I noticed a pile of crisp, thousand Kenyan shilling notes scattered on the desk. “Is this girl nuts?” I muttered, cautiously sliding them to her side. The last thing I needed was to be accused of being a thief on the first day.
Getting out of the hostels wasn't easy, — Wing C, perched at the farthest corner of the campus, was practically a maze. When I finally found the cafeteria, my stomach growled in relief. It was a grand space, more like a high end restaurant than a student dining area. With tiled floors and velvet-lined chairs.
The food options were equally lavish — and expensive. But I allowed myself to splurge on a plate of sweet cakes since it was my first day. As I sat, savoring each bite, I noticed a group of girls across the room. One of them — tall, with strikingly brown skin and bold features — kept glancing my way. It was my roommate. Her gaze was unnerving, though when I looked at her she always looked away.
The rest of the day passed in solitude. I spent my time organizing my side of the room, though my thoughts kept wandering to my absent roommate. She didn't return until late at night, sneaking in so quietly I barely heard her enter. The bed was soft, the duvet thick and warm, I let sleep take me easily.
The rest of the day was a blur of figuring things out on my own. The campus was intimidating in size and elegance, with winding paths shaded by trees, sprawling sports fields, and imposing academic blocks that gleamed under the sun.
The next morning, I woke up to the bitter disappointment of the icy showers. Shivering, I returned to the dorm annoyed by the unfairness of it all. My roommate was still asleep, wrapped up in her world of indifference, and I felt a pang of frustration at her complete lack of acknowledgement. This was not how I'd planned things would fan out.
At the main office the queue was long and I found myself behind a petite girl with black rimmed glasses that made her look adorably studious.
" Hey I'm Aliza," she said, turning with a smile that reached her soft eyes.
"I'm Sonia," I said, shaking her surprisingly soft hand. Our conversation flowed easily and she introduced me to her friend, Sam. A friend from back home. His perfect jawline and perfectly applied makeup caught my attention. He exuded confidence, with a warmth that made me instantly comfortable.
" Sweetie, I know I'm cute but I'm gay," he quipped, when he caught me staring.
The day passed by quickly in their company. Aliza was sweet, and Sam was witty, making me feel less alone in this sea of strangers.
Later that evening Aliza invited me to a bonfire. The campus field had been transformed into a lively party scene, with flames crackling in the center and students singing and dancing around it. The air smelled of smoke and night-blooming flowers, and the energy was infectious.
Then I saw her — my roommate. She stood near the fire, her curly hair catching the glow of the flames, her pink lips set into a thoughtful line. Her tall athletic frame exuded, strength and for a moment, I felt intimidated. Maybe we can't be friends.
"Here," Aliza said, handing me a red cup.
"Is this beer?" I asked, already detesting the smell. “Obviously,” she replied, already downing hers. I add her mine and just focus on the music.
When she approached me,her voice was deep and smooth, her words laced with a fluency that spoke of privilege. “I'm MJ,” she said, extending her hand. Her long fingers brushed mine, sending a shiver down my spine. Aliza had disappeared into the dead of night leaving me alone with her.
"So I just wanted to introduce
myself," she adds looking at me in a way that makes my stomach churn, her eyes were blazing and if she wasn't a total stranger I would say she hates me. Just like she came she leaves, I stand there and Aliza sprints towards me like a mad woman.
" How do you know MJ? " she asks in between breaths.
" How do you know her name?"
"It's a crime not to know such a hot person's name," she says, wiggling her eyebrows and letting out a girlish squeal. My eyes followed the line of sight she had disappeared to and let myself sink in her gaze.
"She is just my roommate," I reply, folding my hands over my chest. Scolding myself for my choice of outfit.
Her mouth drops and she shakes me slightly. “ You get MJ Kamau as a roommate and I get a weird catholic who spends the better part of the night praying?”
I laugh not seeing the big deal and walk closer to the fire. I tried to keep my composure as Sam introduced us to his friends but her presence was magnetic.
YOU ARE READING
The Sweetest Fruit ( Tomboy 🏳️🌈Love Story )
Romance[18+] Sports College Romance. Cover art by@emilycatewrites
