Rena: Code 143

Bonus 1.1: Where it all Began

Nicolaus Adino's POV

Five more minutes. Five more painful minutes.

My eyes darted to the clock above the chalkboard, a sigh escaping my lips as I urged the time to go by faster. Although this was my last lecture of the day, this professor in particular loved to talk. He had a way of dragging out every point, over-explaining the obvious, and it seemed like he took some strange pleasure in prolonging everyone's suffering.

I shifted in my seat, my knee bouncing impatiently as I drummed my pencil absentmindedly on my scribbled notebook. My notebook was cluttered with scribbles, and the task of deciphering the mess of my notes into coherent thoughts for a term paper seemed overwhelming. Just thinking about the stack of homework awaiting me made my shoulders slump.

This lecture was killing me. I was itching to get out of the classroom and dive into the mountain of assignments that awaited me in my tiny dorm room. The workload was heavy—papers to write, textbooks to read, and problems to solve. It felt like the list of tasks was growing by the minute, and I hadn't even started on them yet.

Finally, the professor wrapped up his long-winded lecture with a promise of more to come next week. The students around me began to gather their things, the collective rustling of papers and zipping of bags filling the room. I, too, packed up quickly, eager to escape the confines of the lecture hall.

Stepping out into the crisp, fall air, a gust of wind blew my hair causing the shoulder-length strands to dance around my face. I adjusted my flannel shirt, pulling it snugly over my lawyers to ward off the brief chill. The campus was alive with the vibrant hues of spring—cherry blossoms in full bloom, their delicate pink petals floating down like confetti.

As I walked down the tree-lined street towards my dorm, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. My final class of the day was over, and the promise of free time ahead made me smile. The sun cast a warm glow on the freshly mowed grass and the flower beds, which were bursting with bright tulips and daffodils.

Reaching my dorm building, I took the stairs two at a time, eager to get inside and drop off my bag. I fished out my lanyard with the key attached, the small metallic object gleaming in the light of the hallway. Unlocking the door, I pushed it open and stepped into the familiar, though somewhat cramped, space that I shared with my roommate.

The room was quiet, save for the hum of the mini-fridge and the distant chatter of students in the hallway. As I entered the room, my eyes were immediately drawn to a figure sitting at my desk with their back turned and their boots on my desk. I paused for a moment, unsure of who was in my room without my knowledge.

The door clicked shut, and the figure turned around slowly in the desk chair. His deep brown skin contrasted sharply with the crisp, olive-green fabric of his uniform, and his low fade haircut was meticulously groomed. His brown eyes, still full of playful mischief, sparkled as they met mine. A wide smirk spread across his face, making him look both confident and at ease despite the surprise of his unexpected visit.

"Took you long enough," he said, his tone light and teasing.

The shock of seeing him there melted into an overwhelming sense of joy. My mouth fell open in surprise, and a wide grin spread across my face.

"Sean! Τι στο– πώς είσαι εδώ?" I exclaimed. What the–how are you here?

"English, bro. It's been a while," he replied with a chuckle, his smile never fading.

"When did you get here? I thought you were still deployed?" I asked, my voice full of disbelief as I walked toward him. "Wait. How did you get into my room?"