The Rooms

The First Walk

I look around the campus for a moment. I've been here. But it had been so long like when I was 8. But I could recall the dry foliage on the ground, some old unrenovated buildings standing desolately beside tall, sinewy trees with bare leaves, largely unpopulated canteens thronged by some dozen of people only when there were seminars and of course, some dogs and butterflies.
But now, some of these memories seem to have radically altered. All buildings are renovated. The trees are getting greener and fresher. The canteens are full-time compacted with occupants and the students are seen moving and gliding gracefully to their destinations around the campus.
In fact, the fresherman-welcoming ceremony is supposed to begin at 8 but now, it's only 7. I have adequate time to take a full tour around the immense campus. I must first fill my tummy since I had nothing for breakfast this morning and am certainly ravenous for a plate of fried vermicelli. I make a beeline through a long corridor that leads to the place full of twenty or so fast-food stands and restaurants. My uncle was once an owner of a canteen here but it was sold when he tranferred to a new town. I glide down the stairs toward a neat-looking restaurant that bears the name "Galaxy" on its board.
I dart around the place after entering in case I find one or two acquaintances but it is futile. I have only three friends from my state school who go to this same university with me and it is of little or no chance of encountering them on this first day. I take my seat near the countertable and wave at the waitress who hurry through the meandering placement of tables to reach me. "One fried vermicelli and one chocolate smoothie, please," I request her. She smile and reply "in a flash" and again, retrace through the same pathway into the kitchen. My eyes tour around the elaborate ornamentation of the restaurant which is indeed decorated in an ancient gothic style - with paintings of gargoyles, seraphs and hermits and creepy vines suspending down from the ceiling.
I note a girl lope into the restaurant with a few thick books carried in her arms. By looking at the books which include Contemporary Architecture by Jaden Rollins and Architectural Fundamentals, I could deduce that she must be from the same major as me - Architecture. She occupied a place two tables away from mine and gracefully put the books on a nearby seat as she grimaces and moans, which I guess because of carrying all along these frustratingly unwieldy tomes. Should I go and make an introduction? Yes, because I really need to make some new friends, or else I would be a loner and no, because it's uncharacteristic of me to begin an introduction especially to a girl.
I am in the dilemma , a stalemate. My bottoms were rising unconsciously to make me join her but the waitress carrying a tray with my food makes my halt my itch to do so. "Enjoy," she speaks as she reveals a dimple. "Thanks," I reply and she leaves. Now, my eyes go back to the girl who is about to make an order. She has black tresses and a pair of untypically dark eyes. Unlike me, she wears a big smile, convincingly confident as she orders food to the waitress. It's unusual of me being sweet and active on the first day of every academic year. I have never been happy to reunite with or make friends - one good answer for me being anti-social. I watch the girl as she completes the order with the same unvaryingly sweet smile. She has greyish skin but the red lips and manicure only suit that complexion.
My decision is I'll go. I carry my tray,sling my backpack and make a stroll to her table. She sees me approach as far as I'm concerned. But she immediately turns her head aside in order not to appear anticipating my come. I put the tray on her table and says" May I?". She looks at me back again and says "Yes".
"My name is Zayya Minyin from Architecture major".