The Story of Us

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

I turned the lock of room 302 and gave it a small push.

It opened, creaking a little bit, and revealed a room that wasn't small or big. It was of an average size, with a window in the wall facing me.

There was a desk on the right side of the now open window, and a bare bed on the left. The walls were painted in a beige colour and there was a dark – brown curtain hanging in front of the window. A wardrobe with two doors was visible on my right, and some sort of bookcase on my left.

I walked inside room, noticing that it smelled nice and fresh.

Someone must've cleaned it before my arrival.

How nice of them.

I brought my suitcases inside and put them at the foot of the bed. It pleased me that the mattress was clean and quite thick.The bed was also a little bit larger than a normal single bed.

Then I decided to check the wardrobe for sheets and a duvet. The duvets were present, but there were no sheets.

Which meant that I'd have to go and buy a pair later today or tomorrow.

But where on earth would I be able to find that?

I didn't know anything about the shops in this city or how I was supposed to get around. I knew that the easiest way would be by subway, but I had no idea where those stations were.

Swallowing I walked to the widow, it revealed the street where Hanako and I had been standing earlier on. So, apparently my room was situated at the front of the building.

How interesting.

I looked at my cellphone, it had set itself to the local time. It was five o'clock in the afternoon here in Tokyo.

Which would make it nine o'clock in the morning at home.

I decided that this was a reasonable hour to call my parents and touched my mum's name on the screen of my cellphone. It went over and after two beeps my mum answered, "Hello, sweetheart. How was your flight?"

She sounded very happy to hear me, and so was I to hear her.

I smiled, "Hey mum, it was..." I hesitated before choosing the right words to describe the experience, "Okay, I guess."

"That doesn't sound very convincing, dear." said mum.

I swallowed, "Yes, let's just say that I didn't like the take- off and landing that much."

She laughed, a lovely sound that I was already missing a little bit "Is that so? Well, I have to admit that I don't like those parts of the flight either."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, really. And how's your Japanese buddy? Hanako was it? Is she nice?"

Eventhough she couldn't see it, I nodded, "Yes, she is. Very nice actually."

"Good! Oh, your father has just walked into the kitchen, let me put you on speaker for a second."

"Hey dad!" I said.

His voice had a tone of surprise in it as he answered, "Say,  is that my daughter I hear? But where on earth could she be?"

Despite myself, I laughed at his little joke, "Well, duh! It's me!"

Dad laughed as well then said, "How's Tokyo, dear?"

"Oh you know. Big."

He sighed, "Yes, dear. That is to be expected of the capital city of a country." He was teasing me again though. From experiences in the past, I knew that this meant that he was missing me already.

Then dad asked, "So, and how is your dorm?"

"Not what I expected, actually."

My mother spoke up, a note of worry in her voice as she asked, "What do you mean?"

I sighed, "Let's just say that the information I got about the dorm was a bit different. I'm staying close to the border of the city. Which means that the university is a little further than a fifteen-minute walking distance. Oh yeah, and it's situated above a ramen –ya."

"A ramen shop!" Mother exclaimed.

"They've been keeping quite a few things quiet apparently." Dad said sarcastically.

"No kidding. But it's okay. It's not cheap- looking or anything. The furniture in my room seems quite steady and it's all very clean."

Mum let out a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness! And have you met your room mates yet?"

A nervous feeling entered my stomach at that, but I answered, "No, I have not. I only just arrived in my room and I'll still have to unpack first."

"Are you postponing meeting them?"

"Maybe."

"Oh sweetheart, you shouldn't do that. You should try to get rid of that shyness a bit, or you'll never be able to fully take your place in this world."

I hung my head, "I know, mum. It's just difficult."

"Yes, I understand that. But your dad and and I are certain that they'll like you!"

But you can't actually be certain about that, I thought

I shook my head, "Yes, well we'll see. I guess it's best if I go now, or your telephone bill will be very high."

"Okay. We'll email you about Skype then?" My dad asked.

"Yes, of course!"

He laughed, "Then we will."

At that the three of us said goodbye and hung up.