A LETTER TO MY BELOVED - COMPLETE

First Year at Uni

It's the last week of summer vacation, and Autumn is just around the horizon. And that implies that Harvard University's freshmen week and introduction week for all classes will begin at the beginning of next month. Quinton and Tyler had a week to get their affairs in order before meeting new university mates on campus and deciding on their classes and majors.

It's a Tuesday afternoon right now. They're out shopping at the nearest mall for academic necessities like notebooks, stationery, and new clothing. It's been an exhausting afternoon of shopping. They rest and drink coffee in a modest but crowded Starbucks immediately across the street, opposite the mall's entrance.

Quinton and Tyler got their coffee to go since they didn't want to stay inside with so many bags because it would take too much space, and the coffee shop was small. They're now sipping their coffee as they stroll down the street back to their flat, which is a block away.

''So...summer is almost over?'' Quinton suddenly says, making conversation. "It's gone by so quickly," she says. It's hard to realize it's been nearly two months." Tyler smiles broadly as he responds to her question with a warm response.

"Are you excited to pursue a double major in interior design and art at Harvard?" Tyler nudges Quinn's side with his elbow, wriggling his brows. "I suppose. Mum has always been a talented designer and artist. In some manner, I'd like to pay tribute to her memory." Tyler responds with a hum, pausing to recall the time Quinton told him about her mother. "I know, but I'm hoping it's something you want for yourself, too?" Quinton acknowledges with a nod as she takes another sip of her coffee. "It's something I want to do, but I also want this career for my mother," she says. Quinton and Tyler walk silently till they arrive at their destination.

"Enough with the melancholy." We're going out tonight to have a good time." Quinton had a perplexed expression on her face as if to ask, "What are your plans this time?" She is, however, intrigued to learn what Tyler has up his sleeve. "Where would we go? After all, it is Tuesday." Tyler and Quinton enter their building with their bags, and the doorman kindly opens the door for them.

They thank him as they enter and proceed to the lift. "We're going to get ready and go to the university student bar," Tyler mentions. Quinton's face lights up as she considers the possibility. "They're giving out two free drinks each person and offering discounts on drinks all night, so we're going!!!" And that's the end of it!!" Tyler joins Quinton in laughing at Tyler's stupid analogy.

When the lift arrives at their floor, they exit and proceed down the hall to their apartment. "We have a fun-filled night ahead of us tonight of meeting new people and establishing friends." Quinton grinned broadly, and she laughed as she slid the suitcases onto the couch. ''So let's make it amazing and leave a lasting impact then" Quiton smiles at the thought of the night ahead. She takes her coffee with her and goes to her room to shower while Tyler makes a few phone calls to his family back home before getting ready for the night.

~~~~~~~~

First-year students week has begun a week later. That implies there will be celebrations every night. During the day, there are also introductions to classes and social "friend-making" events. Quinton and Tyler can also join clubs and meet new people at school during their first week.

They run into a couple of buddies they met a week ago at the student bar as they meander among the colourful stands and decorations at the university fair. They've met with them a couple of times since then, during the course of the previous week. They are already getting to know one another. They also manage to join one or two clubs that they both like on their own. Tyler joined the lacrosse and swim teams, while Quinton joined the campus literature club and art club. Tyler has always been an athletic and energetic person, so sports have always been a natural fit.

Quinton and Tyler automatically made friends with people from their potential clubs and hung out with them after a week of seeking and looking at numerous clubs, making friends, and partying. Even a few months into the first semester, they both found strong pals and stuck to those friend groups.

Quinton has discovered that some of her club pals are also in her classes. As a result, there was no need to create new acquaintances because they shared the same classes. On the other hand, Tyler made the swim team because his scholarship was contingent on him participating in any of the university's sports teams.

Tyler has been studying, socializing, and attending weekly practices for several months, while Quinton has attended weekly meetings with her art and literature clubs. Their hectic schedules took a toll on their relationship, as they both struggled to make time for each other.

With only a week till winter break, Tyler and Quinton attempt to spend time together before being swamped by both of their families' demands for time with them. They're also preparing for finals, which take place the week before the university sends students out on vacation. As a result, some time was set aside for studying. Other periods were spent with each other and packing some of their stuff in preparation for a trip home for the holidays.