YEAR ONE: ARRIVING AT THE DORMITORY
I'm Mike, a 19 year old, couple months shy from 20 and i am starting college.
I live in a Slavic country (not telling which one, but we are in EU) and we get a lot of students from Balkans and from Middle East, some even from Africa. Those are all kinds of people I barely ever met at this point, being raised in a small village. But now I’m in a big city, filled with people from all over the world.
I came to the dormitory unsure how do I check in or who do I talk to. Haven't met anyone else yet, save for an old cleaning lady, some girls in dorm kitchen and one intimidating older student who made fun of a newcommer.
I’m still waiting for them to assign me a room. I only know i will have one roommate. Will I be in a filthy room with some year 4 incel, smelling badly and playing Heroes 3 all day? For now i am just an easy prey for this weird 27yo calling me „fresh blood” and looking at me in a weird, creepy way.
Old cleaning lady appears and calls me. „Hey, new guy come with me”.
I followed her upstairs. Building was old, dating back to 1930s but kept well. That is, until I climbed the stairs to dorm part. Looked dirty and unkept, restrooms were safety hazard, only one shower worked, and door jammed once old lady tried to open it. I was ready to see the room i will be sentenced to for 3 years.
To my surprise it was actually clean. Save for a bunk bed, old desks and one shelf, everything was empty.
„Your roommate is still on his way from the airport, he should be here in less than an hour”.
Great! I was here first, that means im setting the rules. I quickly moved furniture so i get to have my corner for myself. Not much privacy, but still better than having someone looking at your screen any time they want.
A bit over an hour later, i hear footsteps in the hallway. My new roommate is coming. Doors open, old lady gives him keys and leaves us alone. He looks at me, waiting awkwardly.
Problem is, i can’t speak. He is a cute blonde boy, clearly my age (as it turned out, he was actually 18). Not a model type, not a gymbro. Just nice soft face features, big dark eyes and slim body. He looks at me and gives me an adorable smile.
„I’m Jim, nice to meet you”.
„M-mike, pleasure is mine, do… do you like it here”
„I dunno i just arrived, bro”
He put his bag on the desk and took his jacket off. I tried my best not to stare. There was something strange about this one. His aura was magnetic. He smiled again and said:
„It’s my fist time here, but im glad you speak English, it’s a shame i don’t speak your language, but i hope to learn it soon”.
„The scary lady said you came here straight from the airport, where are you from?”, I asked.
„Bismarck, North Dakota, it’s at the top of...”
“Yeah I know where Dakotas are”, I interrupted.
“Yeah It’s scary how you guys know everything about us, while I wasn’t aware of this country like, last year. But I love Europe and I came here to lean shit, you know?”
I was more relaxed by now, sitting in my chair, unpacking my bags. Trying to make small talk I said:
“Oh really, nice to meet an American like… like that.”
“Like what?”, he asked.
“You know, Internet stereotype is, fat stupid Yankee”, I joked.
“Yeah I was in a Republican family and decided I need to travel and see the world, experience something new, cross my boundaries, meet some people different from that fat stupid Yankees”
Maybe I offended him? Just to be sure I used my straightest voice and said:
“No fat stupid Yankee here, you are gorgeous”
“Thanks, you are fine yourself, bro”. He smiled again and I died inside again, then he asked:
“So, who’s on top in bed?”
I froze.
BUNK BED. Yes! Of course he ment bunk bed.
“I prefer to be on top”, I said.
“I bet you are”, he winked at me, clearly amused by my confusion.
I hope didn't blush but i felt like im blushing.
I knew I could use the fact he is as new here as I am. I took my towel and started undressing. As soon as I did he opened some social media and was scrolling through memes. He didn’t look in my direction. I left room only in my boxers on and took a shower. I came back in a towel, hoping I could establish accpetable level of nudity at FULL NUDITY on day one. But lights were down and he was asleep by the time I came back.
I took my towel off and stood there, naked, with a cute boy sleeping on the bottom bed. I climbed my top bed and lied down. Now I was struck with a sudden realisation.
Im scared cause i never liked sleeping with another person in the room. Last time i did, I was as a child, sharing a room with my older brother. I remember having sleeptalking issues but since i was just an innocent kid back then it wasn’t a problem. I talked about schoolwork and videogames". Now I was stressing out, scared of what i could be saying during my sleep. I was after all, 4chan-raised, porn-addicted 19 year old with bicurious tendencies.
Fearing I could get myself exposed on day one, I couldn’t fall asleep.
