Chapter Text
The Halls were different. The college was good education wise however, social wise Zanka had found himself in a dump…
I found myself in a dump.
I should've listened to my sister– she knew following Enjin would take me to the streets and here I am. IN THE STREETS. I don't think I've ever made a worse decision before this. I could've applied to a prestigious college, one I'd be proud to put on a resume. But I didn't, did I?
Fuck you Zanka Nijiku.
I spent so much time setting up my dorm before my roommate got there that I had absolutely no– zero time to check the campus out. And now I'm in a completely unfamiliar area. Whatever, I can just crawl in a hole and die.
With a heavy sigh, one that held a family captive, I stepped into my first lecture. I don't know why I'm nervous– maybe because someone is definitely strapped right now. But I shouldn’t be nervous, not at all. It’s not like I'm a completely new student. I mean, it’s not like I'm the ONLY new student. Everyone in this lecture hall should be new too. Well it should be at least.
I walk through the doors to my Medicine lecture. I would say I saw a lot of sophisticated faces but they all look like community hospital workers. I no longer have a bright future. I sat in a quiet spot, five minutes early and the hall was halfway full. Over time the spots filled up and two people sat beside me. Some ugly queer with piercings and dyed hair on one side of me like he knew the subject before it began.
Ew.
The other side– a short girl with greenish toned hair, her freckles looked completely fake but they could just be a miserable makeup choice I guess. It's not like I'm gonna talk to waste of time anyways. Though this lecture is a waste of time. WHAT DO YOU MEAN ITS BEEN 10 MINUTES AND THE PROFESSOR STILL ISN'T HERE!!
Genuinely don't piss me off. I'm crying and screaming, well not literally. God I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die.
“You good man?” a feminine voice next to me spoke in which my eyes traced its direction. That Fake Freckled chick?.
“I'm fine.” I respond with a mumble. I did not want to communicate anytime soon but I guess whoever I pissed off had other opinions.
“Yeah, ‘cause mentally screaming and crying is fine.” She spoke back with that stupid nonchalant tone. She scrolled on her phone like she had better things to do right now. I mean we all do because this professor is trying to play peekaboo or something.
“Was not but sure.” God I’m such a great liar.
“Were, but whatever floats your boat.” Who is this bitch. Genuinely wish death upon her.
“What are you two talking about?” I don't remember sitting next to two females. I turn my head and Fugly Freckles does too, both gazes land on this bitchass twink. I should've guessed his voice would sound like that. He or It was twirling its hair around its finger like some middle schooler with a fat crush. The fact Booger Hair hasn't said anything yet makes me irked– Chatting away one minute and silent the next.
Pussy.
“Nothing.” I responded, panning my attention to the blank, sad looking book in front of me. I’ve already associated with one queer in my life, I do NOT need another. Enjin is bad enough on his own.
“Oh well if you don't mind. Can I introduce myself?” No. Absolutely not. No you cannot.
“I take that as a yes.” I'm going to die. I can hear the silent giggling coming from Snotty Mcgee and never in this moment have I wanted to hit a woman until now.
“I’m Jett. but you can call me Jetty.” No I am NOT calling this bitch Jetty.
“What’s your’s?” Don’t respond Zanka, don’t respond.
“Moamoa.” The lord is real. Wait not. It was Shitface, or well ‘Moamoa’ I guess. If I act like I'm not there they’ll fuck off.
“I wasn't talking to you, you know.” … SIGHHHHHHHHHH. Dear whoever I pissed off, I'm sorry. I really am. I realise that my actions caused a terrible karma and personally I wish to be nicer to whoever you are.
“Oh sorry, am I cock blocking?” She’s got that tone. The one Enjin uses when he's trying to get a reaction out of me. She’s lowkey kinda funny… to an extent of course.
“It’s not like that.” Twinky responds. His face lookin’ like the tomatoes I’m about to throw at him.
“Are you sure?”
“You're weird for thinking that.”
“You’re weird in general”
“Oh my god.” Jev or whatever stood up and moved to a different spot. The only vacant spot was a fair distance away and oh my god, I’m praying hallelujah!
With a sigh of relief and a wave of calm, I’m free from that nuisance and miss meow meow or whatever. Well at least I think I’m free. The teacher's absence really irritates me. How are you late for your own lecture?
“So, what’s your name?” Dude shut up. Actually no I should be somewhat grateful for her, at least for getting rid of that overly loud, eccentric, ugly homo.
“Zanka.” Simple reply. Doesn't make us friends or anything. Just a person I know the name of.
“What, Enjin's little buddy?”
“How the fuck do you know him?!”
“Oh come on everyone knows Enjin. Party fein, whore. He’s got many names.”
Holy Sphere. So we all just know Enjin now? I mean— the campus isn't that big, and the community seems quite tight knit so it shouldn’t be a surprise. But the fact they already know me?! Get out!
“I see.”
“Well I hope you can see.” Booger’s response to my attempt at ending the conversation. I've decided, I hate women.
Before I could even reply, the late ass professor walked in. Timing couldn't be any worse than Enjin himself. I’m not even being dramatic when I say I might die in this building. I’m only a first year but holy fuck this place is a shithole. Hallways filled with trash, classrooms smelling like we’re at a public high school, students looking like they're carrying– not classes but weapons.
Students at the back mumbled where the teacher knew she couldn't do anything without the threat of their ‘rebellion’. If I weren't trying to stay out of trouble I would've already whacked them senseless. Teach them a lesson or two. But I'm here, keeping good impressions and focusing on graduating. That's all I need now.
Our lesson. From what I can hear is about Cardiometabolics Diseases. For you idiots, it's basically diseases covering diabetes, obesity, heart diseases and other cardiac pathologies. This is shit I learnt from being around my mother. She's a professional doctor despite being a woman, but my sister is also a wardress so gender doesn't really matter that much in my family.
Results are all that matter in this family.
This topic was rather simple to get through, I already knew this. But again, I want to know the whole of it. Every little detail about every little thing. I need to know the extent so I can prove my worth.
By the time I finished writing the second page of my notes the lecture was at its end. Are we serious? I blame the teacher for wasting time. I also blame those idiots at the back for making it harder to learn anything slightly new. This college is already losing me. But there’s no turning back.
I already applied here and applications to go anywhere else are closed. Plus it's not like anyone in my family would pay for my mistakes. I’ll have to live with it for the time being, sometime in the future I can transfer… Hopefully.
“You got a lecture after this or nah?” Moamoa asked, her things already packed up where she stood by the exit of our row.
“Nah, I got forensics tomorrow morning though.” I don't know why I'm replying to her. I don't have to– it's just that she’s decent to talk to. Blunt and honest. Didn't even try to hide her boredom through that lecture, either she's dumb or she already knew the topic too. I don't care enough to know the answer.
“Aight, good luck out there then.” thanks… I guess? She walked away before I could reply. Guess she had a lecture or a meet to get too. Whatever. It's time I got out of here too.
____
Those 2 hours of lecture were up. I have the time to check the campus out, I could also head back to my dorm if these grubs become too filthy for me. The hallways still smelt off but if I told myself I was smelling things it’s fine, to be honest I might just adapt to this, my nose will just stop smelling and my eyes will stop seeing. It’s not all that bad though. Just every corner here and there.
I found the cafeteria though. The food didn't look too bad, maybe one day I’ll try it out. Today is not that day though. I've got to go sightseeing and maybe even find Enjin somewhere out in this jungle.
The library was located not too far from where the dorms are. A cafe keeps the inside warm where a not very fruitful garden makes the outside less appealing. A hallway or two from the library, were a couple club rooms or so I assume. A place for the musically talented, crafted geniuses and anything performance. I’m not sure how popular that may be here, but the textiles room seemed lively.
The more I walked the less people I saw. I eventually reached a quiet corner, it was like a mini book nook where very few walked by.
I hit the jackpot in other words.
Though I wasn’t bothered to sit down just yet, I still had more to see.
By the time I finished my mini tour I arrived outside of my lecture room, the same room now crowded with new people. I discovered a kitchen, a proper garden, a few hiding spaces which were occupied by shameless couples and not many places where I can find work. I can go looking next week, I’m sure grocery stores or restaurants are looking for inexperienced college students.
I just wanna get back to my dorm. Nicely set up, a cup of noodles, laptop open and window filling the room with fresh air. How peaceful would that be? Maybe my roommate is in a lecture or something and I’ll have the dorm to myself before meeting him, them, whatever.
This place is weird, my current worry is if my roommate is the same.
I was back at the cafeteria, only for the vending machines of course. The snacks were bland options but decent for my situation. Nut bars, salty chips, stale biscuits, rice crackers and dried fruit. This place is clearly on a diet, however most of these– apart from the salty chips, are easy on the stomach. The only appealing option would be rice crackers, easy, bland, I can add to them.
Though my gaze was caught on something, someone. Booger green hair, weird beads, fake freckles. Oh.
It’s just MoaMoa.
Just a MoaMoa with… a girl? A man? Something for sure. Luscious long hair, beautiful facial features. Is that a model? The only thing making me question anything was the choice in clothes. Trans perhaps? Maybe. Should've stayed a woman.
It looks prettier that way.
“Hey Enjin’s pal!” Of course she called out to me. Too friendly but not friendly. It felt a little fake. Who am I to judge though. I’d call out to someone like that— if I were to, that is.
I really had no choice but to walk over. Bad manners. And not wanting to lose the only acquaintance I have as of this moment.
So I walked over. Standing to the right while pretty something was standing to the left. A jealous look? A dislike for a reason I couldn’t care less to find out?
“This is Jinshi, he’s freshly grad from online school trying to major in business and political science.” *she snickers like it was a good tease. She probably had no faith in him. This ‘Jinshi’ simply huffed.
“I heard you and Moa are in the same medical class?” Nicknames. How chummy.
“Yeah. I guess.” God I’m so mysterious. I want to know why he keeps looking at me like that, it’s bothering me.
“So what did you two talk about?” All of a sudden he had such a fake smile, a weirdly high pitched voice.
Oh
So that’s what it is.
“We were chatting about Enjin. You know— twink catcher.” Moamoa spoke indifferently to him as she does to me. The way he reacted when she spoke versus how I breathe was like some K-drama.
“Oh, are you friends with Enjin?” It sounded like a bad thing the way he said it.
“Sorta.” I shrugged.
“Holy nonchalant.” Moamoa muttered, giving an un-interested sigh. Her words remind me of Riyo.
“You mess with him or nah?”
“Define mess.” I looked at him like he asked a calc question. I hate not understanding anything.
Silence. Like he was thinking of better words.
“You fucking him?” MoaMoa asked, cutting in like she had the words of an English god.
My heart immediately dropped. Why would they assume that about me?
“I’m not gay.” I knew my tone was sharp. Of course it would be. I’m not gay.
“Didnt say you were. Plenty of straight people experiment with him.”
“Like your brother” Moamoa teased, Jinshi just sighed.
“I don’t… you know, with men.” I cleared. I’m not, I can’t be.
“Whatever man. Didn't have to get defensive though.” Jinshi replied. Back to being weird. I don’t want his chick. I don’t want to date.
“Couldve sworn you were. The way you just attract queerness?” Moamoa questioned herself. She should stop.
“I’m not, end of story.” Now I just want to get out of here. Grovel and hide in a pitiful hole. Rethink my life decisions.
“Alright, whatever you say, Zanka.” Moamoa had that nonchalance again. No longer thinking or speculating. Just conversing.
“I’m gonna head to my dorm.” I began walking off.
I shouldn't goodbye people I barely know. Well people that I don’t really want to know. Jinshi is weird. Clearly a man with a woman’s face. And Moamoa is just some cold hearted girl.
____
The dorms were quiet.
Strange.
Mine however had loud muffled music inside. Great. Just great. My roommate was home, and he— it, clearly was someone loud. Someone I don’t want to associate with.
I unlocked the door, simple, precise. And ahead of me was some guy. Tall, easily noticeable by physique, brooding shoulders that moved each time he practiced banging on makeshift drums which were the bed. His hair clumped in fresh dreadlocks, long, flying each head bang. Though each shift bought shingles from the gold accessories cuffing each lock, sometimes even multiple per lock.
What struck me was the way his upper body was exposed. Markings of old scars and new bruising. He’s that type…
I didn’t even notice when the music stopped, didn't notice the way his head turned to me. A blank stare then a smile. A creepy grin.
“I got myself a pretty one aye?” He snickered, setting down drumsticks that lacked any drums. His face pisses me off. But his eyes are…
“So what’s your name pretty boy, or do you just stare?” He’s got that irritating, smug look. The one where his poisonous eyes don’t match his ecstatic face. What the hell?
“Zanka…” I mumbled, turning towards my half of the room. Sitting at my desk, pulling out my laptop. His eyes are still on me. His gaze tearing me apart. I hate it.
There was silence. Long enough that I was able to log in and pull up a recorded version of the lecture I was just in. Maybe now I can actually get all the notes.
“Not gonna ask me my name?” He was so quiet I forgot he was there, his voice now low. Testing. His voice irritates me. I don’t know why.
“What’s your name.” Not a question, just a statement. I didn’t turn back, didn’t look. I don’t want to. I don’t want to look at him and his half naked body. I can’t, it irritates me. How can someone be so comfortable in a room with someone they don’t even know?
“Jabber, Jabber Wonger.” His voice teased, an upbeat expression in the way he spoke. I don’t really care for his name.
“Kay.” I mumbled a reply. Putting headphones in to listen back on the lecture.
It was silent again.
Silent until that loud, muddy music echoed the room again. How selfish. He might just be the worst roommate ever. Worst experience. 10/10 yelp review. Seriously, how could someone be so selfish.
Whatever.
No point in starting fights if I’m supposed to live with this guy… the thought hurts my head.