The Life at College (Neveranium X Lunarey)

[lumine]

The Life at College

The sky is cloudy, the air is slightly windy, and the forest view from the foot hill bending road is marvelous. Luna have been in a bus ride for more than 5 hours. Tired as it may be, she keep herself company by reading books, browsing through her smartphone, and appreciate the great scenery. It was not a luxury bus, but it is not bad either. However she hope the long journey ends as soon as possible. She is excited to enter her first day in college in which she is journeying towards to. She had never been apart from her family ever since birth, and leaving for the first time is disheartening. She will be living in a girls’ dorm and it is rumored that the girls there are very rough and bully. There will be a self declared “dictator” where she will assume commands and will have followers to execute her misdeed. Reporting to authorities will only worsen things rather than fix it.

Luna is an 18 years old urban girl born to a regular working parents. She is 155 cm tall, has short reddish blonde hair but long enough to wear a white headband. She has a tiny black birth mark on the cheek just below her right brown eye. Currently she is wearing a white t-shirt beneath her long sleeved red square-patterned shirt, buttoned. She wears a regular heel and a black skirt that is slightly above the knee level. Luna may have been raised in the city, but she is stronger and independent than she appears. She is on her way to Farthing Wood Science College in which she took biology as the main subject. She have ambition in becoming a physician, a vet, or any job related to biology.

The bus driver assistant announced that they will be arriving soon. Luna felt relieved that this journey is finally coming to an end. She took out her small cosmetic mirror and re-make up herself. She put on her red lipstick. Few minutes later the bus finally becomes stationery. Every passenger is slowly exiting the bus, mostly consist of young adults like her. As soon as she step outside, a big text carved in wall can be read as ‘Welcome to Farthing Wood Science College’. She did indeed felt welcomed, and gets excited to start her first step in her life as a college student.

 

[Neveranium]

As with any new members of the staff, a quick briefing of what transpires on campus and what is to be expected of someone while within the grounds. Josh have had quite the number of briefings over the course of his career as a professor. It wasn't because he was a bad one, no scandals whatsoever, it was more because his colleagues didn't thought he belonged. He was ever the outsider, introverted throughout his adolescent life and it seemed to have followed him into adulthood. Quite frankly, he was getting tired of it. He wouldn't really be an effective mentor of students if he remained the same as he was before, so he planned to change his way of life - starting from how he looked.

Being 27 and living a stressful life hadn't been too kind on Josh's appearance; the constant furrowing and raising of his brows from brooding had left slight creases across his face that the average person of his age shouldn't have. Despite this he manages to keep himself primp and proper; short dark brown hair parted to one side and none of that shaved sides nonsense; his slim, 165cm figure almost always covered in a smart casual get up which was currently consisted of a white shirt underneath a navy blazer and tucked inside a pair of tan chinos then finished up with a pair of black loafers. Should be good enough a style to give him a feel of being a bit loose and approachable. Hopefully.

He took a deep breath as he opened the door out of the dean's office and out into the halls which felt more like the wilds for him. Lots of unfamiliar faces and unknown agendas. Help around with new students, the dean said and perhaps it wasn't that bad of an idea. For one, being new would be something they would have in common with him. With a shaky demeanor, he reached for a handful of the maps and flyers he found by the dean's office and went on to the entrance of the campus, ready to face yet another new environment.

 

[lumine]

New day, new life, new journey. That was what’s on Luna's mind as she steps in the perimeter of the college. There are noticeable temporary signboard that instruct new students where to register. It is the registration days after all. She went to a counter and register, and was instructed to go to Hall B for some sermons for freshmen. The sermons will start in 15 minutes so she walked around the college area to explore.

The environment of the college consist of some classical European buildings. The air smells natural with many trees planted to keep it green. The temperature is just nice, not too cold, and not too warm. It is a very lovely place to have a peace of mind. Luna looked at the time at her smartphone and it’s almost time for the boring sermons. All new students will be there, with lecturers and professors making their introduction and motivations for the students. She sat on a given chair for student, almost front row, and middle. She put her right leg on top of her left, and looks at the stage as the sermons are about to begin.

 

[Neveranium]

Josh stood by the entrance of the main building for the campus, only a handful acknowledging his presence and even fewer actually talked to him and grabbed a map. It was understandable, school maps were less used by freshmen and more by upperclassmen to be used as directions for when they want to throw parties. He still went on disappointed regardless, bringing back the printed parchments where he found them earlier. Being so focused on meeting new students, his mind blanked at the fact that professors, both old and new, we're supposed to take part in the orientation for freshmen.

Could be another chance, he thought as he went with a passing group of students and had he not looked older than how he actually was, he would have fit in. He made his way to the hall and went with the cluster of the staff about to say their piece, and with just a simple glance it could already be seen that he stuck out some. Most of them were old while the rest that weren't looked rather..sloppy. Had he went for this particular college the first time he was looking for a job, he would've belonged with the lot. One of them ushered Josh to join them up the stage and he followed on, sitting on one of the row of chairs viewing the rest of the hall and the students inside.

 

[lumine]

Luna corrects her hair, taking off her headband and put it back while waiting for the orientation to start. Both on her left and right are girls in which they both are busy chatting with the person sit on the other side. They did say hi earlier but immediately change focus and totally ignore her afterwards. Both of the girls are probably her age, in fact almost all the freshmen are around her age. She take a deep breathe and release a long sigh, as she take out her smartphone and plays with it. The internet line is not as good as it was at home, adding to her boredom.

Luna kept safe her smartphone to her handbag as the speech finally started. The speeches were exactly as she expected. Boring and just formalities. She wondered why she even kept the smartphone into her handbag in the first place. She observe the stage where lecturers are sitting on chairs arranged in rows and files. There are men, women, old, young, and various races of lecturers. She noticed that all the young male lecturer dressed very sloppy.
She wondering “What is it with young men these day? Do they think they look cool wearing those?”

Few minutes later, she was proved wrong as Luna’s gaze locked on a young man wearing a very proper navy blue. She felt interested, judging him that he could be a well-mannered gentleman that is very rare these days. She would have hoped he will teach her class, but what are the chances? She refuses to get her hopes up and continue sliding her smartphone as the orientation proceeds normally.

 

[Neveranium]

One by one, Josh watched and listened intently at his colleagues introduce themselves and gave few words that were virtually all the same - just a few interchanged phrases here and there. No one could blame them, really, as what more could anyone say? Soon enough, it was his turn to take the stage and he stepped up to the podium, clearing his voice just before he leaned into the mic with a soft smile.

"Good morning everyone, I'm Josh Landon, your soon to be biology professor. I mean, if ever you did take my class that is." he began, carrying a bit of a carefree tone to his manner of speaking, hoping that it will at least make the students feel at ease with him. "It's my first day here as well so if you get lost, don't come to me because we might end up some place else. Unless you feel like being adventurous and want to discover an underground city or the forbidden library full of black magic." As he spoke he could already feel the eyes of the newcomers just looking at him with cringing faces. Off to a good start, he thought to himself as he composed for a moment. "Yeap, I'm kinda a nerd. Anyway, this is dragging on far too long than it should have so study hard, play half as hard, then sleep so for the full circle. Eat your breakfast and all that."

That could have gone worse, he thought as he went back to his seat. He could have pissed or shit himself in front of them, but that was the most positive thing he could garner from all that rambling.

 

[lumine]

The man that slightly caught her attention is named Josh. Having the knowledge that he teaches biology, Luna thought that the chance he will be teaching her increases, though she was not really looking forward to it that much, as she gave a half smile. His speech is different than the other lecture, and he probably trying too hard to impress. Finally something fun to listen and watch. However, Luna was not all that impressed and chuckled a bit, rolled her eyes, shake her head, and have her attention back to her 4 inches screen.

In about two hours the opening ceremony finally ends, and the students will be guided to their respective dorm. Luna got her room number and key, but she decide to continue explore the natural beauty of the college. She took photos of flowers, bugs, hallways, statue and many others. She looks around the bulletin board which nothing appear to be on her best interest.

Luna arrive at a half empty cafe. She stops for a hot coffee vending machine. After inserting sufficient coins, she received her Expresso in a 200ml paper cup. She sat down at a nearby vacant table and chair and enjoy her hot drink slowly as she appreciate her resting time.

 

[Neveranium]

Thankfully, the orientation didn't lasted long after his piece so he could at least sigh and mope by himself, not really taking the offer of the other professors' offer of hanging around the lounge. He needed some alone time. Walking off around the campus, he went to find spots where he could relax. Under a tree was too cliché, along the halls wouldn't be too relaxing, in the faculty room would be the opposite, and the bathroom just sounds plain dumb so he went for the cafe. Some coffee in him would perhaps shake his nerves away, or make them worse.

A vanilla latte was his choice for a drink, and an empty corner table his chosen seat. He looked out of the window as he sipped his drink, absentmindedly looking over the courtyard and wondering how he could possibly make himself approachable by the students outside once classes were in session. His mind floating so far that he didn't notice a student enter and sit just a few tables away from him. But even if he did, after that shameful display, he wouldn't even think about approaching her.

 

[lumine]

As Luna enjoys the sip of her coffee, that interesting professor Josh was sitting nearby. Apart from the great scenery of the college, the professor was happen to be the next most interesting thing she discovered in the college.With just the side of her eyes, she observe the man from head to toe. She reminisce about his performance on stage earlier. He looks more good-looking when she looks at him the second time. Perhap she was not paying attention earlier or was not really interested. But she remember he was friendly.

Luna stood up, still holding her half-filled coffee, and attempt to walk pass him. Her intention was to take a closer look at him. She was actually bored but at the same time have some interest in him. Suddenly, as she was a few feet from him, she tripped over the leg of a misplaced stool. She spills her coffee over his navy blazer and some hit his pants.
“Oh my god! I’m terribly sorry professor,” she apologizes as she quickly take our hand tissues from her handbag, and quickly tried to wipe the coffee of his clothe. She also had to wiped the thigh area of his pants as she had to kneel down. She had a very troubled look on her face.