I was yet again reminded that this was in fact the second day of school. The students had partied till morning but it didn’t stop early birds like me to get up and create chaos within the dorm. Of course, most of them were sleeping when I’d woken up but now things were different. 

There were just too many students running to the washrooms. Some even had to take lines, long lines. 

‘I can always take a shower in the afternoon, right?’

I did not want that question to be answered.

‘Welcome to dorm life Helio.’

I smiled wryly and went back to my room. I hadn’t locked it before since our sleeping dorm senior was, well, sleeping.

He was probably still sleeping, so I went in without any regard. 

My eyes almost popped out and I came to a standstill.

There was a girl inside, a girl by the window, gazing out. When she noticed my gaze she turned around. There wasn’t a smile on her face and she looked kind of sad. Her sleeveless t-shirt fitted her loose and gave a lazy appearance. Melancholy would have been the perfect word.

“You must be the junior?” She started. Her voice was clear and pretty: But there was exhaustion and sorrow mixed in that voice.

“Ye-yes. And you are?”

“Natasha. We met yesterday.” She moved her hand forward like it was the most obvious thing to do: her inky black hair was long and got in the way of her shoulder. Her expression hadn’t changed even a little. Did she feel no shame in admitting what she did?

“Jintel, nice to meet you, too.” I shook her hands and just stood there.

She was beautiful yet her attitude was cold. There wasn’t any joy coming out of her. She wasn’t bashful either. It was as though, she’d given up on the world itself. “Strange name…” She pondered aloud.

She ran quite fast yesterday though. And now she was acting like nothing was wrong, nothing was awkward. I was glad she didn’t act differently though. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to act like this either. 

“I get that a lot.” I wasn’t in a mood for arguing. “Anyway, what are you doing here?” 

“I came looking for Merin.” Her expression still hadn’t changed.

I looked at the bed, and the guy wasn’t there. “I guess he’s out?” I didn’t know.

“It does seem that way, yes.” She looked down and then sighed. “Perhaps this wasn’t a good idea.” She didn’t bat an eye and just exited the room.

“What ide-“

She didn’t even listen to me and just left.

I was dumbfounded but it wasn’t my problem.

***

Eventually, our lovely dorm senior made his appearance. He was shirtless: he probably went out to take a shower. 

Didn’t look like he worked out: probably spent most of his time indoors. 

I told him about the girl.

“Oh her, don’t worry. She’s like that. Though she’s still pretty hot underneath though.” The guy started to fantasize. “If only she was mine.” He kept strangling his body pillow like it was no big deal.

So I just ignored him and got dressed instead. As I thought, I didn’t smell the most wonderful. So I showered myself with perfume, as I couldn’t take a shower to save my life.

“Whoa! Whoa! Go easy!” Merin didn’t like this either.

“Don’t worry. I’ll just buy a new one.” Perfume was dirt cheap and my school life depended on this. “Say, it is always this busy in morning? When do you think I should shower?”

I could basically buy at least three bottles of perfume for the price of a single bottle of hot chocolate, so even if I showered in perfume- which was a bad idea- it wasn’t going to cripple my bank account- at least not severely. 

“Hmm…” He looked up at the ceiling. “As long as you can get up at six, you’re good. That reminds me how come you didn’t shower even after getting up that early?”

I didn’t reply. I didn’t have a reply. I wanted to shower after finishing my jog. And besides, I thought no one would wake up.

But how the hell did this guy know?

The guy gave me a smug look like I was some sort of naughty kid or something. Was he really not an asshole?

***

I still didn’t know what I’d do about food. When I first thought about living in the dorms, I never really thought much about food. I thought it won’t matter. Just how dumb was I?

“By the way, what about food?”

“What about it?” Merin asked. He was reading something on his Holo projector. He didn’t even look at me.

  “I mean where do you get it and where’s the cheapest but the best?”

He stopped in his tracks and glanced at me and then turned to his things again. I could swear he was thinking something in the lines of ‘what the hell are you smoking?’ “You might want to try the dorm meals. They’re the cheapest but they taste terrible.” Well, at least he started talking. “The cafeteria offers better food but the prices aren’t that great. And lastly, you can always buy things from a convenience store for cheap prices but they are terrible for health. The decision is yours.” He gave me a thorough explanation. But somehow it felt like he was enjoying saying all that stuff more than actually giving me information. “This is actually getting a lot interesting.” His voice was barely a whisper. Just what was he reading with so much affection?

I actually wanted a Holo for myself too. And this just reminded me how poor I was. 

Sigh. 

“Would not eating, kill me?” I whispered to myself. I knew the answer but who knew eating could be such a drag?

“Yes, yes it would.” And apparently the dorm senior had heard that.

I scowled and after getting everything ready, left the room just after nine. 

Merin didn’t really say anything. 

***

I was hungry and I knew it.

I had to eat something and I had to eat it fast. The convenience store food would have been cheap and unhealthy but even so, I’d have chosen it. Unfortunately, the one closest would have taken a bit too long to make it. Besides, I’d had to get to class before ten. Meaning, life was a drag.

So instead of wandering aimlessly, I gave myself a mental lecture and bought some juice from a vending machine. Better than nothing, right? Right!?

***

I made it to class at exactly nine-thirty, sipping through all the mango juice: it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t great either. Half of the class was empty and the first bench was free as usual. 

All eyes were on me as I took my seat. No one really said anything but they were all glaring rather nonchalantly. What was their problem? If they had any issues with me, couldn’t they have said something to me directly?

“Looks like someone’s famous.” The voice came from directly behind me.

“I don’t really care all that much about fame.” I turned around with my poker face. “But I don’t think I saw you during the assessment.”

Marg was behind me, as cold as ever. “I didn’t need to take that test. Don’t compare me to you commoners.” I never knew she could crack jokes.

“What are you, royalty or something?” I said, dramatically. I did chuckle a little. 

“Actually yes, I am a long-lost princess.” She puffed up her modest chest.

The way she said it with a straight face without flinching, made me crack up. In fact, this was probably the first time I laughed this much after coming to this place. This was also the first time, I saw her laugh. Her smile was pretty. If only she wasn’t some wearing that expression always. 

“Anyway, it is true that I am a noble though. And because of my ow-” She cleared her throat. “Because of my father, they let me in without anything.”

I already knew she was pretty capable, so even if she did take the test, she probably would have gotten in regardless. 

Then again I didn’t hear if anyone had failed the assessment or not. 

“Sounds handy. But since when did this country start producing nobles?” As far as I knew, this country favored democracy over monarchy. Actually, there might not have been a single noble left anymore, at least to my knowledge.

Obviously, for a second I forgot that this place, I was talking about, was in fact my own birth country- Canada. And currently, my family was living in England. And this academy was on a literal island in international waters. 

So yeah, I just screwed up. 

“How rude! Did no one tell you that you’re too blunt?”

I grimaced. Unfortunately, a lot of people had. “Sorry. I forgot I’m not in my country anymore.” I tried to chuckle but it wasn’t working. 

“But as you’d imagine, I’m not from this country.” Marg continued. “I hail from Bahrain. It’s a country to the far north.”

Honestly, I’d never heard of the country’s name before. “Ah, yes, yes, that one.”

“Yes, and as you know we are famous for-” Marg went on ranting about how great her country was. I didn’t even know the name let alone the country.

‘Someone end this already.’

This chat was getting way too awkward for me to bear. And as if to answer my prayers the class teacher entered a minute later. And someone came along with her: he seemed awfully young to be a teacher.

“Good morning everyone. I’m sure you all have your questions but first I’d like to introduce you to the lightsaber club’s captain.” She smiled. “Whether I like it or not,” She cursed under her breath but smiled even more brightly.

I was pretty sure, everyone heard that.

“Morning.” The boy began in a stout voice. The earlier comment didn’t faze him. He had a pretty fair build and he looked taller than me: I wasn’t jealous- no, maybe a little. “I’m Johnathan, you may call me John. The newcomer’s tournament would begin in earnest next week and so to practice we’re recruiting new faces. This year I heard there are quite a few talented students among you. Therefore even internationals might not be a dream.” His voice might have made even certain politicians ashamed. “So I’d expect new faces after classes.”

He was staring at all of us but mostly at Marg. I guess Marg was famous. I got some staring business too, but I just ignored him. 

I didn’t have much interest in all these things anyway. 

Most of the students were looking at him with sparkles in their eyes though. Was I missing something? What was so great about this tournament anyway? What was so great about swinging around hot stuff that could very well kill you?

“Furthermore-” The boy tried to continue. “The prizes-“

“Let’s leave it at that.” Miss Maire’s smile was still intact. But maybe she wasn’t so happy.

Just when something piqued my interest! I sighed inside.

He took a step back. “Very well.” He almost seemed a bit afraid now. 

He left. 

Was Miss Maire, scary or something? Surely, didn’t feel that way to me.

And so, classes began with a delay of ten minutes.

‘But what about the prizes!?’