eye of the tiger ( part 6 )

I knew things were bound to change. I just wasn't able to foresee that I might not be entirely prepared.

The first day of classes, I didn't get to meet the girls. I only had the note Marcie left me, wishing me the best, with crossed fingers. She literally drew two unsteady lines crisscrossing, which I was expected to decipher as the fingers crossed she wrote about just above. At the least, she made me smile.

I had a quick breakfast and headed down the path Marcie had shown me, to class. Not realizing until I was in the classroom that something was amiss. In the last couple of days, everyone had arrived and settled into the hostels. It was in the college rules that all students had to stay at the dorms provided. And everyone had made time to familiarize themselves, make friends. Except me.

I was the only stranger in the room of almost ninety.

There were some who were amused. The eyes I was far too familiar with stared at me with the multitude of expressions, all of which I had labelled. All of the curiosity was contained in the eyes of the amused. A large gathering of them was concentrated at the back of the class. And it was there that I gravitated toward.

"Well hello superstar," a boy greeted with his hand outstretched. "I'm Vin. Let's shake to be friends. Ain't no better start."

I could see the curiosity mirroring in my eyes. I accepted the hand, shook it. And stared with intrigue at Vin's beaming face.

"Superstar?" I questioned.

It was clearly the last thing Vin was prepared for. He looked confused, then bemused and then burst out laughing while nodding exaggeratedly.

"Of course," he offered. "One of the salient points of the introduction to the college and our department, was the hot girlfriends. Think no one would wonder when a fifth member joined up, especially when its a first year who just joined the college and its a boy. You can't be so naive."

Well, of course I wasn't. I was merely foolish for thinking my fellow first years wouldn't be talking about the same thing as the rest of the older college. I smiled weakly, shook my head and sat next to Vin.

Vin took up the task of introducing the rest from the back of the class. It was a gang and I felt initiated. Having wisened, I knew my four girlfriends played an important role. I was prepared to dodge any and all questions about them, but none came. The gang didn't seem to bear any curiosity for the girls. Or, so I came to believe.

Classes were no different from classes at school. Right at that sweet spot between interesting and boring, so I could freely choose to listen or sleep. It wasn't going to be too bad.

All the professors began with an introduction of themselves and then asked for a brief introduction of all the students. It must be planned by the professors together. By the end of the day, we knew the names of almost all of us. The only reason for it being almost was those like me who weren't very good with a long list of names.

At the end, as we were leaving the classroom, the gang finally voiced their heads. It started with Vin.

"So, superstar, how're you familiar with them? The hot girlfriends?"

Before I had the chance to answer, more questions were hurled at me. All of them about the girls and me. I waited for the last question, before giving one little answer for them all.

"We're family."

I didn't feel bad borrowing Marcie's words. Especially not after witnessing the absolutely fantastic reactions. Taking advantage, and making an escape, I added another line before running away.

"I must leave for my part-time job. See you later."

I was off, knowing that by the time I returned late in the night, word would have spread far and wide. The hot girlfriends would officially have a fifth member, a boy who was family.

Rookie told me the girls only came over on the weekends after classes started. They were actually very good students with very, very good grades. He assumed wrongly that I was the same. He was so convinced that he found it difficult to believe when I said I was an average student at best.

"How did you get into such a good college then?"

"I get lucky during examinations," I answered truthfully, but was unable to wash away the doubt. In the end, I gave in. Rookie might never be convinced. "Can I come over everyday? I could use the salary. And the keeping busy."

That did the trick. The moment I asked to come over everyday, Rookie was convinced I was average. For he knew how demanding the program was. He was happy to agree. He even promised my salary would be triple that of the girls, as long as I kept it a secret. I was more than ready.

We shook on it, confirming the deal. Biscuit, who was acting as witness, promised his lips were sealed too. And so, I became the only full time employee other than the joint owners of the popular pub.