Chapter 3 - The Hostel

"Walk briskly, what's your Hostel?", a plump girl asked.

The gown she put on was definitely different from mine, it was a Green check and it had V-neck instead of the round neck mine had. She was obviously one of the prefects the Lady spoke about coupled with the fact that she was way bigger than I was and obviously used to the School more than I was.

"Isn't it you I'm talking to? Let me see that paper in your hand."

I stretched it out to her. I really hoped my room will be one of the ones close to the gate because my luggage was much. Mommy had bought the biggest size of almost everything I was asked for. My buckets were very strong or should I say thick because she wanted to make sure they wouldn't break easily and she also got someone to scratch my full name and surname on it with nail and then use paint to highlight it. This was to ensure the ownership wouldn't be switched by some student.

"See that place where that girl is standing, that's the Hostel, Hostel 9"

I struggled with my things as I retrieved my paper, not saying a word. The Hostel Compound was very beautiful. It had many large buildings and about 3 mini-gardens with colorful flowers growing in them. Some buildings were bungalows while some were storey-buildings with each having a balcony. The painter sure did a great job on the buildings I must say, the painting of the buildings was top notch!

My Hostel was one of the Bungalows, it was painted deep purple and white on the outside, just like every other Hostel. It had "HOSTEL 9" above it which was very obvious from quite a distance. I struggled with my things and made my way into it.

It was a large one and the cool breeze from the Air conditioners positioned at different corners greeted me after the Water dispenser that stood at the balcony. The walls were painted white and most likely an artist made paintings of flowers strategically on the walls, it was so welcoming. The flowers were mostly pink, just like our large lockers which stood tall by the walls behind our metallic double decker beds.

The Hostel was definitely accommodating except for the fact that it had so many double decker/bunk beds, about 30 which meant about 60 people. My heart pounded faster, so I had to stay with these many people at once. This was unlike my house where I had a spacious room all to myself.

"Give me your Paper" Another girl who was lying lazily on the bed by the door said. Her check was green and had the V-neck too so I guessed she was a Prefect as well.

"Check this left wing, you will see a bed and locker with 17 on them. Get broom from any body and clean up the locker if it's dirty. Dress your bed with the striped bed sheet not the flowery one and you had better not dirty this Hostel in the course of your rubbish."

She gave me back the paper.

Why so rude?

I just began to struggle with my things.

"Shey you're Mad?" She asked sitting up for the first time.

"Ehn?" I was shocked.

"If I give you a welcome slap you will learn how to say 'thank you' "

I immediately got the memo,

"Thank You"

But she hissed as she lay down back while I stood there confused on whether I could continue with my struggle or not.

"Do you need help?"

I turned to make out the owner of the voice who had asked such a question with an obvious answer. My eyes were filled with tears already. For the first time, I feared the outcome of a threat, the threat the senior just made.

She was a smallish light skinned girl with fading pink lips and bushy eye brows. She put on the same color of check with me and it had the round neck mine had too. I figured that she was not a Prefect.

She fiddled with her keys which were on a key holder hung around her neck. She seemed excited, was she new to this school at all?

"Thank you" I said as she helped me with my things, I didn't want round two of threats even if I was almost certain that she was not a senior.

"You're on Bed 17?" She asked as she peeked into my paper.

What was it with her and asking questions with obvious answers.

I didn't answer her. I didn't know how to answer questions when their answers were too obvious without being rude.

We got to the metal bunk bed. Bed 17 was the one up. It was half the size of my almost king-sized bed at home.

"Lemme help you bring out your things" She said as she immediately started invading my privacy.

There was nothing I hated more than that.

"No Thanks"

"Uh Okay" She was somewhat displeased that I didn't appreciate her effort.

She sat on the bed beneath mine and didn't say a word.

I opened my boxes, all at once. I was overwhelmed by the number of things I had to arrange at once. I tried to organize the clothes into the locker. My mom had already neatly placed them on hangers and put back in the box when she realized she couldn't enter the Hostel with me.

"Just carefully pick them up and hang them in your locker" She had said.

Why wasn't she here with me? Why would she allow me to go to a place where I would have to be without her? I got angry with her, so angry, but the fact that I missed her a lot overshadowed the anger. The knot in my throat was harder to overcome.

I picked up the clothes to hang, they were neatly ironed too by my mom so I handled all of them carefully as I tried to place them all at once in the locker.

But... they began to fall from the hanger and get scattered.

I couldn't believe this was happening. Frustration took over me as I broke down in tears.