II: Roll Call

I weaved through the bustling hallways of the freshman building, my eyes scanning the room numbers like a hawk searching for prey. Social Sciences, Social Sciences, where are you hiding? Finally, at the end of a seemingly endless corridor, I spotted it: "Galileo, 1st Year, Social Sciences." Bingo.

Before stepping into the unknown, I paused to take in the scene. A chaotic ballet of students rushing to their classes unfolded around me, a symphony of backpacks bumping and hurried footsteps echoing off the polished floors. My gaze drifted to a stairway tucked away beside the classroom, then to a sprawling deck that beckoned me with its panoramic view. Curiosity piqued, I decided to take a detour.

Stepping onto the deck, I was greeted by a sight that stole my breath away. The campus sprawled out before me like a meticulously crafted tapestry, a vibrant landscape woven from verdant green lawns, imposing brick buildings with ivy crawling up their sides, and winding pathways teeming with students like busy ants. The morning sun cast a golden glow over the scene, glinting off the windows and turning them into shimmering jewels scattered across the campus. It was a breathtaking vista, a scene worthy of an artist's most inspired brushstrokes. I could see why they'd put the deck here – on the top floor, it offered a bird's-eye view of the entire freshman world. Below, the campus bustled with activity, a microcosm of the world beyond these walls. It was a sight that filled me with a curious mix of excitement and anticipation.

The classroom door creaked open, revealing a microcosm of teenage life, a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of adolescent angst and social hierarchy. In one corner, the jocks flexed their muscles and traded tales of athletic conquests, their laughter echoing like a pack of wolves on a moonlit night. The queen bees, perched atop their desks like porcelain dolls, sipped their pastel-colored drinks and whispered secrets behind manicured hands. Meanwhile, the intellectual outcasts – the nerds and otaku – huddled together in their own universe, engrossed in discussions of fantastical realms and complex algorithms.

And then there was me, the anomaly. The self-proclaimed mad genius, a walking contradiction of self-loathing and megalomania. My mind was a labyrinth of half-baked ideas and existential angst, fueled by a relentless cocktail of ADHD and a dash of self-destructive tendencies. Why was I here, you ask? Good question. Perhaps it was some twisted form of self-flagellation, a masochistic desire to expose myself to the judgmental stares and whispered gossip of my peers.

Or maybe, just maybe, there was a glimmer of hope buried deep within my cynical soul. A hope that maybe, just maybe, I could find a place where I belonged, where my quirks and idiosyncrasies were not just tolerated, but celebrated. But as I scanned the room, my gaze flitting from one group to the next, that hope dwindled like a candle in a hurricane.

The truth was, I was a misfit, a square peg in a round hole. I was the kid who spent lunch breaks scribbling cryptic poems in a notebook, the one who got lost in philosophical debates while others chatted about the latest trends. I was the enigma, the puzzle that no one bothered to solve. But hey, at least I was entertaining, right? Like a one-man circus, juggling neuroses and existential dread with a manic grin.

And so, I took a deep breath and plunged into the fray, ready to face the trials and tribulations of freshman year. After all, what's life without a little chaos and a whole lot of self-deprecating humor? Besides, even a broken clock is right twice a day, and maybe, just maybe, today would be my day to shine. Or, more likely, to stumble and fall flat on my face in spectacular fashion. Either way, it was bound to be interesting.

Scoping out the classroom like a seasoned scout, I zeroed in on my ideal territory: the far corner, as secluded as possible from the bubbling cauldron of teenage hormones and social anxieties. Let the popular kids hog the limelight; I preferred to lurk in the shadows, observing the human zoo from a safe distance. The back row seemed like a strategic choice, a haven for those who valued solitude over popularity contests. I settled into the corner seat, claiming it as my own personal fortress. The window beside me offered a panoramic view of the bustling cityscape below, a dizzying mosaic of skyscrapers, winding streets, and tiny cars crawling like ants. It was a view that could either inspire contemplation or trigger a vertigo-induced existential crisis, depending on my mood.As I fumbled through my backpack, my fingers searching for the syllabus like a blind mole, a shadow fell over me. I looked up to see a figure standing awkwardly beside my desk, their face a mixture of nervousness and forced cheerfulness."Hey," they chirped, "I'm Elias, and you're new here, right? Mind if I sit with you?"Great, I thought to myself. Just what I needed – an unwanted dose of human interaction before I even had a chance to mentally prepare for the day's onslaught. The universe seemed to have a twisted sense of humor, always throwing me into situations I was least equipped to handle. Still, it wouldn't be the first time I'd been forced to navigate the treacherous waters of social interaction. With a resigned sigh, I nodded my assent, plastering a fake smile on my face. After all, maybe Elias had a spare pen or a cheat sheet I could borrow. And who knows, maybe this awkward encounter would lead to something... interesting. Or, more likely, it would just be another chapter in the ongoing saga of my social ineptitude. Either way, I was ready to face whatever the universe threw my way, armed with my trusty wit and a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor.

Someone:

"Hi! I am David, as you saw earlier, I'm an Otaku."

This is the first time someone wanted to know me

But I answered with calmness and thoughtfully

"I see... Then it's nice to meet you, David!"

David replies to me and giggles:

"Nice to meet you too! Hope we can get along well during our time here."

I leave him a smile as he goes back to his group

Meanwhile, someone enters the door

It was the professor

Everyone is looking at her

Its as if her beauty charmed everyone

Except for me looking out the window

As I look at her our eyes meet

Then she winks at me

So to give her my feedback

I smile and nod at her

Then she smiles then puts down her stuff on the table

Before everything starts she gives us all a message

"Welcome everyone to Enceburg University, now all of you have a ton of questions so I'm going to answer some of them in advance. Yes, this is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Studying will not be easy, there will be ups and downs for all of you. And yes students with the best grades will get benefits. Now the University is split into 3 classes, The Common Class, Mid Class, and the well-known, Prestigious Class. They are divided and you will be grouped among one of those if the course you choose to study goes under one of these and it will live with you during your stay or if you got the chance to move up."

Minutes pass as she answers the questions of others

While I wonder and listen to them

Then finally she sets her sights on me

And asks everyone a question :

"Now lemme ask all of you, Why are you studying that course? what is the reason? now if the reason is too personal it is alright I understand. You have till the end of this class to give me your answer.

Everyone panics

Some grab pen and paper

Some go and ask others for help

Everyone is in chaos

While she just asks for attendance:

" While you are all at it, let's do a roll call"

The answer is very simple

It comes to yourself

You know it very well

And I know my reasons

More minutes past by

I got bored so I started drawing

It's been a while since I last drew

Years probably but I still got the grip of it

But I'm still a little rusty though

While focused, footsteps get stronger amidst the crowd

Then the next thing I hear

Is a woman's voice:

"I wonder why I have an art student in a Social Sciences Class? You must be lost, young man. The Art building is on the other side of the campus grounds."

Then I realized she was mistaken so I replied:

"I'm actually in the right place Miss, I just like drawing. It kinda keeps me focused."

She pats my head then gives a reply before leaving:

"Oh my! daring aren't we? well, I hope you have fun in my class and your stay here! Anyway, can I get your name?"

I feel like she's is a nice person, so I thought

why not smile at someone at least once.

And so I did and told ger my name so I could get in the attendance:

"Thank you Miss! it's Kaden del Rosario by the way."

To be Continued...