Finally, it was the first day of college.
I spent the morning completing formalities—forms, registrations, ID verification. Routine work, but it marked the beginning of something new.
After that, I filled out the dorm application.
Four-person shared dorms. Freshers only. Students from different departments.
Fair enough.
I dragged my bag down the corridor and entered my assigned room.
It was clean. Simple. Acceptable.
Beds, sheets, and basic essentials had to be arranged on our own, but that didn't bother me. I'd lived with less.
The others were already there.
We introduced ourselves.
Sam.
Max.
Rich.
And me—PK.
We talked casually—majors, departments, where we were from. Nothing forced. Nothing awkward.
As I observed them quietly, I formed my first impressions.
One was tall and dark, built like he belonged on a basketball court.
One was clearly a nerd—fat, glasses, sharp eyes.
And one… looked like a complete idiot.
Yet somehow, they all felt like decent people.
I was satisfied with my dorm.
To break the ice properly, we decided to go out for dinner together.
Nothing fancy—street food stalls near the campus. Cheap, filling, and honest. We ate till we were full, laughing over small talk and random stories.
Before we headed back, I said casually,
"Next time, I'll treat you guys to something better."
They laughed it off.
From what I could tell, Sam and Rich came from backgrounds similar to mine. Max, on the other hand, gave off the vibe of a rich kid—subtle, but noticeable.
Different people. Different lives.
Yet for now, we shared the same room.
As we walked back to the dorm, I felt something rare.
Comfort.
This place wasn't hostile.
Not yet.
And for the first time since rebirth, I allowed myself to simply exist—without planning, without calculating.
At least for tonight.