Venessa
I dragged my suitcase across the dorm hallway, trying to keep my balance on heels i immediately regretted wearing. I stopped in front of my assigned room and took a deep breath.
"Okay, first impression," I mutter to myself, "don't trip."
The door opened before i could knock, and three girls looked up, all different from each other.
"Hi! You must be new!" a bubbly girl says, her curls bouncing. "I'm Kiki, your roommate!"
"I'm Zoe," said another, sleek and stylish, flipping her notebook closed. "And that's Mia," she nodded toward the third, who gave a small wave but didn't speak.
i laughed nervously. "Hi… I'm venessa but you can call me nessa. Nice to meet you all."
The girls immediately started asking questions—where i'm from, what classes i take and if i prefer coffee or tea, and, more importantly, how many shoes i actually own. I tried to answer casually, but it felt like i was being interviewed by three energetic TV hosts.
Soon, we were all giggling, and even Mia cracked a small smile. Kiki grabbed her backpack. "Come on! We're going on a tour of the campus. You have to see everything before classes start."
I followed them outside, feeling a little lighter. The sun peeked through clouds, making the campus look warm and inviting. The tour started casually—cafeteria, library, student center—and I found myself relaxing more than i had expected.
We reached the basketball court, the sun had broken through the clouds, shining on the polished wood. A few students were practicing shots, laughing and teasing each other. The energy was contagious.
Kiki nudged me. "Go on, try it! You've got sneakers, right?"
I glanced down at my heels and groaned. "Not exactly… but I can borrow a ball, right?"
One of the guys on the court caught my glance and tossed me a ball. "Here," he said, grinning. "Try not to break it."
"Thanks," i said, spinning the ball carefully between my hands. I was just testing it, but the feel of it in my hands was… fun. Almost like the court had its own energy, daring me to join in.
The guy smiled again, a little challenge in his eyes. "First time playing?"
"Maybe," I say with a playful shrug. "Depends on your definition of playing."
Kiki laughs. "She means she's just trying not to fall."
Another guy from the court, darker, leaning against the railing, observed silently. Broody. Intense. But there was a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, like he enjoyed watching.
I tossed the ball lightly, and it bounced toward the one with the easy smile. "Not bad!" he says, catching it. "You've got a good feel for it."
I grin. "Beginners' luck?"
broody guy—finally spoke, his voice low but teasing. "Beginners' luck only lasts so long."
My heartbeat quickened, not from fear, but the thrill of playful tension. I tossed the ball back to the playful guy. "Then maybe I'll just have to keep practicing."
He laughs, leaning down to retrieve it. "I can help with that."
Broody guys eyes flicked to me again, calm and unreadable, but i feel it—attention, challenge, curiosity.
For a moment, I realized something: college wasn't just about dorms or classes. It was this—energy, banter, and little sparks of chaos everywhere. And somehow, these two boys were already part of it.
Kiki clapped her hands. "Okay, tour continues! But nessa I think you just made the court way more interesting."
I laughed, spinning the ball once more. "Maybe… but only for a little while."
And with that, the group moved on, leaving me with the feel of the court still lingering—a small, playful memory i wasn't forgetting any time soon