CHAPTER 1

I walked into the hall full of freshmen for the college orientation programme. I sat at the far edge of the second row, third column. Everything around me seemed normal. I wasn't.

I had worn a new set that morning and it wasn't agreeing with me. The bra clasps felt too tight. How? This was supposed to be a good day. Meet new girls. Form a squad. Meet future rich general surgeons. All of it was in my head.

The room was well ventilated but I was still sweaty. The girl by my right hand side seemed to be enjoying every bit of the programme. She only said hi. I responded calmly. No further interaction. She was seated when I got in, so I'm not gonna bore you with her body type. Seems we were in a group assignment together in the third week. Hmm. Probably till then till I spill.

I glanced back as the door of the hall opened. I shouldn't have. I should have just focused on what the elderly woman was saying. She was the college officer and she was going on about the usuals: don't skip classes, medical school is difficult, you need to be serious, don't do drugs. Yeah, the last instruction should have been strapped to my forehead so when I look in the mirror I can read it back to myself. I might expand on that later. The drug rule or the college officer. Or both.

At the door of the hall stood this group. Study group. Alpha group. Either is okay. They were alphas. Three toned, shaped, muscular guys with a girl with the face of a doll. Mind you, I've seen boys. These ones are super boys. They all looked sharp in their fits. Not extravagant. Just normal fit for a freshman. But they sure stood out. It was orientation week. When and how did they meet? And who was the girl? Who owned the girl? Probably they came from the same high school.

"Why are you late?" the college officer asked lightly. She wasn't berating or confronting. She was probably hoping for an answer.

They stopped walking just before taking their seats. All the students in the hall turned and focused on them.

"Erhh… erhh," the tallest one tried to find words.

"We missed our way and went to the wrong building," the doll-faced girl answered.

Wow. Her voice was the softest I'd heard in a while. Not in my life. In a while. I was in a choir group back in the day. We had members with soft voices, probably softer than hers. But that was years back.

"You can have your seats." She waited for them to be seated. "I was talking about…"

She went on and on about the college rules. Both the important ones and the ones she herself flouted.

I kept glancing at the back after that first glance. I forgot about my tight bra clasp. Why? Now looking back, I think I was attracted to the girl. And none of the boys. That's the beginning of my troubles. Or joy. Hmm. I'd never been attracted to a girl. And now I was glancing back at her occasionally. On one occasion I saw one of the arms of the guys around her. I didn't know what I felt. It wasn't jealousy. But I wished that was my arm. But what can my girly arm do? I'm not sure it can go around her.

Several more dignitaries came and addressed us. I think I scribbled some things. Important things. I think I wrote down: Why am I looking at her?

The girl beside me read it through the corner of her eyes. I could see her smile.

Lol, no. It isn't you. I haven't seen you. All I've seen is your weird shaped brow and I'm not pulled in. In my head I was like: Did you see the doll at the back?

"Yes I did," she responded with a smile.

What? Did I just say that out loud? I felt so stupid. It was the first day of medical school and I was already stupid. What's the best comeback? So I thought.

"Ohhh…" I let out that sound as I clasped my hands over my mouth.

"You are right. She is a doll." She turned toward me. "My name is Kith."

"Oh yeah." I laughed lightly and relaxed a little. "My name is…"

You thought I was gonna mention my name? Nah. What if this is a confession later? Or something more than that? But hey, I'm a doctor already. All of it is in the past. I swore the HIPAA oath.

After the final remarks, I stood up to go and felt the pull of the bra again. I sat back down. It was as if my breasts had grown bigger during the programme. All I wanted to do was take it off. Or probably that doll should take it off. Woah. I was thinking of her in that way. I'd had two boyfriends. One back in junior high and one currently. We were not on good terms, though. He flew to Europe and he hadn't been consistent with communication. This was new, uncharted territory. Now the thought of the doll relieving me of my bra drama filled my head. Gosh.

The students shuffled as they moved to say hello and meet, or tried to move out of each other's way. I waited in my seat, contemplating what to do. I felt a tap on my shoulder.

It was strange. I knew no one here. Who knew me? Most of my friends — just two — and people I knew were at least fifty miles from here. I specifically chose this uni to be able to focus. Now distractions came knocking.

"Hey…"

I turned back. No. It couldn't be. Aydon.

"Huh… oh… Aydon." I stuttered.

"Yeah, it's me." He laughed heartily. "It's been a while."

Aydon? Yeah, I hadn't seen him in like twelve or thirteen years. What caught me shocked was that he was the one with the arm around the doll. The big arm. He was so little when I last saw him. We were little, I mean. Both little. We were neighbors before his family left our street. But where was the doll he had in his arm?

"Yeah, it's been more than a while," I replied. "It's so nice to see you."

He gestured for me to stand. I obliged. He pulled me in for a hug.

Ohhh. His arms were strong and I sank into his chest. I liked it. He wore nice perfume.

"Meet my friends," he said. He gestured to the group.

Wow. Was I gonna join? Was I gonna be welcomed? This was an established group.

"And my girlfriend," he added.

"Hey guys," I greeted them.

Seems they'd talked about me beforehand. They seemed so friendly.

"Hey, it's nice to meet you." The girl with the softest voice spoke. Amaye.

Then I circled back. Seems Aydon had mentioned something I missed because I was busy saying "hey guys." Your girlfriend? Nah. She was our girlfriend now.

I learned their names. Exchanged numbers with Aydon and left the hall. My head was all about Amaye and maybe Aydon. Was it her voice? Or maybe her shape? I called her a doll, but she was close to a goddess. Her waist was like she wore an inbuilt corset. She was perfect. What did she think about me?

I opened my door. Finally unclasped the bra. What a relief. My breasts flew free and I remembered I wasn't the worst. I had the best body. At least when Amaye wasn't in the room.

What a first day. Hoping to be introduced to anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. And now I had Amaye in my head and Aydon's hug. Was I crushing on a couple?