Chapter 3

GALINA POV

STANDING ON THE EDGE of a buzzing railway station, I looked down onto the scene unfolding in front of my eyes; millions and thousands of different people from all around the world, getting off their modes of transport. Some came to the City of Gold by buses, some by private cars, some by planes while some took trains like me. We may have been different in all ways; but we were the same in one thing; which was our age!

Every year, millions of children who had received the admission letter from Varagrafena University would swarm up here. The entry requirements were specific and I was at luck when I applied. The university took only 18-year-olds and I was about to turn 18 in a few weeks. The admission letter was a key to the Entrance Exam, which determined whether you were good enough to enroll in the big school. Growing up, I never had the means or the privilege of touring, exploring the world. It has always been my mother and me, in a small cottage in Castle Combe which was just 2 hours from London. Being in London was a dream since I had only seen the city on TVs, newspapers, and social media platforms; and never in real life!

I had always watched with fascination as the people from my small town mounted the trains to the rumored City. And now that I was here; I knew why all of them were so juvenile!

London was just how it was shown on TVs! Big, busy, exciting. dynamic and quite enchanting with its picturesque scenery! Sky touching buildings and bustling streets! The architecture itself spoke volumes. It was the biggest city which connected all races and people of this world. It was historic, giving the classic vibe of all the things that had transpired throughout the years. The excitement was suffocating as I rolled my luggage bag from the metro-train station and wheeled it towards the big iron gates of Varagrafena University that was a good distance from the station.

Sitting on its ancestral grounds, Varagrafena University was famous for creating legit students, tough alumni that were as hard as a diamond. I am talking about business gurus, tough-headed rocket scientists, and all the different professions you can think of! And the reality was rather too good to be true. The autumn sun was warm over my head, but a tremor of excitement tore through me when I took in the people who were just as excited as I was.

A heavy shoulder bumped into me knocking my little trolley bag down. I raised my head to find a bulgy guy smirking down at me!

“Watch yourself, little thing!” he called out before disappearing into the crowd.

Asswipe!

I thought to myself and quickly pulled up my trolley bag, then bonded together with the crowd. We were all going in the same direction so I didn’t have to ask where the big school was.

Cars honked their horns, people screamed their lungs out, and it was a whole new commotion of plethora around. The noise was deafening and with that, I plugged on my earphones and blocked the noise around me. Pretty Hurts by Beyoncé poured into bass-boosted earphones, drowning me in its melodious tune. Music always managed to calm me down whenever everything seemed to be a little too much. I ignored everyone and everything and just hauled my bag to the Big School.

I had always been envious of people who left home for Varagrafena University. Throughout my high school, I had worked hard, super hard to be among the people who will go to the City of Gold! Through our junior schooling years which were sadly from 5 till 17, we were prompted to work hard, told that Varagrafena was the best University in the entire universe. The hyping from teachers cheers from parents; they all were the drive I needed to get the letter. And when I finally got it, I couldn’t believe my lucky star.

I knew that the admission letter for the entrance exam marked the beginning of my long-awaited exploration of the world. Whenever we probed and asked intense questions; the teachers would reply with:

"Work hard and get into Varagrafena, then you will get the answer." That did not only arouse my interest but killed me softly with anticipation! Something deep within me always told me that life could not be just as plain and simple as it was! I had believed that in this world, there were more colors than what met the eye! There was green in white and red in black. And with that, I made a vow to uncover all the secrets of this world once I set my foot in Varagrafena.

A hand tapped on my shoulder pulling me from my daydream! I turned to find a tall guy with long black and blond highlights hair that reached him right on the shoulders. He was a mountain standing at 6 feet, lashes that I could swing on, and naturally pink lips that were just so kissable. The black leather jacket gloved his very visible muscles that flexed underneath, his blue jeans hugging his lower body very tight. He had a scruffy beard and he looked rather old than 18! But heck, he was eye candy! I took off my headphones and smiled politely at him.

“Hey! Sorry to disturb you. Are you alright?” he asked with a small voice which was swallowed by the white noise, but still was audible enough.

“Oh yes, I am good. Thanks!”

“Okay. I was wondering if you could help me with something?” he raised his hand to rub the top of his head, his muscles bucking with the movement. Yum!

“Okay?”

“Please lend me a blanket if you have two!” wait what? I was taken aback by that request that I didn’t realize I took a long time to reply him.

“I mean I am new here and didn’t bring mine. And I think it’s going to be chill at night!” he explained snapping me out of my zone.

“Ahhhhhhm… I only have one blanket, and a bed warmer. That, with a couple of sheets. So I don’t know how we are going to settle that one! Aren’t the blankets provided in the rooms?” it was rather strange that he was asking for a blanket. My mother had packed one for me which was to be used in case they were not provided for us.

“Well, I am from my room right now and the beds are completely bare!” he interjected.

“We can go to town to buy one then. But I will have to go to my room and put my bags first!” I gestured to the two fully stuffed bags I was hauling. He gave me a small nod and told me I would find him right by the gate.

I was long gone when I realized that I didn’t even know his name, lest take his numbers. All I knew was that he was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt inside, and a black leather jacket that looked sexy on him. Well, maybe he would stay put as he had promised.

I followed the trail of newcomers who were taken to the side of the dormitories. We came into a big hallway which I assumed was the entrance of the dormitory. There was a neat lady who was dressed in a black pencil skirt and a white shirt with long stiletto heels! Her hair was tight up in the bun and she looked so serious that she just assessed everyone without uttering a word. But she exuded that power that made you keep your mouth shut when her eyes landed on you! Once the chattering stopped, she announced herself as the dean of the girls’ dormitories and quickly went over the rules. She then went ahead by telling us we were all going to choose our rooms ourselves and as soon as she mounted off the stage, the commotion of room hunting began!

I was fast, and lean; which was an advantage to me to maneuver my way around until I found a nice room which was on the second floor of the dormitory building! The room was at the back of the building, overlooking the dense thick forest behind! I was always one with nature, and as soon as the scent of green and gold autumn air; and the crisp sound of dry leaves engulfed my senses, I knew that this room had chosen me!

I settled my bags inside and selected a cozy bed that was right beside the huge window and placed all of my lug gages on it! After taking in the place and realizing I was going to have 3 roommates, I excused myself and went out to meet the guy who needed help with the blanket.

However to my rotten luck, upon arriving at the place where he promised I’d find him, he was nowhere to be found. And I had nothing to contact him with.