Chapter 06.06

The night before I left, I packed everything. In the morning, I’d be heading off to a new dorm.

I didn’t say long goodbyes—there was no point. I’d only be an hour away by car, though no one besides my family, Paul, and Brian knew that yet.

That morning, I hit the road. At the university’s main building, I confirmed my enrollment, which I’d already submitted online, and they directed me to my dorm. It was on the same side of the park as the academic buildings.

The dorm was a plain yellow building—less rustic, more like a budget hotel. No balconies, but the stairwells and windows were visible from outside. After a few signatures, the elderly receptionist handed me the key to my room.

My dorm room was on the first floor—a four-bed shared space, with three beds already taken. The white walls were lined with beds, and the desks were right beside them. In the corner opposite the door, separated by a partial wall, were a sink and a mini fridge. The bathrooms and showers were in the middle of the floor, accessible from both hallways. The kitchen and lounge were at the far end, across from the stairs.

It wasn’t going to be the most comfortable place, but I didn’t care. My roommates had already been living together since last year.

“Hey, I’m Jay,” I introduced myself. Phil, Dave, and Tom all looked up from their screens or books. They were all wearing T-shirts and jeans.

As I started unpacking, they paused what they were doing and gathered around my bed and desk, asking where I was from and where I’d studied before.

“If you got into that school, why’d you transfer here?” Dave asked. “It’s the best university in the country.”

Dave was tall and slim, with long brown hair that reached past his shoulders—he wore it tied back in a ponytail. Jenny’s nerd radar would’ve definitely gone off around him, especially with that sci-fi T-shirt he was wearing as proof.

“It’s closer to my family and friends,” I said, genuinely happy about it. “That school was just too far.”

“Got any siblings?” Dave asked—he was clearly the most curious.

“One older sister,” I replied.

“I’ve got two younger ones,” Dave said.

He asked about my parents, and I learned his mom was a teacher and his dad held a high-ranking position in the police. His family lived about half an hour away—in the opposite direction from mine. His sisters were two and three years younger than him.

As I unpacked, I pulled out the ruler Amber had given me—the one with Jenny’s smiling face and bright eyes printed on it.

“I know this girl,” said Tom, the tall, muscular guy with slicked-back black hair, blue eyes, and glasses. He’d been quiet until now, reading a crime novel. His T-shirt clung to his chest, showing off his build.

“Yeah, she models for my sister’s shop,” I said matter-of-factly.

“I went on a date with her once,” he said proudly. “Cool girl, but way too full of herself.”

I kept unpacking in silence.

“Why only once?” Phil asked. He was shorter than me, with a bit of stubble, brown hair, and glasses. His lean frame suggested he played some kind of sport. He’d been watching a car show when I arrived but was now leaning against my desk.

“She didn’t like that I ordered for her,” Tom said smugly. “She actually sent back one of the most expensive dishes and ordered something simple instead.”

“Did you ask if she liked what you picked?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“All girls like expensive food,” he said like it was a fact. I tried not to laugh.

“Is that ruler available in the shop?” Phil asked.

“I don’t think so,” I said. “It’s a promo item. You can have it if you want.”

I handed it to him, and he thanked me.

“So, you know her?” Tom asked again.

“Yeah,” I said simply. “She’s a nice girl—but yeah, she definitely has a clear idea of what a real man should be.” I smiled.

“Got a girlfriend?” Phil asked.

“Not right now.” That would be true—for a few more days, at least.

While unpacking, I learned that Tom was an only child. His parents lived in the city, but he chose dorm life to gain some independence. Phil came from a city farther away and had two older brothers.

On the last day of summer, I wandered through the city on foot, more or less following my sister’s directions. It didn’t take long to find the shop. It was already set up on a pedestrian street, easily accessible from the park. There weren’t any other clothing stores nearby—just a jewelry shop, a shoe store, and a drugstore. The shop wasn’t open yet, but the windows were already decorated with photos of my girlfriend.

Jenny had put up several swimsuit shots and a few of her more striking outfits—like the one she wore on our first New Year’s Eve together. I could understand why girls would be eager for the store to open just from the display alone.

Though the dorm was a bit far from there, I found a swimming pool where I could get in a few laps. I bought a pass right away. The building was modern, and the lockers in the changing room opened and closed with a wristband. Inside, there were three pools—one for baby swim lessons, a short one for casual swimming, and a full-length competition pool, which was perfect for me. Since it was the weekend, it was pretty crowded at first, but once I started swimming, my lane gradually cleared out.

After my training, I headed back to the dorm.

“Do you play chess?” Dave asked as I unpacked my wet swim trunks.

“I know the rules,” I said. “My grandpa taught me.”

“These guys—” he gestured toward the others, “—don’t want to play with me. Want to join?”

“Sure,” I nodded. “But don’t expect to learn much from me,” I laughed.

“You can learn something from anyone in chess,” he said with a smile, letting me take the white pieces.

We played a few rounds until bedtime. I lost every time, but Dave clearly enjoyed the games.