Two

Ethan Ring rushed through many people to finally reach the Building of Crease, where the orientation will be held. "Excuse me," he said while making his way into the crowd and finally entering the hall as he opened the door. The big wooden door creaked, and some have turned into him, and some do not care. 

He took the empty seat nearer by the door and put his bag into his lap. 

"And as we go on with this academic school year, I am hoping that everybody will have a great time enjoying your years and learn as well. We all have different paths to take, and it is not guaranteed for you, students, to reach your dreams in the same time frame. But remember, all you got to think about is you and your success," the Head of the College said, ending his speech. 

"It's done?" Ethan asked. "Or is it just the introduction?" 

"This is just the introductory. We will be having more activities later for us to get to know one another," said the man beside him. 

"Yeah, being late on the first day, on the orientation, what a great academic year to start."

"There's still more days to be early, bro. Just be early next time," the man said. "Also, what course are you taking up?" 

Ethan answered, "BS in Business Administration." Then he asked, "You?"

"Bachelor of Science in Biology," the man answered. He added, "By the way, I am Neil Jackson," offering his hand to Ethan. Ethan accepted his hand and shook it. 

"I am Ethan Ring. It is nice to meet you." 

"Everyone, there are still many activities to be held later, and I hope we can all find you there and let us socialize and enjoy this fresh academic year. Cheers to your batch!" the Head of the College said. 

"I guess I got to go now. See you," the man, Neil Jackson, said. Ethan just nodded his head. 

He does not know where to go now. He wishes that he has a dorm to stay in the university so he could have a place to kill time. 

He went out of the building, and started to pick up his brochure again, and searched for the cafeteria. "Cafeteria," he reads. Then he started walking towards the cafeteria, which is the opposite of the Building of Crease. He is getting cautious now, not knowing when someone will bump him again. 

There, he arrived and stood in front of the cafeteria with its wall made of glass, and there's a variety of food and drinks to choose from. Tables and chairs are all made of high-quality wood, which makes them more relaxing and more eye-pleasing. Vendo machines are present too. There are tables for groups, chairs, and tables for one attached to the wall. He chose to sit on the latter. 

He left his bag on the chair, proceeded to go into the counter, and chose a salad, a soft drink, and brownies—one brownie. No, three of it, all of the food in one tray. Then he proceeded to pay it at the counter. Then he brought his food to his table. 

Upon placing the tray, he checked his bag. Nothing's missing. He's just cautious, and he does not know how people living in the city acts. Or maybe he should learn how to trust city people just like the guy that lent him his pants. 

He ate, and with that, as he took a spoon of his salad, the door opened into the cafeteria, and he noticed that some people are looking at the door. No, people are looking at the people entering the cafeteria. 

The man that bumped him was one of them. Then he noticed that another man had taken a seat beside him, removing his eyes from the group of men and looked at the man beside him. It's the guy from the orientation, Neil Jackson. 

"I do not know anyone from here. We sit with each other during the orientation. Remember? Just in case you forgot," Neil chuckled.

"Yeah, I did not. I also don't know anyone here," Ethan answered. "You have a dorm here?" he added. 

Neil said, "Yes, I headed there right after the orientation and headed here right away because my stomach is growling." 

"It must be great to have a roommate. You can both be stressed and still have fun."

"Yeah, but I wish I can own the whole room, and it does not work like that here. You gotta share." 

Ethan asked as he took his last bite of salad, "So, do you want to go together? On the activities to be held later?" 

"We both have different courses, and there are different activities for each course, so yeah, maybe not," Neil answered. 

"Oh." Ethan has then again shifted his eyes on the group of men where they have seated at that long table. That man, Ethan thought to himself, seems popular.

Neil Jackson noticed where he's looking and said, "They're kinda popular here even though they're freshmen just like us. The school has accepted athletes earlier than us, and they already have gone through some training; they also have made some fame, which I think they're excellent in sports and deserve the popularity."

"What sports do they play?" 

"Baseball." 

Ethan nodded. He was still curious about that guy he met in the elevator and bumped him on his way to the hall. He's one of the popular kids. 

Ethan checked his watch and said, "I think it's time for us to go. It's now the time to start the activities." Neil got up on his chair and brought his bag with him. 

They both exited the cafeteria and walked just a little bit, and Neil said, "We should part ways now; I'm going to Building Caesar. You?" 

"I'm headed to Building Calliope," Ethan answered. And then they bid their goodbyes. Ethan thinks he just made a friend. And he thought I did not even get to have his mobile number. And he has also forgotten to ask the name of the guy that bumped him. If he's popular, then maybe he'll soon know him; there's no rush. 

He headed towards the building where the activities will take place for their course and first-year students. He's excited. 

"Welcome, freshmen! We are here today to get to know each other, to offer support, and for you to know that you have someone that will be going through what you're going to go through in the future. In these activities, you're going to show your solidarity. Welcome, freshmen of BS in Business Administration!" The crowd shouted, and some cheered, and some made just poker faces. Ethan? He's grinning. He's been so excited for this to be brave, to think about what he wants, and to get into college officially. 

The first activities have been easy. They only made two rounds and circles to know about the people on the other circle.

"I'm Ethan," he said as he faced the girl on the other circle. 

"I'm Aubrey," she said, and they shook hands. And the circle went on and on, and Ethan introduced himself to a bunch of people, and he does not even know if he can even get to remember all of their names and if they will remember his. What matters is that he had fun. He's having fun. 

There were more activities, and they all had fun with it. Ethan pulled out his handkerchief from his pants and wiped his sweat from his forehead. Then he realized it's not his. It's from the man that owns the pants. He smelled it; it smells great. It smells manly. How we wish he could be as attractive just like that man.

He brushed off that thought. What am I thinking? Praising, that is all, he thought. 

He continued to have fun as he inserted back the handkerchief into the pockets of his pants. And again, the new activity started. 

"For this last activity, you have to pair up with someone. Friends or strangers, you have to show that you are solid with just the two of you, and you have to make them feel that they're not alone in this journey," the host said. 

Someone tapped him on his back. 

"You?" Ethan said. 

"Hey! You're the one I bumped into earlier," the man said. "And I see that you've changed your pants," he grinned. And that made Ethan pissed off again. 

How much will this guy be pissing him off on this day?

"Yeah, and what you are saying is?" 

"Man, chill. I choose you to be my partner." 

Ethan raised his brows. "What if I do not want to? You already caused me trouble earlier."

"Look around you. They got pairs now, and we haven't." Then Ethan browsed his eyes into the crowd and saw that they all got their own partners.

"Okay. Let's pair. What's your name?"

"Troye. Troye Hamington. And you?" Troye asked. 

"You got to figure it out, for all the trouble you made, I am not gonna tell my name," Ethan answered. Thinking that he finally get this guy's name, and his name wasn't disclosed. 

Troye smirked. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen, for the last activity for this day, just like the cliche game we have been playing when we were kids, it's the apple face!" 

People look excited, and some are dismayed, and some are disgusted. 

"It's a game where you put the apple between your faces and hope for it not to fall and lose. Or kiss!" Lots of people laughed, some are nervous. 

"Let us start the game," the host announced. 

And it did start. 

"We should take this seriously," Ethan said. Troye just nodded and smiled.

He placed the apple into his cheek. And into Troye's. The exciting part of this activity? They have to keep it moving and not gonna be on standby as they'll lose. And they'll lose when it falls too. 

As Ethan and Troye are making the apple move through their faces. Ethan has locked his eyes with the man that lent him the pants. Mr. Jeans, Ethan thought. He's roaming around, and it seems like he's a facilitator. He's a senior? Ethan thought and not realizing that he has caused the loss of the momentum of the movement of the apple. 

The apple fell. Ethan faced Troye. And Troye thinking that he could save the apple, well, he did not. 

Their lips just met. And they're both in shock. People beside them were shocked as well. And some that witnessed it were smiling. Then they parted their lips.

When Ethan looked in the direction of the man that lent him pants, Mr. Jeans, he's nowhere to be found.

"Dude, I thought you said we should take this seriously?" said Troye.

Ethan faced Troye and wiped his lips aggressively, showing disgust on his face, and walked out.