Collegium

— an educational institution; college

Origin: Latin

1

"Yes mom... Okaaay mooom. I heard you. I said okay.... Yes I will mom!" I rolled my eyes as I was busy and struggling on grabbing my luggage out of the house with a phone in between my shoulder and ear.

My mother has always been the worry—freak whenever we're far from her or she's abroad with dad because of work. One time, I remember when I was still a kid, my brother said that she even went to my brother's camping at two in the morning because he forgot his mosquito spray and well technically he got embarrassed by it. He lived with the embarrassment until he reached eighth grade. I know it's normal for moms to act that way and worry because that's part of their jobs but our mom is a very worry—freak even to the smallest details in our lives. I think we sort of got used to it now we've gotten bigger.

"Mom, will you please stop panicking? I'm just going to college, I'm not leaving for somewhere totally far away. Tell dad to be safe on your way to England and yes I will definitely take care of myself. Do not worry about me." I muttered.

"Is that all the luggage you got?" I hear Cameron popping his head out from the trunk.

"Yeah. This is the last one." I answered him.

"Well hurry up."

"I'd be faster if you'd offer me your help. " I rolled my eyes at him.

I still hear my mom saying out all the things she listed on her notepad that she always bring with her wherever she goes. She needed to say everything to me before I set myself to college, and everything means every little thing. I basically know that parents are always worried about their child getting to college, and since they are not here because they're in Brazil on their way to England, Im in the agony of getting a long phone call with my folks and my mom worries even ten times more than the usual. Since my parents are both full time surgeons and part time business owners and are always abroad because of work, they're always away from us. Yes, this jerk named Cameron is my older brother.

"You're such a slugabed." He whines as he placed my last luggage on the trunk.

"You're such an asshole." I fired back.

"Mouth, Savannah." I hear my mom say over the line.

"Sorry mom. So, do you have anything else to say to me? My ears are hurting." I said.

"Hand your phone to your brother. Please." She says.

"Gladly." I answered.

I hand my phone to Cameron and both of us got inside his black ford pick up truck. He was talking to mom and I was massaging my ear. I pulled the seatbelt and watch Cameron dying on his car as he listens to mom's nagging. I could tell mom is yelling at him because I could partly, hear her voice. He's in trouble for leaving me home alone last night for a night out with his friends and he's giving me an eye for telling mom about it.

"You're dead." He mouths.

I smiled at him to annoy him and watch him suffer. Cameron is older than me for six years and he's still an irresponsible jerk. He still thinks he's a teenager who doesn't have a responsibility over his shoulders. No, he's not a father yet but I meant me and Ingrid, that's his responsibility. We're his responsibility. Ingrid is our little sister, she's only six and she's with our parents enjoying Paris and England.

Cameron, twenty—five, is a fresh graduate for business administration from WSU as well and he's currently working on our company as an employee, a regular employee and he's been whining about taking over my dad's company but sadly dad wants him to start from the bottom so he'll learn.

"Yes mom. Have a safe flight. I love you too. Yes. I won't." Cameron hangs up.

I pulled my phone away from his hand before he could do something about it.

"You're lucky you're going to college today and I'll miss your clumsy ass." He says.

"That was so sweet. Wow. I'm tearing up already." I rolled my eyes at him.

"I can't believe mom and dad are letting you major in English Literature. It's a lame course." He commented.

I gaped. "Well excuse me, English Literature is not a lame course. I love reading and I might be working in a publishing company someday. I might even write an article about you by the time you'll be taking over the company. Just like you wanted."

"Yeah right. I wonder how and when that's going to happen." He rolled his eyes at me.

When we reached the gates of WSU, I was enthralled. I hugged Cameron, "Don't you miss your alma mater?" I joked.

I hear him laugh as he pulls himself away from him. "Maybe a little. You take care okay? Stay away from those frat guys around."

I nodded and bid him goodbye. I am most definitely going to miss him. We may fight a lot but he's been a great brother and he's very protective of me. Plus we're really close. I walked to the dorms and looked back only to find Cameron getting inside his car. I waved him goodbye and he flashed his headlights at me. I continued walking and finally had my keys for my room. I passed by some women who were busy unpacking their stuff and most were all giddy. By the time I reached my room, I found myself alone.

Maybe my roommate is on her way.

I started unpacking my clothes and placed my stuff on the closet right next to me. I saw some clothes are already here but no one is around. I walked back to the door to make sure if I got inside the right room and I know I did. I folded my clothes again because well I don't like to get messy with everything around me. I'm very tidy. Well thank god for mom's chores and first aid orientations and return demonstrations every night. You not find it funny but we do that instead of bedtime stories. It actually came in handy right now.

By night, I had cup noodles for dinner since I was too lazy to grab something lavish and since it was very convenient and cheap, I think it'll work for me. My roommate still hasn't come here and I wonder how she looks like or perhaps at least just know her name. There's no photographs by her bed either so she's really a complete stranger to me. And since I don't know anyone here yet, I started reading a novel instead which I haven't finished for two weeks now. Damn, it's the longest since I finished a goddamn book.

Suddenly a loud bang woke me up in the middle of the night. I froze for a second and just listened to the eeriness of the room. I pulled myself up from the bed and just sat down, my roommate still isn't here. There goes that bang again that made my heart race. Shit it's coming from the door. My door. I grabbed my phone and it was still three in the morning. Who could this be? My roommate? Doesn't she have a key with her?

I jumped on my bed when that loud knock came by again. I slowly walked to the door and hoped that it wasn't some crazy killer or a ghost. Christ, is there a ghost here in the ladies dormitory? I reached for the knob and a knock by the door again made me jump back a little. I feel the hair on my skin is standing up. I exhaled heavily before opening it. Once I had swing the door open, I found a very tall man standing. He looked at me and he smelled liquor.