Chapter 3: Orientation Seminar

Like the first time, I went to our school's covered court where the orientation seminar will be held for all the incoming freshmen. Our university was divided into 4 schools, the school of social sciences (SOSS), school of humanities (SOH), school of management (SOM), and school of science and engineering (SOSE). As an Economics major, I was part of the SOSS.

There were long tables before one can enter the area and on each was a placard indicating the school. I lined up with the one where SOSS was posted to get my orientation materials. After, I went inside.

As I can remember, the covered court area was huge. It compromises of 10 basketball courts and 10 volleyball courts. It also has tennis courts, table tennis area, swimming pool, and a gym. It was where all the physical education classes were held.

Today, we were at the basketball and volleyball area as it was the largest space in the university without any divider. More freshmen students streamed in while I tried to find where my block's designated area was. I looked around and finally saw F1.

F1 was my block for the whole duration of college. Each school had different courses, and each course have different blocks. My course, Economics had 2 blocks, block F and block F1. That was one of the main differences I noticed. In high school, you have classmates. In college, classmate is different from blockmate. Anyway, you won't be classmates with your blockmates all the time. However, there are certain classes that you will have to take together.

I went over to sit on one of the plastic chairs there. I noticed that I was the first one to arrive.

After a few minutes, a guy went over to sit on one of the chairs behind me. I felt my heart beating fast. Will they notice that I'm an older lady sitting here masquerading as a student? Then I recalled that I was 18 again.

I turned around to know who it was. My eyes widened and I turned back to face the front. It was Vitto! I recognized his rounded face immediately. I wanted to laugh in glee! I am really back and even am encountering the same people! I tried not to let my feelings show.

Then, more people came to sit around me, and I recognized all of them. As I chose to seat by the aisle, there was only one seat beside me, and it was taken by Janina. I can't remember much of how this day went, but I knew that Janina was the girl who told everyone about what I said about the ranking. Perhaps I unconsciously chose to sit at the same seat I did before and she was again my seatmate.

Janina was a friendly girl with a big mouth. She was on the petite side, had tanned skin, and rounded eyes. When I found out that it was her who told everyone, I felt betrayed and angry with her. She was such a two-faced bitch, I told myself. Looking at it now, she was just as immature as I was. She wanted to become popular or everyone to like her more, so she gossiped, or did whatever people liked.

"Hi! I'm Janina Dee, it's nice to meet you. What's you name?" she began.

I looked at her for a while. It was strange for someone to introduce herself to you again when you have known that person for a long time. It felt surreal.

"Uhm…. It's nice to meet you." She awkwardly said as she was about to put down her hand that was raised to give me a handshake.

I belatedly realized that I did not answer her. So, I gave her a smile back. "Sorry, I was just surprised. I am Michelle Lui, it's also nice to meet you." I said as I shook her hand.

There was silence after that. I recalled last time that she kept talking endlessly to me, but this time, because of the awkward moment between us, she chose to talk to the other girl, Camille, who sat on her other side.

Actually, it was nice seeing everyone again. I don't have any hard feelings for anyone for those days were behind us, well, at least to me at this moment. Anyway, who I was looking forward to seeing again was my crush who I used to stalk during my college days. Anthony Ren. I wonder if I would still have the same feelings I did before. I remember Janina telling me that I kept on blushing whenever I see the guy. Honestly, through the years, one can count the number of times I talked to him in one hand.

Anthony Ren was taking a different course. He was from SOM and his major was legal management. In my whole stay in college, he only became my classmate once, and that was in English class.

Then, as if on cue, I remembered my husband. Should I go and try to get to know him now? He did tell me that he was from SOSE and was quite popular. How would he react if he were to meet me now? I recalled him telling me that Lara became his girlfriend during his second year. Should I make him my boyfriend now so that he will never get to date her? That seems like a brilliant plan.

Anyway, that would have to wait for later. The program was about to begin and all the freshies were getting excited.

What was very exciting to me the first time, was just so-so now. I'm not interested in the seminar at all. I knew all about our university already, so I just looked around while everyone was listening. Should I be friendly with my blockmates and build rapport? But I'm not interested.

I continued to ponder on what I should do moving forward.

If this is not a dream and is now my reality, then perhaps I should go figure why I'm here. I should dedicate my days finding the answer to that and find a way back my original timeline. I should… hahaha!!! Why should I?

I looked around again and grinned. Who says I have to do those things? Why not just immerse myself in this experience? Perhaps even change some of the events in my life?

To say frankly, the only one I would miss from that timeline is Steve, my husband.

Why would I want to go back knowing that I can also find him here now? I can even get to know the him I never met before and maybe even make him become my campus boyfriend!

—

Tbc