Min was perfect. He rode the wide stream of students into the university. The department of sociology wasn"t far from the centre of the campus, only slightly closer from the second and third gates than the first gate. Min knew this. He also knew that a very small number of students chose the second or third gate to walk in through for the first time. There was an indescribable but very real feeling one had when pa.s.sing into the university for the first time through the first gate, almost like an initiation. It was something not many chose to lose out on.A vast majority of the seniors were on the university grounds. All minding their business, but it wasn"t difficult to see that their eyes were locked on the incoming freshers. The good natured among them were ready to offer help and directions to the freshers. Majority were just watching. Those with intentions not so pious were licking their lips, their eyes glittering as they looked at the freshers like hunters at prey. The start of a new year was always fun. So many innocent lambs to slaughter.
Nothing escaped Min"s eye. His scores in tests for dynamic vision were some of the highest ever seen in the history of the military. The importance of dynamic vision in the field couldn"t be emphasised enough. For Min"s job, dynamic vision was one of the top three essential skills. He observed everyone near him, took notice of their expressions and through it read their intent, all while ensuring that he was always within the field of invisibility.
And so, no one took notice of the ordinary looking boy in the middle of the freshers registering at the department of sociology. The unimpressive boy was obviously Min.
Min was looking at his cla.s.smates as he waited in line. He could recognise everyone. Knew their names. Had a rough understanding of their person, their habits and their preferences. People revealed so much of themselves on social media without restraint or care. Min wasn"t one to complain. He loved information. And if people were giving it of their own accord, he would gladly accept.
Majority of students arrived early to complete the registration, but more importantly for the dorms. The hostels were separate for boys and girls, two for each. One building each was as old as the department, among the first hostels built. The other two hostels were much newer, a few decades old. Still, the dorms of the older hostels were more desired. Even though both hostels looked alike and the dorms were built indistinguishably, the older dorms had an air of grandeur that couldn"t be replicated in the newer dorms. Those staying in the older dorms felt so much more majestic. Even though the allotment was random, the older hostels were filled first. And so, everyone arrived early.
Min wasn"t particular about the dorm that would be home for the next year at the very least. The only reason he was early was to remain inconspicuous among the ma.s.ses. He had a tiny smile on his face as he walked up to the middle aged woman behind the desk registering the new students. The smile didn"t falter as he was allotted a dorm in the old hostel. He acted blind to the gazes of envy. Thanked the woman who introduced herself as the warden of his hostel in a small voice, and followed the direction she pointed in to the hostel.
Fortunately, he wasn"t the only one walking to the old hostel. His dorm number was on the second floor. 217. Again, he earned gazes of envy as he walked up the stairs. As a policy, the university limited the number of elevators in all of the campus. Walking was healthy. Laziness almost a sin in the university. Min was in good shape. Two flights of stairs were nothing.
Dorms were shared between a pair. At the door, Min realised his dorm mate was already in. Before he could announce himself, the other boy rushed over.
"Hi. I"m Robin. Don"t bother even thinking of the jokes. I"ve heard them all. Yes, Robin is a girl"s name. And I am a boy. We"ll be dorm mates for the next three years, so let"s get started. What"s your name?"
Robin was garrulous. No question. He was also extremely easy going. In just a few seconds, Min decided he wouldn"t mind being with Robin.
"Min."
Such a short answer for a question so much longer. Robin was pleased nonetheless.
"Min. Weird name. We"ll be perfect. Two guys with weird names in one dorm. One very handsome. Other not too bad. Think we"d hunt down a few girlfriends between us? Not like I"m very eager. Just saying."
Halfway through Robin"s tone had changed, from carefree to a little afraid. Min saw the shadow, knew someone was at the door behind him. From the change in Robin, it was clearly someone Robin knew and was afraid of. Intrigued, Min turned around. But once again was late, for she had begun talking already.
"Find yourself a few girlfriends," she said in a mocking tone. "As if you"d be able to. I get you wanting to show off, but how can you forget that he"d see through you in a day? Even if he doesn"t, I"d tell him."
Turning toward Min, she introduced herself.
"I"m Akira. And don"t bother with the jokes over the name being a boy"s name. Our parents are normally silly. When we were born, they were sillier still from happiness. And so, they named us as they did. Or maybe, they were temporarily blind and confused our genders. We"ll never truly know what was going through their heads. You"re Min. I know. I heard."
Min was truly amused. Just when he thought one Robin was great, another Akira showed up. And the two were extremely funny together. Their names. Their garrulousness. Their easy mindedness. Everything about them was amusing. From the way they were looking at him, Min could see they were already considering him a friend. Could they really be so easy going?
"He seems a quiet boy," Robin said to Akira.
"Yeah," Akira agreed. "But that"s not too bad. We were asked to expand our circle, make new friends. I can feel it. He"ll be great."
"Hmm," Robin nodded in agreement. "Don"t you see it in his eyes? He"s accepted us too. That"s a first. Can you think of the last time anyone accepted us so easily? From just that, he"s a great guy."
"So we"re agreed then. We"re no longer two, but three."
"You know what that means, don"t you? We have to tell him. Even if just to avoid unnecessary and avoidable confusion."
Robin and Akira were talking about Min like he wasn"t present. He was tickled and burst out laughing. He couldn"t remember the last time he laughed so heartily. Looking at him laugh, Robin and Akira stopped talking. Their voices were quiet but their faces screamed of their curiosity.
"I"m sorry," Min said, shaking his head to stifle the laughter. "I think we"d be great too. Let"s be friends."