One of the questions they asked me during my Yale interview 6 months ago was, "Where do you see yourself four years from now?".
I didn't give the perfect answer dad helped me practise the night before, because I couldnt recite it. The answer was supposed to go, "I see myself on the stage of prestigious Yale, retrieving my graduation scroll as one of the best". I couldn't bring myself to say it, it's funny that I could memorise it perfectly the night before and when I was sitting before the interviewers, I went speechless. And all I said was, "I don't even know if I could pull through the next 365 days, let alone four years". And I suppose that was good enough to kill the interview, the family's hope for Yale. That is why, when the big envelope came, I was shocked; surprised.
And here I am, 6 months later standing before the majestic pillars of Yale University, one of the Ivy Leagues; the one hope which Cass never fulfilled.
"Excuse me? Do you know where the orientation is?", someone pat on my shoulder from behind. I turned to the voice; she was carrying a backpack and holding an Evian at the same time.
"I'm sorry, I am new here too".
"Oh, hi, my name is June, June Reynolds", she held out her hand, and I shook it. "Caitlin, O'Koren, nice to meet you"
She sighed, with enthusiasm. "Thank God I met someone as friendly as you, because I've always thought that people here are antisocials".
"Likewise", I smiled. Yea, likewise. We're talking about the country's top 1500 smartest brainiacs here, it's scary. When you're stuck in a place with these people, sometimes, the only thing you need is another soul like yourself, to not feel lonely. And June is the other soul like myself.
At first glance, I see her as one of those athletic girls back in high school, who do not care about what people think and believe in nothing but themelves. June is one of those girls, but with a little bit more. She thinks alot, about everything and she's warrm enough for anyone to approach, if only you'd ask. She's not plain stone cold.
"So, what'll you be doing?", she asked, as we are leaving the orientation after one and a half hours of endless speeches. Then she continued,"I'll be doing architecture, yknw like one of those who constructed these beautiful pillars". She brushed her fingertips through one of the pillars we were passing.
"Journalism, I'll be doing Journalism", I said. We walked out of the hallway, into the courtyard where the welcome brunch was held. Every student and alumni of Yale was to attend the brunch, like a tradition. The grass on the courtyard was beautifully mowed, and the tables were set up in a graceful order, just as how you'd expect an Ivy League like Yale would do it. People were mingling with one another, lecturers were joining in the social circles. As orderly as the tables were set up, the cliques were as obvious as it could get. There are the Asians, the Jocks, the Rich Kids; and it suddenly felt all high school again.
"People, I'm not a people person", June sighed. She glanced around nervously, with her brows frowned.
I sighed. "Me neither". I spotted an empty table at the side of the courtyard, where it was less crowded, and hurried June along, before it was taken. We huddled through the crowd, squeezing ourselves in between people, getting our heads bumped, repeating "excuse me" all the way.
"Man, it was Sparta out there.", June fanned herself, due to the very humid weather.
"Hang on, I'll go get us drinks, be right back", I walked towards the direction where I first caught a glimpse of the beverages table earlier. There were only two sodas left by then, and it was enough for the both of us. I quickly grabbed hold of them.
"Whoa, are you sure you could finish them? A little too much don't you think?", a voice commented from behind.
He looked like one of the nerdy Yale students, with a knitted vest and a collared shirt. His hair was red and combed all the way back neatly. "Umm, no. One of it is for my friend".
"I know. Kidding. I'm Joe", he raised his right hand, with his forefinger and middle finger far apart from one another, and a blank look on his face.
"E.T. I know that one", I giggled.
"Not bad, a chick of good flicks", he looked impressed, nodding his head. We stood there for a moment, not saying anything to one another. "So what's yours?"
"My form of greeting?"- seriously, I was confused.
He laughed. "Your name"
"I'm Caitlin."
"Cool"- and we were both in awkward silence again. He looked like he needed to say something, while all I want is to go back to where June is.
Then, I started walking backwards, facing him. "I'll see you, I gotta go back to my friend now"
He started putting on the E.T. hand sign again. "Um, yea sure. See ya caitlin"
I pushed through the crowd, again, to get back to June. From afar, I could see that June wasn't alone. She was with someone whom I suppose she just met, maybe it was someone who was trying to hit on her, because after all, June is attractive. If she was in my school she would have beaten those cheerleaders flat for Prom Queen. The "someone"'s back was facing me, I was deciding if I should interrupt them or not. It's funny but I could feel myself being pulled into a sense of familiarity surrounding me.
June saw me, and she started waving. "Caitlin! Over here!"
I walked slowly, with the sodas in hand, when he turned back and I froze, with a familiar face staring back at me.
Rogerson Biscoe. Fuck.
My life could not get any better than this.