11. World, Here I Come!

Kang Mia

Mia got to the dorm at twilight. The small wheels of her ruby suitcase jumped happily on the pavement. On top of it rested a sports bag full of dancing attire. Her strides were quick and full of excitement. The first day at school had been amazing. She loved every second of it. So many girls danced around her, complimenting her perfect nails and shiny hair. Mia smiled all the way to her new home, looking forward to meeting her roommate.

This is the life!

While entering the building, Mia chit-chatted with the doorman and asked for info about her room and the person who was already checked in. The wrinkled man kept her attention for a while and the beautiful, attentive girl was willing to spare it on him as they'd see each other often anyway. The man enthusiastically let her in on more details about her new roommate as he had it all checked in the system.

A smile doesn't cost much. Mia thought, fed by his eagerness to talk.

The building was a modern square complex with a gray plastered facade. The neighborhood was full of greenery and parks as this resort was built on the outskirts of the city. All in all, it came across as exceedingly shiny and new.

Nice, I can do yoga in that park, how exciting!

She had never lived in the dorms before and it had taken her more than a few days to persuade her loving parents into letting her leave the nest. Her youth and teenage years were spent comfortably in a town she had cherished, but her graduation year had ended on a sour note.

Mia felt she could use some time away to think things through, even at the cost of leaving her friends and the warmth of her home behind. Trading it for the unknown of the much bigger city and the ever-so-hyped and exaggerated university life would be good for her - she just knew it.

...

After arriving in the tiny two-bedroom flat, Mia stood for a while and soaked in the atmosphere. The joke of a hall opened into a wider corridor-type room with two doors to separate rooms on each side and a door with a pictogram of a water droplet leading to the bathroom. The rest of the space was a living room merged with a small kitchen corner. The kitchen counter with cabinets sat on the left side, and the back of the comfy black sofa faced Mia. It all seemed homey and fairly new.

Mia removed her pricey black jacket with tiny embroidered flowers. The sound of cries mixed with heart-wrenching songs greeted her from the room on the right.

Hmm, that's not the mood I was looking for, but alright.

Her own inner sorrow peaked out, but she forced it down.

Nah, I'm living my best life.

Taking off her sneakers, Mia's eyes laid themselves on a pair of retro blue shoes on the modern shoe cabinet right next to the entrance door. The cutesy rounded toes and T-bar style of the pumps made it clear that the resident preferred vintage-style clothing.

Cute clue.

The new roommate went in to occupy the second room, leaving her dance bag on the hall floor. The claustrophobic space caught her by surprise.

I knew it'd be small, but wow. I guess it'll do well enough for sleeping and studying.

It was bleak at best. All the furniture was clean, white, and obviously cheap. While unpacking, Mia loosened her hair, her head hurting from the tight hairstyle.

Ah, much better. She shook her head to get the free hair untangled.

Leaving the rest of the unpacking for later, she headed to the kitchen. Her stomach had reminded her it was time to eat. The fridge in the tiny kitchen corner was full, her roommate already purchased more food than needed, even wine bottles, stacked on top of each other. Mia, being bold as ever, decided to use ingredients and made dinner for both of them.

It's a kind thing to do, right? I'll go shopping next time.

Her insides fluttered at the idea of having a new friend, hopefully a close one.

I'm living with someone, how rad is that?

...

😳 Author's corner 😊

Have you experienced a Domr life? Have you lived in a rental room instead?

I did experience both.

Very poor dorms at my high school and very poor rented rooms at uni.

...

🎨Illustrations of each chapter are available on my Wattpad acc, AO3 acc -klubickoArt🎨