Crestford College was beautiful… too beautiful.
The buildings stood tall and polished, students moved with purpose, and laughter echoed through the walkways. Everything looked perfect, almost unreal. Yet something about the air felt heavy, like the calm before a storm.
I couldn't explain it.
"Let me take you to the bursary office so you can sign in and confirm all your payments," the porter said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
He walked ahead of me in a neatly ironed blue two-piece uniform while I followed closely behind, adjusting my bag slightly on my shoulder. As we moved deeper into the campus, I began to notice details I hadn't seen from the gate.
The place was huge.
Buildings stretched farther than I imagined, pathways curved into sections I couldn't even see fully, and students walked in groups like they already belonged. In the distance, I spotted another entrance which I assumed led to the dormitories.
This place was not small.
Not at all.
When we got to the receptionist's office, there was already a queue. A long one.
I exhaled softly. I didn't mind waiting… but apparently, I didn't have to.
"This is Emily Kingsley," the porter said to the bursar, his voice low but not low enough.
She looked up immediately.
Her expression changed into a polite smile as she motioned for me to come forward.
So much for waiting.
Within minutes, everything was done. No stress. No delay.
She handed me two cards.
"Welcome to Crestford," she said warmly.
One card read Verified.
The other was a key card, neatly printed with my dorm name and room number.
I was just about to say thank you when I heard a small scream behind me.
"We are roommates!"
I turned, slightly startled, and came face-to-face with a girl.
No… a very beautiful girl.
Sharp features. Smooth skin. The kind of face you don't forget easily. She looked like someone who belonged on a runway, not standing in a school office.
I loved pretty girls.
But something about her told me she talked a lot.
Her smile gave it away.
"Hi, my name is Sophia. Nice meeting you, roomie," she said, almost bouncing with excitement.
"Hi, I'm Emily. Nice meeting you too," I replied, trying to match her energy.
She had a lot of it.
"Oh, you can leave now. I'll take her to the dorm," she said casually to the porter.
He hesitated for a second, then handed me my bags and left.
I watched him go, then turned back to her.
Something about her felt… familiar.
I couldn't place it.
But I let it go.
She reached for one of my bags, and even though I tried to stop her, she didn't listen.
"I've got it," she said, already walking.
And just like that, I followed.
As we walked toward the other gate, she started talking.
A lot.
"You know, this isn't my first time here," she said. "I was supposed to be in my second year, but work got in the way. I couldn't afford to lose that kind of money."
She spoke like she had rehearsed it before.
"Crestford College is very prestigious, and as you can see, it's beautiful. But…" she paused slightly, "classism is a big thing here."
I glanced at her.
She was still smiling.
I didn't know how she did it.
"Everyone here comes from money," she continued. "But even with that, there are levels."
Levels.
That word stayed in my head.
She went on to explain the dorm system.
Four dorms.
Blossom. Unified. Icons. Elites.
"That's where the real ranking starts," she said. "Elite dorm is the highest. Very limited rooms. Ten for boys, ten for girls. The others have more."
We finally got to the dorm gate.
Bold letters spelled out DORMS above us.
The gatekeeper opened it, and we both said thank you before stepping in.
"Over here," she added, lowering her voice slightly, "everyone is either a king or a queen."
At that point, I wasn't even listening fully anymore.
I was looking around.
Taking everything in.
It felt like I had stepped into a different world.
The environment was clean, almost too clean. The buildings were arranged in a way that felt intentional, like everything had its place. Even the air felt different.
Fresh.
Controlled.
Perfect.
I liked it.
Maybe a little too much.
We walked toward the Elite dorm and stepped inside.
Luxury didn't even try to hide here.
It was obvious.
Our room was number 01.
Of course.
Sophia guided me quickly, showing me how to use the card, and I slid it over the door sensor. The door clicked open, and we stepped in.
I paused.
The room was beautiful.
Spacious. Well arranged. Everything in place.
Even the bathroom looked like something out of a hotel.
I smiled without even realizing it.
"Do you love it here?" Sophia asked, already dropping onto one of the beds.
"Yes," I said honestly. "I really do."
"You should be careful, though," she added, sitting up slightly. "People here can be serious bullies."
I let out a small laugh.
"Girl, we're number one," I said, smirking. "I'd like to see them try."
I had dealt with people like that my whole life.
Nothing new.
We began arranging our things, naturally choosing sides without even discussing it. In about thirty minutes, we were done.
After taking our baths, we both sat on our beds, exhausted but satisfied.
For a moment, everything was quiet.
Then we spoke at the same time.
"I'm so hungry."
We both paused… then burst into laughter.
That kind of laughter that just comes naturally.
Like we had known each other longer than a few hours.
"Let's go to the school's canteen," Sophia said, already getting up.
I nodded.
It sounded like a good idea.
But looking back…
I really wish we never went.