Chapter 2

Room 12 is down the hall by your right", the dorm monitor said as he hands over the room key to Jason. Jason walked happily and nervous at the same time, he wasn't sure about the type of roommates he is going to meet.

  "What if they are loud?" He whispered to himself.

"Or maybe they are the quiet types that doesn't care what happens around them" He thought briefly. Whatever the case maybe Jason was determined to make the very best of his college life.

As Jason approached the room, he was honored by a strong stench coming from it, he cautiously proceeded and entered, alas it was one of the guys carrying out a not so advisable experiment in his corner of the room.

  "What's up guys? The name is Jason Toretto, I am the newest addition to the room", Jason introduced himself to the guys with an easily noticeable nervous voice. You can't blame him for being so nervous that is the first time the lad is being somewhere far away from his home and comfort zone.

The room is nothing far from the typical college boy's room. One could begin with the posters of who some people considered the greatest band to ever lived, The Beatles, one might even begin with the smell of tequila coming from one corner of the room or the pile of clothes tucked under the bed where they might be a kingdom of green bellied rats planning a human invasion but what caught Jason's attention the most was the poster of his favorite musician Kenny Rogers.

"At least there is someone here with the same taste of music as me", Jason thought.

The room is consisted of four beds, each to one student. Jason immediately knew which corner was his, he doesn't need a soothsayer to tell him that the barren looking bed, that wasn't littered with pile of clothes or bottle of tequila was his. Jason is the last member of the room, three other people had already occupied the room, Miguel, Casper and Adetokunbo and they've been previously informed about Jason's arrival.

Miguel was the first person to be in the room, he is a first-year engineering student, his family recently moved from Mexico to Los Angeles. He ushered in Jason in a nice manner and showed him to his corner.

  "Hope the trip down here was great?" Miguel asked nicely.

"Yeah, it was", Jason answered as he nodded in affirmation.

Miguel could easily notice the anxiousness in his voice. He hesitantly introduced the other guy sleeping in an Eiffel tower represented pile of clothes.

  "His name is Casper, and don't mind the clothes but he is a really cool guy when you get to know him", Miguel assured Jason.

  "Alright man", Jason said as he takes a thorough look of the room.

Few moments after, another student entered the room dressed in a foreign attire. Miguel was quick to assure him that the student wasn't a mascot and he is also their fourth roommate Adetokunbo.

  "What I am putting on is called Agbada in my home country, it is a traditional wear", Adetokunbo said.

  "The name is Jason I just moved in a few moments ago", Jason replied introducing himself.

  "My name is Adetokunbo, I am from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, but you can call me Ade", he said to Jason.

Most people always have a hard time pronouncing Ade's full name, as such he just shortened it to Ade in other to stop the embarrassing moment for both him and whoever it is that tries to pronounce the name. Ade is also a first-year student that majors in Economics, he is also on scholarship and he had arrived from Nigeria two weeks earlier than Jason.

Jason was spacing his own corner of the room when Casper woke up, at the surprised of seeing a new student in their room he ensued to question Jason about who he is.

"His name is Jason, he is our new roommate abeg no stress am", Ade advised Casper.

  "What was that you said at the end of your statement?" Jason asked

  "Abeg no stress am? It is a pidgin kind of English popularly spoken in my home country", Ade answered.

Ade frequently speaks pidgin English to his peers, it could have something to do with not wanting to forego a piece of his father's land. After a few moments of chit chatting among the guys and getting to know one another, Miguel and Casper suggested going out to eat in other to officially welcome Jason to the college.

  "What do you think Jason?", Miguel asked.

  "Me?' he replied, stalling for some time. "I think it would be better if I rest for today then tomorrow if you guys don't mind you can give me a tour of the college", he answered with feelings that someone will mock him or refer to him as a nerd.

  "That is great, tomorrow is perfect then", Ade assured.

Jason had just finished arranging his own side of the room when he remembered that he still needs to write to his grandmother. One would expect that a simple phone call will do but Janet has always protested against using most electronic device, Jason have always wondered what the reason was but he never cared to ask, all he knows is his grandmother has never used a cell phone before and she has never said anything about it. She always uses the mailing system to send her messages or communicate with whatever is left of her relationship with people.

  "I will write a letter to her tomorrow", Jason stated while removing the last item from his bag.

  "So, Jason hope you don't mind telling us a little something about yourself?", Casper asked.

  "No, not at all", Jason answered unsure of what to say.

"Well, I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee with my grandmother and I have also lived all my life there, as a matter of fact, this is the first time I am somewhere outside Knoxville", Jason said hoping that his answer is enough for any of them not to ask any further question.

  "What about your parents?" Ade curiously asked.

"They both died in an accident when I was just two years old and I was raised by my grandmother since then", Jason answered and by the tone of his voice and the sorrowful look on his face, the boys knew better than to ask any other personal question.

Jason has never blamed anyone for his parent death, he always believed it was an act of fate. At least he was grateful that his grandmother is always by his side and hopefully the cold and wrinkled hands of death doesn't take her away in a million years to come.

  After taking his shower, Jason laid down on his bed and looked up with a thrilled occupied heart and mused to himself "I must make everyone around me proud especially grandma, that is the least I can do for her".

Few moments later Jason phone rang, it was his uncle Dwayne calling to inquire about his short experience at the dorm so far.

  "What's up Jason, hope them boys aren't giving you any sort of troubles?" uncle Dwayne asked while trying his best to mimic a country accent.

"No sir." Jason answered.

  "Now Jason," Uncle Dwayne interrupted. "You are a man now, don't allow nobody intimidate you, college can be pretty horrible".

  "Understood sir." Jason replied.

It was almost midnight and the boys were still awake, so they decided to engage in another round of conversation, they shared their dreams and hopes and also their biggest aspirations, all this while during the conversation Jason only chipped in

Seldomly.

  "What are your aspirations Jason?" Miguel asked in an attempt to capture Jason involvement in the conversation.

"Uhm, I guess I want to be the best at what I do and I want to make my grandma proud", Jason answered in an uncertain tone.

"I take it that you must really be close with your grandma", Casper said alluding to how frequently Jason mentions his grandma

"Yeah, she is my everything" Jason replied.

One by one the boys transcended into a deep sleep, Jason was the last to sleep off keeping in his mind that he is going to write to his grandmother tomorrow and also going on his first ever tour in Los Angeles.