Last Bus to Home

I don't know what I am going to do in college, but I'm damn sure of one thing-it's going to be unforgettable.

And by that, I mean either a legendary success story or a disaster so epic that I'll need therapy afterward.

Honestly, I was betting on the latter.

But what I didn't know-what I couldn't have even imagined-was that she had already planned something else for me.

Yes. Her.

I don't know if she's a deity, a goddess, or just a cosmic prankster, but I do know one thing.

I was about to become her final prey.

...Yeah, let that sink in.

See, we all have this belief that college is where everything happens. Love. Breakups. Drama. Glow-ups. Whatever else they put in movies to make it look interesting.

And I? I was just another naive idiot, standing at the bus stop, convincing myself that my life was about to change.

I had already suffered through a half-hour wait at the bus stand, followed by an hour and a half of standing in two separate buses because apparently, my fate wasn't punishing me enough.

Then, just when I thought my suffering had peaked-

I saw her.

She wasn't a hallucination, though my brain was fried enough that I wouldn't have been surprised if she was.

She was real. Too real.

There, standing at the Red Door Bus Stand, was a girl who didn't look like she belonged in my world. Or maybe, it was the other way around.

For a moment, everything else-the waiting, the bus crowd, the exhaustion-blurred into the background.

It wasn't that she was the most beautiful girl in existence or anything ridiculous like that. It was something else.

Something about her presence made the whole moment feel important.

Of course, life is never that generous.

Because the moment that thought crossed my mind, I realized something devastating.

She didn't look like a student from my college.

Just like that, my imaginary love story collapsed before it could even begin.

Wow. What a twist.

But hey, at least I knew something now. She came here at the same time every day and waited for her friends.

So, you know... fate exists.

Right?

...Right?!

No. Shut up. I refuse to be that guy.

I'm not some creepy stalker who changes his entire routine just because of a girl.

I have self-respect!

Which is exactly why I ignored her bus completely and waited for my own.

Yes. That's the truth. And I will die defending it.

(...Please ignore the part where I casually memorized her bus number.)

Anyway, this wasn't about her. This was about me. My first day. My college life. My future.

And nothing-absolutely nothing-was going to go wrong.

...

Spoiler alert: I was very, very wrong.

Scholarsphere College was... well.

Old.

Not falling-apart old, but "this building has seen more drama than my entire existence" old.

It looked prestigious, sure. But something about it screamed "Welcome to your final battlefield, soldier."

Did that scare me?

Absolutely not.

I mean, how bad could it be?

(Haha. Hahaha. Oh, sweet summer child.)

As I stepped in, I spotted something weird right away.

A girl-dressed in full-on cosplay attire-was being stared at by a bunch of clueless freshmen.

At first, I did what any sane person would do.

I ignored it.

But then, somehow, without even realizing it, I was following her.

No, not in a creepy way!

It was pure coincidence! Totally unintentional!

(Shut up, subconscious.)

I was already on edge because of my first-day nerves, so when she walked straight into the Principal's office, I figured, "Hey, maybe this is fate guiding me."

Or, you know. Leading me to my execution.

Because the moment I turned the corner-

The entire atmosphere shifted.

I didn't even know how to describe it. The air felt different.

Like the entire universe had gone dead silent just to watch me make a fool of myself.

And then, standing right in front of me-

Was a man.

A terrifying, hungry-looking man.

Was he going to eat me?!

"What's your name and which class do you belong to?"

I swear my soul left my body.

"S-Sir?! I-uh-Kush! Kush Khanna! First day! No class yet-uh-SIR!"

"...Kush, what's your surname?"

"Khanna, sir!"

A pause.

Then, casually, as if he hadn't just scared me half to death-

"Oh, I'm Mr. Hope. The Principal."

...

EXCUSE ME, WHAT?!

I JUST GOT INTERROGATED LIKE A CRIMINAL BY THE PRINCIPAL?!

My first day wasn't even five minutes in, and I had already ruined my reputation.

So, naturally, I did what any desperate student would do.

I shoved my recommendation letter in his hands and prayed for mercy.

He read it.

His face turned red-like he was reading a confession letter instead of an academic request.

And then, finally-

"Welcome to Scholarsphere College, Kush Khanna."

I survived.

But this was just the beginning.

And something told me I wouldn't be making it home in one piece.

To Be Continued...