His Ascension

She was just an actress

The ride from Boston to Cambridge wasn't a draining one for Ken. Feelings of anxiety and euphoria had enveloped him and all he wanted was to step foot at Harvard.

He alighted at the bus station and pulled his luggage bag out of the vehicle. He had gotten a new bag. Ken roved his eyes around the busy station. People stood in groups. Some were getting off buses, others were rushing to get in.

"Wow!" he mumbled as his eyes magnified in astonishment. 

It is his first time in Cambridge. Ken heard about the city countless times and saw its beautiful architectural settings on television but now, he was standing on Cambridge soil.

He held onto his school bag with one hand and pulled the luggage bag with the other hand. He shifted from the highway to a corner beside a restaurant.  People littered the street and Ken concluded that the situation is so because it was Monday morning.

Ken couldn't stop roving his green eyes around the bus station. It was damn busy.

"Harvard!" Ken heard a petite hailing a cab.

He pulled his luggage and stood beside her. She cast her gaze on his luggage bag. "You're going to Harvard?" 

Ken agreed with a sheepish grin. They stepped into the cab together and were soon on campus.

 The girl learnt that Ken was a newbie so she gave him tips on how to bypass security and get inside the school as a new student.

*****

After three days of running up and down the campus, going through a series of clearance and registration, Ken was fully a student at Harvard. The papers he got from the scholarship board eased his clearance. He was able to secure a student's identification card, he now had a hostel accommodation and was able to identify all his lecture venues and labs after getting a copy of his departmental timetable.

Ken was given a room in the MC ARTHUR hostel downstairs. He will be sharing the room with three other students. Two were final-year students and the other was in his second year.

His roommates gave him a warm welcome and showed Ken his corner. Ken had expected the hostel rooms to be small but his expectation was violated. The rooms were bigger than the apartment he rented in high school.

Ken had never shared a space with anyone and was glad that his roommates weren't the bugging type or maybe he couldn't tell yet because he had just known them for three days.

His bed space was the bunk below while Mark, the French year two student of philosophy occupied the bed space on top of Ken's bunk. The other two final-year students also shared an up-and-down bunk opposite Ken and Mark. There were wardrobes, two reading tables and stools.

Ken hurried out of the bathroom with a towel across his waist. It was Thursday morning. He was heading into his room when he saw a boy, kissing a girl. They were making out beside the door to the fourth room. Ken's room was the fifth. The stunned Ken hurried inside the room to share his finding with Mark.

Mark jumped down from his bed and landed on the tiled floor with a dry laugh. "You are surprised because you saw two people kissing by the door?" Mark said in between laughs.

"They should get a room outside the school," Ken replied and ran his hands through his wet hair. 

"Oh come on Ken. This is a goddamn university, not some high school. People fuck themselves here in the hostel rooms, in hallways and in other places you can think of. Girls can come to our hostel anytime they please." Mark replied. He grabbed a towel and aimed for the bathroom leaving Ken with a dropped jaw.

Ken resolved to get ready for his first class at the university. While slipping his legs into his white sneakers, he concluded that a university is indeed a place for grown-ups. 

The first class was a delightful experience for Ken. He was in the lecture hall ten minutes earlier and had secured a seat in the front row. Ken noticed that some of the students kept displaying nonchalant attitudes throughout the lecture period. Some walked out through the back door before the lecture ended and only a few took notes. Ken needed no confirmation that it was indeed a ground with no rules.

The class ended after two hours. Ken forced his way out of the hall through the crowd of students hurrying out. It was his only lecture for the day.

He was rushing to his hostel when a familiar voice called out to him.

"Miranda!" he gasped and turned around to face her.

"Well, well," Miranda said and swayed her hips toward him. A black side back hung around her left arm.

What are you doing here? Ken almost blurted, shocked by the realisation that she is also now a student at Harvard.

Ken swallowed some air, folded his arms across his chest and said. "Good to see you, Miranda."

Miranda broke into a dry laugh and moved closer to him. "Are you sure you are glad to see me Ken?" she demanded with a quirked brow.

Ken sighed and stared at his left. They were standing beside the art theatre. Students were walking around in groups carrying bags and others held notebooks.

Ken darted his gaze from the building and caught Miranda glaring at him. The way her hazel eyes roved all over his body made him wonder how much she despises him now that she has a rich boyfriend.

"Have a great day," Ken said and was about to leave when in a flash, Miranda stood before him, blocking his path.

"Do you know how I got admission into this institution?" she blurted and flipped her hair.

Ken turned away with a sigh. Does he even look like he cares?

Miranda began to rub her palms against each other. "You see Ken, choosing Charlie was one of the best decisions I've taken in this life."

Ken tightened his jaw. Now she's going to throw everything at his face again?

"Charlie's dad is rich so through his connection, he secured a spot for me in this institution." she bragged.

"Good for you." was all Ken could say.

"I was wondering a few days back when I didn't get an offer from any of the colleges I applied to. I was so heartbroken Ken Until Charlie stepped on my case and spoke to his dad. You see Ken, that's what happens when you get a rich boyfriend."

Miranda's grades were barely average and if not for Charlie's father's intervention, she wouldn't have gotten admission to Harvard.

"I would have drowned in the pool of hopelessness if not for Charlie. Do you see why I left you, Ken? You have nothing to offer me." Miranda stated.

Ken forced a grin. "Okay, Miranda. You're with Charlie and I've got a rich girlfriend too. I guess we are even now."

"Oh cut the crap, Ken." Miranda retorted and waved her hand down. "I know that Cassie or whatever she calls herself was just putting on a show the other day."

"You can go ahead and think whatever you wish Miranda. I don't bloody care." Ken declared and turned around.

"You are good for nothing Ken," she screamed at him as he was walking away.