"Cabin crew prepare for landing."

The voice rings through my ears as I peak my eyes open. I feel a hand on my arm and my chair suddenly jumping upright. The loss of comfort sends a wave of frustration up my spine and to my neck resulting in a groan.

"Sorry ma'am, you're going to need to close your computer, we're going to be landing soon." I look up, squinting from the light that was pouring through the now open windows. The flight attendant goes ahead, handing me my computer and closes the tray table for me. I internally groan at myself for not pausing the show before falling asleep. My earphones had fallen off my ears and rested on the side of neck over my shoulders. I pull them off and place everything in the empty seat next to me, before checking if my seatbelt is on.

The man seated next to the window has his back to me, looking out the window, taking up most of the view I couldn't get a look at the city while descending. I sigh and look along the aisle. Now that the curtain between business and economy class was pulled aside, I can see Pete's chair, his arm fallen on the side, he was probably asleep.

I rest my head back, unconscious of when I doze off again, only to jolt awake a few minutes later, feeling the airplane hit the ground. I glance out the window, this time the man sitting back, so I can see the clear skies stretching out for miles and high buildings dotting the distance.

"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to John F. Kennedy airport!"

I stand as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off and reach up to grab my backpack and duffle bag from overhead, swinging one over my shoulder, holding the other and waiting to leave the plane. I push away my drowsiness and chew on my lip in anticipation and excitement.

"Looks like someone's ready to explore." My uncle greets me with a wide grin at the luggage area after we both got through immigration separately. He had already picked our things off the carousel, mainly mine for college, a big suitcase with my clothes, and a box with any supplies I thought I'd need, besides my carry-ons filled with anything else random I found.

I take my phone out to connect to the wifi as we got out of the busy airport and waited for a ride. Notifications instantly ring through, after over 9 hours of not having any connection.

"Come on, the Uber's here." Without looking up from my phone I cautiously move my feet towards the car. "Hey, help me with these, I'll let you use my hotspot in the car." My eyes still remain on my phone, skimming over the messages down until I scroll over "Roommate" on whatsapp.

*snap*

The sound makes me jump, looking at the fingers in front of me and lifting my gaze I see my uncle trying to get my attention.

"Are you listening? Put your phone down."

Mumbling a barely audible sorry, I take my bags off me, placing them in the back of the car before getting in looking at my phone again, bracing myself when opening the texts.

Hello

This is Jeongguk, your roommate in college

When are you moving into the dorm?

It was sent to me 5 hours ago.

"So he finally texted you?" Pete leans over from his seat looking at what was distracting me so much, "Is he in the city?"

"Not sure, I'll ask him now." I'd be lying if I didn't suddenly get shaky fingers while trying to formulate a reply, as if all the blood drained out of my hands.

Heyy

I just arrived, I'll be in the dorm today

What about you??

Taking a screenshot of the chat, I send it to Markus, the only person I can internally scream with.

Should I have greeted him with a hello instead?

Aren't the two question marks too much?

Wait he finally texted me first!

The remainder of the car ride was spent looking through social media, out the window and checking for any notification from Jeongguk. I lost track of how long it took until we arrived at the hotel, dropping my luggage off at Pete's hotel room. It was a little past noon, so I had time to pick up my ID and keys, then come back and take my things to the dorm.

Before going out into Manhattan, I take one last look at my phone, sigh when I see there aren't any messages yet. Well you replied to him after hours.

...

Walking into the student residence was chilling. I notice the closer I get to the university area, the more students surrounded me, Pete starts looking out of place. They were roaming in and out, mostly in groups, some alone. They hung around corners of the street, or inside the buildings, eating and chatting, focused down on their phones, in their own little worlds of college life.

Jeongguk still hadn't replied to me.

While picking up my ID earlier, my eyes roamed over everyone around me, going over the chances of running into him. "Do you know, by any chance, if my roommate already got his ID and keys to the dorm?" I asked when I got mine from the registration desk.

"I just got on shift a few minutes ago, so I'm not really sure." The volunteer student instantly read my anxiety and gave me a warm smile, "You'll be alright." I chuckled nervously and nodded.

I wasn't the only one walking in now with dragging luggage behind, which brings a little ease my nerves. The apartment building didn't have any elevators, Pete helps carry the box and one of my bags up the stairs to the 6th and final floor where my room was.

Every step feels like another even bigger butterfly started flying in my stomach. Every step gets me closer to starting my life. Every step pushes my doubts away and blocks my mom's objection from my mind. This was it.

"Ohh my goshh!" Pete exaggerates a squeal as I turn the key in the door, opening into a small foyer. I lean my hand across the wall, finding the light switch and turning it on before stepping in. I find a kitchen on the left, together with all it's essential elements - a fridge, an oven and a stove. Next to it was a door I assume leads to the bathroom. There was a small dining table with three chairs set up against the right wall, opposite the kitchen.

My feet takes me straight to the bedroom that the foyer leads into directly in front of me. I was greeted by beds on either side of the room, the one of the right had messy sheets and two big bags sitting atop it.

He's here.

I look over my shoulder at Pete who checks the bathroom, shrugging that it was empty and walks passed me to my bed, setting the box and bags over it. "Well, I'm gonna leave you to it then, I'll be back in the morning to see you."

After he leaves, my eyes wander over to the bags on Jeongguk's bed which was left unpacked, looking as if he'd arrived today as well. There was a window straight across the door to the bedroom, set in the middle of the wall meaning both of us would have a fair share of it.

The sun was falling into the room as I make my way closer, crossing the floor between the two beds to get a view of the sunset overhead the apartment buildings across from us and down the street, each one in the block in the neighbourhood was toned in different changes of brown and beige, besides having the same construction.

Looking down, the tops of a few trees on the street reached just below our floor, I can see the bright green leaves moving along the wind. Everything shined in a light hue or orange and warmth. Being on the second highest floor the voices of the city were barely audible, yet the road underneath was buzzing with people, more than when I had come into the area just a few minutes ago.

I let my forehead rest on the window. The glass sent a soft shiver from its cold touch and I close my eyes,  letting it all sink in. One breathe in, one breathe out. This was home for the next while.

And just as I begin to find my peace, sounds of shuffling from behind me grab my attention, snapping my eyes open and I stand up straight. The front door closes shut. My breath hitches as I hear footsteps,

one,

two,

three,

and it stops.

I turn.

"Hey, you must be Layla. I'm Jeongguk."

(A/N)

there he iss! and you finally get introduced to the main characters name :)

i just saw this story has 100 reads, thank youuu so much for that! i hope you all are enjoying! please don't be shy, let me know what you think, send me a message, tell me your name, let's get to know one another!

lots of love!

- zay