Get around round round, I get around...

***

CHAPTER 8:

FORCED ENCOUNTERS

"Olive! Sweetie, Olive!"

It was none other than Ursa, swooping down on me like an orange comet, announcing my name to the entire cafeteria. When she finally reached me, skipping with excitement, she chuckled. "Guess the fabulous food has dazzled you. I've called you for an hour, but you were lost in foodie heaven."

Well, I had heard her pretty clearly. My hope was that Ursa would give up and go her way, ensuring that none of the other souls would ever find out who Olive was. But when she linked her arm with mine, that hope vanished. I braced for the souls to point me out, whisper my name, and mock me. However, Ursa's nonchalant attitude towards the chaos I caused helped normalize the situation.

Heads turned back to their own business, souls swiftly forgetting about the interruption in their lives. I noticed the blond boy had moved away with his plate, and Pam had returned to her table. Even though souls can survive without oxygen in this realm, I took a deep breath. It seemed I had narrowly avoided a catastrophe. Or so I thought...

"Come on," Ursa said, tugging me along. "Let me introduce you to the gang."

I was grateful for her friendliness. But socializing was the last thing on my mind right now. I had already wasted enough time sampling these delectable dishes, and my attempts had only resulted in a mess. My priority was finding Mars, surviving orientation, and diving into classes.

When I hesitated to move, Ursa misinterpreted my reluctance and said, "Don't worry. The Dorm's got everything covered."

On this occasion, everything meant the mess I created on the floor. I opened my mouth to protest, but she had a grip like a wrestler. Despite my feeble resistance, she towed me along, weaving through tables packed with souls until we finally came to a halt in front of one.

Lifting his head, the first to spot us was a Latino boy cradling a meerkat in his arms. With his rich cocoa skin, waves of dark brown hair, and a grin as winsome as the meerkat, he was downright charming. Both he and the meerkat turned their gaze from Ursa to me, their heads cocking slightly as they scrutinized my face.

"Good morning, lovely souls!" Ursa announced with her trademark cheerfulness.

This caught the attention of others at the table. Two more souls sat opposite each other, and let's say... they weren't as adorable as the Latino amigo. The blond, ghostly girl resembled a version of Wednesday from the Addams Family with anemia. I couldn't decide if her stare was icier or if it was the chameleon on her shoulder.

The other girl was black, with full lips and round eyes. Her shaved hair enhanced her unconventional charm. Perched on the back of her chair was a snowy white owl. She laid a card from her Tarot deck on the table, and her eyes found mine. The card that flipped over was the Hermit, and it was upside down. I didn't understand fortune-telling, and I certainly didn't buy into it. But there was a captivating enigma in her gaze, and I found myself intrigued by the card.

"Losing your way, ignoring the truth, looking for solutions outside rather than within, failing to find your potential," the girl listed.

Before I could figure out if she was talking to me or someone else, she gathered the cards and started reshuffling the deck. I didn't know what to say. Ursa, however, seemed unfazed by this peculiar encounter.

"Olive," she said with her endless cheerfulness. "This is Diego and Meer."

The lad and the meerkat simultaneously raised their right hands to greet me. "Hey, Olive!" Diego said warmly, with a big smile.

"And this is Helene, and this is Glace," Ursa continued, pointing to the blond girl. When Helene nodded in greeting with a microscopic movement, the chameleon stuck out its tongue. I forced myself to smile out of sheer politeness.

"And this lovely duo..." Ursa started, pointing to the black girl. "Lark and Spook."

Lark seemed more eager to greet me than Helene. Her lips were slightly upturned. "Sorry for your loss," she said in a deep voice. "How did it happen?"

I didn't understand the question. Ursa stepped in, "Car accident," she replied. "A rather unfortunate turn of events." She guided me towards the end of the table, nudging me to sit next to Diego. Meer's snout immediately extended towards me, sniffing my hair.

"I don't like accidents and illnesses," Helene stated flatly. "If one cannot even choose their own demise, what's the purpose of existence?"

Lark reached across the table to grasp Helene's hand, smiling at her tenderly. "We can't all be as perceptive and fortunate as you, my dear."

Helene's expressionless face showed a hint of reaction for the first time. I guess... she liked the words. I couldn't join in or understand the conversation. And just as Ursa's squirrel suddenly popped its head out of the girl's hair, my attention was completely distracted.

"Lola!" Ursa exclaimed as if seeing her for the first time in years, with an excitement akin to a child's on Christmas morning. "Good morning, my little glutton!"

The little glutton glanced at her owner and began nibbling on the cheese on Helene's plate. Meer immediately leaped onto the table to join in. The chameleon, Glace, leaned in with glacial slowness while the owl, Spook, kept its wise gaze distant as if unwilling to engage.

"Give Olive some milk," Ursa instructed, pointing to the pitcher at the far end of the table. Diego obediently filled my glass with pink liquid—strawberry milk. Meanwhile, Ursa was serving food from the dishes in the middle onto my plate.

"Today is a big day," she said with a teacherly tone. "Orientation is always exhausting. A good breakfast beforehand is a must!"

I couldn't help but blurt out, "But aren't we souls? Why do we need to eat or sleep? I don't understand."

They all laughed in unison. Even Helene managed a ghost of a smile, defying her usually dull demeanor. Ursa, being the gracious host, explained.

"You're not quite on the other side yet, Olive. Yes, we are souls. But not entirely. We still have a connection to our living bodies. You need to take care of your soul to maintain that connection. If you want to return to your former life, of course."

While they chuckled, I couldn't join in. I was stunned by her words. What did she mean by if you want to return? What other purpose could I have? What purpose did others have?

"Think of this realm as... a waiting room," Lark continued. "A threshold between the infinite and finite worlds... Every experience here contributes to the lesson you'll carry forward. Earthly needs, pleasures, pains... You also need them all in here because they'll guide your direction. How can you navigate, learn, and evolve without embracing your emotions??"

I looked at Lark with admiration as if receiving advice from a wise tribal chief. With her owl, embroidered tunic, and the Tarot deck she was flipping through, she was undoubtedly the wisest soul in this friend group, if not the entire cafeteria. My gaze must have lingered on her face too long because one of her eyebrows arched up.

"T-thank you," I stammered, averting my gaze.

Suddenly, the food on my plate seemed much more critical, so I grabbed a fork and started eating, and... Oh, my stars! What were these flavors? With every bite I took, from savory to sweet, fireworks exploded in my mouth. I lost my manners after a few bites and started trying everything on the table. Meanwhile, among my new friends, there was gossip going on about what happened at the carnival yesterday.

Ursa was the main topic, failing to talk to her crush again. She thought he liked another girl because they were together all night. Helene supported this possibility with her realistic and two-word comments, while Diego was tasked with boosting Ursa's morale. Wise Lark had the final say.

"The cards show it's not the right time yet."

Ursa frowned. "If only those cards would show something good for once about me..." Then she reached out and held Diego's hand. "Only my soulmate gets me. You guys are clueless. You've found each other. And you're soulmates. What about poor souls like us, looking for love?"

Lark shrugged, Helene focused on her milk, and Diego turned to me. "Do you have a boyfriend, Olive?"

The intimacy of the question made me choke on the milk I was drinking. After coughing, I started, "W-well..." but Ursa interrupted, squeezing my hand tightly.

"Olive is like us, Di-Di. One of those who love but cannot unite... She had the accident with her boyfriend, but he survived."

As Ursa sighed, I coughed a bit more.

"I'm so sorry, Olive," Diego said.

"I don't like accidents," Helene reminded me.

"Everything happens for a reason," Lark concluded.

Suddenly, I was angry again. Ursa's sadness, as if I wouldn't see Dav again, Diego's pitiful face, the others' acting as if everything was over... I felt my face burning with rage.

"It doesn't matter," I said, with a harsh tone, even surprising myself. "I'll soon return to my life and my boyfriend anyway."

They exchanged glances. It seemed they knew something I didn't but weren't saying it. Getting even more frustrated, I stood up.

"So, I better start working right away. I'll find my soulmate and get the orientation part over with."

With my bag on my back, ready to bid them farewell and, if possible, never see them again, Ursa asked, "Who's your soulmate?"

Undoubtedly, my answer would start a new argument among the four and lead to comments that would upset me. But after thinking for a moment, I realized I could learn who Mars was from them and would save time looking for him. After all, Ursa was a representative. Who else would know the residents of the Dorm better than her?

Finally, I braced myself for whatever bombshell they might drop and said, "Mars."

In hindsight, I wish I hadn't.

***

Ok, who has ugly memories from the first day of school? That stomachache, sweet anxiousness, irrational fear, restlessness, panic... Or maybe you're not like that, but I was definitely worse than Olive 🥲

As you now know almost all the main characters, I want to hear about your first impressions. Let's pick your favorite:

URSA & LOLA

DIEGO & MEER

LARK & SPOOK

HELENE & GLACE

In the next chapter, be ready for a warm encounter with the long-awaited soulmate—or should I say, for a collision.

Anyway, let's wait and see :))

Take excellent care of your souls dears!

Kisses and hugs, EC.