JENNIE’S POV:

“Mum, please, I know my grades are going to suffer if I board, it'll be a far better decision for me to opt out of the programme...” I silently prayed that the last excuse I could think of, probably the lamest, would somehow convince Mum that I should avoid boarding school.

“My dear child, don't worry, it'll be a wonderful experience! You'll be able to socialise with many new friends! I'd rather you develop social skills than top your class anyday.”

I rolled my eyes and threw my hands into the air in a fit. No matter what hand I played, Mum kept seeming to have an answer that eventually led to joining the boarding programme.

You don't understand, do you? Will you ever understand how your dear daughter feels and behaves?

It wasn't that I didn't want to socialise, the problem was that I could never socialise comfortably. I regularly clammed up when amongst a big group of people, I hated making small talk and I was desperately shy around strangers. No jokes could leave my mouth without sounding awfully cringey and forced and I generally preferred to stay within the shadows, far away from any form of attention.

Honestly, I wished I could be more comfortable, more open around people. But I was who I was, and I would only ever be comfortable around select individuals.

And the quiet, socially awkward Jennie Kim was certainly not happy on the first day of school. Let alone when she had to sit through a lecture regarding boarding expectations and objectives.

“You will be able to make many new friends and create wonderful memories!” I rolled my eyes at the teacher's exaggerated tone. Yeah, right.

Dying of absolute boredom, I fished my phone out of my pocket. However, I was met with a dreadful message on my lockscreen.

1 New Email-Boarding Room Allocations:

Room 237: Jennie Kim and Lalisa Manoban.

Lalisa Manoban, huh. Definitely foreign. Maybe she speaks English too?

Following the conclusion of the talk, it was “time for what all of you have been waiting eagerly for”, as the teacher put it. I trudged slowly towards Room 237, the impending sense of doom building up rapidly. Please let Lalisa be a nice girl...or at least one that gives me space.

As I advanced along the corridor, however, the sound of hip-hop music began to get louder and louder. Which inconsiderate is that…I shook my head while letting out a sigh. This is gonna be a long term…

Ominously, with every room I walked past, the music became even louder. 233...234...235...236…

Surely not…

The source of the music was none other than Room 237. I cursed my luck inwardly and groaned in frustration. Here I was hoping for a good roommate...

Oh, screw it...

I turned the doorknob and flung the door open roughly, only to be greeted with the sight of 3 girls dancing in sync while music blared from a speaker on a desk. For all that I was displeased, I had to admit...their moves were pretty sick.

The tallest of the girls (and also the most attractive, I had to give it to her) spun around and beamed at me.

“You're my roommate, aren't you? Jennie?”

I nodded curtly before answering, “I'll be gone for an hour, please get your friends to leave by the time I come back.”

There were times I really wished I was more sociable. Instead of chasing people away and ruining the mood, why couldn't I fit in seamlessly and join in the fun? It had always been something I hated about myself, and it had probably cost me many friends in my lifetime. Sadly, from past experience,  Lalisa was likely to join that countless list of people.