Farid was walking across the campus with a bounce in his step. His backpack rested against his shoulders, lightly swaying with every step he took. It was his first year here, and everything felt fresh and full of possibility. The campus was huge, and there was so much to take in. But his excitement was mixed with a hint of nervousness. After all, he was about to meet his new roommate.

Earlier that day, Farid had been hanging out with a group of old high school friends. They had settled on the grassy quad near the fountain, catching up after weeks of being separated by the whirlwind of starting college. The warm sun and light breeze made for the perfect atmosphere to just relax and catch up.

"So, what's everyone thinking? What's the big plan for the next few years?" one of his friends, James, asked while adjusting his sunglasses.

Farid took a sip from his water bottle, leaning back on his hands. "I'm still figuring it out, honestly," he said with a slight grin. "I'm here for journalism. I want to combine it with photography. I'm hoping to do something like photojournalism—travel around, tell stories, capture moments... you know?"

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Photojournalism, huh? You were always the one with the best camera shots back in high school."

Farid laughed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Yeah, I guess so. I've always loved taking pictures. There's something about freezing a moment in time—capturing the raw emotion or the quiet details in a scene. It just feels... right."

The conversation shifted, and they all started talking about their different majors—business, arts, sciences. Everyone was heading in different directions, but Farid felt that familiar sense of excitement again, mixed with a tinge of uncertainty. His dad's words echoed in his mind. His dad had always been so supportive, working hard to give Farid the best life he could. Farid felt lucky for that, even though he knew his dad would miss him.

"Anyway, I better head out," Farid said, glancing at the time. "I've still got some stuff to unpack in the dorm. Gotta make sure I get settled before classes start."

His friends waved him off, calling out their goodbyes. "Catch you later, Farid! Don't get lost!" James joked. With a quick wave, Farid turned and made his way toward the dorm building.

As Farid entered the dorm, the scent of fresh carpets mixed with the faint smell of pizza from the common area. The building was buzzing with energy, students milling around as they tried to figure out their new lives. Farid's feet echoed as he made his way down the hallway toward his room, his thoughts swirling with nervous anticipation.

He would've preferred a little apartment of his own, but now here he was—about to meet his new roommate. Farid had no idea what to expect. Would he be easy to get along with? Would they have anything in common? Or would this whole thing be a disaster?

When he reached his room, he paused in front of the door, feeling his heart pick up speed. He took a deep breath, knocked softly, and waited. The door creaked open, and Farid immediately froze. Standing there in the middle of the room was his new roommate. His gaze met Farid's, and for a moment, the air felt thick with unspoken questions.

Farid felt a sudden lump in his throat and could feel his nerves bubbling up. He didn't know what to say, when all his inner voice was screaming was, "He's so pretty!!" His mind was racing as he tried to form words, but for a second, all that came out was a nervous chuckle.

"Uh, hey... I'm, uh, Farid," he finally managed, offering his hand a little too quickly. "Looks like we're... roommates."

The guy just stood there for a moment, eyeing Farid with a quiet curiosity, before shaking his hand. Farid could barely meet his gaze, his thoughts jumping all over the place. Why was he so nervous? This was just a roommate. It wasn't like they were about to share a life-or-death experience.

Farid nodded quickly, trying to push down the awkwardness. He set his duffel bag down on one of the beds, trying to fill the silence. He could feel his cheeks flushing a little, but tried not to let it show.

"So, uh, yeah. Just here to... unpack," Farid muttered, pointing at the duffel bag like it was some kind of explanation. He rubbed the back of his neck, realizing how awkward he sounded. "First day and all, y'know?"

The silence stretched on for a moment before Farid decided to break it. "I guess it'll be cool to have someone to share the room with... even if, you know, I'm not used to it." He looked over at his new roommate, not sure if he was even making sense at this point, then looked away again when the awkwardness became too much.

Farid pushed his bag onto the bed and started pulling out some of his things, trying to distract himself from his nerves. He glanced over and caught his roommate's eye, wondering what kind of person he was. It wasn't like Farid was shy exactly, but there was something about the way this guy carried himself that made him feel a little off balance.