I awoke inside a plane, looking outside I can see the miniature cities below.

Soon after, I could feel memories I didn’t have before entering my brain. It was exactly the same as I had written in the background customization.

My new identity was Edward Strauss, I was an orphan that was found in the doorsteps of an orphanage.

I was soon adopted by Grandma Rosaline Strauss.

On her 50th spring, she lost her son and pregnant daughter-in-law in a car accident and due to her already advanced age she decided to adopt an infant to fill the void left by her loss.

She was a typical sweet grandma to him and spoiled him with affection and material things but was also strict with his growing up.

She demanded that I practice at least one sport consistently and my GPA had to be above 3.5.

Unfortunately, last year a few months after she turned 68 she passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Therefore, in this life I would have no relatives or families.

I received a few houses and some stocks from big companies as inheritance so I wouldn’t have any financial problems. The houses I had entrusted to a realtor to rent, including the one I used to live together with Grandma Rosaline.

I specially designed this background because I couldn’t and didn’t want to call anyone else mom and dad. If I wasn’t bringing my past memories then it wouldn’t really be a problem but my parents image in my mind was only one.

After receiving all the memories of this new life from birth until I got into the plane I couldn’t help but be amazed. With the memories it was the same as if I had lived all those years that I had only written in the Background Customization.

‘I knew this would be an alternate universe but that’s really crazy.’

This alternate Earth was still called Earth and the continents had the same names but none of the countries were the same.

In my past life I grew up in Finland and later moved with my family to England and right now I’m on the other side of the ocean in the US.

Anyway, right now I’m inside a plane going to Stunfork City where I’ll be attending Stunfork University.

I’m expected to report today as there will be some welcome events for the new students.

Due to the accident in my last life, I couldn’t enjoy a lot of things during my teens and at college so I wanted to try it this time.

As for why I’m starting my new life straight in college and not middle or high school?

Fuck puberty, that’s why.

I already had my fair share of the troubles with hormones raging and acne popping left and right on my face once and I don’t want to go through that a second time. Not to mention that I probably wouldn’t be able to handle another teen with raging hormones with the mind of a 45 yo man.

I mean, I was quite a jovial oldman in my last life.

The pinnacle of a man-child.

But even I didn’t have enough patience to handle a teen and their stupid ideas.

So the next best option was college.

Looking at my watch, I should still have another 30 minutes before arriving so I decided to browse through my phone and check what else was different about the world from my past life.

I started going through movies, tv series and music as that was the easiest.

All the major works from my previous life were still present here, though with different names.

For example, my favorite, The Lord of Rings Trilogy was actually called The Lord of the Earrings.

I couldn’t wait to read them but even if there was none of these works I wasn’t planning on recreating them here. I don’t want to go the plagiarism route from those alternate universe novels.

Everything else had an alternate Earth equivalent too, so I was glad that there would be enough entertainment here too.

Next I check companies, especially the online services such as streaming and shopping as those were a great part of my past life.

I couldn’t imagine having to go outside to rent movies again like when I was young.

And online shopping was so much easier, especially when you were confined to a wheelchair.

Since I was already checking it, I decided to create an account on the major streaming and shopping platforms.

As for the address, I would just fill it later when I checked-in at the dorms and got my dorm room details.

Time flew while I was browsing my phone and soon I heard the pilot say we were arriving and the flight attendants were helping whoever needed as we prepared for landing.

After going through the disembarking procedures and picking my bags I exited the airport.

Feeling the sun shining on my face and the summer breeze, it finally dawned on me that it really was the start of a new life.

I put on a pair of sunglasses and headed towards a taxi zone where a few drivers were waiting for customers.

“Good morning, young man!” a middle-aged man with a beer belly quickly greeted me as I approached.

“Good morning, sir. I need to go to Stunfork.” I greeted him back.

“Sure thing. Let me get your luggage.” He quickly popped the trunk open and picked my bags.

I had a small case and my backpack as I had only brought a few change of clothes as I would buy whatever I needed here once I was settled in.

I took my backpack and sat in the backseat.

“Stunfork Uni, right?” the driver asked for confirmation as he sat behind the wheel. 

“Yes.”

He quickly started the car and we were soon on our way.

I was looking at the scenario outside and while new it was much like any other big city landscape. 

“Are you a freshman, sonny? What faculty are you in?” The driver asked, trying to start a conversation.

“Yes, I was accepted at the School of Humanity and Sciences.” I indulged the driver as I didn’t have anything to do until we arrived.

“Oh, then you are actually smart?” He asked.

‘Dafuq ?! Do I look dumb?’  I couldn’t help but look at the driver at his comment.

Not hearing any answer and sensing the change in the air inside the car, the driver looked at the rear-view mirror.

“Oh, my bad, sonny. I didn’t mean anything about it hehe.” He awkwardly notices his faux pass.

“What I meant was that I thought you were scouted and had an athlete scholarship looking at your build.”

‘That still implies that I look dumb. He is not totally wrong but this dude is getting on my nerves.’

When designing my body, I tried hard to build what I considered an ideal build.

Well defined muscles but not overly bulky, what people would call a sleeper build.

Tall enough for the majority of people to need to raise their heads to look at me but not too tall that I have to lower my head to go through doors.

As for the features, I keep my original ones. If I had to say, I was above average when it comes to looks but not enough to turn heads.

Although I didn’t have the looks of a Hollywood star, I also didn’t look like my face caught on fire and someone tried to put out the fire with a sledgehammer.

For a more detailed description, I was 193 cm and weighed 95kg so even if I looked slim with clothes on I would still give the athlete vibe.

“I was indeed scouted but I also scored enough in my tests to get accepted even if I wasn’t scouted.” I replied and pulled my phone.

“If you don’t mind, I need to check a few things.” with that I lowered my head and started using my phone as a sign that I didn’t want to continue the conversation.

The thing I hated most is the people that judge you because of your looks.

In my last life, people would look at me with pity gazes when I was young because of being confined to a wheelchair and later as I grew up people would just assume that I couldn’t do certain things just because of my disability.

I always loved the look on their faces when I proved them wrong.

The rest of the ride was spent in silence and after a few more minutes I could already see the campus entrance.

He entered the campus and drove straight to the residential housing area inside the campus.

I think it should be expected but there was a mini traffic jam inside the campus with all the new students reporting.

“You can stop here, I’ll walk the rest of the way.” I said.

He pulled to the side and I quickly paid the fare with my phone.

I put my backpack on and started walking while pulling my case.

I could already see the administration building in the distance and signs along the way to guide the freshmen.

There were 10 booths outside the administration building,

I went to the end of the line of one that had School of Humanities and Sciences written on the sign above.

Most of the students in line were accompanied by their families though I could see one or two that came alone like me.

“Hi there.” a deep male’s voice sounded behind me.

As I turned around I could see a young man, slightly shorter than me, probably on the higher 180s though. He had short blond hair and was on the bulkier side.

“I’m Brandon, pleasure to meet you. What’s your name?” he asked while extending his hand for a handshake.

“Pleasure is all mine. My name is Edward.” I shook his hand while introducing myself.

“You are so tall, mate. I hardly met anyone taller than me in high-school. Do you play any sports? Basketball or football?” I could tell he was a fairly enthusiastic person and an extreme extrovert.

“You got half right. I’m a swimmer, although I did play football a little in high-school but I never made it to varsity.” As I replied I noticed he also was alone in line.

“Did you come alone?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Nah, my folks are over there waiting inside the car in the AC.” He turned around and pointed to a blue minivan.

“What about you?”

“I came alone.”

“Oh, your folks trust you enough to allow you to come by yourself?” He asked, surprised that I was alone.

“Actually, I’m an orphan so …” I laughed at his face when he heard my answer.

“Sorry I - I didn’t -” He was stuttering, not knowing what to say.

“Chill, man. There is no problem. You don’t need to feel awkward.” I patted him on the shoulder to reduce his awkwardness at the situation.

After dispelling the awkwardness, we continued chatting about football, school and things from where we were from.

I learned that he was almost a local, he came from Sacramento that is just a few hours drive different from me that came all across the country from Boston.

After talking, we quickly hit it off as we had pretty similar interests.

Soon it was our turn, there were two people at the booth, one man and one woman.

As the students before us left, I made my way to the front of the woman and Brandon to the man.

“Hello and welcome to Stunfork. Your admission letter and ID, please.” After passing her, I took a closer look and she was really beautiful.

She was mixed as I could see traces of asian descent and probably some caucasian descent too.

She had small features and delicately done make-up.

Lowering my gaze a little, I was then certain she was a mix. Huge knockers that were hardly seen on asians were fighting against her shirt.

While I was checking her out, she finished checking my information. She picked a key from the box on the desk that was between her and the other man.

“Here are your keys, you’ve been assigned room 201 House 13 on the 12th Campus Lane. You just need to go down the road and take the next right, it's the 4th house down on the left. Once again, welcome to Stunfork.” With that she handed me a pair of keys and my ID back.

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