skinny fat at 19. bulk or cut first? mess food is my only option

5'9, 68kg, no muscle, small belly. classic skinny fat. college gym is decent but i have no idea what i'm doing and the seniors there just say "eat more bro". problem is food. hostel mess is rice, dal, one sabzi, chapati, and on sunday some chicken that could be anything. no kitchen. no money for protein powder every month. eggs from the canteen sometimes. what do i do in this situation? bulk on mess food and get fatter, or cut and get weaker? someone who's done college gym on a hostel budget please tell me what actually worked.