Race to redemption | Park Sunghoon

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Present

The morning sun had barely crept above the horizon, casting a gentle glow through the fluttering curtains of Nadia's bedroom. The world outside was waking, but inside the cozy confines of the Avalon household, a different sort of awakening was taking place filled with the frenzy of a day that had begun just a tad too late.

"Nadia, sweetheart, the clock won't slow its tick for daydreamers!" Mother's voice, warm and melodious, floated up the staircase, nudging the edges of her daughter's consciousness. With a start, Nadia's eyes snapped open, and her heart began to race. The digital numbers on her alarm clock were a stark reminder of her tardiness.

"Oh no, not today," she muttered to herself, scrambling out of bed and into the chaos of the morning. Downstairs, her backpack lay sprawled by the front door, half-zipped and spilling over with books and papers. Mother, ever the beacon of calm in the tempest of their mornings, was busy in the kitchen, the comforting aroma of toast and coffee in the air.

Nadia bounded down the stairs two at a time, her untied shoelaces flapping like flags of surrender to the clock. She swept her curly locks into a semblance of a ponytail, her movements hurried and harried. "I'm so late, Mom," Nadia panted, her words tumbling over each other as she snatched a piece of toast from the plate on the counter.

Mother turned from the stove, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "A young mind like yours needs its rest," she said, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "But perhaps tomorrow it could use a touch less." Nadia couldn't help but smile back, despite the ticking clock. Her mother's kindness was a steady anchor in her whirlwind life.

"Thanks, Mom," she said, slinging her bag over her shoulder and hovering for a moment by the door. "Remember, Nadia," her mother called out as she opened the door, "no matter how fast you run, it's the journey that matters, not just the finish line."Mother said as she gently smiled at Nadia.

With a quick hug and a promise to remember, Nadia stepped out into the fresh morning air, the world before her wide and waiting. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day's potential. And with her mother's words like a gentle wind at her back, she set off, ready to face the adventures that lay ahead.

She has transferred to another city due to loud neighbors, low-quality apartments, and lack of service. This place is a lot neater and friendly to the Avalon family. "Oh my, I have 10 min left!" Nadia muttered as she ran to school upon her luck, the school wasn't that far away from her brick house place

Her phone rang as she kept running to a new school, if it had to be compared, the new school was way bigger than her old school, Nadia was quite amused yet not surprised. "I know I'm late. I'm running!" Nadia picked up her call after seeing the name caller while panting.

"Girl, get your ass here before you get lost at school like a puppy!"

"Bruh, I slept through the alarm for no reason!"

"Oh my Nadia, I'll be outside waiting for you! Be fast."

"Ok, thank you!"

Soon Nadia arrived at the school entrance seeing her best friend standing outside with her hip leaned to the side and crossed arms tapping her feet. Nadia smiled and rushed toward her best friend, "Aigoo Nadia, this school is stricter than you think." The man security closed the gate after 30 seconds which turned out Nadia was lucky on her first day.

"Don't even start Rosie, come on let's go. Show me around," Nadia said hugging Rosie's arms while admiring her red hair reminding her of Ariel. Nadia always saw her as a gorgeous girl who created a fizzy bubble around people's heads to feel at ease. "I can't believe I got to study with you at the same school after we were drifted apart since middle school."