Rooftop Summer | EN- Jake

1

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, golden hue across the room. The soft rustling of leaves outside blended with the distant hum of city life, creating a serene backdrop for a day that promised nothing but possibilities. In the heart of this perfect morning, a girl stood in front of her mirror, brushing out her long, dark brown hair. Her reflection smiled back at her, eyes bright with the kind of optimism that comes naturally when the world has been nothing but kind.

Her name was Hanna Lim, and to everyone who knew her, she was the embodiment of everything good in life. At eighteen, she had it all: a loving family, loyal friends, and a future as bright as the sun that kissed her skin each morning. She was the kind of girl who made people believe in the promise of youth, in the beauty of a life untouched by hardships.

As she stood there, contemplating her day, the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted up from the kitchen. Her father, ever the early riser, was probably already at the dining table, poring over business reports while her mother prepared breakfast. It was a ritual in the household—mornings filled with the clatter of dishes, the exchange of newspaper sections, and the comfortable silence of a family that didn't need words to express their bond.

Hanna glanced at the clock. It was just past eight, and she was supposed to meet her friends at the cafe by ten. Summer had always been her favourite time of the year, not just because of the long, lazy days and freedom from school, but because it was a season of endless possibilities. There were no deadlines, no exams, just the open road and the world at her feet. She could spend hours at the beach, feeling the sand between her toes, or lounging by the pool, a novel in one hand and an ice drink in the other. But today, she was looking forward to catching up with her friends, sharing stories over summer vacations and plans for the coming year.

Pulling on a light summer dress, she took one last look in the mirror. The girl staring back at her seemed almost too perfect, like a character from one of the romance novels she loved to read. Sometimes, Hanna wondered if life could really be this good, this easy. But then she would shake off the thought, reminding herself that she was just lucky. Some people were born under a good star, and she was one of them.

Downstairs, her mother was bustling around the kitchen, a cheerful hum escaping her lips as she flipped the pancakes. The smell of butter and syrup filled the air, making Hanna's stomach growl in anticipation. Her father, already dressed in a crisp suit, looked up from his papers as she entered.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he said with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
"Ready for another day of summer fun?"

"Morning, Dad," Hanna replied, sliding into her usual seat.
"Yeah, I'm meeting my friends at the cafe later. We're planning a beach day next week, so we'll probably spend half the time figuring who's bringing what."

Her mother placed a stack of pancakes in front of her, along with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
"That sounds like fun, dear. Just be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen. You know how easily you burn."

Hanna laughed, nodding.
"Don't worry, Mom. I've got enough sunscreen to last me a lifetime."

Breakfast was a comforting routine, a moment of normalcy that grounded Hanna in her life of ease. Her parents chatted about their upcoming trip to Europe—another business venture for her father, but they were making a family vacation out of it. Hanna was excited about the trip, the idea of exploring new places, shopping in Paris, and dining in Rome. It was the kind of life she had always known, filled with excitement and opportunity, a life where nothing could go wrong.

After breakfast, Hanna grabbed her bag and headed out the door, the warm summer breeze playing with the ends of her hair. The walk to the cafe was a short one, just a few blocks through their quiet, tree-lined neighbourhood. As she strolled, she marvelled at the simplicity of it all—the blue sky above, the neatly trimmed lawns, the sound of children playing in the distance. It was a scene straight out of a picture book, and for a moment, Hanna allowed herself to believe that life would always be this perfect.

The cafe was a sweet little place with a charming patio shaded by a large oak tree. When Hanna arrived, her friends were already there, seated at their usual table. The sight of them brought a smile to her face—there was Emma, with her her wavy hair and infectious laugh; Jay, always poised and dignified, even in casual summer clothes; and Mia, the quiet one, with her favourite headphones around her neck.

"Hey, guys!" Hanna called out, sliding into the empty chair.
"What did I miss?"

"Not much," Emma said with a grin.
"Just Mia trying to convince us that we should all go on a detox diet before the beach day."

Hanna laughed.
"Come on, Mia, it's summer! We should all be indulging, not starving ourselves."

Mia rolled her eyes, but there was a playful smile on her lips.
"I'm just saying, a little detox never hurt anyone. But fine, I'll save it for after the beach."

The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and the comfortable familiarity of long-time friends. They talked about their summer plans, about college in the fall, and about the gossips of their school friends. It was all light and carefree, the kind of talk that filled the hours without ever feeling like time was passing.

As the morning wore on, they ordered coffee and pastries, savouring the moment. Hanna felt a warm contentment settle over her, a deep appreciation for the life she had. It was in these simple, joyful moments that she felt most alive, most connected to the people around her.

But as she reached first her coffee, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her chest. It was brief, just a second, but it was enough to make her gasp, her hand freezing mid-air. Her friends didn't seem to notice, lost in their conversation, and Hanna quickly shook off the sensation, forcing a smile back onto her face.

It was nothing, she told herself. Just a fluke. A muscle cramp, maybe. She had been working out more lately, trying to stay in shape for the summer. Yes, that had to be it.

The pain didn't return, and by the time they were ready to leave, Hanna had already pushed the incident to the back of her mind. After all, she had a perfect life—nothing could go wrong.

As she walked back home, the sun high in the sky, Hanna couldn't help but feel a lingering unease. It was faint, like a shadow in the corner of her vision, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. But she dismissed it, focusing instead on the weekend ahead, on the beach day with her friends, and on the trip to Europe with her family. Life was good, and she intended to keep it that way.

For now, the world was still bright, still full of promise. And Hanna, with her brown hair and easy smile, was determined to live in the light for as long as she could.