A young man, no older than twenty-three, lay fast asleep upon his bed. Suddenly, the shrill chime of an alarm shattered the silence, pulling him from the depths of slumber and back into reality.
With a languid yawn, he rose, his eyes drifting toward the window beside him, where the morning light began to seep through the glass.
"I wonder what today has in store for me," he murmured, his voice still heavy with sleep as he made his way toward the bathroom, rubbing the fatigue from his eyes.
Upon entering, a large mirror mounted on the wall greeted him. He paused before it, studying his reflection for a moment.
Tall and lean, standing at 6’2", he possessed jet black hair and eyes to match, features that framed a face above average in appearance, though unassuming in his own eyes.
With a faint shake of his head, he lowered himself toward the sink, reaching for his toothbrush and toothpaste with practiced ease.
A few minutes later, he stepped into the shower, letting the steady stream of water rinse away the remnants of sleep.
He emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. To the average eye, his build might appear athletic, broad-shouldered with defined muscle, but to seasoned athletes, it was nothing extraordinary.
Just another physique shaped by effort, not excellence; the kind shared by countless hopefuls chasing the same ideal.
Crossing the room, he approached the wardrobe and selected a simple yet clean outfit, dressing without much thought. Soon after, he made his way to the kitchen for a quick, unceremonious meal.
With breakfast behind him, he returned to his room, grabbing his phone and a set of car keys from the nightstand.
"It’s already 9:23 a.m. I still have some time before the lecture starts," he muttered under his breath, casting a quick glance at the screen of his phone.
With that, he made his way to the door, stepping out and heading toward the elevator. Once inside, he pressed the button for the garage level. The descent was swift and silent, and within moments, the doors slid open with a quiet chime.
Without hesitation, he walked directly to his car. The engine responded to his touch with a smooth, subdued hum, purring to life. Settling into the driver’s seat, he eased out of the parking space and began the familiar drive toward campus, the city slowly awakening around him.
Within minutes, he arrived on campus and made his way into the lecture hall. The low hum of conversation washed over him, dozens of students chatting idly, their voices blending into a chorus of anticipation as they waited for the lecture to begin.
His eyes scanned the room, drifting over rows of faces. None struck him as familiar. With a quiet sigh, he made his way toward an empty seat near the back.
But just as he was about to sit down, a voice cut through the noise, calling his name.
"Hey Ethan. Over here!"
Ethan turned his head toward the voice, instantly recognizing it, Logan. Without hesitation, he altered his course and made his way over. Logan was already seated, surrounded by a few of their mutual friends.
"Good morning, everyone." Ethan greeted as he approached.
A chorus of nods and casual acknowledgments met his words, the group barely pausing their conversation. Logan shifted slightly, making room on the bench beside him for Ethan to sit.
"So, did you do the assignment? Lecture starts in twenty minutes, let me copy yours." Logan said casually, already reaching toward Ethan’s bag.
"Why is it always mine you want to copy? Go ask someone else for once." Ethan replied with a sigh, brushing Logan’s hand away.
Still, with a resigned shake of his head, he unzipped his bag and pulled out the assignment, handing it over without further protest.
Before Logan could respond, another friend from the group, Hills, interjected with a grin.
"Because we’re friends, what other reason do you need?" he said, already reaching into his bag to retrieve a pen and notebook.
"We don’t have time for your complaints today," Ella added, glancing toward Ethan’s booklet. "Twenty minutes to copy the equations, before the lecture starts."
Ethan shook his head quietly. This group of friends was clearly using him to boost their CGPAs, but he said nothing. After all, wasn’t that what friends were for?
Twenty minutes later, the lecturer arrived, and the session commenced. Three hours slipped by in what felt like eternity.
As the final words echoed through the hall, everyone rose, filing out toward their next class.
After a long day of back-to-back lectures, Ethan’s final class ended around 4 p.m. He exchanged quick goodbyes with his friends before making his way to the parking garage and sliding into his car.
"This university is killing me," he sighed, resting his head briefly against the steering wheel.
Reaching for his phone, he scrolled through his contacts and tapped his girlfriend’s name. Within seconds, she answered.
"Hey, boo! How are your classes? Are you done for the day? I can come pick you up." Ethan said, his voice relaxed as his phone connected seamlessly to the car’s Bluetooth.
"Yeah, babe. I’m finished," Jennifer replied warmly. "I’ll wait for you at my department."
They had been together for two years now, their relationship steady and strong. Plans for marriage after graduation were no longer just dreams, but quietly spoken promises between them.
Ethan’s car roared to life as he headed toward Jennifer’s department. She stood waiting outside, clad in her medical scrubs, a testament to the grueling path she had chosen as a medical student.
"How are you holding up?" Ethan asked as Jennifer slid into the passenger seat.
"Exhausted," she admitted with a weary sigh. "Doctors really don’t have it easy. No wonder so many of them end up with a god complex later on."
Ethan smiled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, even if you develop one, I’ll just open a church in your name."
She laughed softly as he steered toward his apartment. Once inside, they both showered and changed, their conversation drifting to lighter topics, laughter filling the space between them.
Later, they drove through the city’s vibrant nightlife, seeking respite from the day’s stresses. They shared a casual meal at a small eatery and played street games under the glow of neon lights, moments like these a welcome escape from the pressures of their lectures.
They held each other’s hands as they wandered into a jewelry store. Inside, delicate necklaces, rings, amulets, and bracelets of every hue and design were displayed meticulously behind glass cases, sparkling softly in the warm light.
"Should we measure your ring finger now, for when I finally propose?" Ethan asked with a playful smile, eyeing the neatly lined-up rings behind the glass.
Jennifer shook her head, a teasing smile curling her lips. "That might spoil the surprise when you do."
Ethan chuckled softly. "Not like you’d know exactly when I plan to propose, so no surprises ruined."
He picked up a delicate necklace and gently fastened it around Jennifer’s neck. She browsed through the display a bit longer before selecting a few pieces she loved. After settling the payment with his card, they stepped back into the night and drove quietly toward home.
"Will you stay at my place tonight?" Ethan asked.
"I won’t," Jennifer replied. "I have a 5 a.m. practical tomorrow. If I sleep at your place, I’m sure I’ll wake up tired, and with a backache."
Ethan smirked, his confidence shining through. "Well, it’s not my fault I’m just that good."
"Whatever," Jennifer said with a playful roll of her eyes. "Just drop me off at my hostel."
Ethan sighed but obliged, steering the car toward her dorm. Within minutes, they arrived.
"See you tomorrow," Jennifer said softly, leaning in to press a quick kiss to his lips before stepping out.
Ethan smiled, watching her walk inside. Shaking his head with fondness, he drove back to his own apartment.
Once inside, he peeled off his clothes and collapsed onto his bed in just his boxers. After scrolling through his phone for a while, he plugged it in to charge and drifted off to sleep.