Waking from a deep slumber, my head throbbed with a splitting headache. Dizzy and disoriented, I struggled to open my eyes against the harsh glare of the rising sun.
"Valeria! Valeria!" My mother's voice pierced the air, loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
"Yes, Mum?" I groaned, my reply muffled by exhaustion.
She flung open my bedroom door. "Do you even know what time it is?"
"What time is it?" I muttered, squinting at her.
"Check the clock right in front of you!"
I glanced at the wall clock, its hands frozen at 5 a.m. "Mum, it's barely dawn! Let me sleep—my head's killing me."
Her expression shifted. Without a word, she pulled out her phone and tossed it onto my bed before storming out.
I unlocked the screen reluctantly. 10:00 a.m. My heart lurched. I blinked hard, as if the numbers might change. Christ, have mercy. I leapt out of bed, crashing to the floor, but I scrambled up anyway. My law school entrance exam at Hillsdale started a. Dizzy and disoriented, I struggled to open my eyes against the harsh glare of the rising sun.
"Valeria! Valeria!" My mother's voice pierced the air, loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
"Yes, Mum?" I groaned, my reply muffled by exhaustion.
She flung open my bedroom door. "Do you even know what time it is?"
"What time is it?" I muttered, squinting at her.
"Check the clock right in front of you!"
I glanced at the wall clock, its hands frozen at 5 a.m. "Mum, it's barely dawn! Let me sleep—my head's killing me."
Her expression shifted. Without a word, she pulled out her phone and tossed it onto my bed before storming out.
I unlocked the screen reluctantly. 10:00 a.m.My heart lurched. I blinked hard, as if the numbers might change. Christ, have mercy. I leapt out of bed, crashing to the floor, but I scrambled up anyway. My law school entrance exam at Hillsdale started at 11 a.m.
I raced to the bathroom, splashed water on my face, and threw on clothes. Grabbing my bag, I bolted to the metro station. By 10:50 a.m., I reached the bus stop—only to realize I'd forgotten my wallet. Desperate, I sprinted like a madwoman through the streets, arriving at the exam hall 20 minutes late.
Spotting Mrs. Rogers, the stern-faced lecturer, I dropped to my knees, crawling toward her. "Good morning, ma! I'm so sorry—my grandmother was hospitalized, and I had to walk here—" I gasped, clutching my chest for effect.
Mrs. Rogers burst into laughter. "What is this melodrama? The exam starts at 12 p.m.—it's 11:25! Save the theatrics for someone who cares. Students like you will do anything to go viral." Her smile vanished, replaced by icy disdain.
I froze, gaping as she walked away. By the time my brain caught up, a crowd had gathered, phones aimed at me. Humiliated, I fled to an empty hall, my phone buzzing nonstop. A viral video of my plea already flooded social media. Then a text lit up the screen:
DANIEL:Enjoy the prank? Let me know if you want a sequel. 😉
My blood boiled. He'd tampered with the clock—and my exam time. I seethed, plotting revenge.
The exam
--- at noon. By 2 p.m., it was over. But my brother's reckoning was just beginning.
I had to walk home because I couldn't afford transport fare. By the time I reached the neighborhood, evening had settled in. Exhaustion weighed on me, each step a struggle—until I heard my name. "Valeria!" A paper ball smacked the back of my head.
Fury surged. Why did today have to be so relentlessly awful?I snatched the crumpled paper and unfolded it. Daniel's handwriting. Before I could look up, I caught a glimpse of him darting inside the house. Adrenaline shot through my veins. I sprinted after him, hurling my bag the moment I crossed the threshold. He toppled into a chair as I lunged at him. A sharp crack froze and the room went silent.