CHAPTER - 1

Chapter 1 – Another Ordinary Morning

The shrill sound of an old alarm clock echoed through the tiny apartment.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

A pale hand reached out from beneath the thin blanket and fumbled across the bedside table until the annoying sound finally stopped.

"...Five more minutes..."

Aiden mumbled sleepily, burying his face into the worn-out pillow before letting out a defeated sigh.

"...No. I can't."

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the cracked ceiling above his bed.

Another day.

Another struggle.

His apartment was barely large enough for one person—a single bed tucked beside a small window, a wooden desk overflowing with textbooks, a tiny kitchenette with an old electric stove, and a bathroom so cramped he could touch both walls by stretching out his arms.

Nothing luxurious.

Just enough to survive.

Morning sunlight slipped through the faded curtains, painting golden lines across the wooden floor.

Aiden sat up and stretched, wincing when his back cracked.

"...I really need a better mattress."

He glanced toward the calendar pinned beside his desk.

Monday.

University.

Morning lecture.

Afternoon shift at the café.

Night shift at the convenience store.

"...Looks like another busy day."

His stomach growled loudly.

He smiled bitterly.

"I know... I'm hungry too."

Opening the nearly empty refrigerator, he found only a carton of milk, two eggs, and a few slices of bread.

"So this is breakfast."

He toasted the bread, fried the eggs, and quietly ate while reading today's lecture notes.

Every minute mattered.

Every penny mattered.

After washing the dishes, Aiden put on his neatly ironed but inexpensive clothes. He checked his wallet.

A few crumpled bills.

Just enough to get through the week... hopefully.

He slung his worn canvas bag over his shoulder, making sure his notebooks, laptop, and part-time work uniform were all inside.

Standing before the small mirror hanging beside the door, he fixed his messy black hair and gave himself a faint smile.

"Just one more day."

"No matter how hard life gets..."

"I'll graduate."

"I'll build the future I've always dreamed of."

With that quiet promise to himself, Aiden switched off the lights, locked the tiny apartment behind him, and stepped into the bustling morning streets—completely unaware that today would be the day his ordinary life began to change forever.

Aiden opened the small wooden wardrobe.

Silence filled the room.

Inside hung only two neatly washed shirts, two pairs of black pants, and a faded hoodie.

That was all he owned.

One set for university.

One set to wear while the other dried after washing.

His fingers gently brushed over the fabric before he picked up the cleaner shirt.

A small, bittersweet smile appeared on his lips.

"At least... I don't have to worry about what to wear every morning."

He let out a quiet chuckle at his own joke.

After changing, he crouched beside the bed and reached for his sneakers.

The white shoes had long since lost their color.

The soles were worn thin.

The edges had started peeling, and one side was stitched together with black thread after tearing open months ago.

He carefully tied the frayed laces.

"They'll last... a little longer."

He stood up, grabbed his faded backpack, and slung it over his shoulder.

Before leaving, he glanced around his tiny apartment.

It wasn't much.

Just four walls, old furniture, and countless dreams.

But it was home.

Locking the door behind him, Aiden stepped into the cool morning air.

His first destination wasn't the university.

It was the small café where he worked every morning before classes began.

Another day.

Another shift.

Another step toward the future he refused to.

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