Athalea

Second One?

Mia paused, blinking at her mother in surprise. Livia gave a small, sad laugh, glancing down at the worn book in her lap. “I suppose you’ve always been meant for something more. Something bigger than this town.”

“But Mom...” Mia hesitated, her fingers gently brushing the cover of the book—the book her father had given her, the one with blank pages, now filled with her thoughts and dreams. “What about this book? Am I leaving it here with you?”

Livia smiled softly, her hand brushing Mia’s cheek. “No, bring it with you. Keep writing. Don’t stop. And above all, don’t lose it. It’s yours, Mia. It’s your story to tell.”

Mia swallowed hard, the weight of her mother’s words settling in her heart. She nodded, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "Okay... as you said." Her hand tightened around the book. "So... I’m leaving, Mom."

Livia stood and pulled Mia into a tight embrace, kissing her gently on the forehead. For a moment, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them, locked in a quiet understanding.

Pepper, ever faithful, jumped up and licked Livia’s face, giving her a joyful hug as well. Mia smiled through her tears, feeling a warmth in her chest despite the uncertainty ahead.

“As we meet again, Mom,” Mia whispered, her voice firm with resolve, “I’ll be different. I’ll have found the end of the river. The end of River Athalea... and I know I will.”

Livia nodded, her eyes glistening with tears of pride. "I know you will, Mia. I know you will."

With one final look, Mia turned and walked toward the unknown, the book clutched tightly in her hands and Pepper following close behind. The river called to her, its mysterious depths waiting to be explored. And as the sun rose higher, Mia knew the journey ahead would be long, but she was ready. Ready to follow the dreams of those who came before her. Ready to find the truth behind the river that had shaped their lives.

The next day, Mia traveled from the city of Imazui, a bustling, vibrant place that felt worlds apart from her small provincial town. Imazui was teeming with life—new faces, unfamiliar architectural designs, and a culture that seemed to revolve around a fast-paced, almost overwhelming rhythm. The food was different, the fashion was bold, and most striking of all, the people lived in a way that felt completely foreign to Mia. It was a lot to take in.

She wondered how she, someone used to fading into the background in her quiet hometown, would ever fit into this whirlwind of activity and people. As she walked alongside Pepper, her loyal dog, the thoughts swirled in her mind.

Pepper, ever the companion, suddenly looked up at her with a hungry expression. Mia paused, glancing around. They were near a convenience store, so she decided to stop for a quick bite. Inside, she grabbed a sandwich and they settled at a small bench by the window. Mia opened her notebook, hoping to escape into her writing for a moment.

But before she could get lost in her words, a man slid onto the seat beside her. His presence was sudden, and his look… unnerving. He wore a black jacket, his long, straight hair falling over his shoulders like a shadow. His gaze was cold and almost arrogant. Mia's eyes instinctively narrowed, her unease growing.

The man flashed a smile, a little too casual for Mia’s comfort. "Hey," he said, "How are you? Are you good?"

Mia’s stomach churned. She could feel the judgment in the air, like a weight pressing down on her. It made her skin crawl, this sudden intrusion into her space.

Triggered, she packed up her things with haste, not caring to hide the frustration on her face. "Leave me alone," she snapped, standing up quickly.

Pepper, sensing her tension, barked sharply—arf, arf, arf—at the man, his small body rigid and protective.

The man blinked, taken aback by the sudden hostility. "Okay," he muttered, before retreating into the crowd, clearly confused by the interaction.

Mia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the unsettling feeling lingered.

Mia was feeling a bit lost, unsure of where to go next. She sighed, "Huuu, Pepper, I wonder where we'll end up living in a place like this... It's so confusing, I don't even know the direction." Pepper, her loyal dog, barked happily, as if reassuring her. His eyes seemed to say, "Don't worry, I know there's something out there for us."

After walking for a while, they finally stumbled upon something unexpected. It wasn't a house, but an apartment—upstairs, painted in white with soft gray accents in the corners. The calm, comforting colors gave Mia a sense of hope, and she felt like this could be the place they were meant to find.

Excited, Mia rushed up to the owner, and after a brief conversation, they were in luck—the apartment was available! Even better, the rent was low enough to fit within the small amount of money Mia had left, which she had saved up from her mother’s time in their small town.

It felt like a fresh start, and for the first time in a long while, Mia allowed herself to hope again. With Pepper by her side, she knew they would make this new place their home.

Mia started her day by preparing sandwiches for Pepper, who loved them the most, while she herself just had a cup of black coffee, mentally gearing up for the day ahead. She was also looking into enrolling in medical school when, without warning, she bumped into a guy, sending her books and things flying everywhere.As she scrambled to pick them up, she realized with a shock that the guy she had just collided with was the same one she had run into the day before—he lived next door to her apartment. They both froze, stunned, and then, almost simultaneously, they shouted, "Hey! You! Again?!" Mia was the first to recover, glaring at him. "Why are you always in my way?" she huffed. The guy raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "Honestly, I didn’t expect this... but the first time I saw you, I couldn't stand you... and Pepper." Mia's irritation flared. "Well, that's rude! Why can't you just leave me alone?"With a sigh, he shook his head, his tone softening. "Anyway, I have things to do, so if you'll excuse me, madam." He gave her a polite nod before walking away, leaving Mia standing there, still a little shocked by the encounter

Mia had finally enrolled in the medical school she had dreamed of, a decision she had made the night before. She was both excited and nervous, knowing that her journey toward becoming a doctor was about to begin. However, outside the university, Pepper was waiting patiently for her, as always.

Despite Mia's determination, the obstacles in her path were many. Her financial situation made it hard to afford the tuition, and scholarships were the only thing standing between her and the chance to continue her education. On top of that, she had to juggle work with her studies, a grueling schedule that left her little time for anything else. But Mia was driven—her dream of becoming a doctor was still alive, and she would do whatever it took to see it through.

At night, when the world quieted down, Mia found comfort in writing. It was the one thing that allowed her to escape from the pressures of life, the one thing that felt like hers alone. She poured her thoughts onto paper, her dreams, fears, and hopes all coming together in the pages of her journal.

The second day of school felt different. Mia was acutely aware of the contrast between herself and the other students. Her clothes were old, worn from years of use, and her belongings seemed mismatched compared to the new, polished things that others carried. Her appearance, though not unattractive, felt out of place in the sea of well-groomed, fashionable students. She didn't mind being invisible, though—she had always felt that way, even before she came to the university. It was familiar to her, this feeling of being on the outside looking in.

Yet, deep down, Mia knew she was different in a way that mattered: she was determined, and no amount of material wealth or superficial appearance could take that away from her. She was on her own path, and despite the odds, she would keep walking it.

As Mia stepped onto the campus, the usual feeling of disorientation crept in. The school was new, the atmosphere unfamiliar, and despite the excitement of starting fresh, it still felt like a lot to adjust to. She was lost in her own thoughts, taking in the bustle of students around her, when, out of nowhere, she collided with something—or rather, someone.

A skateboarder zipped past her with such force that she stumbled back. She quickly caught herself, but before she could even process the moment, the figure on the board had come to a sudden stop. Mia blinked in surprise, her gaze lifting to meet the person responsible for the sudden interruption.

And then, it clicked.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Wait—it's you," she muttered under her breath, suddenly realizing who the skater was. The same guy from her apartment building, the one she’d seen just the other day. Her irritation flared. Of course it had to be him.

With a mix of disbelief and annoyance, she shot him a pointed look. "Why are you here again?"

The guy, unfazed by her tone, gave her an easy, almost casual grin. "I'm a student here," he said, his words almost too nonchalant. "Actually, a medical student."

Mia stared at him, baffled. "Wait—what are you??" She couldn’t help but ask, the absurdity of the situation hitting her all at once. Medical student? In the same school? And now they were both stuck in the same strange, awkward moment?

"Okay, fine," she muttered to herself, ready to walk away. "I’m going, anyways."

But then, as if something had nudged him, he called out after her. "Wait—excuse me," he said, his voice surprisingly light. "What’s your name, by the way?"

Mia whipped around to face him, her face contorting into a look of absolute disdain. She folded her arms, her eyes flashing with cold defiance. "It’s none of your business," she snapped. "Just leave me alone, okay?!"Xian’s smirk didn’t waver. He leaned on his skateboard casually, as though unfazed by her reaction. "I’m Xian. And you’re new here, right? In case you need something… I’m free."

Mia stared at him for a long moment, her expression hardening as she threw him a mean, pointed look—a silent warning to back off. But Xian, ever the picture of cool indifference, just smirked again, his smile a mixture of amusement and challenge.And there, in the middle of the bustling school campus, with her world already feeling upside down, Mia could only shake her head and walk away, still seething with confusion and frustration. Why did life have to be this complicated?