Valentina

A quiet start

I woke up to the sound of the alarm… or rather its annoying insistence that felt like it had been ringing for a long time, I didn’t even know when it started...

I opened my eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling of my room for a few moments, gathering myself before starting a new day.

As always, thoughts quietly crept into my mind: studies, exams, and the future I was trying to build step by step.

I always told myself I was a hardworking girl, and that this tiredness would not go to waste.

But the alarm pulled me back to reality, ringing again with insistence.

I sighed, then got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I washed my face with cold water, feeling a refreshing shock that brought my focus back. Then I stood in front of the mirror brushing my teeth, silently staring at my reflection.

My blue eyes were surrounded by light dark circles from staying up late, and my black coal-like hair looked slightly messy. My face was tired… but familiar.

I wasn’t perfect.

But I was me.

I walked quietly to the kitchen, trying not to wake anyone. The house was silent that morning.

I took a juice and a cake I had prepared the night before, then went back to my room for a few minutes to study math, not because I had to, but because I liked starting my day feeling ready.

I put on my school uniform, braided my long hair neatly, then placed my books, phone, and novel in my bag and went downstairs.

“Good morning, princess.”

I smiled immediately when I heard my father’s voice and walked to hug him.

“Good morning, Dad.”

I noticed my sister Maria looking at us with childish jealousy, so I smiled and hugged her too.

“Don’t forget me!”

“Impossible to forget you.”

My mother entered at that moment smiling.

“A family hug before school again?”

We all gathered in a warm short moment… and I felt like I already had everything I needed.

I left the house to find Lian waiting for me excitedly.

“Guess what happened!!”

I smiled while adjusting my bag.

“Let me guess… Rath talked to you?”

“He proposed to me!”

I froze for a second, then screamed:

“No way!!”

I ran to her and hugged her tightly while she laughed happily, then she started telling me everything.

We arrived at school where Andre was standing as usual calmly.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning,” Lian replied excitedly, while I smiled slightly.

“You look energetic today,” Andre said calmly.

“I’m always like that,” I replied confidently.

We entered school and the day started normally. Lessons passed between literature, math, and science. I listened, wrote, participated sometimes, and sometimes got lost in my thoughts.

Lian kept whispering about Rath, while Sirin tried to keep us focused.

In PE class, the teacher announced we would play basketball, and I felt real excitement. I had always loved basketball, karate, skating, and many other sports.

We entered the court and split into two teams. I felt relieved being with Lian.

We exchanged smiles and started playing.

I moved easily between players, dribbling and passing perfectly, like I knew the court for years.

“Pass the ball!” Lian shouted.

I passed quickly then returned to defense while the other team tried to keep up.

“She’s so fast…” one student said.

I had always liked myself… not out of arrogance, but because people had praised me since I was young.

The match ended with our victory, and I smiled while catching my breath.

After class I stayed a little in the yard, moving quietly without thinking much.

“I didn’t know you were that good,” a voice said behind me.

I turned and saw Andre.

“There are many things you don’t know about me,” I said with a light smile.

“So it seems,” he said calmly. “But don’t overwork yourself.”

“I’m fine.”

He looked at me for a moment then walked away as usual…

After a few hours, the school day ended normally and we all went home laughing and talking.

I entered the house and saw my father in the kitchen cooking, which was unusual. I was used to seeing him busy with work, barely sitting with us.

“I’m back…” I said softly, tired from the long day.

No answer.

I paused for a moment, but I was too tired to think much. I had exhausted myself in the basketball match.

I threw my bag on the bed, took comfortable clothes, and went to shower.

I stood under the water, releasing the exhaustion of the day, running my fingers through my long hair, letting the cold water fall over it without caring.

After about half an hour I felt slightly refreshed. I combed my hair lazily, then collapsed on the bed and fell asleep immediately.

I slept for about two hours.

When I woke up, the light had changed and the room was quiet. I sat for a moment then picked up a history book about the Romans. I loved these books… they made the world feel bigger than what I saw.

I studied English a little, then looked at the time.

“It’s late…”

I went to the kitchen.

“Hm… what is this, Dad?” I said excitedly.

He smiled.

“It’s exactly what you think.”

I rushed and hugged him.

“Thank you, Dad!”

It was lasagna… my favorite dish.

“Let me help you,” I said.

But he gently stopped me.

“Can you call your sister?”

“Okay.”

I went upstairs but Maria wasn’t there. I searched around confused, then went back down.

“Maria?!”

No answer.

Suddenly…

The lights went off.

Darkness filled the house.

Then—

“SURPRISE!!”

The lights turned on and laughter filled the room.

I froze.

The living room was decorated, my name everywhere, and “Happy Birthday” written clearly.

“I completely forgot…” I whispered.

I laughed shyly and hugged them all.

They sang for me… and it was simple but beautiful.

“Eighteen is a special age, use it well,” my mother said.

She gave me a necklace.

A silver heart with a small golden sword.

“It’s beautiful…”

My father gave me a phone.

Maria gave me a small note.

“I love you…”

I smiled and hugged her.

We ate, talked, and laughed… and I felt truly happy.

Later, I went to my room and looked at the necklace.

“It suits me…”

But suddenly…

A sharp pain in my chest.

“Ah…”

Heat spread through my body.

I removed the necklace and threw it away.

But the pain didn’t stop.

My eyes darkened.

Strange lines appeared on my arm then disappeared.

I ran downstairs.

“Mom?! Dad?!”

But something felt wrong.

Just for a second… their faces looked different.

Then everything returned.

“Are you okay?” my mother asked.

“Yes… just dizzy.”

I lied.

But I was scared for the first time.

I went back to my room.

The necklace was silent.

“This is just tiredness…”

But I knew…

Something had begun.

In the following days, I tried to live normally.

But the change didn’t stop.

Sometimes the heat returned… sometimes I felt stronger, faster.

As if something inside me…

Was waking up.

Watching.

Waiting.