In one of the many dwellings in the central district of a small town on the outskirts of the capital, a young man lay peacefully. His face, pale and youthful, was barely touched by the faint glow of the stars. In that room, as time passed and the boy slept, the moment finally came when the small alarm clock on the other side of the room resounded with its shrill voice:
-Brrrr... Brrr... Turú... Turuúnn!... Oh, you touch my tralalá!
It was 8:00 in the morning in that small town B, where everyday life seemed to be enveloped in a paradisiacal atmosphere near the southern sea, with its crystal-clear beaches that invited enjoyment and tranquility.
-Uh!... My ding ding dong -a hoarse and sleepy voice emerged like a buried whisper.
Aritz, affected by the morning call, woke up with complaints and lamentations, raising a hand to silence the insistent alarm clock.
"Yes, yes, I'm awake, shut up, you damn alarm clock!" he exclaimed with exasperation.
However, far from giving up, that merciless device continued its song:
"Enjoy a season pass to the depths of the sea, accompanied by mermaids. Let the fascinating creatures guide you as you immerse yourself in the embrace of crystal-clear waters."
And it continued.
That only irritated Aritz even more, and he vented his frustration with a strong blow to the nearby table. However, such action seemed to have no effect.
"Son of a bitch, that hurts!" Aritz complained, rubbing his sore hand and curling up even more under the warm blankets, in a desperate attempt to escape from that relentless noise.
"Why did I move it?" he murmured, while the throbbing pain in his hand and the persistent noise filled the air. Despite the discomfort, it wasn't long before sleep claimed him again, and he plunged back into the arms of Morpheus.
Some time later... and after an endless succession of... more and more... alarm clocks, young Aritz finally emerged from his slumber.
-Yaaaawn... Aritz yawned, still sleepy. -I finally managed to wake up... I think I need to stretch a bit before going to wash up.
With a drowsy expression, Aritz slowly opened his eyes and slid his feet into the cozy slippers. However, before even getting up, a persistent sound resonated through the door.
-Knock, knock.
-Aritz, sweetheart, wake up, it's time to go to school. A motherly voice seeped into the room.
"Damn it, Mom, and that damn virtual assistant won't let me rest in the mornings. How annoying! Why won't anyone let me sleep in peace?" Aritz thought with frustration, but for obvious reasons, he decided not to respond.
-Son, I know school starts at 8:30, but you need to get up a little earlier to have breakfast -the mother insisted, without getting any response.
However, young Aritz didn't reply, as he was immersed in his own thoughts.
"Damn, I forgot... That damn alarm responds to voice! I'm completely outdated, still living in the damn year 2006."
While Aritz continued lost in his musings, after a few brief seconds, that presence finally retreated.
"Well, let's go take a shower," Aritz said to himself.
Some time later...
"Damn it! I never imagined it would take me so long to wake up... Well, every person needs at least a full 12 hours of sleep. A good night's rest revitalizes the mind and repairs the body."
Once inside the bathroom, young Aritz looked
at his reflection in the mirror in front of him while relieving himself... In that image, one could appreciate his snow-white skin, his long cherry-red hair like sin, and his slanted blue eyes, as dark as the abyss of a deep lake. Unable to resist, a phrase escaped his lips:
"Old hunk."
"Well, I guess it's time to go," Aritz decided.
Aritz stealthily made his way down the stairs, aware that he still shared a roof with his parents and wishing not to disturb the peaceful morning tranquility. He made an effort to avoid waking his mother, but she proved to be stubborn and persisted in her determination to prepare breakfast.
"It would be wonderful if my mother didn't even notice my presence," Aritz whispered to himself, hurrying in his escape while...
-Aritz, the food! Take the food with you! -exclaimed a petite woman with red hair and a plump figure, running towards him with a small brown bag and a blue thermos in her hands.
-Ah, Mom! Yes, yes, I forgot... -Aritz replied, letting out a sigh of exasperation. -Well, thanks. I think it's time for me to go.
"Aritz, please, don't start... Don't get into that again," Aritz thought desperately.
The woman stared into his eyes, full of sweetness, and hugged him.
While hugging him, she whispered in his ear:
- "Oh, my dear, you're so handsome. Why don't you stop with all that nonsense and cut your hair for me?"
Aritz remained silent, unable to find words to respond.
"Well, take care. It's almost time, it's 8:30. I'm in a hurry, so I have to go," Aritz said as he quickly broke free from the embrace and headed towards the bus stop.
Aritz dragged himself fiercely through the streets, as if his feet were chained to the ground. The progress towards the bus stop was fast and constant. However, his mind was trapped in a whirlwind of thoughts, fluttering around that venomous comment like flies around a plate of rotten fruit.
"Oh, ruthless misfortune! Why does that charming witch always bring up the forbidden topic? It's her damn morning obsession! But I won't let my spirit break, not for a second! I have invested a fortune and blood, sweat, and tears in this impeccable appearance, and I won't let it dissipate like smoke in the wind. My hair, that exquisite tangle of ebony, is the most precious treasure, capable of eliciting sighs and envy wherever it goes."
With a spark of defiance in his eyes, Aritz clung to his glorious mane and advanced, determined to face any obstacle on his path to victory.
Aritz lovingly caressed his hair as he walked, allowing the soft and seductive red strands to elegantly slide across his face. "My precious," he whispered with a mixture of vanity and admiration, as if his hair were the envy of all the gods and goddesses of Olympus.
Not far away, near the bus stop, two playful-spirited youths walked in the same direction. Their gazes met in a complicit instant, charged with mischief and camaraderie. One of them couldn't contain the mischievous spark that shone in their eyes and, with a mischievous smile on their lips, said to the other:
"Hey, look at that girl over there! What a stunning redhead, dude!"
However, as the fair-skinned boy in the sports uniform spoke, the other boy suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha"
"Besides, she's wearing the same uniform as our department, dude. How did I not notice her?"
"Hahaha"