In the morning, Ethan's alarm clock blared, slicing through the silence like a knife. Just then, his sister burst into the room, her voice ringing out with playful urgency, "Wake up, Cinderella! You're going to be late for school!"
Ethan sat up in bed, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face. For a fleeting moment, he fantasized about being the older sibling just for a day so he could show her what it felt like to be on the receiving end of a prank. "Hehehe," he chuckled to himself, imagining the possibilities.
Suzy, catching sight of his sinister grin, recoiled in mock horror and bolted out of the room, yelling, "Mom! Ethan's giving me that weird look again!"
Ethan watched the chaos unfold with amusement, then let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. He glanced at the clock on the wall and realized, with a jolt of panic, that he was actually running late. In a rush, he jumped out of bed but tripped over his own feet, crashing to the floor with a thud. "Ouch, that hurt," he muttered, rubbing his sore arm.
As he focused on the pain, he didn't notice the small shockwave that caused his alarm clock to spark and burn out, sending a plume of smoke into the air. Quickly recovering, he scrambled to his feet and dashed to the shower.
Later, Ethan raced down the stairs, plopping into his seat at the breakfast table where his mother and sister were already sitting.
His mother looked at him, her expression a mix of concern and warmth. "Ethan, I need to head back to the U.S. to be with your father. You'll be staying here with your sister. Since she's working and has her own apartment near her job, she won't always be around. I've made sure to leave plenty of food in the fridge for you."
Suzy, her mouth full of rice, chimed in, "But what about me, Mom? I can't just live on instant noodles!"
Their mother glanced at Suzy, suppressing a smile. "You can cook. If you need anything, just call your noona. She'll bring food for you."
Suzy grumbled something unintelligible, cheeks stuffed, while Ethan simply nodded, understanding the plan. He finished his breakfast in record time, bolting out the door and shouting, "Bye, Mom! Have a safe trip! Call me when you land!"
"Wait! What about me?" Suzy shouted after him, her voice a mix of annoyance and playful desperation.
Ethan turned back with a grin, sticking his tongue out at her. "Bye, sis!" he called, then ran off, heart racing with excitement for the day ahead.
Their mother, Eun-ji, watched her two kids with a warm smile, feeling a sense of happiness as she saw them bickering playfully again. Running a hand through her long black hair, she whispered to herself, "I hope you make some friends this time, my son."
Ethan grabbed his bike from the side of the house, the familiar feel of the handlebars in his hands giving him a sense of freedom. He started pedaling toward the school his sister had told him about, anticipation bubbling inside him.
Ten minutes later, Ethan spotted a group of students around his age heading toward a building adorned with a large sign that read, "HGlen High School."
"Guess this is it," he thought to himself, parking his bike in the student area before entering the building. He approached the reception desk and politely asked for directions to the teacher's office.
After finding it, he knocked on the door. A voice inside called out, "Come in."
Ethan stepped into the office, greeted by a middle-aged man with a welcoming smile. Principal Jin extended his hand, his demeanor warm and inviting. "You're Hyun-woo, right?"
Ethan nodded, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. "Yeah, that's my Korean name, but you can call me Ethan. That's what everyone calls me."
Principal Jin nodded with a smile. "Okay, Ethan. Take a seat. I'll give you your textbooks and take you to your new class."
Ethan settled into the chair, his heart racing with anticipation. This was the start of something new, and he couldn't wait to see what awaited him in this fresh chapter of his life.