That's why I always try to live my life in the best way possible. I volunteer at the nursing home, help classmates with low grades, and make an effort to make others feel good.
In two months, I start university. When I decided to study medicine, my parents were thrilled. I imagine it's because I'll be continuing the family tradition, as owners of Sapphire Grove Hospital. They hope that someday I'll manage it, though there's still a long way to go before that happens.
That's it—this marks the end of my diary-writing cycle. I don't think I'll have time once I start studying.
"Lindsay, come down for dinner."
"I'm coming, Mom."
The table was impeccably set, with fine porcelain plates and shiny silverware under the warm glow of the hanging lamp. The aroma of homemade stew filled the air, mixed with the unmistakable smell of freshly baked bread. I came down the stairs adjusting my ponytail, while Mom, wearing an apron embroidered with the hospital logo, served the portions.
"Just in time," Dad said, looking up from the newspaper. He always has an imposing presence, even in the most relaxed moments, with his deep voice and serene gaze.
"It smells delicious, Mom," I commented as I sat down and unfolded my napkin.
"Thank you, dear. I hope you like it; it's a new recipe. Now tell me, did you finish organizing everything for university?"
I nodded, though with a hint of uncertainty. "I think so, just waiting to confirm if they've sent the papers. You did send them, right, Dad?"
"Of course," he replied confidently. "I double-checked everything before sending them. There's nothing to worry about."
"That's a relief," I said, taking a sip of water.
Mom smiled, setting the ladle back in the pot.
"And when you're done, you can work at Sapphire Grove if that's what you want," Dad added with a note of pride. "Though, honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if you decided to carve your own path elsewhere first."
"Well, first I want to learn as much as I can," I responded.
"That's what matters," Mom said, pouring herself a glass of wine. "But also remember to enjoy this time. University goes by quickly."
"I will," I promised with a smile. Deep down, I knew they always wanted the best for me, even if sometimes I felt the weight of their expectations.
The rest of dinner passed with lighter conversations about the weather, local news, and anecdotes from the hospital—though I'd heard some of them before, I still enjoyed them.
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At first, I didn't want to buy new clothes, but Mom insisted. She said I needed outfits that made me look more mature. I don't see what's wrong with my Hello Kitty clothes—it's not like the print is oversized. In fact, it's a special edition from Adidas. Anyway, here I am.I think I'll start by buying new sneakers.
I walked into the Adidas store and began browsing the shelves. There were too many options, and I felt a bit overwhelmed. As I looked at a pair of white sneakers with gold details, a male voice spoke behind me.
"Do you need help, or are you just going to stare at everything all day?"
I turned around, somewhat surprised. The guy who spoke had messy black hair, as if he'd just gotten out of bed, and piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through me. His expression was one of total apathy, and his tone was clearly disrespectful.
"I'm just looking," I replied, trying to sound calm, though his attitude annoyed me a little.
"Sure, like everyone else," he retorted, crossing his arms. His store uniform barely seemed to matter to him; his shirt was half-unbuttoned, and the sneakers he wore weren't part of the catalog. For a second, I wondered if he was here as punishment. "Sack, get to work, or I'll dock your pay," I thought I heard when I entered the store.
"Do you actually work here, or do you just stand around bothering customers?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow.
He smirked—a crooked smile that I couldn't tell was mocking or amused. "I work here, but I'm not a fan of small talk. What are you looking for?"
I sighed and pointed to the white sneakers. "I want to try these in size seven."
He nodded without saying anything and turned to fetch my size. While I waited, I couldn't help but think that his attitude deserved a manual: How to Be Apathetic in Three Steps . But then again, there I was, still staring at his messy hair and those eyes that looked like they belonged in a commercial.
He returned with the box in hand and placed it on the bench in front of me. "Here you go. If you need anything else, I'll be over there," he said, vaguely gesturing toward the back of the store before walking away without waiting for a response. By "over there," he meant leaning against a counter as if he'd been hired to model boredom.
I sat down to try on the sneakers, trying to ignore the strange effect this rude yet attractive guy had on me.
After walking around the store a bit with the sneakers on, I decided to buy them. I approached the register, and to my surprise, the guy was still there, this time scrolling through his phone with a bored expression.
"Are you going to help me, or do you need to finish your game?" I said with a touch of sarcasm.
Sack looked up with a raised eyebrow. "Relax, princess. Hand it over," he said, motioning to the box. He scanned the barcode with the same energy someone might use to fold socks.
As he processed my payment, he left his phone next to the cash register, the screen still on. My traitorous eyes drifted toward it. An email was open, and though I tried not to look, the words "Admission Confirmed – School of Medicine" and the name of my future university jumped out at me.
I froze for a second. Was he going to study medicine at the same university as me? I couldn't picture him, with his disinterested attitude, saving lives. But I said nothing, just handed over my card.
"Here you go," he said, handing me the receipt along with the box, showing no interest in further interaction.
"Thanks… Sack," I replied, reading his name on his uniform tag. I left the store with a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
After leaving the mall, I noticed it wasn't as crowded as I expected, so I decided to finish buying the clothes Mom had insisted I needed. After visiting a few stores and trying on various options, I managed to find a couple of outfits that, according to the salespeople, were "perfect for an up-and-coming university student." I wasn't sure if they were right, but they met Mom's condition of making me look more "mature."Back home, I sat in my room and set the shopping bags aside. As I looked at the new sneakers, I couldn't stop thinking about Sack and that email on his phone. How had someone with so little motivation managed to get into medical school? Maybe there was more to him than met the eye, or perhaps he was just really good at faking disinterest.
I shook my head, pushing those thoughts aside. There were other things I needed to focus on. After all, my own university adventure was about to begin, and I was determined to make the most of every moment.