8. LATE

The morning sun barely peeked through the curtains as Alina scrambled around her condo, her mind a whirlwind of tasks she had to accomplish before the day even began. She glanced at the clock on her wall and felt a pang of panic shoot through her—she was running dangerously late. With no time to waste, she hastily tied her damp hair into a messy bun, the loose strands clinging stubbornly to her neck and forehead.

Her sweatshirt, an old favorite that was far too big, hung unevenly over her blue bottoms, one side partially tucked in, the other completely untucked in her rush. She barely noticed as she yanked on her sneakers, not bothering to lace them up properly. There was no time for details—she had to move.

Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten breakfast. In a last-ditch effort, she grabbed a piece of bread from the kitchen counter, hastily slathering it with butter before shoving half of it into her mouth. The other half dangled precariously as she snatched up her bag, which was stuffed to the brim with books and papers.

She barely managed to get the door to her condo locked before she was sprinting down the hallway, her untied sneakers slapping against the floor with each hurried step. She jabbed at the elevator button impatiently, glancing at the time again and groaning around the bread still clenched in her teeth. Her heart pounded in her chest, the stress of the morning adding to her growing frustration. The elevator doors finally slid open, and she rushed inside, fumbling with her bag as she tried to balance everything at once.

The elevator seemed to crawl as it descended, the numbers above the door ticking down far too slowly for her liking. She bounced on the balls of her feet, her nerves on edge, and couldn’t resist checking her watch again. “I’m gonna be so late,” she mumbled to herself, the bread muffling her words.

When the elevator finally reached the ground floor, Alina bolted out the moment the doors opened. She was so focused on getting out of the building that she nearly collided with Mrs. Lawrence, the sweet elderly woman who lived a few doors down from her.

“Oh, Alina! Slow down, dear!” Mrs. Lawrence exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise and amusement. She steadied herself, clutching her shopping bag a little tighter as she took in the sight of Alina’s disheveled appearance.

Alina quickly pulled the bread from her mouth, offering a sheepish smile as she tried to catch her breath. “Sorry, Mrs. Lawrence. I’m just... really late!”

Mrs. Lawrence chuckled softly, her warm, knowing eyes twinkling with amusement. “You young folks are always in such a rush. But don’t worry, I think I can help you out.” She spotted a tall, well-dressed man standing just outside the building, engrossed in a phone call. Her face lit up with recognition.

“Young man!” Mrs. Lawrence called out, waving her free hand in the air to catch his attention. Alina turned her head, her heart skipping a beat when she recognized the figure. It was Jace, her older brother, who had clearly been waiting for her.

He finished his phone call with a quick word, his expression shifting from businesslike to slightly amused as he looked up and saw his sister in her current state. Jace was dressed sharply, as usual—his suit immaculate, his tie perfectly knotted, and his shoes polished to a shine. In contrast, Alina looked like she had just rolled out of bed, which, to be fair, wasn’t far from the truth.

Jace approached them with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Running late again, huh?” he teased, his tone light and familiar.

Alina tried to swallow the rest of her bread but ended up choking on it slightly, coughing as she glared at him. “I’m so late, Jace! I don’t have time for this!” she huffed, her voice strained with urgency.

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Jace flicked her forehead lightly, just enough to make her jump. “Maybe if you actually woke up on time, you wouldn’t be in such a rush every morning,” he chided, though there was no real bite to his words. He was used to his sister’s chaotic mornings, and truth be told, he found them more endearing than irritating.

Mrs. Lawrence watched the siblings with a fond smile on her face. She had seen them grow up in the building, always bickering and teasing each other, but their bond was unmistakable. “You two are such a delight,” she said, laughing softly. “Always bringing a little excitement to this old building.”

Jace grinned at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “What can I say? Alina likes to keep things interesting.” He glanced back at his sister, who was now furiously stuffing the stray books that were sticking out of her bag back inside.

“Come on, you’d better hurry,” he said, motioning toward the door. “You’re going to miss the bus if you don’t get moving.”

Alina’s eyes widened in panic. She slung her bag over her shoulder, nearly losing her balance in the process. “Thanks, Mrs. Lawrence!” she called out, already halfway out the door. “See you later, Jace!” she added, waving at him as she rushed out into the morning light.

Jace shook his head, chuckling softly as he watched her go. “She’ll never change,” he muttered to himself, though there was no mistaking the affection in his voice.

Mrs. Lawrence chuckled along with him, her eyes following Alina’s retreating figure. “She’s a whirlwind, that one. But she’s got a good heart.”

Jace nodded in agreement, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, she does. And she’s going to be just fine.”

Alina, meanwhile, was sprinting down the street, her untied sneakers slapping against the pavement as she made a beeline for the bus stop. Her heart was still racing, her mind spinning with everything she needed to do that day. But even in the midst of her frantic morning, she couldn’t help but smile. Jace always had a way of making her feel like everything was going to be okay, even when she was running late and disheveled.

As she neared the bus stop, the bus came into view, and Alina’s heart leapt with relief. She picked up her pace, ignoring the stares of passersby as she sprinted the last few yards and managed to board the bus just in time. Breathless and slightly flushed, she found an empty seat and collapsed into it, finally letting herself relax.

Outside, the city buzzed with life, the streets crowded with people going about their day. Alina gazed out the window, her mind already shifting to her classes and the tasks ahead. But for now, she allowed herself a moment of calm, the frantic energy of the morning slowly ebbing away.

As the bus pulled away from the curb, Alina couldn’t help but feel a small sense of accomplishment. She had made it out of her condo, survived the chaos of her morning routine, and was on her way to tackle another day. And as much as she dreaded the rush, there was something exhilarating about it—something that made her feel alive.