4

Petal's POV

After my math class ended, I collected my belongings, stuffed them into my bag, and left the lecture hall. I was exhausted, but knowing my dad would be waiting for me outside made me feel relieved. Walking toward the university gates, I spotted him in our car, parked at the usual spot.

“Hey, Dad,” I greeted, sliding into the passenger seat.

“Hello, Petal,” he said, smiling warmly as I buckled up. “How was your day at college?”

“Boring as usual,” I replied, sighing dramatically. “Physics drained all my energy, and math wasn’t much better.”

He chuckled lightly, starting the car. “Well, that’s part of being a science student. But hey, your hard work will pay off someday.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, rolling my eyes playfully. “How was your day, though? Did you terrorize your students with impossible quizzes?”

“Me? Terrorize?” he asked, feigning innocence. “Never! I’m their favorite professor, thank you very much.”

I laughed, shaking my head. Dad always had a way of making me smile, no matter how tired I was. The drive home was peaceful, the streets familiar as we passed by small shops and neighborhoods. As usual, we talked about random things—his students, my classes, and, of course, Mom’s cooking.

When we pulled into the driveway, I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. “Thanks for picking me up, Dad.”

“Anytime, kiddo,” he replied, grabbing his briefcase.

We walked into the house together, and as soon as I stepped through the front door, I yelled, “Mom, I’m home!”

“Lunch is ready, sweetheart. Go freshen up and come downstairs,” Mom called from the kitchen.

I glanced at Dad. “Guess I’d better hurry. See you at the table!”

He smiled and nodded as I dashed upstairs to my room. I quickly changed into my favorite comfortable clothes—a pair of soft sweatpants and a loose t-shirt—then washed up before heading back downstairs.

At the dining table, I found Dad already seated, chatting with Mom. The smell of my favorite dish wafted through the air, making my stomach growl. “Wow, Mom, this smells amazing!” I said as I took my seat.

“Eat up, sweetheart,” she said, placing a plate in front of me.

We ate together, the conversation light and cheerful. Dad shared a funny story about one of his students, and Mom told us about a neighbor’s new puppy. I felt a sense of peace wash over me—these moments with my family were my favorite part of the day.

After lunch, I helped Mom clean up. While I washed the dishes, she wiped down the counters and organized the kitchen. Once everything was spotless, I excused myself and headed back to my room.

The moment I lay down on my bed, exhaustion hit me like a wave. I closed my eyes, and before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

---

When I woke up, the clock read 5 PM. Groggily, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wash my face. The cold water helped wake me up, and I felt a little more refreshed.

Back in my room, I decided to get started on my assignment. Pulling out my notebook and laptop, I settled at my desk and got to work. Time flew by as I focused on my task, and I didn’t even notice how quiet the house had become.

Suddenly, a loud voice broke through my concentration. “DINNER IS READY!”

I jumped in my chair, my heart racing. Turning around, I saw my little brother, Michael, grinning mischievously.

“Michael Viotto!” I yelled, clutching my chest. “Are you out of your mind? You scared the life out of me!”

He laughed, already backing out of my room. “You should’ve seen your face! Priceless!”

“You just wait!” I said, leaping out of my chair.

Michael bolted down the hallway, and I chased after him. By the time we reached the dining table, I managed to smack him lightly on the back of his head. “That’s for scaring me!”

“Hey, no fighting at the table,” Mom scolded, though her lips twitched in amusement.

Michael stuck his tongue out at me before taking his seat. I rolled my eyes and sat down as well, trying to ignore his smug grin.

Our family dinners were always lively. Dad shared updates from work, Mom asked about my assignments, and Michael, as usual, tried to get on my nerves. My older brother, Matt, wasn’t with us since he worked abroad, but we often talked about him, wondering how he was doing.

After dinner, we all retired to our rooms. Since I’d already napped in the afternoon, I wasn’t sleepy yet. I decided to spend some time drawing. I grabbed my sketchbook and pencils, letting my creativity flow.

As the night grew quieter, I finally set my sketchbook aside. Tomorrow was another day of college, so I decided it was time to sleep. Crawling into bed, I turned off the lights, a small smile on my lips as I drifted off.

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