Everything turns blurry as his eyelids grew heavy and his body went limp. All of the sleepless nights finally caught up to him at the worst possible moment.
"Mr. Morrison." A Sharp voice cuts in his drowsiness, jolting him back to awareness.
"Sorry for waiting, Mr. Morrison. It seems like I made you wait for too long."
Daniel straightened up quickly, running a hand through his messy hair to fix it. "No, ma'am. And you can call me Dan. I'm not used to people calling me by my surname."
She nodded and settled into the chair across from him, her eyes scanning his appearance from head to toe. "You know, when you become a professional, everyone will address you by your last name, Mr. Dan. It's just how things work." She leaned forward slightly. "Now then, shall we begin? I have quite a lot to get done today."
"Ah—yes. Of course." He hurriedly placed his documents on her desk.
2 weeks ago…
Saturday afternoon…
Dan's eyes focus on the card at his hand, his heart sinks as he reads the words *poor academics* once more. A rush of thoughts comes to his mind.
Was I not doing enough?
He felt a deep sense of disappointment and anger at himself linger in his chest.
Dan knew that he didn't finish studying there but he's always been a good student, trying his best.
He looked at every number on the card as if they would miraculously change but it didn't, all he could see was the line of sevens. His eyes burned, warm tears welling up, but he held them back not wanting to show weakness.
Unconsciously clenching the card tighter. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and looked up at his mother. He didn't know what to say, but he knew he had to say something.
"I...I just want to do better," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want to prove myself."
___________
He got out of the school building and onto the street. Thinking about the conversation between him and the woman and it ends up perfectly fine.
Dan stared at the ground, deep in thought.
'Don't worry too much… Just study hard and everything will be ok….'
A big drop of water splashes on his arm and before he could realize the rain poured down with the strong wind.
He ran toward the nearest convenience store, clenching the documents he had brought.
Dan shakes his head, splashing everywhere. He stood there waiting for the rain to stop.
His headache worsens and the pain in his leg joins making him groan.
Dan leans against the wall and slowly slides down, sitting on the ground.
He wakes up early and walks here from home even though his mother gave him money.
He let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes and just feeling ache on his body.