Merida

Chapter 1

The tap of her running shoes on the concrete pavement lightly echoed on the deserted streets of Climaco. Her heavy breathing as she runs adds melancholy to silent area of the town. The breaking dawn of Friday morning was breath-taking as the sunlight tear up the clouds apart, uncovering the blue above with remnants of last night stars.
Sweat leaks down her forehead all the way down to her chin that slightly tickles her skin which she ignored as she let the sweat drop on her navy blue shirt. As she felt her heart finally reached its limit, and her leg muscles starting to feel a little tightened and pained, she halted to a stop and catched her breath. She inhaled heavily, taking deep breaths to let her body take enough oxygen to stop herself from fainting. She could feel her blood running inside her very veins to her heart, coiling up inside her brain. Hands on her waste, head above the clouds, eyes shut as she tried to relax her tensed body.

Its been awhile since Sandra last had her running exercise. It has been a busy week for her at school. Finals week consumed much of her time. She focused on studying, complying requirements, paper works, every struggles of a graduating student, you name it. Since she's free every friday morning, she took the advantage on doing her routine before she got busy at school.
When her heart is finally at its normal beating, her legs finally relaxed, she decided to take a walk instead of continuing her jog. Sun finally out from where it was hiding. The air is a little bit warmer than earlier, streetlights were off and few people started walking down the streets. The smell of freshly baked breads and baguettes fumes the path where Sandra walks, that made her decide to buy some to bring for her Mama on her way home.

"I'm home." Sandra announced. Her Mama, at the kitchen cooking breakfast.
"Bought some bread on my way home." She added.
Susan looked delighted.
"Smells great! Freshly baked breads are always a good way to start the morning," Susan said cheerfully. "You better take a shower before you take your breakfast, Sandra." She commanded, with her motherly voice.
Sandra rolled her eyes, " Can I atleast drink some water?"
Susan ignored her sarcastic gesture and said, "Go ahead, Missy. Dont forget to wake your brothers up and tell them to get ready.", she commanded again.

The sound of frying eggs on a hot pan is a typical sound you hear mostly everyday in cute suburb kitchen, the smell of searing bacon fumes every room which makes Sandra's mouth to water. Susan has always been a great cook, she never doubted that. She try to turn simple meals into something special. Susan, on her fourties manage to make a living to support her three kids only by herself. Her father, Richard, died from an accident 5 years ago which really was a tragic incident for the Dorschner Family. Sandra who was 13 years old back then, haven't really accepted the fact about the loss of his father, but even though it's been really hard, she always bring the old pocket watch that her father owned. This made her feel secure when its with her. Its like bringing a piece of her father's memoire with her.

She knocked on her brothers bedroom door and woke them up, "Breakfast is ready!", she shouted. The groan of annoyance coming from her brothers is a signal that they heard her.

Sandra reached her room and closed the door. Changed her sweaty clothes and tossed it in a pile of dirty garments. Grabbed her towel that's hanging behind her bedroom door and went straight to the bathroom and took a shower.

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"Why don't you go out with Derrick? He's like totally checking you out.", Tanya suggested as she fliped her brown hair hanging on her shoulders.
"Come on! He's like a total bae! Why are you being so picky?"
She grunts.
Sandra, with her brow up and looking at Tanya in disbelief.
"Im not being picky. Im being smart. The guy is an asshole." Sandra exclaimed.
"And he's only checking me out because he's bored with Debbie."

"Come on, Sandra! He's like the most popular guy in school!" Tanya blurted out again.
"So?" Sandra asked, sarcasm in her voice.
"So, if you go out with him, that'll make you popular and if you're popular and me being friends with you, that'll make me popular, too." She cheerfully added, flashing her every teeth which makes her adorable. Her freckled cheek glowed with excitement.