1 SLEEPY HEAD

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The blaring alarm clock filled the room, prompting a groan from the sleeping girl, who instinctively covered her ears with her hand.

"The sun is already up; it's time to get out of bed," Ariel's mother shouted from the doorway while Ariel shielding her eyes with a pillow. "Wake up! Aren't you going to eat breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry," Ariel mumbled in her sleep, her voice soft and sweet, tugging at her mother's heartstrings. She added, "I just want to sleep a little more."

"I set the table a long time ago. You're still sleeping? Hey!" Her mother, Lily, banged on the door.

"I couldn't sleep last night and just managed to doze off."

"Why did she lock the door? The rice and soup are getting cold, you brat!" Ariel's mother shouted again.

"I don't feel like eating..."

"I already told you the food is getting cold!" Her mother shouted and continued banging on the door.

"With that attitude, you'll end up missing your exam. Fine, go back to sleep then," Lily said sarcastically, her frustration evident in her tone.

Just as she was about to secure the room, she watched her daughter spring out of bed with surprising force.

"Exam! Oh my god!" Ariel exclaimed, a surge of panic rushing through her as the reality of the situation hit her.

"Mom, you didn't wake me earlier," she scolded her mother. Checking the time, she noticed it was already 10 minutes past 8. "Oh my Goodness," she gasped, realizing the exam was scheduled to start at 10.

Ariel hurriedly dashed to the bathroom, managing to take a quick shower. She dressed in a blue jean and a blue nice sweater, her hands trembling as she hastily put on her clothes.

With a quick glance in the mirror, she noticed something amiss and hurriedly applied a slick of lip gloss. She straightened her hair in a rush before grabbing her bag and dashing out of her room.

In her haste, Ariel nearly forgot her textbook, but she remembered it just in time. With her heart racing, she sprinted out of the house, determined to make it to the exam on time.

"I'm off, Mom. I love you," Ariel said as she attempted to leave the door.

"No, Ariel, I'm not going to let you go with an empty stomach," Lily insisted.

Ariel sighed, slightly rolling her eyes at her mother's concern. She picked up two slices of bread and quickly poured herself a large cup of tea before exiting the house, leaving her mom speechless.

Ariel, a beautiful girl who would turn 19 in three months, possessed a quiet, kind, and smart demeanour. Her beauty and intelligence naturally drew people to her, making her the favourite among many.

Ariel didn't have a dad, but her mom, Lily, took care of her all by herself. They didn't have a lot of money, but her mom worked really hard to make sure Ariel had everything she needed.

One day, Ariel had to go to a big exam at the University of Science and Technology in the city of Opa. She had been getting ready for this day for a long time.

"Oh no," Ariel said, feeling worried. She had overslept and was running late. "How did I wake up so late?" she wondered out loud. "I hope I can get there on time," she said to herself, trying to walk faster.

Ariel thought about her mom's hard work and her own dreams. With these thoughts in her mind, she hurried along, determined to reach the exam in time.

A black Toyota car pulled up in front of Ariel, and a beautiful girl dressed in Indian clothing stepped out, waving for Ariel to hurry. Ariel looked up and saw that it was her friend Mira.

"Oh, what a lucky day!" Ariel exclaimed happily.

"You seem to be in a hurry?" said Mira, greeting her friend.

"Yeah, I am," Ariel replied. "I'm running late for my exam."

"Well, let me give you a ride," Mira offered.

"Of course! You're such a godsend," Ariel said gratefully. They both got into the car, and they zoomed off towards the university. Ariel felt incredibly thankful for her friend's timely help, and they chatted happily on their way to the exam.

The car dropped Ariel right in front of the school gate.

"Thanks so much, Mira," Ariel appreciated.

"Come on, Ariel." Mira waved her hand. "What are we friends for?" she said, giving her a playful look. Then she added, "Get good grades."

"Sure, I will. Bye, Mira," Ariel said, quickly running towards the school gate.

"I'll celebrate you when I come back!" Mira shouted excitedly.

"Okay!" Ariel yelled from a distance. Mira watched her friend until she disappeared into the school. Then, she turned and entered her car before zooming off, feeling happy to have helped her friend in need.

Ariel didn't waste any time as she hurried inside the school, hardly sparing a glance at the extraordinary architecture around her. She was too focused on finding the exam hall.

Rummaging through her bag, she pulled out a map that would lead her to Hall 2 where the exam was taking place. Following the directions, she kept running, checking her watch along the way. It was already half past 9. She reached the first hall, where a helpful student directed her to Hall 2.

Approaching a large door, the security guard opened it for her. Ariel couldn't help but notice that there weren't many students around. "It seems there aren't many students sitting for this exam," she thought to herself. She opened the second door, and her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a multitude of students seated in rows with lockers placed in front of them. "Wow," she exclaimed silently, realizing she had been mistaken about the number of participants.

"You're late?" a deep male voice startled her. She turned and saw a large, kindly-looking man dressed in a staff uniform.

"Yes, sir. I didn't manage to get here on time," Ariel stammered nervously.

"Lucky for you, you made it just in time. I'm Chris, a staff member and one of the exam supervisors," he said politely.

"I'm Ariel, sir, and I'm really sorry for being late," she apologized, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"What's your seat number, Ariel?" Chris asked.

She retrieved her ID from her bag. "I'm number 108," she replied, looking at her ID card.

"Alright, I'll take you there," he said, leading her to the back of the hall where she found her seat. It didn't take long before the exam papers were distributed, and Ariel settled in, ready to tackle the questions ahead.

She turned to her right and noticed a guy with short white hair that made him look incredibly charming and affluent. Their eyes met, and he winked at her, causing her to quickly face the front, feeling a bit flustered.

When the clock struck 10, the exam began. It lasted for three hours before the students were allowed to leave the hall.

"Oh, finally, I'm done with this exam," Ariel said, stretching her arms. "I'm so hungry now." She yawned and added, "I guess I need to sleep properly these days and wait for the results."

"Hey," a soft male voice called from behind. She turned and saw the same guy who had winked at her during the exam.

"How was the exam?" he asked, looking at her.

She smiled and replied, "Tough, but it was exactly what I studied for."

"I noticed you scratching your head back in the hall. Were you lost?" she asked, giving him a curious look.

"Lost?" he chuckled. "No, I wasn't. I was just wondering why you were staring at me during the exam," he said, trying his best not to smile.

Ariel blushed at his comment. "Please pardon my manners. I'm Bernard." He extended his hand for a handshake. She looked at him and then at his hand, noticing a silver ring that matched his fair skin.

"I'm Ariel," she said, stretching out her hand to shake his. In her mind, she thought, *His hand is so soft.*

"Ariel," he pronounced her name softly, smiling. "What a nice name."

"Thanks," Ariel said, her face turning even redder as he continued to hold her hand.

Upon noticing her admiration, Bernard slowly released her hand, and they both began to walk out of the school.

"Are you applying to study in this school?" Ariel asked, her curiosity piqued.

"No, I'm applying to study at St. Vincent University," Bernard replied.

*What?* Ariel screamed in her head. *St. Vincent? This guy must be very rich. (°ｏ°)w(°ｏ°)*

"Wow," she exclaimed, genuinely impressed. "It's a prestigious institution, high qualifications and classic," she recommended.

"Well, I'm applying to study here, at the University of Science and Technology," she said.

"Okay," he added, "I wish you could study there with me."

Ariel laughed on hearing this. "What? Why are you laughing?" he asked curiously. Then he added, "I'm serious."

"I know you are serious, but I can't study in that school. It's for the rich, although I'm on a scholarship," she explained.

"Oh, I see," he said.

They walked out of the school gate while discussing, and a luxurious white Lamborghini passed and stopped not far away from them. Ariel couldn't help but admire the car.

She asked tentatively, "Is that your car?" pointing at the vehicle parked 10 meters away from them. To her surprise, he replied with a confident "Yes, it's my car," and her jaw dropped in awe.

"Do you mind if I give you a ride?" Bernard asked kindly.

"No, no," Ariel quickly declined. "My house isn't far from here. I can get there myself. Thanks for your kindness."

"Okay, well... can I have your contact information then?" he asked.

'Did he just ask for my contact information? Oh, what will I do since I don't even have a phone?' She thought for a moment. 'Okay, I think I know what to do.'

"Ariel?" Bernard called, trying to get her attention.

"Yes? Okay, why don't you give me yours? I will call you," Ariel suggested.

"Oh, okay, then. Here," he fished out a card from his pocket and handed it to her.

"Okay, I will call you," Ariel said.

"Alright then," they bid goodbye to each other. Bernard walked towards his car, where a huge man stepped out to open the door for him before he gently closed it and zoomed off. Ariel stood watching, her mind filled with a mix of curiosity and excitement.

.....

Author's note: Welcome readers, welcome to Ariel and Horace's world of fantasy. Support this book and enjoy every bit of their love, stay tuned.

Check the comments section for Lily's image.