BRING IT ON!

The sun cast long shadows as Shayne and Zaara hurried towards Doohleen Academy, a sense of urgency propelling them forward. The previous night had taken a toll on Shayne, waking up with a weariness that permeated his entire body. His head throbbed rhythmically, as if a relentless hammer pounded against his temples. The mundane act of walking to the bathroom felt like an arduous journey through a foggy abyss.

Despite the physical discomfort, Shayne soldiered on, taking a lukewarm shower to rouse his senses and brushing his teeth with a mechanical precision that masked his exhaustion. The familiar call of Mrs. Chianq-Boph echoed through the house, a reminder of the ticking clock. "Shayne! Are you still in your room? It's 8:15 am, and you're damn late for school," she shouted.

"I'm done, Mom. I was just feeling extremely weak this morning," Shayne replied as he emerged from his room, still in the process of zipping up his trousers. His mother's concern lingered in her eyes as she offered words of encouragement, "It's not a strange thing. Get up, it's go time. Remember, great people are made by tough situations."

Shayne shuffled towards the dining area, struggling with the buttons of his shirt, and had a quick breakfast. With a brief farewell to his mother, he left for school, the weight of fatigue draped over him like a heavy cloak.

As Shayne ambled towards Doohleen Academy, his mind echoed with his mother's words. "Why does she say these things to me?" he pondered, his thoughts a whispered soliloquy amidst the backdrop of the morning rush. Lost in contemplation, he inadvertently collided with a classmate also rushing to school.

"Damn! So sorry, it wa...was a mistake," Shayne stammered, attempting to apologize to the person he had bumped into. "It's fine. Just try to watch carefully next time," said Zaara, a fellow student from the beginners class, her tone polite and understanding. "Hey, Zaara! So sorry about that. I didn't know it was you. I was rushing because I'm damn late to school," Shayne explained.

"Likewise me. So, we have to rush before the training begins," Zaara replied with a friendly smile. With a shared understanding of their predicament, Shayne and Zaara sprinted together, covering the distance from Doohleen's wall to the Academy compound in a burst of hurried steps.

They managed to slip into class, but their hopes of going unnoticed were dashed. Mrs. Phianq, their class teacher, awaited them, a stern expression etched on her face. The rest of the students were already on the training ground, leaving Shayne and Zaara to face the consequences of their tardiness.

Sweating profusely, they stood before Mrs. Phianq as she scolded them for their late arrival. After the admonishment, she directed them to their respective dressing units to prepare for the day's training. Shayne, determined to make amends, was mentally prepared for the upcoming challenges, eager to bring home good news and prove that he could thrive in the face of adversity.