06:08 AM

The rain pounded against the windowpane, creating a soothing symphony that echoed through the quaint streets of the Zhongshan district in Taiwan. Li Wei, an awkward and introverted high schooler, gazed out of her bedroom window, her eyes fixed on the rhythmic raindrops on the narrow streets below. Her suburban life in the outskirts of Taipei felt like a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city's heart.

The sound of her mother's voice cut through the cozy atmosphere, echoing from the kitchen.

"Li Wei! Breakfast is ready," her mother called the aroma of soy sauce and scallions wafting through the air from downstairs. Li Wei stumbled over her own feet as she rushed to respond, managing to get tangled in her blankets along the way. Clumsiness seemed to be her constant companion, a fact that had earned her more than a few laughs from her friends.

Li Wei shuffled out of her room, a slight grogginess in her step. Her walls were adorned with a hodgepodge of soccer posters, a testament to her love for the game. Mixed among them were posters of her favorite K-drama stars, creating a unique collage of her interests. A slightly deflated soccer ball was tucked in the corner, a silent witness to countless backyard victories.

"Coming!" Li Wei called, finally untangling herself from her blanket cocoon. She skidded down the stairs, her socks slipping on the smooth wooden surface, bounding down the stairs with all the grace of a caffeinated giraffe. Li Wei skidded into the kitchen, nearly bowling over her mother in the process.

"Li Wei, sweetie, slow down. I don't want you to end up in the emergency room before school even starts. You'll end up scoring a goal against yourself at this rate," her mother chided.

"Sorry, Mom, but Sports Day waits for no one!" Li Wei declared with a determined gleam in her eyes. Her mother chuckled, a twinkle in her eye. "The weather might have a different opinion, Li Wei. Perhaps you should focus on your studies instead of these small escapades," she said with a laugh, glancing at Li Wei's disheveled state, "and what on earth are you wearing!?" her mother said, placing a steaming plate of scallion pancakes in front of her daughter.

"A green tracksuit?" Li Wei struck a dramatic pose, hands on her hips. "The official uniform of the Rainy Day Soccer Olympics, Mom. Fashion meets function!"

Her mother sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Just make sure you don't end up looking like a drowned broccoli. And don't forget to eat something before you go."

Li Wei rolled her eyes playfully. "I promise, Mom, I'll come back looking like the trendiest vegetable in town."

As her mother continued with some motherly advice, Li Wei's eyes darted to the clock, widening in realization.

"Oh shoot! I'm late!"

In a flurry of activity, she grabbed a scallion pancake from the kitchen counter and attempted to devour it in record time. Her mother, witnessing the spectacle, couldn't help but chuckle. "Li Wei, slow down! You're going to choke." But Li Wei, in her haste, ignored the warning, and suddenly the scallion pancake became a formidable opponent in the battle for breakfast supremacy. She coughed, sputtered, and then, in a classic comedic moment, let out a loud, exaggerated gasp. "Li Wei!" her mother exclaimed, a mix of concern and amusement in her voice. "Are you okay?"

Li Wei, still catching her breath, managed to compose herself. "Note to self: scallion pancakes are surprisingly rebellious." With that, she rushed out the door, leaving her mother shaking her head and laughing.

" With that, she rushed out the door, leaving her mother shaking her head and laughing

07:52 AM

"WHAT!?" Li Wei screamed, her voice echoing through the crowded halls of their high school. Chen Mei, her bubbly and extroverted best friend, turned around, her laughter blending with the curious gazes of other students.

"What's got you screaming like you've seen a ghost, Li Wei?" Chen Mei chuckled, her perfectly styled hair cascading around her shoulders like a waterfall of silk. She was the epitome of girly charm, a stark contrast to Li Wei's more introverted and sporty demeanor. Li Wei panted, trying to catch her breath. "Sports Day... I was so excited for Sports Day, and now I find out it's canceled?" Chen Mei burst into laughter, the melodic sound drawing even more attention. "Oh, Li Wei, you really live in your own world, don't you? It got canceled hours ago because of the heavy rain. The announcement was everywhere." Li Wei's eyes widened in disbelief. "I... I didn't know." Chen Mei's eyes practically sparkled with excitement as she launched into a passionate rant, her words flowing like a waterfall of gossip. "Li Wei, you seriously need to pay more attention! We have a group chat for heaven's sake. I was there discussing the cancellation drama, the outfits we were planning to wear, and oh, did you hear about Jin and-" Li Wei tuned out, letting Chen Mei's animated chatter wash over her. She had long since mastered the art of navigating the seas of her friend's lively conversations. The all-girls school setting only seemed to amplify Chen Mei's girlish enthusiasm, and today was no exception. "Can you believe Lisa wore the same dress as me to last week's assembly?" Chen Mei continued, her hands flying as if she were recounting an epic saga. "I mean, I practically picked that dress out for her last month, and then she goes and steals my thunder like that! It's like, seriously, get your own style!" Li Wei nodded in agreement, even though she had no idea who Lisa was or what the assembly dress debacle entailed. Chen Mei was on a roll, and Li Wei had become accustomed to riding the waves of her friend's expressive monologues. "And then," Chen Mei exclaimed, her voice reaching a crescendo, "I realized I wasn't even in the group chat when they were discussing the cancellation. Can you believe the audacity? Like, how dare they make decisions without consulting the fashion guru of the school?" Li Wei couldn't help but smirk. Chen Mei's theatrics always had a way of lightening the mood. Amid the hallway chaos, her friend's voice morphed into a loud and exaggerated "BA-GAWK!" Li Wei's eyes widened as the chicken sounds reverberated through the hall. "Li-wei?" Chen Mei's voice echoed, concern replacing the usual chicken clucks. "LI-WEI!!!" she called out louder, trying to snap Li Wei out of whatever trance had befallen her. But Li Wei lost in her delusional poultry world, could only respond with a strange, strained expression. "Buck... buck... ehehehe," she uttered, the weird chicken-like noises escaping her lips, much to the confusion of onlookers. Chen Mei, now more bewildered than ever, tried to make sense of the situation. "Li Wei, snap out of it! And what's with that look on your face?" She asked concerned.