Life comes at you fast, one moment you're having fun doing all the things you love, and the next moment you can't anymore because all the other responsibilities come knocking all at once. Things which you probably could have started handling in your free time. And at this moment you just can't ignore or everything will go up in flames.
Simon was a very intelligent young man. He was very good at art, writing, deciphering things, mathematics, name it and he could do it. He always felt his gifts were a genetic thing as his Father was an Engineer and his mum was a very popular artist and writer. His siblings were also excelled in various fields so there was always a lot of pressure on him to be Intelligent as well. As far as academics were concerned he was only just maintaining high grades. He was on a 4.54 GPA which for anyone was a remarkable feat, but to his family was average. He, on the other hand, was proud of himself.
You see, Simon wasn't always the most hardworking person. He always found it difficult getting into reading mode, or going the extra mile for things. He'd rather let it go and hope things fall into place. They didn't always do, but more often than not they did.
One day Simon escorted his elder brother to the sports center. His brother loved to play volleyball and once in a while Simon would tag along to watch and cheer him. What made today different and worth noting was that this time right at the other side of the indoor volleyball court was a populated table tennis board. Simon found himself more engrossed in the table tennis game than in his brother's volleyball game. Before long he gave into the temptation and moved over to the other side to get a closer look at the table tennis games.
After watching for a while, he asked if he could play. He had to wait a while, but he finally got the chance to play.
He was a natural, having the Bat in his hands made him feel powerful, and hitting the egg in various directions made him feel in control. It felt sublime. At that moment he just wanted time to stand still, but the reverse was the case as nightfall came very quickly and he was forced to go home.
Following his brother to the sports center which was a rare occurrence slowly became a daily routine. At some point he wasn't even escorting his brother anymore, his brother was the one escorting him. He'd fallen in love with the sport and became very good at it really fast.
Before long he started abandoning all other things he did in his spare time to play table tennis. He even started to dream up scenarios where he would eventually become a professional but it was clear his family was against such.
In the past Simon spent his free time just relaxing and skimming through books. It was boring and to him it seemed unimportant to his academic success, but it actually was. He wasn't always an intense reader so skimming through the books regularly made it easier for him to grasp the entire syllabus when it was time to do. But recently he hadn't been doing that. He started noticing he wasn't performing as good in tests as he usually does. He decided he'd make up for it in the exams, and since this year's exams had been pushed back by a month it'd give him more time to cover the syllabus.
Rather than do the needful immediately, Simon continued with his new routine. Before long he realized the exams were knocking and he hadn't grasped nearly enough to pass the exam.
Luckily for Simon, he still has a little time to set things straight. All he has to do is leave table tennis for a while and focus completely on his books. Don't divide his attention, put all focus on them, and maybe, just maybe he can meet up. A lot of the time Simon misses playing table tennis, he passes by sometimes and sees others having fun without him. One or two times he's caved in and played a couple of games. But each day his exams draw nearer he's afraid he may not make it.
THE END
Author's Note
This is a fiction story but with some symbolism on how things are right now in my offline life. I'm hoping to start posting regularly soon.
~THANKS FOR READING~
You gave us a fantastic story and something very much relatable to reality.
We sometimes find interest in things and it almost ruined what we have dedicated ourselves to for quite some time. It was normal for Simon to get really interested in the sport and his parents not liking is normal as well. If I was to advise him, I will tell him to try and create a balance.
Please can I use the hive line breaker?
Yeah, at times creating a balance is just so hard.
Sure. It's a free resource. I can't even remember where I saw it anymore.
Sorry for the late reply, and thanks for stopping by
!PIZZA
You offer us a complex character in this story, @b0s. As is true with all of us, he is conflicted. That conflict drives the story forward. What should he do with his time? Is school going to catch his attention? Will he devote himself to table tennis. Or will there be another distraction. You present the problem well. However, in the end, you do not offer us a resolution. While this is the way most of us go forward (still struggling, still conflicted) in a story readers ask for some kind of resolution.
Thank you for posting this interesting story here. It is a story that prompts us to think. We also appreciate that you engage with other authors in the community.
hehe, I was a bit unsure of how to end it, and since there's been no conclusion, I decided to leave the ending open. Thanks a lot for the suggestion, I'll definitely come up with better endings next time.
Well you write stories well. 👍
We will all be waiting for your return. Focus. And balance. You seem to be good at that as well btw :)
Thank you.
Though I'm not sure I'm good at focus and balance, but I'm trying.
!PIZZA
I think you don't see yourself the way I see you 😘
You're doing great!
Thank you :)
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Nice write up.
This happened to a friend of mine in our first year, he loves football and couldn't cope with education at the same time.
He had to leave football, now he is flying out with good grades
Oh that's nice, Congrats to him. Thanks for stopping by
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haha, another one in the bag, thanks hivebuzz
Congrats, keep going like this @b0s 😉 Have a nice day!
Ah, the classic conundrum. Not fair to have just one life for this many things to do...hehe
Nice one, bro.
!PIZZA
Exactly, It's just so frustrating. Wishing I could have like 6 lives atleast.
Thank you
!PIZZA
Maybe that's the reason we believe in rebirths... 🤣
That wouldn't be so bad. Simon could focus on school now and then Table tennis the next life, lolz