Date: July 27th, 2032
Location: Los Angeles, California
Alarms were blaring at full volume, each one fighting for attention in a chaotic chorus of urgency.
"A-" came the smooth voice of a woman from the smart speaker, cut short by a groggy hand slapping the snooze button.
"Arin…" came another voice, real this time, warm and familiar.
"Mmh…" he groaned, face buried deep in the pillow. "Five more minutes, no?"
"Arin, wake up! We're gonna be late!" Maya said, shaking his shoulder.
He sat up slowly, his hair a mess and his eyes barely open. "Maya… what time is it?" he muttered, reaching for her in a half-conscious hug.
"It's nine. Hurry up and get fresh." She leaned in, gave him a quick kiss, then pulled away.
"What, what?!" Arin shouted, jolting awake like he'd been electrocuted. "Oh man—oh man—oh shit, we're gonna miss it! No, no, no—"
He was already jumping out of bed in his boxers, scrambling toward the bathroom like a man on a mission.
And truthfully, he had every reason to panic. It was the Olympics.
In Los Angeles. This was the kind of thing you planned your life around.
"Babe! We gotta move!" he yelled from the bathroom, brushing his teeth at lightning speed.
"Relax! I already called Dad, he's saving us seats. Mom and Shri went ahead with him, so as long as we leave soon, we're good."
"I can't miss this—"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Your favorite event right after…" Maya grinned as she set plates on the table, then dropped into a mock announcer voice," And now, ladies and gentlemen, it's Dmitreus Bibol versus the one and only Caleb Tree!"
She couldn't help but giggle at her over-the-top commentary.
"Haha, very funny, babe~" Arin called from the bedroom. "Where's my underwear?"
"Left drawer!"
He rushed out minutes later, finally dressed, still half-panicked. "Alright, let's—"
"Breakfast first, mister." Maya cut him off, pointing at the table.
Arin opened his mouth to protest.
"Ah-ah! Nope," she said, holding up a finger like a teacher scolding a student.
"I will murder and ground you if you don't finish that plate before leaving."
Fifteen minutes later
Arin and Maya's car wove through the bustling city streets. The golden afternoon sun cast long shadows across the sidewalks, where clusters of people hurried in every direction. Maya leaned back, fiddling with the radio dial until a lively RJ's voice filled the car.
"…so, did you guys catch the latest C&T episode? Apparently, the theorist claims that gods are actually aliens! And what's even crazier, he says he got the idea from a high—"
Maya snorted, rolling her eyes. "People will believe anything these days. Next, they'll say the Loch Ness Monster is just a lost tourist."
Arin grinned but kept his eyes on the road. "You love that show, though. Don't pretend you don't."
Before Maya could retort, Arin pointed ahead. "Hey, we're here."
The stadium rose above the cityscape, its silver arches gleaming in the sunlight. Banners fluttered along the fences, emblazoned with the Olympic rings and the faces of famous athletes. The air buzzed with anticipation, vendors shouted about cold drinks and souvenirs, and the distant roar of the crowd was already audible.
Maya's mood instantly lifted. "Oh, finally!"
Arin clasped his hands together in excitement. "We made it. This is going to be epic."
Arin's eyes sparkled. "I can't believe we're going to see Bibol fight. Even if it's just an exhibition, this is huge."
Suddenly, their excitement was interrupted by the sound of chanting.
"SAVE THE PLANET! SAVE THE PLANET!" A group of protestors, holding bright signs and banners, had gathered in the middle of the street. Some wore green shirts, others had painted faces, and a few handed out pamphlets to passersby. The air was tinged with the scent of street food and the distant whiff of summer flowers from a nearby park.
A police officer approached the car, signaling them to stop. His badge glinted in the sun.
"Afternoon, folks. Are you here for the Olympics?"
"Yes, officer," Arin replied, rolling down the window.
The officer nodded, glancing back at the crowd. "I will need you to move your car to the side street, please. We've got a protest blocking the main entrance."
Maya groaned, slumping in his seat. "Seriously? We're so close."
Arin shot him a pleading look. "Come on, officer, isn't there any way ?"
The officer shook his head apologetically. "Sorry, bud. Rules are rules. You'll have to walk from here."
Arin sighed, turning the wheel toward the side street. "Guess things are never meant to be easy."
Maya muttered, "At least we'll get some steps in."
They parked along a quiet curb shaded by leafy trees, the stadium now a short walk away. As they stepped out, the sounds of the protest grew louder. A young protester with a sunburned nose and a hopeful smile approached them, holding out a juice box and a granola bar.
"Hey, man! Sorry for the inconvenience," he said, his voice earnest. "We know it's a hassle, but we're just trying to make a difference, you know?" He pressed the snacks into Arin's hand. "Hope this helps a little. Thanks for understanding."
Arin blinked in surprise, glancing at Maya. "Uh, thanks. Good luck out here."
The protester grinned and jogged back to his group, waving a sign that read, "There's No Planet B."
Maya watched him go, his irritation fading. "I guess they're not just making noise for nothing.
They care."
Arin nodded, tucking the juice box into his bag. "Yeah. Makes you think, doesn't it?"
They joined the stream of people heading toward the stadium, the city alive with energy and purpose all around them.