Can We Be More

"Time, Time, Time!" Mrs. Anderson called as she sat down beside her son, gently tapping his back. "It's 7 a.m. already, darling. Please wake up-you don't want to be late for school!" she urged. Time, however, was still fast asleep, ignoring her pleas.

A knock interrupted her efforts.

"Knock, knock."

"Who's that?" Mr. Anderson asked, peering at the door.

"It's me, Kornel," came the cheerful response.

"Okay, give me a minute," Mr. Anderson said as he walked over to open the door.

"Where's Time? Is he up and ready?" Kornel asked eagerly.

"You should know better," Mr. Anderson said with a laugh. "Your friend is still fast asleep. His mom has been trying to wake him up, but nothing seems to work."

Kornel smiled knowingly and followed Mr. Anderson to Time's room.

"Good morning, Ma," Kornel greeted Mrs. Anderson warmly.

"Good morning, dear," she replied, visibly delighted to see him. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, Ma. Thank you for asking," Kornel answered politely before walking over to the bed.

Climbing onto the bed, he wrapped his arms around Time and tickled him. Time stirred immediately, twisting around to see who had woken him. When he saw Kornel's grinning face, he smiled back sleepily, stretching his arms with a soft yawn. Kornel jumped off the bed and sat on a nearby chair, watching Time.

Time turned to his parents. "Good morning, Mom. Good morning, Dad."

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson exchanged a look of quiet amusement before replying in unison, "Good morning, baby boy. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I did," Time said with a shy smile before darting into the bathroom.

"I'll wait for him here," Kornel said.

"Okay, dear. Once you're done, come downstairs for breakfast," Mrs. Anderson said as she and her husband left the room.

"Time, hurry up! We're going to be late for school," Kornel called impatiently.

"Give me a minute!" Time shouted back as he rushed out of the bathroom in his flowery boxers. He reached for his uniform but couldn't grab it. Kornel stepped in, pulling the uniform from the hanger and handing it to him.

"Thanks," Time said as he quickly dressed. "You're welcome," Kornel replied, tidying up Time's bag by putting his books, pencils, and other supplies inside. Once ready, the boys headed downstairs to the dining area. They sat at the table while Mrs. Anderson served them breakfast. Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson, who had already finished eating, waited to drop them off at school before heading to work.

"Thank you, Mom," Time said as he finished his meal.

"Thank you, Ma," Kornel echoed.

"You're welcome, boys. Did you enjoy your breakfast?" Mrs. Anderson asked.

"Yes, we did," they replied in unison.

"Alright, hurry up now. Don't keep your dad waiting!"

They grabbed their bags and ran to the car. Kornel opened the door, letting Time hop in first before climbing in himself. With the sound of the door slamming shut, Mr. Anderson started the car, dropped the boys off at school, and waved goodbye as they headed to their respective classes.

Kornel was in primary six, while Time was in primary five. During break hours, Time could often be found playing noisily around the school playground with his friends, both classmates and seniors. Kornel, on the other hand, preferred to sit in a quiet corner, flipping through his books. He didn't enjoy the messiness of playground antics. Instead, Kornel loved basketball. At his family's large house, his parents had built him a small basketball court where he practiced during his free time. Time would often sit on the sidelines, cheering and sketching Kornel in his drawing book. "I'll join a team when I get to high school," Kornel once said confidently. "And college too." Time smiled, admiring Kornel's determination. "And I'll draw you when you're famous."

A year later, Kornel gained admission to the prestigious SOS High School. The Anderson family celebrated his success, but both Kornel and Time were heartbroken at the thought of being apart. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson encouraged Time to study hard, promising he could join Kornel if he worked diligently.

Time took their words to heart. He studied tirelessly, but despite his efforts, he couldn't meet the strict criteria for SOS High School. Instead, he gained admission to Roman Boys High School.

Though proud of his achievement, Time couldn't hide his disappointment, and neither could Kornel. They promised to make the most of their summer breaks, spending as much time together as possible.

Both high schools were boarding schools, allowing the boys to return home only during holidays. Every summer break, they stuck to their promise, cherishing every moment they spent together despite the other children in their neighborhoods. Their bond remained unshaken, their friendship stronger than ever.