[Stathis pov]
After I eat breakfast, I head out to do my chores, or at least the ones I can manage to do before I leave for university.
Aunt Effie went to the eastern and central area to deliver orders for eggs and milk and to take care of a few other errands, she probably won't be back before I leave for school.
Before I start my chores, I sit at the entrance of the farmhouse for a minute and take in the view of the farm at dawn, when its beauty is at its peak. I do this every day, except on rainy days. And after a minute passes, I get up and begin my chores.
The farm covers a total of ten acres. Five acres are devoted to the vineyard and wheat fields, while the remaining five acres hold the farmhouse and other facilities.
In the center of the farm is the farmhouse, while to the north of the farmhouse are the vineyard and the wheat field.
To the east are the chicken coop, the goat pen, the pig pen, the barn and the silo.
To the west are the vegetable garden and orchard and to the south are the warehouses.
My chores on the farm include milking the cow, collecting the eggs from the chicken coop, milking the goats, feeding the pigs and all the other animals. This is my routine in my regular days.
On weekends and during holidays, I work in the wheat fields, the vineyard, and the orchard.
I also make sure the vegetable garden is properly watered and clean the living area of the animals everyday.
By the time I finish all my chores, an hour and a half has passed, and it's already eight o'clock.
After I finish my chores, I head to the bathroom, take a shower and put on my everyday clothes which consists a white t-shirt, jeans and black shoes.
Just as I finish putting on my clothes, my phone rings. Aunt Effie is calling, and I answer.
"Hello nephew, how's the chores going?"
I answer her question in my usual, calm tone.
"All good, I just finished. How are you doing with the orders?"
She answers me in her usual confident tone.
"Me too, I am almost done. I called you, because I forgot to tell you that I left your lunch in the fridge, don't forget it, okay?"
I answer her in a thankful tone.
"Don't worry, I won't forget it, thank you very much."
She answers with a light, amused laugh.
"It's nothing, anyway, that's what I wanted to tell you, I'll hang up now because I've reached the delivery point, see you at noon sweetheart, bye."
When she calls me 'sweetheart' my cheeks become red from embarrassment and answer her in an embarrassed tone.
"Don't call me sweetheart aunt Effie, anyway, see you later, bye."
As I answered that, I ended the call straight away because I felt embarrassed.
After I ended the call, I went to the garage to get my bicycle and head to the university.
________________________________________
With a final glance back at the house, I hop on my bicycle and ride toward the university.
It takes me fifteen to twenty minutes to get to the university from my home.
It's not a long route and the road is straight, but it has only one issue, the university campus is located at the top of a hill and to get there you have to climb a steep uphill.
If you're with a car, it's no problem, but if you're not, then you have to go through hell to get to the top.
For me, it isn't a problem anymore. I've been riding a bicycle since I was four years old, and my body is used to it, so I don't get tired easily.
As I pedal, I begin to think about the university.
This university was actually established recently. Its existence is the result of the city's expansion and population growth.
Several years ago, mineral veins were discovered in the nearby mountains, which led to the opening of a mine. The enormous profits boosted the city's economy, causing the population to grow rapidly. With the city's expansion and increasing population, it eventually met the necessary criteria for establishing a university. Once all the requirements were fulfilled, the university was officially established.
The new university offers courses that are rarely found in other universities in Greece or even around the world. The equipment used by the students meets global standards, something typically seen only in private universities.
The hill where the university stands is known as "Border Hill." Its name is no coincidence, it marks the boundary between two distinct areas of Argyropetra.
To better understand what I mean, let me give you a geographical overview of the city.
The city of Argyropetra is divided into five areas. The first is the Northern Area, also known by locals as the "Zervohori" district, or simply the rural area. This is where all of Argyropetra's farms are located, and it is responsible for producing the city's raw materials. It is the area closest to the mines, and also the location of the farm where I live.
The second area is the Western Area, also known by local residents as the "Noble Blood" district, or simply the luxurious area. The name is not accidental, as all of the city's wealthy families live there. The district is also filled with high-end shops of every category, capable of satisfying even the most demanding tastes, from gourmet supermarkets to specialized telescope stores.
The third area is the Southern Area, also known by local residents as the "Poisonous" district, or simply the industrial area. All of Argyropetra's factories are concentrated there, and they are responsible for the production of the city's secondary and tertiary goods.
The fourth area is the Eastern Area, also known by local residents as the "Slum" district, or simply the urban area. It is home to people with modest but stable incomes, as well as the city's poorest residents.
Finally, there is the fifth area, also known by locals as the "Royal" district, or simply the city center. All of Argyropetra's administrative authorities (city hall, police station, hospital, etc.) are concentrated there. It is also the city's financial hub, as the main market is located in this area, excluding, of course, the Western Area.
The "border hill" is located between the northern area and the western area.
As I think about all these things, I keep pedaling toward the university. Soon, I reach the base of the hill where the uphill stretch begins. Without stopping, I take a deep breath and i climb the uphill with my bicycle.
Halfway up the uphill, my legs start to tremble, and every breath becomes a struggle.
But I don't give up, I keep pedaling.
As I continue pedaling, I finally reach the top of the hill, with my lungs burning and my legs ready to give out at any moment.
After I stop for a brief moment to recover, I make my way to the bicycle parking area and I park my bicycle.
After parking my bicycle, I walk toward the entrance of the university campus. Just as I'm about to pass through it, I hear a voice, one that makes me wish, more than anything, that its owner and his company would disappear from the face of the earth.
"Fat Karslidi, what happened? Did you gain more weight during the holidays?
"hahahahahahahahaha"
The laughter comes from his gang, and the one addressing me with that satanic voice is the person who made my life at school a living hell. His name is Vangelis Zikos.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
*10 acres = 40 468.5642 square meters (equal to 155 Tennis Courts)