Jack Borg was never an ordinary boy, but he made sure to appear as ordinary as possible. At the age of 10, he had a mind of his own and a sense of responsibility that set him apart from his peers. It may have emanated from his Chinese soul, a mysterious legacy he held since he awoke in this American body. He knew he had a unique system within him that connected him to the laws and justice. But for now, Jack was just a diligent student at a private school in New Work.
It was a spring morning, and the weather was lovely. Jack put on his school uniform – a crisp white shirt and navy blue slacks – and went downstairs to have breakfast with his family. The kitchen was bustling, as always.
"Morning!" his mother, Isa Borg, was serving pancakes at the table. "It's a big day at the hospital today. Got a crucial meeting about new protocols."
"Morning, Mom!" Jack grabbed a pancake and smothered it in syrup. "I have a math quiz today."
"Math was never my strong suit," his father Ethan Borg added over the newspaper. "But I know you'll do great, son."
Beside him, his brother Ian was sitting with a book open over his cereal bowl. He seemed lost in his reading, as always.
"Ian, are you reading during breakfast again?" His older sister, Lisa Borg, adjusted her perfect ponytail and questioned him. "You need to learn to relax sometimes."
"Relaxing is for people without deadlines," Ian replied without looking up.
Jack laughed. He drank his coffee and got up nervously. He knew he needed to hurry to catch the school bus.
At school, Jack was quite well-known. He was currently in his junior year, not only because he excelled academically, but also because he was the best athlete on the track team. Jack also had his closest friends, and many others at school admired him. His girlfriend, Emily Carter, was the most popular girl in school, and they were getting along well, though Jack preferred to keep their relationship low-key and away from attention.
"Hey, Jack!" Mike, one of his friends, called out from the crowd as Jack appeared in the main hallway of the building.
"Ready for practice this afternoon?"
"Of course," Jack smiled. "I'll show you how it's done!"
They laughed together as they walked to the classroom. Jack enjoyed these moments of camaraderie. He wanted to make something big out of his life. However, despite his future aspirations, Jack knew he needed to make the most of every step along the way.
The first class of the day was math. Jack sat next to Emily, who was busy adjusting her blonde hair.
"Did you study for the test?" she turned to look at him.
"Of course I did," Jack replied.
Emily laughed shyly. "More or less. You'll help me if I get confused, right?"
He chuckled and started pulling out his study materials. Time passed quickly, and Jack was confident he had done well on the test.
During the break, Jack and his friends gathered at the basketball court. Emily was there too, along with Lisa and some of her friends.
"So, Jack," Mike asked while tossing a ball in the air, "have you decided which college you want to go to?"
Jack hesitated for a second. He knew he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement because of the system, but he wasn't sure he wanted to tell everyone yet.
"I'm still thinking," he said softly. "I want to keep my options open."
Mike nodded. "Makes sense. You don't need to worry; there's still plenty of time to decide."
Although his friends' perspective was very reasonable, Jack liked these kinds of conversations; it was nice to have this lightness amidst responsibilities and expectations.
Later in the afternoon, after classes, Jack went to practice. Jack loved running; whenever he ran, he felt free and at peace with himself. His coach always praised him for being so responsible:
"Borg," after a lap, "great run today! Keep it up."
Jack nodded and did as he was told, hopeful that all his effort would pay off in the future.
When practice was over, he returned home exhausted. His family was in the living room, discussing what had happened during the day.
"How was school?" his mother asked.
"It was good. I took a math test and trained at practice."
"That's great!" his father said. "Just keep working hard, son; you have such a bright future ahead of you."
Jack sat on the couch, and his grandfather, Ryan Borg, was sitting nearby, reading a book about law.
"Someday, will you surpass me in law books?" Ryan teased, glancing at Jack with a smile.
Jack laughed and shook his head. He knew he still had much to learn before he could even begin to compare himself to his grandfather.
The evening passed peacefully without incidents, and Jack tucked himself into his room once again for another review session before bed. He knew that every day was an opportunity for growth, a preparation for what was to come.
His life in New Work was busy, lively, but he was determined to seize every chance out there. He knew his future involved law and justice. But for now, he was just a young man living his life with his family and friends. That was enough for now.