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In Ahmad's dimly lit bedroom at night, Ahmad sits cross-legged on the floor, eyes wide but tired, gripping a handheld game console beneath a glowing wall clock showing 11:30 PM, while Mother stands in the doorway calling him to bed.
Ahmad and Aisyah loved going to school. One night, Ahmad was playing an exciting game. "Just a little longer," he said. But a little became very long. The clock kept ticking. It was getting very late. Mother called, "Ahmad, time for bed!" "Not yet, Mom," Ahmad replied. He finally went to sleep very late. His eyes were tired. His body was tired too.
Morning sunlight filters into the classroom as Ahmad pauses nervously in the doorway, messy hair and backpack half-zipped, while Teacher writes on the board and other students sit focused at their desks, illustrating Ahmad’s late arrival.
The next morning, the alarm rang loudly. "Ring... ring... ring..." Ahmad was still sleepy. Mother tried to wake him several times, but Ahmad couldn't get up. He fell asleep again. When Ahmad finally woke up, it was already late. "Oh no!" he cried. Ahmad rushed to shower and get ready. He didn't have time to eat breakfast properly. When he arrived at school, his friends were already learning. Ahmad was late and felt sad.
In Ahmad's softly lit bedroom at night, Ahmad kneels on a green prayer mat beside a neatly stacked schoolbag, palms raised and face determined, while Aisyah smiles warmly from the doorway, holding the light switch ready to turn it off.
The teacher spoke gently, "Ahmad, what happened?" Ahmad looked down. "I stayed up too late playing games," Ahmad answered honestly. The teacher nodded. "When we sleep enough, our body feels fresh and we can arrive on time," the teacher explained. Ahmad understood his mistake. That night, Ahmad made a promise. "I will stop playing games earlier." After tidying his things, Ahmad prayed and went to sleep earlier. Aisyah smiled seeing him.
Under bright morning sunshine outside the school gate, Ahmad and Aisyah, uniforms crisp, exchange happy smiles while Teacher greets them with a welcoming gesture; the still-ringing bicycle bell on Ahmad’s handlebar and fresh dew on plants emphasize their early arrival.
The next morning, Ahmad woke up when the alarm rang. His body felt fresh and energized. Ahmad prayed Subuh, showered, put on his uniform, and ate a healthy breakfast. Everything was done calmly. Ahmad and Aisyah left for school early. They arrived before the bell rang. The teacher welcomed them with a warm smile. "Alhamdulillah, I arrived on time!" Ahmad said happily. From that day on, Ahmad limited his game time and made sleeping early a good habit.
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