In a Sunday early morning, Nina woke up with the sunlight shining through her bedroom window beside her bed. She sat up and yawned, stretching her arms. She squinted her eyes open, and the first thing she saw was the ticket to Vienna.

Right! I better tell Mom today. I hope she's in her good mood, she thought with a smile. Nina went downstairs to the kitchen room and saw that Mom was busy cooking mac and cheese for breakfast. It smelled cheesy.

Her dad was not here; he went to golf club. So it was only Nina and her mom who were at home. Today was also the start of her school's break, which sadly was only about a week.

When her mom set the bowls of mac and cheese on the dining table and they were already settled in their chairs, Nina thought it would be the best opportunity to talk with Mom right then.

Just as she thought that, her mom started a conversation about her dream, what she wanted to be in the future.

Nina answered, "I haven't thought about it yet, but one of my JYC Entertainment friends said that I have diamond talents in dancing and singing."

"Glad to hear that, but as you can see, there are many talented singers who aren't successful nowadays," her mom said.

After a few seconds of pondering, Nina said, "I actually got a ticket from JYC Entertainment to go to Vienna for an audition. I really want to try. The audition will occur for five months, so I'll be skipping school... Even so, I hope you'll accept."

Her mom gazed at her for a moment. "Okay, I'll think about it." Then they ate their breakfast in silence. Nina hoped her mom would choose the right path to her dream.

***

Rudy, Nina's dad, came home in the evening. After placing his shoes on the shoe rack, he went to the garden and called Nina quietly. She appeared after a while.

"Yes, Dad? Do you need something? And welcome back," she greeted.

"Thanks. I just want to know why you want to be a singer," her dad said. Jessa—Nina's mom—had told him about Nina's ambition through the phone around his break.

Not even using a millisecond to think, Nina replied, "I want to share my music to the world."

Rudy was surprised by her answer. He commented, "What a good thing you thought of! I accept you to go to Vienna, Austria. Try all your best there."

Nina thought he would not allow her to go to the audition. Fortunately she thought wrong.

"Really, Dad? Thank you so much!" Nina exclaimed happily, hugging her dad. "I'll call Mom." And she rushed off to find her mom. Rudy chuckled at her exuberance. He had never seen her daughter so pleased. He was happy she finally found what she had interest in.

Rudy sat in a chair as minutes went by. Neither Nina nor Jessa had shown up. What's taking them so long?

After a few more minutes of waiting, Nina finally came back with a tray of food consisting of three plates of rigatoni bolognese. She was followed by Jessa, who was carrying a tray too, but with three plates of pizzelle with creamy filling and three glasses of what Rudy guessed was lemon tea. Nina and Jessa set the trays on the table.

"I thought that it would be great to eat dinner here while enjoying the fresh air. Also for a small celebration for Nina." Jessa beamed at her husband.

Nina laughed. "Mom. It's only accepting me to go to Vienna. It's not a big deal."

"I think your dad and I think otherwise." Jessa grinned. "Bring the candle, would you?" Shaking her head with a smile, Nina went back inside.

"Italian dinner I see," Rudy commented.

"Late comment!" Jessa snapped her finger.

"It's not late."

"Ha, ha. Don't try to deny it. Your comment is late." Jessa stuck out her tongue at him.

Rudy chuckled at her childish behavior. She may be around her late 30's, but she still had her childishness.

Nina came back with two candles, settling them at the center of the table.

When they were all settled in their seats, Jessa clapped her hands together. "Let's eat, shall we?"

***

It was finally the next day, June 18. The day when Nina would go to Vienna with her mom who felt awful to send her there alone.

"I am already a teenager, Mom! I'm not a kid anymore," Nina had pouted, but her mom had been persistent.

Nina chuckled at the memory. She packed her luggage, bringing her polaroid, microphone, and of course, the most important things—the lyrics of the songs she would be performing as well as the songs for her dance.

When she went downstairs, her mom was already outside with her luggage while her dad was speaking to her beside her. Both wore smiles.

"Try your best there, but don't forget to have fun. If you are not accepted—which I doubt—at least you've given it a try. Plus, you can always go to an audition again," Rudy said to Nina when he saw her approaching.

"Thanks, Dad. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you more." Rudy hugged her, ruffling her hair as he did. When they pulled out of the embrace, Nina saw her neighbors, as usual, did their morning jobs outside.

"Bye, guys! See you in a few months! Have a great day every day!" Nina called out to them.

"Thank you! Good luck, we hope you'll achieve your dream, Nina!" they called back. What good neighbors. Nina would miss them a bunch.

"Thanks back." Nina beamed. She turned to her dad. "I guess we'll go now."

Rudy nodded. "Good luck. Stay safe."

Jessa and Nina waved him good-byes and they walked to the nearest subway station. They reached there on time as the next subway's destination nearest to the airport arrived. Nina smiled widely as she and her mom took their seats. From her wide and uncanny smile, other people may had thought she was just a smiling maniac, but in truth she was merely very excited for her audition.