Five in the morning, mama, Ciana, and I were ready immediately. We don't have a head of the family. He died a long time ago, about five years ago. Mama makes a living for us by selling wood in the market, to make firewood, it's cold here in district 20 so we need a heater.
We make a living from trees especially since it is the main need in our district.
The pick or the draw later is out of age. Whether you are young or old as long as your name is drawn you will definitely go to that school.
If you come from poor districts, you will definitely start at the very beginning of high school. There will be a test to find out which level you can enter.
I just don't know what kind of test it is, only the selected ones will know.
I returned to the bedroom when my four-year-old sister approached me.
"Ate, I don't want to be pulled out later, I'm afraid of being separated from mama." She’s cute, all the time.
"Yes. Don't worry dear princess, mama and I won't let you down, okay? Tie your hair to mama" he smiled and kissed me on the lips before going to mama to tie it.
Mama and I have already agreed on this. If mama is the one to choose, it's okay, she could study while I take care of Ciana temporarily while she's gone, I'll do all the work that mama will leave behind. If Ciana is chosen, one of us with mama will volunteer, she cannot disappear from the sight of one of us because she is still young. She can't do it alone, especially if she will be away from us for a long time. As for me, it's okay with mama because I can study at the school itself and not self-study. They can handle both.
I, on the other hand, am wearing a gray dress. I will also tie my hair to mama so that I can be presentable to look at later.
The drum rang three times, signaling that we had to go to the plaza because the SIA people were already here. As we walked the three of us held hands. I tightened it up because I was nervous about what might happen.
Even though I want to be chosen, it's a pity that I will leave them here. That's so sad.
We went to our place, but we were separated because we were in different ages. By age is the queue here, the children are in the front, in the middle are young women and men like me, in the back, are the elders or our parents. I looked at the men's position on the left. I saw Aljohn, my male friend.
I mouthed, “you're handsome.” but there was no voice. He laughed and shook his head and also said “you too” we laughed but it was just quiet because it's forbidden to make noise here.
This has been done year after year, but we have no news of the people previously selected. Have they enjoyed life in the middle of our country so they don't come back here? Hmmm, I thought there ah, if I get selected later, I'll make sure I come back here. I will take them, mama to experience the luxurious life.
"Welcome, welcome, people of district 20. I'm here to announce that we will change the usual choice of four people to come with us. From now on, we will only choose two people per district. If you are going to ask, why. I don't know the reason of President Jones, so don't ask me hahaha” Why after twenty-five years, they just changed it now?
"Let's start to choose, just like before. Gentleman's first." she took a fishbowl to her left and pulled out a paper, all the man's names were there, young to old.
"Renzel Quinto. Come and join me here in front, young boy" go in the middle the boy I think is only ten years old.
I waited for someone to object because Renzel was still young and might not be able to go to that school alone. But to my surprise, no one bothered. Why is that? Maybe he really wanted to study there, so no one stopped him. Let me say, why am I still bothering with that.
The woman speaking goes to the right and pulls out a paper. I looked at Aljohn again and smiled again. I turned my gaze back in front of the surprised I heard the name of the woman chosen. "Ciana Faye Ainsley. Come here and join us in front lovely little girl."
Ciana went to the center and sought my sight because I was just so close to her. She was crying "sister, mom!! I don't want to be here. I don't want to leave. Sister!!!" I cried too. I don't want Ciana and mama to be separated but they can't agree if other people just choose.
There was no bothered in me for me to go in the middle, two soldiers grabbed me by both my arms to prevent me from going to the front. "Ate!! I don't want to be here." I heard my four-year-old sister again, that's where she can be separated from mama.
"I volunteer!" I shouted that word. to allow me to escape and so that they would not take my very young sister.
My sister hurried to me and hugged me while still crying. Two soldiers took him and returned her to her line earlier. I went to the center because I was already one of the district's 20 representatives.
"This is the first time that we have a woman volunteer. Can you tell me how you feel about that child?"
"She's my younger sister."
"What's your name, young lady?"
"Kiera Luxy Ainsley"
"She volunteered herself for her sister. Let us cheer our two representatives from district 20."
They all applauded and said goodbye to the woman speaking with us.
We were also told we had an hour to say goodbye to our family.
I was taken to a room, mama and Ciana entered immediately.
"Ate, I'm sorry because I made a scene earlier, but I'm happy because you can go to your dream school. Be careful there, I'll miss you." she kissed me on the lips again, I smiled at her and nodded.
I turned my gaze to mama, I hugged her immediately. "I volunteered so that you and Ciana won't be separated. It might be difficult for me if I'm the only one left, don't worry, Aljohn is there to help you and his family. It's only a few years, can you do that okay? Be careful you always are. " I hugged her tightly again.
"Thank you for sacrificing for us and for your sister. Let go and your life will be better when you finish school. Isn't that your dream?" said mom
It's true, I really dream of going to that school but why does something seem wrong. I feel something wrong but I’m not sure. I am confused by my own feelings.
Aljohn entered the room where we were with his family. Even the family of Janice and Eula are my two friends. We said goodbye to each other.
"Lux. Be careful don, study first, okay? Please be kind, we will miss you so much, Janice and Eula. Goodbye" Aljohn
I hugged him very tightly. "I'll be back, I'll take you all out of here. We're going to leaving this place. That's a promise!"
It was said that an hour would end so I said goodbye to my friends and family again. I turned again to mama and Ciana. I picked up Ciana and kissed her a lot on the face which made her laugh. "Be kind to mama and Aljohn!"
"Yes, sister. I promise I will be a good child until you come back." He took a necklace around her neck, this is the one I bought at the market, this was beautiful. This necklace is silver in color and has a circular pendant, the inside of the circle is a wolf with a crown, she wore it for me. "Sister, when you're sad just hold it, we're here. Waiting for you, I love you sister." And she kissed me again
I looked at mama. As I hugged her, I said "Mom, this is my dream, but I don't seem to be happy to leave. It seems like something is wrong, it seems like something bad is going to happen."
