Chapter 5 Eunice's Beginning

When thy existence is unknown, whether permanent or temporary, for which one would you believe you're living? Permanently temporary or temporarily permanent-that is yet for her to know her identity.

It was a day of excitement, unsureness and dare to the incoming students in each year levels. She's patiently and silently waiting outside the examination room as she waited for her turn to know the results of her qualification test. She anxiously looked around; the surrounding is in turmoil, some are obviously joyous, and some are as quiet as she is. Eunice heaved a sigh and laid her back to rest on the chair she's sitting on-thinking how is she going to survive her college life. She'll probably either have to stop in some of the semesters or drop some of her subjects to lessen her tuition fees. The latter one will surely take her a longer time to graduate but she thinks it is much better than the first choice.

"Ventura, Eunice," she heard someone called, but she stayed stilled on her seat to compose herself before standing up.

"How's her results?" she overheard a man asked in a deep voice. That made her walk in a faster pace. Upon entering the room, what she saw was a man whom she thinks is in his mid-thirties, the examination facilitator and three other well-built men wearing all black.

"Here she is," the facilitator announced and smiled at her.

With trembling knees, she sat down on the vacant chair. It seems like her senses are fleeing as she feels their gaze focused on her.

"Miss Ventura," the woman called to her attention.

She faced her and let out a fainted smile. Why does it feel like she didn't pass the exam? The woman looked at her in a warning way that made her palms even more sweaty.

"This isn't new in our University, but to ace the entrance examination with perfect scores is really peculiar," the woman started calmly while scanning her papers.

"Perhaps it was just a pure luck, Ma'am?" she joked to lighten her nervousness, but it didn't help a bit.

She straightened up and equalled the seriousness they're giving her.

"I am not sure if you have already heard about this somewhere, since cases like this is confidential and as much as possible we keep it as one of the top secrets of our government. Your intelligence is way more above than above average, though we can't claim that you are a genius," the woman continued and paused midway.

She started to feel uneasy when the facilitator stood up and pick up her things.

"Regarding on that matter, I am not in the right place to discuss further about it. This is Lux, the one in charge of assessing students like you. Whatever concerns in connection with your application in the university will be discussed by him. I am already done with my part. I have more things to do, so, I will excuse myself now," she declared, headed to the door and left them in complete silence.

She calmed herself by thinking that there are more applicants outside waiting for their turn. The man named Lux sat on the swivel chair occupied by the one who just left. In an expressionless emotion, never did he took away his eyes from her as he authoritatively spoke.

"Say yes, Eunice, and we'll start this conversation," he dictated and hand her over an envelope.

The wide-spaced, air-conditioned and well-ventilated room suddenly became suffocating for her as she cluelessly stiffened in wonderment. She pinched her palm and convinced herself to stay focused on what she went there for. What else choice does she have aside from agreeing? She nodded as she uttered yes.

"Tell me, Miss Ventura. What made you choose this University?" he asked without taking away his eyes on hers.

"Because it offered me a scholarship, which I can't turn down. Who am I to say no to such a wonderful offer? I am actually privileged to be one of the chosen few," she boldly replied as she felt belittled on his way of observing her.

He smirked and comfortably rest his back on his chair. She restrained her brows to furrowed, thinking that the situation might be just his way to test her attitude.

"Exactly! You are indeed privileged, Eunice. And you aren't just have been chosen randomly. Because you are actually one of the most prioritized enrollees."

She was speechless for a minute or so, she was trying to remember if her grades in her previous years are that so high for her to be prioritized. She knows, as much as she is, her fellow enrollees are as equally deserving as her.

'They might even way more deserving,' she thought.

"May I know the reasons why?" she asked curiously but politely.

The man raised his left brow as if he was telling her there is no need for her to know about it. About to say sorry, she was cut off. One of his seemingly are bodyguards went to his side and tell him something in whisper. She pretended not to be in there, but whatever the man told to Lux made her curious to eavesdrop when his aura darkened.

"You better read the documents first, Miss Ventura. I'll discuss it to you next time. And one more thing, never ever show it to anyone," Lux instructed and hurriedly left her without even dismissing her.

"What happened? Why are they leaving? What's with them?" the lady next to her number asked.

She shook her head, "I do not know. They just said they will be back."

Everyone started to complain. Who won't? She will, too, if she is the one in their situation. She put the envelope given to her inside her bag. She has no idea what's on it, but seeing that it is different from the ones given to the enrollees came in before her, hers is suspiciously confidential.

"Did they tell you when they'll come back?" one of the crowd asked her.

"They didn't."

She wonders who else among them are listed as 'privileged' like her.

She went straight to her room as she gets home and closed the windows. She walked here and there, realizing that she wasn't even informed if she passed the admission test or not, if she's qualified or have to take another exam or try her luck to another university.

"What should I tell them if they asked?" she talked to herself.

She was stopped when she remembered the envelope. Gathered all the strength she has, she opened it shaking. She is not that knowledgeable but if she understands it correctly, doubts are waving right in front of her whether to still pursue her studies in their university or not.

"Why so quiet, Eu? Darling, we know you did your best. Scholarships are given in each and every sem. You can try again next time. That's okay," her mom called.

She can hear her brothers whispering words that she can barely understand. She remained silent, unsure of what to say.

"Eu, we prayed enough. You did enough. Everything is enough. You don't have to feel bad about yourself. Please open the door," Ronald plea and knocked the door unceasingly.

"Eu, I didn't buy slippers. Are you free today? I want to eat ice cream with you," Roel said sweetly.

"Eu, I can still work throughout the day without getting tired. Come on, dad is still as fine as ever. A sem or a year behind isn't that bad."

She burry her face on her palm. Being at home makes her feel reality. She read the writings once more. What a tempting dream. She stood up and hid her things. One more look at the ticket that will surely take them away from the enslaving reality, and she opened the door. Relief was plastered on their faces. No one talked about her test, no one of them asked. They spent the rest of the day just as normal as the usual.

In the evening, as everyone else is peacefully sleeping, she got the courage to once again read the offer. Just her signature and everything is set, everything will be perfect in just a snap of a finger. She smiled, that'll surprise her family. If one day the tables have turned, and they suddenly have a luxurious life, that would be the most astonishing magic in everyone in their place's blink of an eye.

She signed the papers, that is final.

Morning came as if nothing happened yesterday. And so, they continued living their life.

"That's okay, Ronald. Like dad said, a step behind isn't really that bad." She heard Roel said to his older brother as the latter one persistently reading a book.

"But I ain't just a step behind. I-I am a lot of steps behind."

Roel glanced at Ronald, "So do I."

And both stayed still. She has no idea about what they're thinking, but she knows they are down.

"What grade I should be in right now?" the younger one asked.

"Third grade, and I am supposed to be in sixth grade this coming school year."

Instead of mingling with them, she decided to stay from where she's hiding. Minutes later, she heard the boys sniffing as they continued reading the words new to them. She tightly closed her eyes.

"You won't be left behind again," she uttered, and let the two have their time to cope up in the way they can.

12:00 PM, obviously a lunch break, but she was called to the office of the dean of the university.

"Miss Ventura?" the woman in the front desk snatched to her attention.

"Yes, Ma'am."

The woman looked at her from head to toe and vice versa, before leading her to the dean's office. As expected, Lux was in there and no one but just him alone.

"Where did we leave again last time?" he asked firstly before greeting her with a shake hands.

"About the documents. For further more details."

"Oh, yes. The terms and conditions. Well, before that, I can't tell you more than what was written on it unless you have signed and agreed to the offer, Miss Ventura."

She smirked inwardly. She knows this will happen. She handed him the papers she signed.

"Is it a deal now?"

Lux eyes' glistened.

"It is," he replied and gave her an inch thick of important documents.

Her eyes watered as she turns the pages. She can imagine how her siblings will cry and shout in joy.

"Miss Ventura," Lux snatched to her attention.

"Welcome to the expedition!"

She nodded and smiled at the same time.

"If you find it troubling to explain these to your family, we will do it for you. For now, it is already settled. Rest assured that we will fulfill our part."

She bade goodbye to him, as well as to the prison-like life she used to have.

On her way home, she preferred to walk down the street. That's when everything sunk in her mind. She will miss their place, everything about it. She doesn't know how long she will be away, but nothing flies faster than time. One day, for sure, what she sees at that moment will all be gone. That when she comes back, it is no longer the same birthplace she once knew so well.

She filled her lungs with the air welcoming her from the field. Soon, those things that are normal for her will be new to her again.

She shook her head and walked faster, racing with the leaves being drifted away by the wind. Naga's barking, Roel's and Ronald's voices reading made her go back to her senses-she is home. She's home, and it felt so real, but it doesn't feel heavy. She waved at the two and went straight to her mom. Hugs her from behind and chuckled as she tickled her until she can breathe no more. She will miss those echoes of their laughs.

She let go and went to the window, roamed her eyes around and let herself be contented with what she sees and feels. Sadness struck her, but she promptly reminded herself why she decided to take it-why she started to dream big. Seconds later, the events of the past few days replayed in her mind.