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.