The clock is ticking relentlessly, each soft click assailing my senses. Everyone is silent, but the room is filled with the noise of desperately scrawling pens, students writing as fast as their aching hands allow them, racing against the timer at the front of the classroom. Me, I’ve got my head down, because, lucky for myself, I’ve finished before time and have nothing to do except listen to the quiet struggle of my classmates as they hurry to finish their final exams which will determine their marks for the majority of their report. I almost feel sorry for them, slaves to test papers and study guides, their eyes only looking at their notes, ears only listening to whatever helps them maximise their potential as they study and study and study. The highest and best thing that could possibly happen to them right now is passing this test. It’s really pitiful, honestly. Don’t they have any ambitions except for what is prescribed for them? Don’t they think about living their life in any other way other that studying, then working, then retiring, then dying? It makes me sick how basic their urges are.

Suddenly, the timer sounds for the end of the test, and I can almost hear the pleading of the people who haven’t finished the test, even though no one is speaking. I thought the scratching of the pens in the room couldn’t get any physically quicker, but I’ve been proven wrong. I hand in my test paper, then wait for my class’s name to be called so I can exit the exam hall.

As I exit the hall, my seatmate, Ilma, sidles next to me in order to talk.

“That test was CRAP, wasn’t it, Mina?” she exclaims too loud for my ears.

“It was okay,” I simply state.

“Of course, it’s okay for YOU,” she grins. “I bet you found it easy, even.”

“Well, it isn’t that hard if you know the material.”

“Not everyone can memorise all those different formulas and equations as quick as you! You have to remember that some people are stupid—no, some people have average intelligence, unlike you, smarty-pants.” She’s flattering me, but I’m not flattered. I’ve heard things like this too much times that it is annoying.

“You just have to remember each equation is merely the application of a simpler formula. Every concept or law in mathematics is interconnected to each other, or draws upon each other. Once you have established this fact, and have understood the basics, if you apply what you know in the problem, it becomes much easier to solve. Understood?”

“Eh…I can’t really understand that fancy language you use, Mina. Maybe use some NORMAL PEOPLE language, next time?”

She snickers, but I stare at her incredulously. Didn’t I just give her a perfectly logical and simple explanation? Perhaps I have greatly overestimated the reach of her vocabulary. I open my mouth to dismiss her as usual, but am saved from answering by the announcement of the teacher as we enter the classroom.

“Alright everyone, how was the test?”

A series of groans ensues from the students settling themselves down onto their chairs. Comments range from “Horrible!” to “Can someone take a gun and shoot me?”. The teacher laughs dismissively and begins listing announcements for the next few days. Afterwards, it is the end of school, so we all pack up our bags and leave the classroom. Ilma once again comes up to me as I am walking and begins talking about the movie she is going to see today after school.

“I haven’t been to a movie in ages, Mina! But my mum said since I studied so much for the test, I can go! I’m so excited! I’m not really sure what the movie is about, just that it has superheroes in it.”

“But shouldn’t you know what the movie is about? What if you go there and it ends up being some crappy low-effort movie?”

“Well, it’s better than staying home and studying. I’m so sick of it! I have tuition, like, every day, and I barely get time off! So, it’s lucky that my parents are letting me to even watch any movie, let alone a movie I like. Anything is better than nothing!” She grins widely, her demeanour smiley and excited, but I know she secretly resents not being able to enjoy herself like a normal girl, because of her parent’s strictness.

“That sounds really sad. Don’t you think its stupid your parents control your entertainment so much?”

“It is stupid, but what can I do? If I argue, they’ll just punish me and take even more from me. I’m don’t have enough power to able to reason these kinds of things with them. That’s just how it is, and I can’t do anything to change it, so I can at least look at the positive side and be happy about it.”

“Huh…” That is quite an insightful observation, for Ilma, at least. “Well, I hope you enjoy the movie. It’s bound to have some action scenes, perhaps?”

“Yeah!” We stop as we’ve reached the area where Ilma normally waits for her parents to pick her up. “Well, I guess we’ve got to go our separate ways now.”

“Mhm.”

“Well…see you then, Mina.”

“See you too, Ilma.”

I then head to my home, slightly weary after the long day and boring test.

I enter my home, greeting my mum as I walk in.

“Hello, Mum. I had a test today and it was okay. I finished all my food. I may have some homework that will most likely not take me more than half an hour.”

“Well, well, well. You’ve answered all my questions before I’ve even asked them.”

“I guess that is what I intended to do. You always ask the same questions.”

“Mhmm…well I guess then it must be easy to predict what I am going to say, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Mm…” My mum begins to walk back to the kitchen, but stops in her tracks.

“Oh! I forgot to say, but I have something important to tell you. It will wait until after you’ve freshened up and eaten, okay?”

“Is it anything bad?”

“No, dear. Everything is fine. It’s just something I want you to try out.”

“Oh, okay.” Most likely it’ll be some competition, or maybe some random activity my mum thinks is interesting. I head to my room and change out of my uniform. Then I wash my face and head to the kitchen to eat and here what my mum has to say.

“Oh, so quick!” She is pouring some curry onto a plate of rice. “Here, I’ve made this. Go wash your hands. You can listen while you’re eating.”

I do as told, and sit in the chair as my mum places the food on the table. She then sits down on the chair across me, and I start eating my food.

“Mm…have you heard of The Academy of Excellence, Determination, Expertise, and Nobility?”

“That’s a long name.”

“It’s called E.D.E.N Academy for short.”

“Interesting. No, I haven’t heard about it.”

“Oh, I’m quite surprised. It’s an international program which has recently been established, and it’s implementing a new, innovative school system which has never been used before. It is also all the talk of parents of budding geniuses, such as myself.”

“Oh mum. Tell me more about it.”

“It has a very selective process, which accepts students of only a specific IQ and higher, and they must be an all-rounder in all subjects, and by that, I mean close to a hundred for everything. Either that, or the student must have a specific talent in one or more fields. There are 10 000 applicants from each country participating in the program, and 100 selected after a test that everyone will take. And from those hundreds from each country, only 10 will be selected to participate in the program.”

“Wow, how picky.”

“Yes, it is. And the reason is because these selected students are given full reign of whatever resources they need to research whatever they want to. There is no specific curriculum, kind of like a Montessori. They will be given the best teachers, and even government funding, so it will be free. Not only that, but the students will be boarding in a beautiful estate, with quality food, living standards, and classrooms.”

“Sounds like a dream. I’ll be dreaming if I ever get to go there. Don’t tell me you want me to try out?”

“You can at least try the test, see how far you get. And if you get in, well, that’s a dream come true!”

“Mhm…you sound like an advertiser, Mum.”

“Hahaha, well, I can’t help it. Sounds like a good opportunity for my beautiful baby.” At this statement she pinches my cheek.

“Mm…well, I can try out. I doubt I can get in, though.” I finish up the last morsels of my food, and head to the sink to place my plate in it.

“Do I have to prepare?”

“Uhm…only for some parts, darling. The first part is more of a test that measures your IQ, and the second test you can either choose to present your talent to a panel of judges, or take an extensive test on all subjects.”

“Sounds like a lot of work. It’s not that big of a deal, though. I sincerely doubt I’ll get through the first exam.”

“Don’t be like that. You’re my very smart baby, you know that, don’t you?”

“Uh-huh. Anyway, I need to go and do my homework now.”

“Alright, Mina. Don’t get distracted.”

“Do I ever?”

“Oh…well that’s something only you know the answer to.”

I roll my eyes, then head to my room, my mind filled with what my mum said. The chances are extremely slim, but it sounds like a really good opportunity. Even if I only pass one round, my mum will easily be able to brag about me to her friends. And the first test doesn’t even require any studying. Just pure, raw intelligence. Which I cannot be sure if I possess enough without an objective opinion. After all, everyone seems to think they themselves are the ones that know what is best for themselves, apart from a few exceptions. Whatever, I don’t really care about getting in or anything like that.

I lie on my bed, contemplating a life where I might be one of those special chosen ones. How lucky do you have to be, how lucky they all would feel, out of so much people they were the ones who were chosen. It is kind of appalling, how much this relies on chance. As hard as you try, there will always be someone better than you. I might be used to being around the top in the class, but so are so much people. There’re such slim chances, I might as well treat it as a game. No point in speculating.

“You doing your work, or…” I can hear my mum’s footsteps getting closer, so I quickly untangle myself from my bed and sit down on my desk and chair.

Her head peeks from the room door. “I got you some food.”

“Oh, thanks.” I get up from my seat and take the plate from her. It’s a plate of sliced apples. I take the plate from her and put it on the table so I can hug her.

“Mhm. I hope you’re doing your work.”

“Yup, I am.”

“Well, make sure you finish all the apples.”

“Okay.”

She leaves, closing the door behind her. I slump onto my desk and take out my phone. There are three messages from Ilma.

Ilma

Hiii im bored wanna takk

*talk

Hehehe ru busy?

I sigh, mark the message as unread, then scroll on my phone for two hours.

“Mina?”

My eyes are flickering as I hear the distant sound of my name.

“Mina? Mina, wake up!”

I sigh and bury my head in my arms. I just want to sleep. Why does this voice have to ruin everything?

“…no…I don’t want to…ugh”

“Mina!”

My body is suddenly shaken, hard. I open my eyes wide, ready to destroy anything which is going to get in the way of my sleep.

“Didn’t you say you would do your homework?”

My mum is holding me by the shoulder, her face slightly annoyed, slightly bemused.

“…What?”

“Did you fall asleep on your desk while scrolling on your phone?”

Well, I guess it seems so. I was slumped on all my textbooks, using my arms as pillows. I don’t remember going on my phone, but I look down at my hands, and lo and behold, is the addictive rectangular device.

“…Oh…”

“Well,” My mum straightens up. “It’s time for dinner. Wash your face and go to the dining table.”

She leaves, and I yawn.

(unfinished)