As students walked busily around the student center, some were eagerly waiting for the results on their phone. Few can be seen seated near the benches. Once the clock hit 3 p.m., almost everyone was fighting the traffic to see the result of their application for student financial aid.
Some were devastated,
Some were discouraged.
"They said high CGPA was put in high priority, no?"
"How come…he didn't get it?"
While his friends spoke of him behind him, Kai simply focused on his journey to class once he saw the results. It was unfair yet he had no authority to speak about it. It has been his third time getting rejected for the past three years.
Someone runs past, bumping into Kai in the process. Kai doesn't need to glance at him to figure it was his classmate. He was known to be the top of everyone in the first place. It was obvious, even the highest one in the faculty could not achieve the financial aid.
The lecturers will say it was due to his inactive status when it comes to clubs.
Students would say it is bullshit.
Class went by smoothly despite the mass rejection of the financial aid. Everyone is used to it. They lived and moved on. Nobody could do anything, especially when it came to universities that charged students lower prices than the other. They should be grateful to even get into it.
Kai pulled the sticky notes off his board and leaned back to his chair. While two of his roommates continue to speak about it, he simply throws the hope in the trash.
'Ping'
Kai turned to his roommate as they all pulled their phone.
They already introduced him to the university's website but he refused to check it out. He already saw the first few posts on the website on the first day it started operating again. It started with a simple test.
> Hello!
>Is this really working?
Then, once people saw their names were not visible, it turned worse.
> Selling ******* for 100$! Text me on **** @******
>F***! If it weren't for that damn student committee, we would have no classes! Seriously, what are they representing us for???
> Their posters were ugly.
> I like a guy that wore a red backpack today.
Kai simply never bothered to read them which is why he left. All you had to do is close the website and be done with but he deleted the account his friends made for him. It does bother him regarding today's results.
"Leon." Kai called out before turning to face one of his roommates that sat beside him, studying.
"What is it?"
"I saw your name."
It was like a curse. While Kai gave him a congratulatory smile, Leon's face was tense. "Oh…Mhm. I did." Kai didn't think much about it. The guy rarely boasts, let alone speaks about his situations. He turned back to his books and wrote down his sticky notes.
"Congrats."
"It's nothing."
>Corruption.
The university built for the poor is now being raided by the rich. They are taking away the free subsidiary for students in need. I know some people who do not need any of the financial aid yet their names were listed. Heck, I saw them boasting about it while posting on social media that they used the money to eat fancy stuff that they can buy on a daily basis. One of them were ********.
>>Admin censored the name for safety.
>>> What the f***?! Since when do our posts get censored?!
>>>> Lol, the world is ending, the admin is one of the rich.
Kai heard the post from his roommates while laying down on his bed after his study session. As they spoke regarding the post, he glanced at Leon who is currently sleeping at his bed facing the wall.
"Kai."
"Hm?"
As he faced the two roommates, they looked at him with a smile. "It's a shame you were rejected. We could've eaten hotpot today." Kai could only laugh before sitting up. "Who said I will treat you if I ever gain the money?"
"Aren't you angry though?"
Once the question finally came to him, Kai could only lean his back on the wall before staring at them both with a quiet regret. They wanted to say something to him, to tell him it was fine but obviously, it was not fine. It is never fine to watch yourself are not entitled to something you need.
"I would be crazy if I said I was not mad."
His voice was soft, now hinting at the bargaining he had in his own mind. He himself knows it all too well. While he struggled to save money to buy books, the rich had it easy by having professors who are close to their parents to get it for free.
"It's quite a tough world."
While they indulge into a heartbreaking conversation, somewhere in another dorm, a sighed as soft as the wind could be heard. The sound of snores and the ceiling fan that follows after gave it the feeling of despair more for the guy.
"Censored…"
One bite is all it takes for them to pull the nail off his finger. The feeling of dissatisfaction is overwhelming enough to make them turn to the laptop. The website, clearly still open with an unsent post.
"It's unfair…Unfair…"
The mumbling is all they could focus on. The blood flowed down his arm while it was left unattended. Despite the support from many people on the recent post, it was all useless. There is nothing that can help the issue to be resolved.
'Ping'
That night, despite muting the email apps, those who are wide awake received an email. They drop the nail in their mouth before grabbing the laptop. Once they click on the email, they slowly drop the laptop and fall on the bed, fully asleep.
> Dear (^%*#(%
It's time for final judgement for Student Financial Aid Topic!
: ) Welcome to Orb ~
Equality between two parties will never exist as long as there is the existence of another party. - Orb, 1