Class F was visited by the Elite Troops, fully armed. They marched in perfect formation, their stomping footsteps echoing throughout Class F.
The eyes of the citizens were fixed on their sturdy figures. Behind them walked the Class F Leader, Billy. He followed with a cheerful wave toward his people, and smiling brightly as he headed to the field. Seeing this strange sight, Rain followed the rest of the citizens toward the field.
When they arrived, a small stage had been set up to welcome Billy. The tall, broad-shouldered man stepped onto the stage. A beautiful woman draped a flower garland around his neck and shook his hand.
Rain had no idea what was going on. The arrival of the Elite Troops and Billy seemed ordinary enough. Billy also didn't arrest the citizens of Class F like she had expected.
Billy walked up to the microphone. "Test, test, test. One, two, three." He tapped the mic and then looked out at his people, dressed in their shabby, faded clothes. He began his speech. "Good morning, my happy citizens," he said. "Soon there will be a new Class Leader election, and I ask for your prayers and blessings …."
The citizens of Class F began whispering among themselves, pointing at their leader as he spoke.
"Happy? Because of him, we're all living in misery."
"Oh, is he running again?"
"Doesn't he feel ashamed? In his fourth term, he's already done so much corruption."
"Crazy, he'll probably take another wife. Hahaha."
"Marrying nonstop."
Billy continued, "…I promise, if I am chosen for the fifth time, I will make our class prosperous," he declared, closing his speech. Then, he pointed directly at Rain, who stood in front of him. "Come here," he called out.
Rain glanced behind her, afraid the man was calling someone else.
"Yes, you, the one who just looked back."
Rain pointed at herself with her right index finger. "Me?" she asked.
"Yes."
Rain stepped toward the stage. All eyes suddenly focused on her.
The Class Leader patted Rain's shoulder, gripping it firmly, standing side by side with her. "It's young people like her that this class needs, tough and brave in fighting injustice."
"Huh? What does he mean?"
"Isn't the injustice he's talking about himself?"
"Why is he dragging Rain into this? What's the connection?"
"Don't tell me he's planning to make her his fourth wife."
The whispers among Class F grew louder, making Rain uncomfortable. She said to Billy, "What do you mean, Mr. Billy? Don't you dare disrespect me."
"Who said anything about disrespecting you? I just want to thank you, because thanks to you, that treasurer was beaten up by the people here. You are the true star. You are the hero of this class. You deserve an honorary title."
Thunderous applause erupted across the field. The people of Class F agreed with their leader. Rain truly deserved recognition for fighting against injustice.
Rain stared at Billy's sturdy figure. Without another word, she stepped down from the stage, leaving Billy alone with his speech.
***
Rain cleaned the apples her father had just brought back from Class D. Class D was where her father often bought fruit, since it was the largest fruit producer in their system. Every citizen there owned a fruit orchard, which was then sold to people from other classes. Edmund had been a loyal customer of Carloss, one of his business partners whom he once helped when a gang of thugs harassed him at Hera Bus Stop.
Hera Bus Stop was the only stop Class F citizens used to wait for buses. It was named after Hera, one of the first leaders of Class F. During her leadership, Class F had stood on equal ground with Class A, the class considered superior among the outcast groups. This was because Class F, under Hera, was the first to have direct dealings with the Elite Class and was always prioritized. But everything changed when power fell into the hands of the greedy.
Class F became backward and filthy. Its people turned ignorant. Prostitution, robbery, theft, and even murder became common there.
"Wow, these apples from Mr. Carloss are really nice, Dad," Rain said as she placed them on their stall.
"Of course. Mr. Carloss has never disappointed me. He always provides the best quality, the same as what the Elite people buy."
Meanwhile, Anna was cutting up some mangoes her husband had brought. She offered them to her husband and daughter. "He said these are Mr. Carloss's best-quality mangoes. Try them."
Both father and daughter took the pieces Anna had prepared.
Rain and Edmund closed their eyes as they savored the mango, its soft flesh melting in their mouths. The sweetness was beyond words.
"This is amazing, Mom," Rain said, chewing happily.
"That mango is called Mango D. They say it only harvests once every five years," Edmund explained.
"How much is it, Dad?" Rain asked.
Edmund shook his head. "Mr. Carloss didn't tell me, but when I asked around, people said five gold coins. Some even said fifty."
Rain's eyes widened. "Seriously, Dad?"
"Yes."
"Wow, you're really lucky to have a business friend like Mr. Carloss," Rain said.
"Maybe we could invite him and his family for dinner sometime, Ed," Anna suggested.
"He's very busy continuing his law studies in the Elite Class. I was lucky to even run into him yesterday," Edmund said. "And he plans to move permanently to Class A with his family on November 10."
"What about his orchard? Does that mean he's selling it?" Anna asked.
"He's still selling fruit, but he'll be based in Class A. Maybe once a month he'll come to check on his orchards," Edmund replied.
"That's such a shame," Rain said, pouting.
"What's wrong, Rain?" Anna asked. "Why do you look so disappointed?"
Rain raised an eyebrow. "It's nothing, Mom."
She went back to work, though a wave of disappointment washed over her. If Carloss really moved to Class A, it would be harder for her to get closer to Kenzo, Carloss's youngest son.
Rain had fallen for Kenzo the first time she met him, when her father was attacked by thugs from Class F at Hera Bus Stop. His kindness and attention had deepened her feelings.
She had planned to confess on Kenzo's birthday, December 25. But now that Carloss and his family were hard to meet, her plan was ruined.
"Failed again, failed again," Rain muttered in her heart.
***