The Rebel (#Wattys2016)

2. A State of Eternal Bliss

When Adeen and Zed finally met on their secret place, after curfew, Adeen couldn't get the words out.

"I know what you're thinking, Ade." Zed said after an awkwardly tense moment. "I just thought that you'd want it."

Adeen's black eyes turned to him. She could barely see his silhouette against the moonlight. He gave up fighting her cold stare and turned to the road. They were hidden behind some bushes, guarded by the trees and leaves around them. Ever since they had become close, Adeen and Zed always came here, the only place she felt truly happy.

"Oh, don't worry, Zed. You were right. Of course I'll be happy to go into the palace and pretend to love the son of the man who starves us all. You know what? I won't be happy. I'll definitely be delighted. Don't expect to hear much about me, I might get distracted by my happiness and probably won't write. I might not even come back. But don't worry about me, Zed. Because I will be in a state of eternal bliss."

Zed sighed and looked up. "Stop." He said it so quietly Adeen stopped her sarcastic rant. "You deserve better." He said as he looked at her. The moonlight made his brown hair shine. He took a swing from the bottle at his side. Adeen took a sip after him, the strong liquor burning her throat. She was used to it. "At least for some months, you deserve to live well. Plus, you're probably the only girl in Angeles who fulfills all of those aspects." When she didn't respond, Zed took Adeen's hands in his. "Just a few months, Ade. And then we'll be free. They'll go fast."

Adeen eyed him. "They better."

They didn't talk after that. They simply shared their liquor until it was over and then quietly parted. Adeen found herself thinking about Zed's words as she stood in line to get her name in the next morning. She had gone to the warehouse before, where they had put on some makeup. Not enough to look like one of those thirsty girls who only wanted the crown, but enough to make her black eyes stand out, the girl —Asha- had said as she brushed Adeen's hair and made her look pretty.

Now she stood behind another girl, who had definitely applied too much makeup. Liz stood besides Adeen in an overexcited state. She kept moving and fixing Adeen's simple white shirt. It was Saturday, a fact simply noted by the immense crowd of girls waiting to enter their names. Although she knew she'd be selected, Adeen was nervous too. The large line and close bodies didn't help.

When Adeen's turn came, she smiled at the camera the way Asha had taught her to. Adeen certainly didn't think that's how she smiled normally. It felt awkward and dull. The photographer, Zeebo, a friend of Adeen's, looked at her smile and tried not to look too disappointed. He ducked behind the camera, but came up again. He turned to Liz and whispered something into her ear. She excitedly nodded and Zeebo hid again. Adeen was about to ask what he'd said when his muffled voice reached her.

"Alright, Adeen, smile for me."

She did, just in time to see Liz make a face that made Adeen laugh. The camera flashed and Zeebo clapped. The girls on front of the line looked annoyed by Zeebo's help. But Adeen ignored their looks as she looked at the picture Zeebo gave her. In it, Adeen laughed, her eyes bright with amusement.

"You laugh so little, I thought it'd be a good thing if you had a permanent image of your laugh. I have the digital copy for the file, so you can keep it." He said as he gave it to her. Liz took it instead and stared at it.

"You are definitely going to be Selected, Ade."

Liz was so sure of her prophecy, the day they announced the Selected she told all of her friends Adeen was sure going to be picked. When the big moment came, Liz sat besides Adeen, and Dax behind them. They all stared at the big screen they had mounted on the City Center's wall. Only Six, Sevens and Eights sat in the concrete ground, the rest watching the Report comfortably on their houses. Adeen and her family sat besides Zed's. Occasionally, Zed's father talked to Dax. Zed, instead, sat besides Adeen, who tried not to think too much about the return of the awkward silence that hadn't happened between them ever since they had been together, a year ago. And now she felt awkward with him twice in the same week.