He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Thirty Two - Engagements and Matchmakers

The poorest performing schools could be found near ground levels, the most prestigious in the upper levels, this was perhaps only natural when it was considered that the poorest schools tended to cater for students who were unable to afford to go to a higher level school and the prestigious schools were located in areas wear the wealthy reside.  In the name of 'equal opportunity' and 'fairness', scholarships were available, but these were few and there was much competition for them.  Thus prestigious schools could sit back and watch money and brains walk into their hallowed halls, while looking literally down on lesser schools that had to struggle.  And it was not only students that were attracted there for want of a better life, so the education provided was also the best.

Kez did not go to the best high school in the sector, but he did go to a renowned one.  His natural academic talents kept his grades within the top five of his year and top one hundred in the whole sector.  Unfortunately, an academic class was not the class he was currently taking. 

He placed his paintbrush down and pretended to listen attentively as his teacher criticised his painting.  The colours were too vivid, the scene not pleasing, and certain elements looked far too realistic, like a photograph.  "I need to know what I am looking at is a painting, not a screenshot, Mr Manning."  Kez tilted his head to the side and tried to look at the picture from the teacher's point of view.  It was of a green space with small arrangements of flowers and untamed trees.  There were small black seating areas and people in strange clothes walking together with gentle expressions.

"I can't really see what's wrong with it," a female student near to him whispered.

"Are you kidding," her friend retorted.  "What's with all the green?  And are they actually walking on the ground? Gross!"

Kez sighed.  It was true that his picture didn't resemble anything that existed in the controlled environments of skyscrapers.  But the image had just come to him one day and he had simply wanted to paint it.  His steady hand, he thought, gave him an advantage, but instead he produced something that looked too real and made people nervous.  I wonder if Leilei would like it, he thought to himself.

"Hey," one of the two girls chirped. "So what is your class doing for the festival?"

"A haunted house," the girl replied. 

Ugh, it was that time of year, although this would be his first school festival in high school.  It was meant to be a time when students could show off their talents to outsiders, to perhaps increase further connections or employment opportunities.  Certain high powered families might even research compatibility charts of students for their precious offspring.  The festival lasted three days and on the last day, outsiders would stop attending and the students would go a little wild.  The school felt it was best to let the students blow off steam inside the school once in a while, less they be tempted outside and cause irreparable damage to their reputations. 

Kez didn't like crowds and he didn't like it when his parents came to the school; especially if they were just going to bicker like the time in front of his middle school headmaster.  He had wanted to transfer schools there and then, but that would have meant attending a lower level school and his parents were not about to allow that.  The other problem was the third day tended to become a day of pranks amongst the students and he was always seen as easy prey.

Shaking off the sinking feeling within his stomach, he returned his attention to the painting and began adding a little more detail to the tall elegant figure, wearing a black top hat and an expression of loving amusement.

***

Honor rang the doorbell to the condominium, before adjusting the tight mini-dress that hugged her curves. Her heart beat loudly within her chest as she clutched the large rectangular package beside her. Seconds passed, flowing into minutes and she frowned. She knew her fiancé was in, the wall panel clearly stated the condo had an occupant in residence. Ugh why would he just not alter the finger plate to accept her prints, already? It's not like they won't be married in a few months after all.