Sing To The Dawn

Chapter 1

Just after waking up to the chilly, crisp morning air, Dawan and her brother creeps out of their humble abode into the young morning atmosphere. Dashing past Dawan, Kwai motions for his sister to follow as he disappears behind a few leafy trees. Dawan chases after him to their usual spot; A hidden river.

Not long after, she joins her brother, who was sitting solemnly on a bridge alone. Inspired by the new day ahead, she leans back on her palms and sings:

"Misty morning

mist is lifting,

melody of trees

slowly sifting

through the gold-green branches.

Dappled morning

sun is flying,

breaths of breezes

rising, dying,

brushing over the earth's brown skin.

Happy morning

my heart is singing,

arms spread wide

the dawn is bringing

its sunglow to this land, my home."

Hearing sounds of the other villagers waking, Kwai gets up and urges Dawan to do the same to return home for breakfast before leaving for school together. Dawan however, seemed bemused. Understandingly, Kwai sits back down beside her. He asks if his sister is nervous for their teacher's announcement for the government scholarship's winner later.

After a while, she asks whether Kwai would go if he wins the scholarship.

Kwai jokingly asks if anyone could turn down free education. But despite his ease, Dawan felt his excitement. After all, Kwai was expected to win that scholarship.

Kwai continues to talk about his dreams to visit the city's huge markets and stunning divine temples.

Dawan laughs and reminds him to not dismay their teacher's noble hopes for Kwai's future.

Changing his verbal stance, Kwai next talks about coming back, after his studies at the city schools, to help teach his father to raise new crops, introduce better fertilisers, start a village hospital and even advise other villagers on how to avoid being cheated by the tax collector, before being interrupted by Dawan, at the mention of the tax collector. They both continued to discuss before agreeing that that the taxes imposed onto their father are unjustified. Dawan questions the Landlord's right to take away their family's rice despite not toiling for it.

Kwai argues that Dawan too stands a chance at winning the scholarship as she works harder than him and consistently excels in tests. With her fists clenched tight, she coldly replies, "I'm a girl, Kwai".