Goodbyes
. . .
"Congratulations! Batch of X090!" When the MC said that, fireworks flew up in the air and showed beautiful array of lights, bursting in the air. As if the fireworks held the enjoyment every student in the ground felt at the moment. Everything was beautiful, everything was perfect. After 5 years of studying, of training. After 5 years of preparing the students, they can now feel the fruit of their hard work throughout the years.
"Guys! We did it!" One of the students said and pointed his hand up in the air. After a few seconds, his hand glowed and crystal balls full of colourful lights dance in the air. Other students screamed at glee and some also did the same, shooting their magic up in the air like fireworks.
"Magic Academy! Here we come!" A voice said and everyone shouted, "YES!" like it was a promise. Like everyone told that to the gods who can hear them from above. Gods, huh.
I turned the crystalline ball off and returned it to the shelf where it is kept. I looked around the room I'm currently in. The place was small, considering how many people live in here. It was a house made from wood, from the door to the ceiling. Some would even say it's a hut they're living in. Looking up, I saw that there's a hole in the ceiling. Maybe it was damaged when 2 kids fought yesterday.
I just sighed and decided that I'll just fix it later when I get the energy to do so. My train of thoughts were cut off when the door behind me opened abruptly. It's a girl. The girl looked around the room until her eyes laid on me and my face lit up when I saw her. She also did the same when she looked at me.
"August! You're here!" The girl screamed in happiness as she ran to my arms. I laughed and picked her up and hugged her tight. Gods! I missed this girl!
She broke the hug and looked at me, frowning. "I visited the other day!" She pouted and crossed her arms. I chuckled at her, pretending she's sulking.
"Mama Iris told me you're not home! Where were you? Did you not miss me?" She looked sad and her eyes showed a bit of tears. I wiped it and pinched her cheeks to make her smile.
"No, silly. I'm at town, helping Papa Kane. We have to sell some items so we can buy food for other kids." I explained to her and she looked sad.
She looked up to me. "Are you still eating well, August? I can give you! We can ask my Mommy to give you some foods!" She suggested and I just smiled and shook my head.
"The other kids are eating a lot, and that's what's important." I said.
I remembered how Mama Iris and Papa Kane told me that our money wasn't enough to get us through the week. I told them before that I can just quit school and work in the town so I can give them money, but they insisted that I continue my studies.
Mama Iris... Papa Kane... they weren't my real parents. But they're not the parents of the other kids here as well. This is a foster home. And they run this place. Since I'm already 17, I decided that I can help them running this place, and that's what I plan to do for my life. I grew up in this place, and this is the only home I've ever known. Before I could even remember, I'm already living here. And those two took care of me back then.
The foster home just got bigger as some kids were brought here. The government was giving us money for the month, but because of the rise in price of things in the market, and 3 kids arrived here a few weeks ago, our budget became tighter and Papa Kane had to work harder.
All in all, there's a total of 15 kids living in here. Sometimes, adults go here to adopt some of the kids. Well, once or twice a year. It would be rare that there would be more than 3 adoptions in a year. It's okay, though. This place isn't for me, but for them. And taking care of kids like them makes me happy. I was once in their places, just a kid with no parents. But as I grew up, Mama Iris and Papa Kane somehow became my parents.
