"Reina, come down! It's time for dinner, " my mum calls out to me.

The first rule in studying, never let your stomach empty!

"Sugoiii! We're having potluck today", my stomach becomes louder with every step I take.

"Settled down everyone. Today, Haruki gonna recite the dua for us. Now Haruki", my father orders my little brother.He looks nervous, maybe because of my father's stare.

MuhammadHaruki Mizuho,my little brother is still five years old and now at the kindergarten. Since he doesn't get enough Islamic teaching at school, my parents have been strict with him. My other siblings and I also faced the same thing though. Haruki takes a deep breath before slowly and carefully recite the dua. My father can be really merciless about things like this.

"Good,Haruki. Now we can eat. Itadakimasu"; my father marks the start of our dinner.

"Itadakimasu!, " the rest of us said in unison. The potluck is really delicious, it makes me forget about all of my problems. In this cold weather, hot potluck is the best!  But in my family, if weare eating potluck, I have to be super fast because my older brother and Haruki eat like hurricane.

They eat a lot too! Sometimes I wonder if the have black hole in their stomachs or what.

"Ah, Tatsuki! Those are mine!", I lose my patience.

"Then, be faster", he eats those meat straight at my face. He is provoking me.

"Urgh", I grunt. If my parents are not here, he is so going down. 

After dinner, we seat in front of the television together and watch our favourite show. I take a break from my study, after all a full stomach only drives me to sleep.

"Reina, your exam is in December right?", my mother pops out that question out of nowhere.

"Yeah," I keep it short.

"Which high school are you eyeing?, " this time it is my father.

"Shinzo Elite High School."

"Eh, my school?", my sister, Seiko reponds.

"Yeah, the academics and sports there perk my interest, so I thought why not?".

"But the requirements there are really high, you know," Seiko looks worried.

"What? Are you saying I cannot make it?", my face suddenly feels hot.

"No! That's not what I'm trying to say. I just don't want you to stressed out like me before," I can see guilt in her face now. I know my sister means no harm and only want the best for me.

"Studying at that school is really stressful. You need to fulfil the school's standard all the time", she continued.

"It's okay. I'm ready to face whatever it is," I said confidently.

"Why don't you try other high school?," my father suggests.

"Like what? I definitely don't want to go to Minami High School. It's too common. I want to try something new, dad."

"What about my ex-school? I'm sure the entrance exam is not a big deal for you," Tatsuki suddenly joins the conversation.

"Midoriyama High School? No way, I heard that school is full with delinquents," I immediately brush off the idea.

"Hey! Those are only rumours. Look at me, do I look like a delinquent for you?" he tries defending his school.

I scan him from head to toe and nod, "Pretty much like a bully for me. "

He becomes fed up with me and return back to watch the television.

"But what you brother said is true. If you fail the entrance exam for Shinzo Elite High School, you gotta enroll for Minami High School. It's better if you choose Midoriyama High School where your chance to pass is brighter."

What my mum said is definitely right but...

"Mum's right. Beside, Midoriyama High School is better that Minami High School in academics and sports even though there are weird rumours about that school. It's just rumours," Seiko supports my mother.

My father chooses to stay still and looks where this conversation of ours lead to.

"It's true that Minami High School is the last school I want in the town but still Midoriyama High School doesn't sound right for me," I sound troubled.

What school should I choose?  Should I choose my dream school or just choose the school that I'm sure I will be accepted?

Should I bet my future over my dream?

Should I believe my dream?  But what if it betrays me?  Will destiny stabs me back?

O Allah, which should I choose?

My father must have notice the frowns in my face because he tells us to call it a day and switches off the lights and go to sleep.

Thank God my father do that because all these questions that are floating in my head have started to drive me crazy.

I close my eyes with hope that tomorrow will give me the answer I needed.

Bismillah.

~Second chapter. Thank you for reading!

xoxo