Shadow - The Three Kings 1 One A

National University rested in the heart of the capital city, where the price of land was so high that for the price of a square metre of the university grounds a palatial mansion could be built in the outskirts of the city. The campus of the university claimed an area of two thousand acres. A popular line was that the capital city was built around the university.

Finally, such was the prestige of the university that a child of a rich and powerful family in the capital city wouldn't get in with family connections, for none could compare to the innumerable connections forged along the long history of the university. There was only one entrance for everyone. Once inside, the university was a replica of the real world. Several factions reigned.

And so, it was inconceivable that Min got in differently. He was far, far away when the college entrance examinations were held. He hadn't even gone to high school. While everyone was studying, he was in a whole other world. The morning the results were announced, while everyone else was waiting with bated breath in front of their computers, he was stunned by the declaration that he was going to college. At the National University. His free will was limited to choosing the department he was to go to and the subject he was to study.

Knowing that grumbling and complaining was pointless, Min didn't even try. He needed an hour going through the university's website, learning of all the departments and the courses offered, and deciding on the department of Sociology. He was going to study cultural history.

Min had a month to prepare for college. He didn't need even a week. He didn't underestimate college, though. It was a battleground he was altogether unfamiliar with. For two whole days he was online, visiting more sites than he could keep count of, searching for what was acceptable to wear in college. The third morning, he went shopping. He had seen more cities than most would in a lifetime. Had walked through innumerable markets. But it was his first time shopping. And the nineteen year old him had no idea where to start. At the sight of the many stores spread over seven storeys, he forgot all the research of the last two days. He stood frozen for ten whole minutes, before he gathered his lost wits and walked in.

The first stop was the self help electronic kiosk. The map of the mall in the display was comforting. Something he definitely understood. He spent a brief while committing it to memory. He walked away bearing the knowledge of exactly where everything was. Not even the security head of the mall, a man who had been working at the mall knew the map better.

He knew where each store was, but he didn't really know what the name of the store meant. The first store he walked into was a luxury brand. A s.h.i.+rt cost many times more than everything he was wearing put together. The young women working at the store saw that, and ignored him. They couldn't stop people from walking in, but they could ignore them. They were all trained in subtle ways of letting customers feel welcomed or not. Min noticed their actions, realised their intent but didn't understand the reason. In fact, he didn't even try to. He didn't put the women in his eyes. He considered asking them for help when he walked in, but immediately squashed the idea on looking at their actions. He looked through the store briefly before walking out.

It was the same at the next few stores he walked into, all of which were luxury brands. He misunderstood that this was how the stores operated. Customers mostly had to help themselves. He paused for a snack, taking advantage of the break to go online on his phone and study up on the brands. Only then did he understand why the women at the stores treated him as they did. He looked too poor for them to waste their effort on.

Shaking his head slightly, he got back up to his feet to continue with his shopping. There were no stores selling clothes of price comparable to those he had on. And there wouldn't be. Min had bought the clothes from an old man selling counterfeit clothes over a barrel in a narrow street of a tiny village near the edge of the largest desert. Compared to the street, the mall was the heaven beyond heaven. He finally understood that he was being mocked, but he didn't feel insulted. He had no s.p.a.ce for such things in his head or heart. He headed toward the smaller brands, prepared to help himself.

The stores weren't as empty anymore. People were walking into the mall and the stores. It was turning out to be another regular day at the mall. There were quite a lot of students finis.h.i.+ng up on their purchases for college, just like Min. The store he walked into had a few who were clearly students. They seemed to know each other too. They were chattering continuously, laughing at jokes they didn't have to finish and helping each other choose.

A young woman, as pretty as the sn.o.bbish ones from the stores he visited in the morning, walked over as Min entered. She smiled warmly, paying no attention to his clothes. The other students looked at him strangely, as if questioning what a poor student like him was doing here. The woman treated Min as she would any customer. In fact, she treated him better. She gave him kindness that she didn't give readily.

"h.e.l.lo," she said sweetly. Her voice that seemed to sing every word. "I'm Tina. How can I help you?"

Min was surprised. He didn't think such a nice woman would be working at the same mall as the other sn.o.bs. In that moment, he decided. He would only buy from here from now on. And he would only buy from Tina. He nodded before speaking.

"I'm buying clothes for college."

"Congratulations," she said immediately, her expression true to her words. She led him in, away from the other students. She was being kind. She didn't want him to feel belittled by the other students. She had no idea, however, that she was leaving a deep impression on him. "So, what kind of clothes are you looking to buy?"

"I would definitely need your help with that," he confessed embarra.s.sedly. He couldn't admit that it was his first time buying clothes. Even the clothes he was wearing he bought from the old man because he was detected and didn't want his cover blown. He hadn't even looked at what he was buying. He was pleased later at his luck being not too bad, for the clothes were decent enough to wear. "I'm not really sure."

Tina wasn't surprised. Many students would feel fl.u.s.tered at this junction. College was the first step into the real world. The clothes they wore were a significant part of the image they portrayed. Being confused wasn't unexpected.

"Let's start with the kind of person you are and the kind of image you want to portray," she said.

"I'm quiet," Min answered after thinking for a while. "I want my clothes to be the same. Normal. Nothing special. Nothing deserving notice."

He was pleased with his answer. Tina was confused. She realised she wasn't entirely correct about Min. She looked at him deeply before nodding.

"Please," she said, indicating for him to follow. She led him to the shelves with discounted clothes. She helped him pick a few plain round neck t-s.h.i.+rts.

Min was pleased with the t-s.h.i.+rts and with Tina. He didn't believe in angels or pure goodness. He didn't hesitate though, pus.h.i.+ng Tina to a position above all else. A position closest to pure goodness.

"Alright," he replied, smilingly. "I'll take all of these. And a few pairs of jeans."

Tina was surprised. Did he not see the price, she wondered. Or was he one of those rich heirs with strange pa.s.sion for cheap things. She didn't voice her thoughts, though. She showed him pairs of jeans from the discounted section.

He then asked Tina to help him buy shoes. In fact, he completed all of his shopping from the store. The students took notice of him when he told Tina he was buying all of the t-s.h.i.+rts. And kept following. They didn't believe a person dressed in cheap clothes that Min was wearing could afford the things he was buying. Convinced there was a show to follow, they stayed.

In the end, the things he purchased filled four large bags. And the bill was much more than all of the money the five students had put together. They froze as they saw the black card Min handed out. It was a plain card with no markings or designs. On the top right corner were printed two letters side by side. 'AM'. It was the most elite card given to customers whose balance was at the very least in the eight figures, a figure none in the store could even imagine. And if that wasn't surprising enough, it wasn't the only card in his wallet. For some inexplicable reason, they were all certain that the black card was the smallest of all the cards. They were frightened stiff. Just who was this person?

The store manager rushed out as Min pulled out the black card. It wasn't everyday that such a big customer walked in. The manager was delighted that such a big fish walked into his store instead of the several other stores of more prestigious brands. Completely forgetting that not too long ago he wouldn't give Min a glance. He couldn't imagine the staff of those bigger stores not giving Min any face.

Min paid no attention to the manager, or anyone else. He was only looking at Tina. The manager was no fool. Noticing that Min had his eye on Tina, he asked Tina to help Min with the rest of his shopping, even if it was beyond the store. Min gave the manager an appreciative glance, pleasing the older man greatly. He rejected the offer, however. He was done shopping. And the four bags weren't too heavy. He would be fine by himself.

All of the staff came over to send Min off, which too he didn't put in his eye. Tina was the only one he paid any attention to. As she sent him off with a smile, he repeated to himself. This was where he would shop from now on.

The students were too embarra.s.sed to buy anything. They left quietly. The staff too acted like they didn't notice.

Min returned home pleased with the shopping being done. He was ready for college. All that remained was waiting for the day of registration.