Path Of Choice

Episode 02

Several days had passed, and it was finally time for me to prepare the necessary documents for my school enrollment. Unlike before, I had to handle everything on my own this time. My mother was busy working, and my sister was occupied with her own school affairs. Though I had always been independent when it came to my education, this moment felt different—this time, I was making a choice that would impact my future.

There were several enrollment pathways available: merit-based selection, economic aid for underprivileged students, and proximity-based admission. The merit-based pathway didn’t require an entrance test, unlike the others, and since my grades were fairly high in junior high school, I confidently chose this option.

That morning, I forced myself to wake up early. I hated waiting in long lines, so I figured it was better to get things done as soon as possible. As expected, the enrollment area was already crowded. When I arrived at the accounting major’s registration booth, I noticed something immediately—it was almost entirely filled with girls. I scanned the room, searching for other boys, but there were only a handful. A slight hesitation crept in. Would I fit in here? Was this really the right choice?

Shaking off my doubts, I proceeded with the registration. It was too early to make friends, so I simply completed the process and left. After all, there was no guarantee that I or anyone else in that room would even be accepted.

That evening, as I sat at the dinner table, I decided to bring up my thoughts with my mother.

"Mom, do you think I made the right choice?" I asked hesitantly, pushing my food around on my plate.

She looked up from her meal, her expression soft. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… choosing accounting. Most of the students in that major are girls. And what if I struggle? What if I don’t even get accepted?"

She smiled gently. "Arkana, life is about making choices. You’ve always been good with numbers. If you chose this path, trust yourself. "Don’t let fear hold you back."

I nodded slowly, but her words only eased my worries slightly.

After dinner, my sister walked into my room, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.

"So… little bro," she teased, "I heard you’re enrolling in the accounting major?"

I sighed. "Yeah, why?"

She chuckled. "Do you realize that you’ll be surrounded by girls for three years? "You’re basically walking into a battlefield of gossip, group projects, and stationery wars."

I rolled my eyes. "Very funny."

"But seriously," she continued, sitting on my bed, "I think it’s a smart choice." If you’re good at numbers, you should go for it. Just… you know, prepare yourself."

"For what?"

She grinned. "For being asked to help with every single math problem they have."

I groaned, throwing a pillow at her as she laughed and left my room.

The next day, I met up with some of my friends who were also waiting for their enrollment results.

"You seem tense, Arkana," Dika noted.

I sighed. "Yeah… I guess I’m just overthinking things. I keep checking my ranking online. What if my score isn’t high enough?"

"Come on, man," another friend, Jaya, said.Your grades were way better than mine. If anyone should be worried, it’s me."

"Still… it’s nerve-wracking," I muttered.

After chatting for a while, I decided to visit the park alone. I needed to clear my head. The cool breeze and the sound of rustling leaves helped me relax, but my thoughts kept circling back to the uncertainty ahead.

If just choosing a school major is this stressful, what about the bigger decisions in life?

I sat on a bench, watching people pass by. A little kid was chasing after a butterfly, laughing. A group of students were studying together, sharing notes. A street musician played a soft melody on his guitar.

I sighed. "This is just the beginning," I whispered to myself. "If I'm already struggling now, how will I handle future choices?"

That night, just as I was about to sleep, my phone buzzed with a new message in the school’s enrollment group chat.

"Announcement: Due to administrative changes, the quota for the Accounting major has been reduced. Students who initially ranked within the acceptance range may now be displaced."

My stomach twisted.

I quickly opened the enrollment website, but the ranking page had already been disabled.

Does this mean I might not make it?

I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. My once-strong confidence wavered. Anxiety gnawed at my thoughts.

What if I don’t get in? What will I do?

I shut my eyes tightly, trying to push away the rising panic.

Tomorrow, everything will be decided.