The Purge - State Of The Nation

"Red Coast, this country of ours needs an extensive purge!" 

This was the opening of the President's speech years later after his election. Keres Wiscon stood proud and immovable amidst the crowd gathered in the country's largest square. Today was his State of the Nation address, and today was the beginning of the drastic change in the lives of the people on the Red Coast. 

The entire podium was silent when in the middle of his speech, the President's assistant was asked to come handing a red gold box, and when the President opened it, the audience wait in anticipation as they saw a piece of paper being pulled out from it. After a while, it was flashed on the huge screen projector, there the entire country knows what was it, as the President pronounced -- The Red Tape Letter. That's it, it was a letter that was even more important than his speech at the moment. The letter that's even more powerful than the country's constitution. For in that letter written in red, was a new law revealed. A law that later shaped the people of Red Coast's lives and destiny. 

" In my years of being an economist and philosopher, I realized that our own morals and filthiness are what hindered us in achieving financial freedom, so from this moment, at the issuance of this letter, I therefore, begin this country's purging process, thus, from now on, there will be a segregation of the rich and poor. The rich will  have the best in lives, the best of services in the country from health care to education and businesses!" Keres continued his speech. 

" Remember that this I am doing to maintain the better future of our country, and thus to maintain the high morals of our people for a rich country means having empowered citizens, and empowered citizens are those that have the right perspective and disposition in lives! Thank You!" 

Henley turned off the television. 

It irritates his ears that now he's hearing that speech again as the people of Red Coast are commemorating the issuance of the red tape letter. It's been years since that letter was released, and it's been years since commoners like him had been living a f** up life. 

The words of the philosopher president were deemed as an inspiration to those who can keep up to the standards he set, particularly to those who can afford to live in Elite City, later the president's words had become a toxin to the society, it created a culture wherein the poor were regarded as sinner and filthy, and that their being poor was because of their filthiness whereas those who can afford to settle in Elite City are regarded as clean and people of high morals. Blame the president. It was he who set the minds of the people, who lead the thoughts and cultures with such outcome. And yeah, for Henley, the president is to blame for why his life was a present hell. He can't even eat in a nice restaurant without being bullied. It was like filthy has become his other name. He was always treated with contempt. He even quit school because of that for he was treated as if without a right to be human. It's either the residents of Elite City who will make him their personal slave, they will make fun of him or make him run errands until he misses the next classes. Henley thought his life will get better when he landed a job. He was thinking that his job will be a way for him to afford the settlement in Elite City but he was wrong. The employment and even businesses were of different situations for the commoners and Elite City residents. The residents of Elite City were given the most favors. The top positions were reserved for them. They were the first in line when it comes to investments. The residents of Elite City are living in favors and extravagance while, the commoners are living in crumbs, yeah, their crumbs. It doesn't matter even if you're smart or the most hardworking. Natural talent is useless if you're a commoner, so later on, Henley realized that his hard work won't provide him a way to Elite City. And speaking of settling there, maybe it would take a lifetime for Henley to be able to save for the price of a lot in there. Just a lot, the housing construction and other fees are not yet included. 

"Hey, Henley are you up for tonight's gig?"  one of his co-workers asked him. 

Henley nodded cheerfully. 

"Are you sure you still got some muscles?"  they asked. 

Henley understands their hesitations. He's working in the mining camp for straight hours and later tonight would be serving wine in the bar.

" Of course, I need this for grandma's medicine!"  he said. 

If not for Naomi he would not stay long working in the mining camp. She's actually the reason why he's working straight here most of the time. Naomi's family owns the mining company. Though he isn't one of them, he wanted to show his girlfriend's family that he's a hardworking guy and that he can give Naomi a nice life. But what's always happening here in the mining camp was contrary to what he was hoping. Naomi's brother always picked on him. 

"Dangerous work is for Henley!" 

" Let Henley stay overtime!" 

" Why should Henley get overtime pay? When he's clearly not finishing his work on time just to see my sister?" 

Oftentimes, those were Naomi's brother's alibi for not paying him, fairly. One time the mine guards beat him up for some unfair reasons. Henley wanted to retaliate but he tried hard not to for Naomi's sake. 

"What are you filthy commoner huh? I don't know where you get your confidence to pursue my sister!"  

Naomi's brother would always say those words to him every time he picked on him. Filthy. That word has become like his name. Ever since the President launched the purging process through the red-taped letter, the people outside the Elite City have been tagged as filthy. 

Richess and blessings are for the clean. Only the clean of motives and clean hand work will be blessed. Blessed. Yeah, that's why the residents in Elite City are rich. They are blessed because they are clean because they are people of high morals. 

Henley was honestly pissed off by that perspective for what he experienced from those elites is contrary to their claim of being clean. 

"Dude, if I were you I would give up that Naomi girl because of your relationship with her, your life here is in hell,"  one of his co-workers suggested one time. 

 But he loves Naomi and he won't be giving her up unless it's her who said so. As long as Naomi wants her, all these agonies don't matter. 

"Such a s*** love! You know you two can't be together! She's a resident of Elite City! She's clean, you're not!"  his co-worker exclaimed, shaking its head in distress. 

Henley's brows raised, " Who said we're not clean? It's just them who categorize that! It's just because they can afford to live in Elite City so they're clean? They just regarded themselves as that!"  he objected. 

"Well, that is what is it now,"  the co-worker shrugged. 

Yeah, he's right somehow. 

Being poor in Red Coast country is a curse. 

To be rich. To be a resident of Elite City. How's that all even taste? Henley could only wonder. 

Transferring from one foster home to another, Henley Austen was a survivor of an abusive home. He barely got to school. At a young age, he learned to live on his own, toiled, and worked hard to have something to eat. And what's even crueler is that he lived in a world where people of status like him are greatly despised ever since the proclamation of the Red-Taped Letter which segregates the rich and poor. Like the usual commoner, it has been his dream to settle in the City of Elites, for being able to live there was like becoming a new person. For sure his life will change and Naomi's family's treatment of him will change too once he affords to live there! No longer he would be called filthy. How he long for that! But how! Yeah, how, that's the pressuring question for unless a miracle happens he'll forever be stuck in the mud. 

There are only two things to blame for my f*** up life! That red-taped letter and that twisted mind of our economist philosopher President! Henley thinks. 

The Red Coast Country was at first like the other countries. It was succumbing to poverty until the economist philosopher, Keres Wiscon was elected as President. 

Keres Wiscon is a man in his 40s. They say it's such an achievement for his age to reach success that early, to become the country's president knowing that he's a self-made man. His story was an inspiration to many. He rise to wealth and power not because he was an heir like the others but because of his intelligence and perspective in life, and because of that many wanted to become like him. Keres has this kind of approachable charisma despite his cold eyes and sleeky black hair, which for Henley, he's not sure if he's the only one who sees that something is off in the President, a kind of strange dark vibe. Anyway, if he aired that impression even his best friend would object. It seems that every citizen of Red Coast is a fan of Keres Wiscon, who wouldn't? Every time he opened his mouth, the words that come out of it make the people alive. 

"The President is saying the right word! That's what I need right now in my life!" 

" Did he just say the thing I should decide since then?" 

" How could he utter such life-changing words?" 

"How can he be both brilliant when it comes to money making and money managing? He's our hope!" 

For Henley, hearing those praises for the President was like viral music that's everywhere, where ever he goes. It was like the people had been enchanted by Keres Wiscon's charm -- except him. Yeah, except him. He hated him since Keres launched the red tape letter. 

That letter was favorable only to the rich and that worsen the commoner's hellish lives! He thinks.