Chapter 16
“Hey! What are you talking about? Be nice
The guidance counselor slammed his hand on the podium, try to stop the laughter that filled the room. He shot a quick look at Nina, worried that she might be upset.
A girl’s voice rang out from the back. Professor Morell, whether you call her Nina or illiterate, the fact is, she’s barely been to school, right? And it’s true she got into Lyceum through connections, right?”
“What’s this nonsense? Who’s spreading these rumors? Step forward!”
The guidance counselor’s patience wore thin, but everyone knew better than to get caught up in the blame game. Who would admit to gossiping, especially in front of an audience?
Nina scanned the room, her eyes landing on Jessica. She pointed at her and said, “Jessica’s the one, isn’t it? She’s the one who knows.
The room went silent for a split second before all eyes fixed on Jessica Jessica nearly jumped out of her seat in panic. “It wasn’t me! Nina, stop slandering me!”
Nina sneered. “You’re the one who knows everything about me. If it wasn’t you leaking it, then who else could it be?”
The room buzzed with whispers.
What? Jessica’s the one who leaked it?”
“I can’t believe Jessica would do something like that.”
“Wait a second, Jessica and Nina both have the last name “Woods! Are they related?”
“They kinda look alike… hold up, are they sisters?”
Wow, what a fake sisterhood…
Jessica’s stomach churned. She cursed Lynn inwardly, ‘You idiot! Why did you use an anonymous account? Now everyone thinks I’m the one who leaked the information!‘
She was so upset she could cry. “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!”
And then, to her humiliation, she actually buried her face in her arms and started crying.
“Oh my God! Jessica’s crying!”
“Wait, wasn’t it Jessica who leaked it?”
“Feels kinda bad for Jessica… she’s being accused with no proof, poor thing.”
As Nina listened to the chatter, she couldn’t help but mentally roll her eyes. Seriously? These people don’t even know the whole story, but they’re all ganging up on me? Why is no one defending me? Jessica’s the one under suspicion, and if it wasn’t her leaking it, she’s still involved.
‘She’s just acting all sad and pitiful–who can’t fake tears? I won’t stoop to her level, though. I’m the cool one here; I’m not going to fake cry.”
Lynn hadn’t expected Nina to accuse Jessica in front of everyone and she immediately felt bad for her bestie.
She stood up, resolute. “Nina, don’t you dare blame Jessica! It was me who anonymously sent your info in the group chat.
Chapter 16
What, am I wrong
Nina stared at Lynn, appalled. “Oh, so now talking heltind people’s backs is okay, huh?”
“It’s totally justified! You barely went to school but had the gall come to Lyceum through connections. We, the students of Lyceum, have every right to resist someone like you!”
“Lynn, enough!” the guidance counselor snapped, trying to stop the argument. The whole connections‘ thing sounds had enough. Let’s tone it down.”
But Lynn wasn’t backing down. She crossed her arms, sneering. If she had any self–respect, she wouldn’t have bought her way in. Why pick Lyceum? There are plenty of other schools to choose from.
“I think these connections are really screwing over the rest of us and we should be able to say something about it. Professor Morell, ever heard of free speech?”
The guidance counselor was beyond frustrated. He knew Nim’s situation, but even he felt the sting of what Lynn had said. “Come on, enough already!”
He turned to Nina, hoping to calm things down. “Nina, please tell everyone where you went to school. This is getting out of hand, this whole ‘barely any schooling rumor…
Nina shrugged nonchalantly. “I really didn’t go to school?
Nina had spent her childhood in a lab, then transitioned to the Special Operations Division. Consequently, she hadn’t attended school like a typical kid. All her knowledge came from world–renowned experts who tutored her one–on–one, ensuring a highly efficient and high–quality education.
However, her involvement in the Special Operations Division was classified, so she couldn’t divulge those details.
The guidance counselor froze, blinking. “What? What do you mean you didn’t go to school?”
Nina simply nodded. “I didn’t.”
ie counselor’s face twisted in disbelief. “So, you’ve never been to school?”
Nina met his gaze
with a firm nod. “Not even for one day.”
The guidance counselor was at a loss. Why, oh why, did she have to be so truthful? he wondered. He had no idea how to salvage this situation.
into
Lynn, seeing Nina’s nonchalance, couldn’t help but taunt, “So Nina’s never been to school and still somehow made Lyceum? If this gets out, people are going to think Lyceum’s full of clueless kids who only got in through connections!”
The class was divided. Some students muttered, clearly unhappy
“Seriously? Does Lyceum need money that badly? Letting in someone who’s never been to school?”
“Unbelievable! And we have to share a program with her?”
“Why not just send her somewhere else, let her mess with other people’s lives?”
The guidance counselor couldn’t control the room any longer. He was sweating, panicked, and unsure how to fix things.
He glanced at Nina, his heart pounding. He’d expected her to be on the verge of tears, but instead, she was standing there, cool as a cucumber, hands in her pockets. ‘Oh, come on, he thought. You’re right in the middle of this. Can’t you at least act a little upset?”
As if she could read his mind, Nina suddenly sprang into action.
Chapter 16
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Without warning, she kicked the podium hard. The heavy desk lid across the floor with a loud crash, slamming into the wall with a deafening thud. The sound reverberated through the classroom, and several students jumped, stunned.
“Can we be quiet now?” Nina’s voice rang out, icy and commanding as she glanced over the room.
One of the rowdier students stammered, “Whoa! N… Nina, what he hell? Are you… are you going to hit someone?”
Nina’s eyes locked on him. She lifted her chin, asking coolly, “What, do you want to get hit?”
The student, eyes wide, glanced at the podium wedged into the wall, then wisely fell silent.
He thought. ‘Man, if she kicks me, I’ll probably be in a wheelchair for life!
Nina turned to the rest of the class and declared, “Yes, my father pulled some strings to get me in–deal with it. If you’ve got a problem, tell the school to kick me out. But don’t come crying to me, or I’ll make you wish you were never born. Got it?”
The students were too scared to say anything. All they could think was, ‘Damn, she’s nuts!”
The guidance counselor buried his face in his hands, Tm so sorry, Mr. Principal, he thought. Tve clearly failed you. This kid is hopeless.
Just as the room fell silent, a voice cut through the tension. “Well, well, look at the little princess. Think you’re tough”
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