After her rebirth
Chapter 34

Nathan was fuming, feeling the shade being thrown his way but couldn't pin it down. Katniss was off to the side, cool as a cucumber, going over her notes, not even looking his way. Her chill vibe cut him deep.

He spotted some medical books sticking out of Katniss's bag and thought, 'Seriously, Katniss wants to switch to med school? With her half-baked knowledge? She's so full of herself. When she bombs that transfer exam, she'll be bawling, and no one will give a damn. She asked for it.'

Clara, looking all kinds of awkward, softly called out to Katniss, trying to break her focus, but Katniss just cranked up the volume, catching the attention of students trickling into the room.

Out of nowhere, Clara's eyes filled with tears.

"Katniss, do you really hate me that much?" Clara asked, her voice breaking.

Clara's friends swooped in to console her.

"Clara, ignore her. Katniss is just a heartless witch who doesn't know the meaning of gratitude. Don't waste your tears."

"Clara, come sit with me. Forget about her."

"Katniss, have you no shame? Treating your family like this. Apologize to Clara right now!"

Everyone was all over Clara, throwing shade at Katniss like she was the villain in some soap opera, and they were the heroes calling her out.

Katniss kept on with her notes, acting like she couldn't hear a thing.

It wasn't that Katniss didn't care about her rep anymore; she just knew explaining herself was a waste of breath.

To them, she'd always be less than Clara, seen as a schemer trying to get ahead, always compared to Clara-a total joke.

So, Katniss decided to let it go.

No matter what she did, she'd get dragged, so she chose to just chill and enjoy her peace.

She kept reciting her notes. The crowd, seeing her unbothered attitude, got even more riled up for Clara. Just when they were about to lose it, Juniper burst into the room.

"Who's messing with my Katniss!" Juniper yelled from the doorway, listening for a sec before storming in like a bat out of hell.

Seeing Clara and Nathan, Juniper was livid and pointed right at Clara, saying, "Quit playing the victim and stop harassing her. She's been through enough!"

"Juniper, what are you talking about?" Nathan shot back, his face red with anger.

"Juniper, how can you say that? I just want Katniss to come home so we can be a happy family," Clara said, tears streaming down her face, looking all innocent and fragile.

"You think I don't see through you? You're always stirring up trouble for Katniss." Juniper's words were like daggers, filled with anger towards Clara, who looked like she might faint from the shock. "Juniper, I was just trying to be nice. She's my sister. How could I hurt her? You've misunderstood me," Clara cried, looking all pitiful, making the surrounding students feel sorry for her. Juniper, with her high status, good looks, and top grades, was usually untouchable. But right then, someone decided to stand up for Clara.

"Juniper, how can you say that about Clara? She's pure and kind. We all see it. Maybe Katniss has fooled you."

"Juniper, you're usually cool. Why are you being so harsh?"

"Maybe it's because Clara is a strong competitor in the speech contest, and Juniper is jealous."

Everyone started chiming in. Nathan wanted to speak up but got drowned out by the noise, turning the classroom into a madhouse.

Suddenly, a loud bang grabbed everyone's attention.

Katniss had slammed her book on the desk, her eyes locked on Clara, shouting, "Get out."

Nathan, fuming, stormed towards Katniss, raising his hand to hit her, but what happened next left him speechless.

Katniss moved like lightning, raising her book and bringing it down so fast no one could react. The book smacked Nathan's arm with a heavy thud.

Nathan felt a sharp pain shoot through his arm. He was caught off guard, unable to dodge, and the pain twisted his face.

Katniss's move was quick and brutal, letting out all her pent-up anger in that single hit.

Everyone around was stunned, unable to believe what they were seeing. Katniss's actions left them all in shock. Nathan's arm throbbed with pain, and he gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with disbelief and fear. Clara, scared out of her mind, hid behind Nathan, her tears frozen in shock.

Gasps filled the room.

Nathan, in pain, stared at Katniss, unable to believe she had actually hit him. She dared!

At that moment, Nathan looked into Katniss's eyes for the first time, trying to understand her true feelings. Those eyes, so beautiful.

Undoubtedly, those eyes were incredibly captivating, even more so than Clara's, resembling the Manners' eyes. Thick lashes framed enchanting eyes, with slightly upturned corners full of playful and alluring charm.

Even the double eyelid folds were identical to the Manners family brothers, with no difference. They were indeed siblings.

However, at this moment, Katniss's eyes were icy cold, like a drawn bow ready to shoot a deadly arrow.

Nathan was stunned. Katniss was his biological sister. How could she show such hatred in her eyes?

But the moment passed quickly, Clara's worried voice filled his ears again, "Nathan, are you okay? It's all my fault for making Katniss angry, but I didn't expect her to hit you."

Everyone was in shock. Katniss didn't want to deal with these people any longer. After hitting someone, she grabbed her backpack and walked out without looking back.