*Reborn in Shadows*

Chapter 14: Kristy

I walked through the hallway, my heart racing a little faster than usual. As I passed by Amelia and Raiden ,their bright smiles offered a flicker of comfort.

"Good luck with the results!" Amelia called out, her voice brimming with encouragement.

"Yeah, hope you ace it, Cath!" Raisen added with a wink, his energy infectious.

I smiled back, though a knot of nerves tightened in my stomach. Today was the day we'd get our test results, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I had studied hard—harder than I ever had before—but this school was uncharted territory. Everything felt more intense, more challenging.

As I finally entered the classroom, I could sense the stares settling on me like a heavy blanket. I took a deep breath and made my way to my seat, trying to shake off the unease. When the teacher walked in, clutching a stack of graded papers, my stomach twisted with anticipation.

"Cath, congratulations," he announced, holding out my test paper. My eyes flew to the red 98% at the top, and my breath caught in my throat. I had done it. I had actually done it.

But the moment of victory was fleeting. As soon as the teacher moved on to the next student, the whispers began.

Kristy's voice sliced through the classroom like a razor. "98%? Are you kidding me? She's been here for five minutes, and now she's suddenly top of the class?"

" We all saw how she aced that test, but let's be real—someone like her doesn't just become the best overnight. Guess some people have to cheat to stay on top.
And let's not forget," Kristy added with a smirk, "the teacher's probably just going easy on her. New girl privilege, right? Bet she'll crumble on the next test or She's probably dating the teacher using her looks to get away with things.
I kept silent trying to not let my rage out
But my heart raced. I couldn't let Kristy's taunts control her. "I worked for my grades, and if that bothers you, maybe you should look in the mirror."

Kristy's eyes narrowed, her expression darkening. "Oh, please. We all know you're just one test away from being back at square one.?"

Alex, who had been leaning against the wall near the back, shot a glare in Kristy's direction. "Leave her alone, Kristy," he said coolly, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.

But instead of silencing Kristy, it only made her bolder. She smirked. "There he is—her knight in shining armor. What, Alex, got nothing better to do than babysit? Or are you just waiting for a reward?"

A low chuckle spread through the room, making my stomach twist. I hated being put in this position, like i couldn't stand up for myself, like Alex was always there to step in. It was humiliating.

The moment the teacher walked out
Kristy swinged her hand on my head with her test result
She sneered, her voice laced with venom. "You must be a charity case. What business does a nobody like you have in our school? Just a broken girl pretending to be whole. I bet you don't even have a family and if u had they must have kept you in out of pity ,better treat you like their personal help ! Keep playing your little game; it won't last. You'll never fit in here, and we all know it. You're just a passing phase."

Something snapped.

Before I could stop myself, I was on my feet, my chair screeching against the floor as it tipped back. The room went silent, every eye locking onto me as I stood there, trembling, fists clenched at my sides.

"Shut. Up."

My voice was low, trembling with barely controlled fury. I caught a glimpse of surprise in Kristy's eyes before she plastered on a fake smile.