บท 7: Chapter 7 (edited)
Time flies, and Kara is now fifteen years old. She has blossomed into a stunning young woman, with naturally beautiful features, long blond hair that now cascades down to her waist, and a radiant presence.
Her academic performance is excellent, and she doesn't engage in foolish behavior. Kara goes straight home after school, spends most of her holidays helping around the house, and doesn't feel embarrassed about it in the slightest.
Years ago, other children teased her, calling her a "farm girl."
But Kara had always thought to herself, If only they knew my secret, would they dare to look down on me?
This quiet confidence made her even more captivating, drawing attention from everyone. Kara had become one of the most popular students in school, and if there were a ranking for the most admired girls, she would undoubtedly take the top spot.
Plenty of boys tried to pursue her, but she rejected them all. Kara wouldn't even entertain the idea of going out with anyone who didn't meet her high moral standards. The friends she chose to keep were good, respectable girls.
Over the years, Kara gave her adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha, little to worry about. Sometimes, they even encouraged her to go out with her friends, watch movies, or grab coffee.
A couple of years ago, they had bought her a sleek flip phone. As technology was advancing rapidly, Kara was thrilled with it.
However, Kara's phone wasn't used to text random people or engage in trivial conversations. The only numbers stored in it were her parents, schoolteachers, and her closest friends. Because of this, her phone rarely rang.
That's what made today so unusual.
The Phone Call
The classroom was quiet as the teacher lectured at the front. Suddenly, Kara's phone rang, shattering the silence.
"Whose phone is that?" the teacher asked, clearly annoyed. But when he saw Kara pull her phone out of her bag, he softened his tone. "Step outside and answer it, Kara," he said calmly.
Kara nodded, stood up, and walked out of the classroom.
The students behind her began whispering among themselves.
"Isn't the teacher being too lenient?"
"If it were one of us, we'd definitely get punished!"
"Ugh, just because she's pretty, she gets away with everything."
Their murmurs were laced with bitterness and jealousy.
The teacher, however, had no patience for their complaints. He knocked on the desk to silence them. "Enough! Kara doesn't disrupt the class all year long. What about you? You cause trouble nearly every day. Don't compare yourselves to her!"
The grumblers—mostly girls who wore heavy makeup and acted out for attention—were left fuming. Their disdain for Kara stemmed not only from her good looks but also from her reputation for being kind, responsible, and well-liked.
In the hallway, Kara ignored the petty gossip. Her focus was on the call. She was always diligent about keeping her phone on during class, just in case of a family emergency.
Looking at the caller ID, she felt a jolt of concern—it was Martha.
Her adoptive parents rarely called her during school hours unless something important had happened.
"Mom?" Kara answered, her voice tinged with worry.
Martha's voice came through, filled with urgency. "I just got a call from Clark's teacher. Something strange happened with him. He's locked himself in the storage room, and no one can get him to come out.
"Your father and I are heading over there now. If you have time, can you meet us there? You know how... unique your brother is."
Martha didn't need to elaborate. Kara understood exactly what she meant. She and Clark were different from ordinary people.
Kara let out a small sigh of relief. At least nothing terrible had happened to her parents or their home.
"Got it, Mom. I'll be there as soon as I can," Kara said before hanging up. She quickly returned to the classroom to grab her belongings.
"Teacher, I need to leave early today. I'm sorry," she explained before packing her things into her shoulder bag.
The teacher nodded, understanding. Kara was one of the best students in the school, and her attendance record was impeccable. An occasional absence wasn't an issue.
As Kara headed out, the whispers started up again.
"What a show-off," one girl muttered.
"She thinks she's better than us just because she's pretty and smart," another said, rolling her eyes.
Kara froze. She had no patience for these petty insults, especially when she was already worried about Clark. She turned back toward the class, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Do you want to say that to my face?" she snapped, her voice sharp and commanding.
The class fell silent, stunned by her sudden outburst.
Kara grabbed the edge of a desk, her strength making it creak ominously. Though she usually hid her abilities, the stress of the moment made her forget to hold back.
Luckily, her phone rang again, breaking the tension.
This time, it was Jonathan.
"What's going on, Dad?" she asked, her tone softening.
"Your mom got ahead of herself earlier," Jonathan said with a sigh. "We still don't know exactly what's happening with Clark. If you're still in class, don't feel like you have to leave."
Kara shook her head, already walking out of the school. "It's fine. I've already told the teacher. Besides, with my grades and attendance, missing one class isn't a big deal."
By the time Kara arrived at Clark's school with her adoptive parents, over an hour had passed since the incident began.
Kara approached the storage room door, inspecting the melted handle. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She recognized the telltale signs of heat vision.
Looks like Clark's powers are starting to manifest, she thought.
"Clark?" Kara called through the door, her voice calm and reassuring. "It's me. Can you open the door?"
There was no response at first, but Kara wasn't worried. She had been through this herself. Clark just needed time to process what was happening.
Behind her, Jonathan and Martha exchanged worried glances.
"Don't worry," Kara said over her shoulder. "I've got this."
She placed her hand gently on the door, her strength ready if she needed to force it open.
"Clark," she said again, her tone gentle. "It's okay. Whatever's happening, you're not alone. I'm here for you."
Finally, there was a soft shuffling sound from inside the room. Kara smiled.
He just needs to know he's not a freak. He's family, and we'll always accept him, she thought as she waited for her brother to open the door.
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