บท 41: Chapter 40
Without realizing it, a year had passed since Kara started working at the Daily Planet. Four years had gone by since she traveled around the world, and this past year had been a whirlwind of activity at the newspaper. While the Daily Planet isn't a publication solely focused on reporting Superman's exploits, it has its own news sources and a range of popular columns. Among them, Kara's column had become the main attraction since it first went to print.
Kara had gained a devoted group of followers, fans who often gathered at the doors of the Daily Planet hoping she would write more, wishing she published a daily article. The reason for her success was clear: the wonders of the world she portrayed in her writings were captivating.
One of her most popular articles was about her experience in the Arctic. Sitting on a glacier, she watched from a distance as a mother polar bear led her cub in search of food, a tender and heartwarming scene. The Northern Lights shimmered in the night sky, creating a dazzling spectacle that Kara captured with her camera. The photos she attached to the article, including some showing a little girl playing in the snow with two polar bear cubs, caused quite a stir. People began dreaming of traveling to the Arctic to witness those wonders for themselves, although Kara, aware of the dangers and costs of traveling to the North Pole, offered advice on more accessible destinations to enjoy the Northern Lights.
Another of her major reports was about her climb to the top of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Known for being extremely dangerous, even for experienced climbers, Kara managed to ascend to the summit and document the experience with photographs of the snowy landscapes and clouds touching the sky. The authenticity and bravery she displayed during that journey attracted a growing readership.
This year had been so fruitful for Kara that she had almost forgotten her other identity. She had completely focused on her work, enjoying the pace of life at the Daily Planet. She signed an official contract with the newspaper, ensuring that her career would continue to flourish.
Despite all the success, Kara always made sure to take one day off a week, sometimes traveling back to her hometown to spend time with her parents. Clark, her adoptive brother, would soon be leaving for college, and Kara worried that their parents would feel lonely at home. Other times, she would spend her day off resting in her apartment, receiving visits from her adoptive mother, Martha Kent, who traveled by train to spend time with her, tidy up the apartment, and cook for her. Although Kara had always been perfectly capable of taking care of herself, Martha's presence often brought a welcome mess to the household, something Kara didn't mind at all. At 28, she still enjoyed acting like a spoiled child around her parents.
Kara had also made time for her friends, Jennifer and Dani. The three of them often met up after work to grab a drink at a local bar. During these outings, they frequently encountered unwanted attention due to their beauty, but Jennifer and Dani no longer needed Kara's protection. Both had taken self-defense classes. As Dani would say, her job required it, while Jennifer, being a prosecutor, needed to be ready for any dangerous situation.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Clark had been accepted into Metropolitan University, following in Kara's footsteps, and she was already preparing her apartment to welcome him. She even planned for Clark to live with her instead of in the university dorms. She had a spare guest room, and the apartment was large enough for both of them.
However, one day, a piece of news disrupted Kara's routine: Bruce Wayne, who had disappeared for seven years and had even been declared dead, had announced his return. The news spread like wildfire, appearing in every newspaper, including those in Metropolis. Kara, however, wasn't surprised. Bruce had called her the night before to let her know he was back. Her only reaction had been to call him "crazy" and hang up the phone.
For Kara, Bruce's return wasn't a major event. Though they had been classmates and kept in occasional contact, they weren't close enough for her to run and congratulate him. However, their relationship had improved after they crossed paths during their travels around the world, where Bruce had offered her advice and support.
But that afternoon, just as Kara was about to leave work, she was called into the office of the new editor-in-chief, Perry White. The previous editor had retired, and although Perry didn't have the most impressive credentials, he had made significant contributions to the newspaper. He had been the one to discover Kara and many other talented journalists, which justified his promotion.
"Take a seat," Perry said, gesturing toward the chair in front of his desk. Kara was already seated by the time he spoke, a small smile on her face.
"Kara, how's next week's column coming along? I'd love to take a look at it first; I'm one of your biggest fans, after all," Perry said in a friendly tone.
Kara smiled calmly and replied, "Perry, I just turned in this week's column yesterday. Do you really want next week's already? Do you think I write an article every day?"
Still, Kara suspected that Perry had called her in for another reason. Judging by his expression, she quickly realized what it was.
"Come on, Perry, don't push your luck," Kara said, sensing his intentions.
Perry, knowing that he had been caught, stopped beating around the bush and cleared his throat before saying, "Kara, you and Bruce Wayne were classmates, and with all the news about his return, I want to send you to interview him for an exclusive."
Kara frowned and quickly stood up. "Are you telling me to go to Gotham? No way. I'm not stepping foot in that cursed city. Not a chance."
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