Chapter 5

The few students who had been worried about me heard Mom's words and simply turned away.

No one looked at me anymore.

The sky suddenly darkened.

The glaring sunlight from moments ago was swallowed by thick, heavy clouds.

It started to rain.

Large raindrops pelted my face.

The rain mixed with the dried blood on my forehead, flowing down my cheeks and into my mouth.

Students on the track scattered, running toward the school building.

As Mom passed by me, she said, "Get up soon. When you've figured it out, come to my office."

Then she turned and left too.

In less than three minutes, there was no one left on the track except me.

I lay there as rain poured into my ears, into my nose, into my mouth.

My clothes were soaked through, clinging to my body, ice-cold and bone-chilling.

But I couldn't feel it anymore.

My soul floated up and followed the students to the school building.

Mr. Parker hurried into the office.

"Ms. Carter, isn't your daughter still on the track? It's raining. Stop being angry and get her back inside. Don't let her catch a cold."

Mom sat at her desk without looking up.

"She's clever enough. How could she let herself get hurt?"

"She's deliberately throwing a tantrum with me, waiting for me to apologize and personally invite her back."

Mr. Parker opened his mouth, finally sighed, and turned to leave.

Half an hour later, someone knocked on the door.

Mom relaxed for a moment, but when she saw who came in, she felt vaguely disappointed.

Victoria and a few other students came in with some practice problems for Mom to explain.

Mom showed no impatience. She patiently explained over and over until everyone nodded in understanding.

I stood nearby watching her.

She used to explain things to me patiently like this too.

The office door suddenly sounded.

Mom froze for a moment, then relaxed and leaned back in her chair.

Victoria smiled. "Ms. Carter, it must be Aria coming to apologize to you."

The corners of Mom's mouth turned up slightly, then quickly pressed down again as she put on a mocking expression.

"Just now she was lying on the ground playing dead, and one rain shower washes away your backbone?"

"Aria, if you know you were wrong, shout 'I was wrong' three times, then go apologize to everyone in class and say you dragged down the entire class!"

The knocking continued.

Mom frowned and got up to open the door.

When she saw who was outside, Mom was shocked.

"Mr. Hawkins, why are you here?"

The principal's face was grim. He asked, "Your class had the fitness test last period, right? That girl who collapsed on the track—is she from your class?"

The panic in Mom's heart was instantly replaced by disdain.

She scoffed lightly and waved her hand.

" Mr. Hawkins, don't worry. That's just my daughter Aria. This child has been spoiled since she was young. She's so stubborn. She's faking a collapse to avoid the fitness test and throwing a tantrum with me."

"Don't worry about her. When she's done making a scene, she'll get up on her own."

The principal's expression grew even worse.

He was about to speak when the school nurse rushed over.

"Mr. Hawkins, this is bad. The girl on the track isn't breathing."