Kiara calmly sat on her chair while idly observing the window beside her. It was early in the morning, and she was currently in her middle school waiting for her teacher. It has been two days since her older sister subdued her bullies.
She expected a repercussion from them, but it never came. They appeared to have not entered the school since that day, though their parents also seemed to be not bothering her older sister. It made Kiara curious as to why, but most of all, it made her happy.
Kiara was delighted that the trouble she had expected never came. It was a piece of good news for someone like her. Although, there was something that was irking within her mind. The atmosphere in her school was strange.
The hostilities she had felt before immediately faded overnight and everyone acted as if nothing had happened. There was no hostility and oppression. While she was contented, Kiara felt a bit strange since it was too unnatural.
Or was this what it originally was? Was the atmosphere of hostility and oppression something she made up in her head? Maybe it was something else. But unless she finds some answer. There would be no use in second-guessing things.
"Kiara, have you heard that Sandra got hospitalized?" A classmate beside Kiara's seat started gossiping. Kiara glances at her with curiosity and nervousness.
She was curious about the hospitalization of Sandra but was nervous about the fact that her older sister was the one who threw Sandra in the hospital.
Seeing the curiosity in Kiara's face, the classmate released a teasing smile and continued. "There appears to be rumors going around about the fact that Sandra got assaulted. Though, I found it confusing since she's always being followed by her group."
"They should also be hospitalized right? But from what I heard. Some of them were heading back to their families in the province while the others were going on a vacation."
Kiara raised an eyebrow after hearing the rumors. Only Sandra got hospitalized and most left the district on a vacation or into the province. She obviously knew that the vacation and the out-of-town were a lie.
But she was confused about why they would lie about their children being beaten into a pulp. After all, wouldn't they try finding the perpetrator and perhaps ask the authorities for help? Of course, Kiara would be fine if such a thing didn't happen.
Nonetheless, it still threw her off.
Kiara had previously thought that the adult world was more logical and straightforward. However, from how things were going. The adult world was becoming more or less the same as the world of teenagers.
It's just that the adults could affect something far and wider than a teenager ever could.
"Oh, looks like I'm bound to have some quiet days." Kiara quietly muttered as she wasn't a bit sorry about them being brutally beaten by her older sister. The ugly faces of those bastards were something Kiara tolerated before.
Although, the more she had seen such ugly faces, the less tolerant she had become.
"Eh? What did you say?" Her classmate asked, not hearing her words well. Kiara shook her head and gave an awkward smile. "It's nothing. How about we talk regarding the state of ou-"
Before Kiara could continue her response, a female teacher opened the door and glanced at her. Kiara instantly shuddered as she wondered why her teacher was staring at her from afar. The teacher then coughed and called for her.
"Kiara Reeds, someone's asking to meet you."
Kiara furrowed her eyebrows since she was muddled as to why someone would want to meet her. Was it the parents of her classmates who had been beaten by her older sister? Nah, that would be too strange as they would have already called her mother for a meeting.
"I have already called your mother for confirmation. It looks like your older sister wants to take you out. A permission slip has already been given." The female teacher further explained, which made Kiara shocked.
Her older sister? Older sister!? She was actually on campus? How? Why? When did this become possible? Kiara had numerous questions and they were answered as a young lady stepped forward. She stood beside her teacher, and it was none other than Mercedes, her older sis.
Mercedes was smiling at Kiara while waving her pale hands towards her. Although, Kiara's classmates had different reactions. They started shouting, screaming, and whispering for some reason.
Her classmates kept asking about whether or not her older sister was an idol in the district or an actress of some sort. Whether she was a model or a fashion designer. There were tons of questions being thrown around in the classroom.
"Calm down and stay quiet! You damn kids..." The female teacher started rubbing her forehead as a tick mark emerged. The class immediately started calming down and the teacher finally pushed away Mercedes while closing the door.
"Miss Mercedes, you are causing too much trouble on the school's premises." The teacher silently complained which made Mercedes give a teasing smirk. "Heh... How could I possibly cause trouble? It would rather be problematic for a humble and gorgeous teacher such as you, eh?"
The teacher shook her head and rejected the teasing advances of Mercedes. "I have no plans on trying to cause trouble with a high schooler, Miss Mercedes."
"Hmm... When did I say that, though? Aren't you a dirty one, Miss Winchester?" Mercedes countered while stepping forward towards the teacher. Although, before she could continue her advance, a cough sounded from behind her.
*Cough!*
It was none other than her little sister who had a disappointed look on her face.
"I'll be going, Miss Mercedes. I hope you have a good time with Kiara. She's a good girl." The female teacher had her cheeks shrouded in crimson color. She swiftly left Mercedes behind and scurried off in the distance.
Mercedes, on the other hand, was a bit ashamed. She glances at her little sister and tries to protect whatever pride she has left. "We were simply having fun. You know that I have a lot of fun teasing people."
"Yeah, yeah, I don't care," Kiara replied with an uninterested tone. Mercedes felt a bit familiar with Kiara's words. She had a feeling that she had said such a thing before. Though, Mercedes shook her head and continued.
"Kiara, it really was nothing more but teasing. Don't tell Mom about it, okay?"
"Of course... About how you tried flirting with my teacher who's fortunately a woman. If Mom finds out that you're acting like that with men. I wouldn't be able to help but keep thinking about the storm that will be brewing." Kiara expressed with a smug smile.
"Wait, wait... There's no way I'd do such a thing with men. Besides, I haven't talked to men that much. Even after I got out of my room." Mercedes denied such allegations and immediately changed the dangerous subject.
"Besides, I'm here to take you somewhere."
Hearing Mercedes's words, Kiara raised an eyebrow and asked. "Where would you take me? And why? Does Mom want us to go shopping?"
Mercedes's smile got wider for some reason as Kiara felt chills within her spine. It was as if something bad was about to happen. Something horrifying that would ruthlessly hit her with suffering and sorrow.
"Mom already agreed. She wants you to start training for self-defense. We'll be heading to a gym that I had personally rented. I will be training you there." Mercedes explained as smugly as possible. Kiara was confused but then noticed Mercedes's smug expression.
"Don't tell me that you're simply using this reason as a way to beat the sh*t out of me?" Kiara questioned with a worried tone as Mercedes held her little sister's hand and replied. "Obviously not. Why would an older sister want to beat her little sister?"
"That would be too inappropriate don't you think."
Mercedes said with a smile which made Kiara's skin feel chills. It was the same feeling as a murderer admitting that they would kill you right in front of your face. It was a bit horrifying.
"Can I please not? Besides, I don't really need some self-defense training. We are living in a democratized peace-loving country. There's no need for me to learn such arts. And I can always carry some pepper spray with me."
Kiara wanted to reject the offer of self-defense. She'd rather avoid being beaten to a pulp by her older sister. After all, she already knew the intentions of her older sister. It was obvious in the eyes. It was the eyes of a predator seeking to play with its prey.
"No, no, no... That's not good, Kiara. As a young girl, you must learn to defend yourself at a young age. You also don't have to worry much about the things you learned. They're certified to be very effective. And you have a good teacher guiding you."
"Of course, that's none other than me."
Mercedes started dragging her older sister as they left the campus and went into the rented gym of Mercedes. Kiara wasn't planning to tag along, but her older sister was too strong for her to resist. It was like being dragged by an elephant.
Worst of all, the final words of her older sister weren't something she appreciated to have heard.
"I'll teach you like my teacher taught me, Kiara. No need to worry about it. I'll lessen the intensity for you since you're my little sister."
"Just think of this as a way to solidify one's ranking. It's time for me to become your older sister, Kiara. I'll have you speaking 'old sis' every now and then after this training."
"Don't worry. It will come out of your mouth, naturally..."
Mercedes whispered beside Kiara's ears.