Chapter 597
Melody, once adored for her gentle and graceful aura, now appeared shockingly unrefined. Her demeanor was petty, her eyes darting constantly, assessing the room for valuables to steal. Her speech was vulgar, her behavior uncouth. She was the antithesis of poised.
Many who had been close to her noticed the drastic change and asked, "Melody, are you alright? What happened to you?"
Wilma, unused to being called "Melody," paused. Years of street smarts kicked in. "What are you yapping about? Mind your own business, you ugly fools," she snarled.
The girls were stunned and furious. They couldn't believe Melody had called them ugly. An argument erupted.
Wilma lashed out first, delivering a hard slap, instantly escalating the fight. Three girls ganged up on her, pulling hair, scratching, and employing other classic fighting tactics. Neither side emerged unscathed; everyone had messy hair, scratches, and wrinkled uniforms.
Unfazed, Tiffany calmly returned to her seat, took out a book, and began reading. The class was stunned. Many guys, former admirers of Melody, watched her brawl with utter lack of grace. She was rough and unappealing, resembling a wild gorilla. So shocked were they that no one intervened until Wilma and the three girls had fought for several rounds. Finally, their teacher rushed in, ending the spectacle.
Another class passed, then lunchtime. As most students left, Tiffany noticed Zoe still sitting, dazed. Tiffany playfully tapped Zoe's head. "What, you in shock?"
"Completely!" Zoe exclaimed. "Tiffany, seriously? Melody's a completely different person! It's disgusting!"
Tiffany smirked. "Let's eat out. No cafeteria food."
"Okay," Zoe replied.
They hopped onto a school cart and rode to the gate. As they left, a burly woman approached aggressively, confronting Tiffany.
"Despicable! Shameful!" the woman snapped.
Zoe stepped protectively in front of Tiffany. "Miss, who are you? Why are you yelling? Got a screw loose?"
Melody, trapped in Wilma's body, seethed. Her body had caused a scene, jeopardizing her reputation. Losing Kenneth had been bad enough; isolation would leave her with nothing to compete against Tiffany. Trembling with anger, she seemed to sense Tiffany's thoughts. Tiffany smiled slyly, turned to the head security guard, and said, "Let her in."
The guard, previously helped by Tiffany, treated her with respect and gratitude. He quickly admitted Melody.
Tiffany raised an eyebrow. "The door's right here. Whether you have the courage to walk through it is up to you."
Melody watched Wilma flaunt her body, knowing entry would accomplish nothing but strange stares. She clenched her fists and darted inside. She still had her Obedience Poison. Once Wilma ingested it, she'd be under Melody's control. Melody would exact revenge on Tiffany, then switch bodies back. Even jail time would be preferable to Wilma bearing the consequences.
The classroom was empty at lunchtime, silent except for a faint breeze and equations on the chalkboard. Melody sat at her old desk, taking out a small vial containing the poison. She felt like a hunter waiting for prey. She had never failed before, and she didn't expect to now. Satisfied, she lifted her chin.
Thirty, then forty minutes passed. Drowsiness overcame her; the vial slipped from her grasp. A group of mischievous boys snatched it. "Hey, look at this freaky bug!" they jeered.
"Give it back!" Melody pleaded, her voice betraying her panic. She recognized one of them as a former admirer.
The boys exchanged glances, then grimaced. "God, lady. Are you trying to make us sick? You think you're some teenage girl? That's gross!" Their laughter rang out.
Melody's face twisted in rage. These were the same boys who once fawned over her. The shame and anger overwhelmed her.