Only then did Gwenda remember she had class. "How troublesome," she thought with annoyance. "I'm already a senior, and I still have to go to university, attend classes, and even complete assignments." She wished she could be in several places at once, to avoid being so perpetually busy and disoriented.

"Gwenda, come on," Hattie urged.

Sighing, Gwenda packed up her things to leave. First, she instructed the studio staff to follow up on Cecilia's upcoming work. She then drove to school with Hattie. Along the way, Hattie reported on her work, while Gwenda considered ways to skip class after signing in.

Ten minutes later, she parked at the university's south building. As they were heading to the classroom, they encountered a group of people. Gretchen was in the middle, surrounded by admirers as if she were a celebrity. Gwenda's good mood vanished. What luck; she hadn't seen Gretchen in two months and now this.

Not wanting to interact with her, Gwenda ignored Gretchen and continued walking. But Gretchen stopped her, calling softly, "Sis."

Gwenda rolled her eyes and brushed past. Gretchen lowered her head, feigning hurt. Her friends reacted angrily on her behalf. "I don't know how Gretchen ended up with a sister like her. They grew up together! Why is Gwenda such a pain?"

"Yeah! So rude, ignoring her own sister. Conceited!"

"So arrogant! Annoying!"

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Gretchen's face, but she said gently, "Alright, that's enough. My sister is just frank."

"She's just rude!" her friends insisted loudly, ensuring Gwenda heard.

Gwenda stopped, turned, and glared at the group, fixing Gretchen with a cold stare. "I didn't want to talk to you, Gretchen, but you still want to cause trouble. That's on you."

"Sis" Gretchen adopted a hurt expression again. Her friends were instantly annoyed.

"Gwenda Evans, who are you calling a troublemaker?"

"Yeah! Who do you think you are?"

Gwenda crossed her arms. "Those of you who responded."

"You"

"You what?" Gwenda snapped. "You're all fools. You can't tell right from wrong, you don't even realize you're being used, and you dare to argue with me?"

Gretchen's friends were furious. Justina stepped forward, spitting, "Why so cocky, Evans? We didn't say anything wrong. You used to bully classmates, and now your sister! Are you even human?"

"Yeah, Gretchen's unlucky to have you!"

"I'm bullying her?" Gwenda scoffed. "Which one of you saw me bullying her?"