Susan Caldwell was drenched in sweat, her hair a mess and her face smeared with dirt. She looked utterly wretched, completely stripped of her usual dignified air—like a bedraggled chicken.
In stark contrast, Vera Xavier stood there looking fresh and clean. Her fair skin was so immaculate under the lights that it seemed almost translucent, and a faint smile played on her lips. She looked like a high and mighty phoenix.
To Susan Caldwell, Vera Xavier's smile was exceptionally grating.
Susan Caldwell gritted her teeth. The incident in the cafeteria yesterday was still fresh in her mind, giving her a new appreciation for Vera Xavier's fighting prowess. On top of that, her unreliable older brother was the chief instructor for this military training. She knew that if she started a fight with Vera right now, she wouldn't gain any advantage whatsoever.
So, without another word, she turned to leave and resumed her frog hops.
