The proctor strode into the room, clutching the stack of exam papers. With a brief splel about the rules, the proctor began distributing them among the students.
Mirabe scanned her test. a frown <b>creasing </b>her brow. She had expected more of a challenge from this <b>supposed </b>crucible of intellect. With a sigh, she began to write, her pen moving at a leisurely pace.
The test was a sixty–minute sprint, but Mirabe breezed through it in thirty, then slumped onto her desk, bored. If only they allowed early exits uponpletion, she’d have been out the door in a heartbeat.
Morgan, today’s vignt proctor, had already pegged Mirabe as <b>a </b>peculiar case–a disappointing one at that. He spotted her snoozing mid–exam, a stark contrast to her Industrious <b>peers</b><b>, </b>and shook his head in disdain. “Good grades or not, at least take a solid work ethic,” he thought. “Even If you slipped in through pulling strings, <b>you </b>gotta weigh your worth. BrainSpark Nationals is no child’s y.”
hey were
He couldn’t help but feel relieved that he had resisted taking on such students. nothing but trouble.
Time ticked away, and soon the sixty minutes were up. Though Mirabe had been the first to finish, she was thest to hand in her paper. Morgan didn’t even nce at her or her test. He simply sealed it in an envelope and exited the
room.
After the exam, Mirabe freshened up in the restroom before heading back to the ssroom. As soon as she sat down. Jenna leaned in and asked. “So, how’d it go, Mirabe? I heard the others saying the prelims were tough this time.”
Mirabe lifted hereyeszily and lightly replied. “Tough, you say?”
Jenna was taken aback. “Isn’t it?” Those two who also participated were usually top twenty in the grade. If they found it hard, surely it was a beast of a test.
Mirabe just hummed nomittally. “Then it must be tough.”
Jenna was stunned. That casual arrogance <b>was </b>pure Mirabe. But was it just bravado?
Jenna prodded further. “What score are you expecting? Think you’ll pass the prelims<b>?</b>”
With a yful arch of her brow, Mirabe teased, “Doubting me, sweetle?”
Jenna blushed, sensing that Mirabe’s bad–<b>girl </b>vibe was only intensifying. “Just remember, you’re the talk of the school–the one who got in through pulling strings<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Mirabe waved off the concern with a flick of her wrist, unfazed.
Jenna shook her head and dropped the subject. Perhaps Mirabe was a secret genius, after all.
Prelim results were due the next morning, but before they could be released, Mirabe was summoned to the guidance. counselor’s office.
In the office of the guidance counselor, several teachers were present at the moment, including Ate, Morgan. Anthony, <b>and </b>the vice principal. The expressions of all of them were serious and solemn, especially the vice principal <b>and </b>Anthony.
The vice principal addressed her with frost in his voice. “Miss Mirabe, you’re aware of the rumors swirling around school concerning you?”
Mirabe raised an eyebrow, her demeanor unfazed by his severity. “You mean the <b>buzz </b>about me getting in through pulling strings?”
The vice principal’s frown deepened, clearly taken aback by the new student’s audacious retort.