Kijani shook her head as well. "Nothing hurt but my pride, sir.." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I... really hate the fact that I miscalculated. I should have fought. I was... weak." She exhaled slowly. That was closer to the truth than her being so afraid, even if Superman could crush her spine by accidentally patting her back too hard... "The headmaster won't be... extremely upset, will he? I mean, he already dislikes me..."

--

Devika jerked her head up. Her face was streaked with tears. "K-Kalinda? What... are you doing?! You can't be here! You of all people, can't be here..." She tried to draw the emotion back inside her, but seeing the pain so obvious on Kalinda's face triggered a fresh wave of shame inside her. Not only did she fail to protect her friends, she even hurt them. "Go away! I... I don't want you to hurt yourself because of me..."