After her rebirth

Katniss was just wandering around the school when she spotted a job posting at the entrance of a coffee shop. She figured, why not, and strolled inside.

The coffee shop had this cozy vibe, with coffee samples all over the counter. The glass cabinet was packed with different coffee beans and fresh fruits, making the place smell amazing. The decor was pretty chill, with hand-painted watercolor paintings of fruits and flowers on the walls. It felt fresh and inviting.

By the window, there were these white tables and chairs, all set up with little bottles of condiments and tissue boxes.

Behind the counter, a young woman in a pink apron was brewing coffee like a pro, smiling as she worked. She was clearly into what she was doing.

The whole place had a laid-back, happy atmosphere. A few female students were hanging out, chatting and laughing over their coffee.

The coffee brewer was now feeding a little boy, maybe five or six years old. When she saw Katniss come in, she put down the bowl and asked, "What can I get for you?"

Katniss pointed to the job posting and smiled. "I'm a freshman at Nexus Nova College and I'd love to work here. Is that cool?"

She walked up to the owner, Amara Garcia, really hoping to land the job. Amara looked a bit unsure, preferring to hire someone with experience.

"You're a freshman, huh? No work experience?" Amara asked.

Katniss nodded. "Yeah, but I'm hardworking and really passionate about this."

Amara frowned, thinking it over. She could see Katniss was sincere, but hiring a newbie was risky.

"I usually hire people with experience," Amara said hesitantly.

Katniss looked determined. "I might not have experience, but I'll work hard and won't let you down."

Amara was still on the fence. Business had been good lately, and she was working on new products while also taking care of her kid. She needed a part-timer.

Just as Amara was about to decide, there was a loud crash behind her. She turned around to see the little boy on the floor, red-faced and struggling to breathe, having knocked over a small table. Amara panicked, trying to help the boy, but whatever was stuck in his throat was too deep.

"Don't move, listen to me!" Amara cried out, tears streaming down her face.

Katniss quickly stepped in, pushing Amara aside. "No, don't dig around, that's only making it worse."

Amara, desperate, asked, "Then what should I do?"

"Leave it to me," Katniss said calmly.

She picked up the child from behind, figuring he had something blocking his airway. She decided to perform the Heimlich maneuver, placing her fingers on his abdomen and pushing upward forcefully. After a few pushes, the child let out a violent cough, and a shiny glass marble flew out of his throat, landing on the floor with a clink.

Katniss realized she was drenched in sweat after the ordeal.

The child, still scared, cried loudly and clung to Amara.

Amara, with red eyes, quickly comforted him. Once he finally fell asleep, she looked at Katniss with gratitude.

"Thank you. If it weren't for you, my child would've been in real danger," Amara said, choking up. "You can work part-time here!" "You can come in the evenings to help. We close at eight, and we'll pay by the hour," Amara suggested.

Katniss agreed, "Okay, I'll start tomorrow."

As she was about to leave, a chubby little hand grabbed her.