Chapter 4

Maggie caught an infection from the dirty water and ended up in the hospital.

I thought she would tell her parents what happened and get Fiona in trouble at least.

But days passed. Those girls kept bullying people.

They also picked on Maggie.

We hid in the gym together again.

I sighed and asked her, "Why don't you tell your parents? They're rich and powerful. They would make them stop."

Maggie asked, "Why don't you tell your parents?"

I paused. "I only have a grandma."

She drew slow patterns in the dust on a metal bench. Dust floated in the light.

Maggie sneezed and smiled, "So what? We're not that different."

Maggie and I got through high school like that.

I asked my grandma to make another doll pendant for my friend.

My grandma smiled, "You've made a lot of friends lately, Jessie."

I felt a little flustered, so I nodded with a smile.

"Your parents passed away when you were little. I can't stand up for you like I want to, but you can tell me if something's wrong at school."

I was quiet for a moment. "I'm happy at school. I have a really good friend."

I had never had friends before I met Maggie, because I had no money.

I couldn't go to the convenience store with others between classes, so I kept to myself.

Maggie was in a different class, but we met up after school and during PE. My high school memories weren't about being bullied anymore. They were about reading magazines with Maggie and sharing a bag of chips.

My grandma wanted to meet my friend. I invited Maggie to our small house after graduation. She was thrilled to come.

Maggie chatted happily with me in our tiny home. Seeing I'd finally found a playmate, my grandma looked much better.

"Jessica, do you have any photos of your parents?" asked Maggie.

My grandma sighed, "They died in an accident when Jessie was a baby. But she looks like her mom."

I didn't feel anything when my grandma talked about them. I had never known them.

The most important people in my life were my grandma and Maggie.

I lost my grandma during my sophomore year of college. Maggie stayed with me for three straight nights during the visitation.

My grandma had no other relatives. The villagers paid for her casket. I was her only family. But Maggie, my closest friend, also came dressed in black, tears in her eyes. "I'm sad, too," she said. "Why can't I be here for her?"

"Your grandma made me some spare ribs. I ate way more than you did!

She cried harder than I did.

I comforted her instead, "Grandma lived a long life. She was 86."

Maggie threw her arms around me and sobbed, "But you don't have a family now, Jessica."

Her hot tears made the candle in my hand flicker.

"I'll treat you as my sister. We're family now," said Maggie.

The snow howled outside. I smiled helplessly, "Don't talk nonsense."

Much later, her parents found me and claimed I was their real daughter. They had hospital records from when I was born.

I learned that my grandma had adopted me. She had given me a happy life, even with its regrets.

Maggie's words had come true. But in this life, no one knew how badly I wished Maggie and I weren't family.

*****

Maggie came out of the café after their talk. I asked how it went.

She pouted. "He's boring. Quiet and acting cool. Not my type."

The system scoffed, "Don't believe her. I can see the stats. Their attraction hit 70 percent!

"When it hits 100 percent, do you think a villainess like you will live?"

I spoke to the system in my head, "You don't know Maggie at all."

"I don't? She was jealous and hated you. That's the truth!"

She wanted her parents' love, her brother's affection, and her childhood sweetheart.

Of course, she hated me in my previous life. It had all been hers to begin with.

"You're completely insane. Even if Maggie helped pay your tuition and took you to the doctor when you were sick, don't you see? You wouldn't have suffered at all if she weren't there. Everything she gave you was rightfully yours to begin with!"

"You're judging the cause by the result. Nothing's supposed to be mine." I ignored the system.