Chapter 2

She looked up at me, tears in her eyes. "I know you've never liked me, but I really didn't mean to embarrass you like this."

Our teacher sighed. "Rachel, don't be so selfish. Is it right to stop the whole class's plan just because you disagree?"

The class chimed in.

"That's right! You're the only one making us all look bad!"

"Is this how your parents taught you to be so cold-hearted?"

"If you really won't donate, just drop out. We don't want you in this class!"

Someone splashed water on my shoes, while others threw paper balls at my back.

I clenched my fists, my nails almost digging into my palms.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a payment notification.

It was a SnapChat from my mom.

[Rachel, your teacher called and told me everything. I've been working overtime, here's the $100. Don't let your classmates give you a hard time...]

My hand shook, and I almost dropped my phone.

After Mom transferred the $100, I didn't donate right away.

I sat at my desk, biting my lip so hard my fingers trembled too much to even tap the screen properly.

The class group chat was still buzzing:

[Everyone's donated. How many more times does Rachel want to make Olivia cry before she's satisfied?]

[Some families aren't poor, they're just heartless.]

Before I could reply, another message popped up on my phone.

It was from my mom's coworker:

[Rachel, your mom collapsed at the office. She's been taken to the hospital by ambulance.]

I froze.

The next second, I ran out of the classroom like a madwoman. I could hear someone sneer, "She's putting on another show. Making it life-or-death over a simple donation."

I couldn't care less. For the first time in my life, I splurged on a taxi and rushed straight to the city hospital.

My mom was lying in the emergency room, her face pale, the back of her hand bruised from the IV.

The doctor spoke coldly, "Your mother fainted due to long-term sleep deprivation, low blood sugar, and extreme fatigue."

I remembered how she'd been working until 1 or 2 AM these past few days, rushing to two part-time jobs during the day, not even eating breakfast.

Standing by her bedside, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

The nurse handed me the bill. I looked at the amount and bit my lip, not making a sound.

I had less than $20 left on my phone, but our homeroom teacher was tagging me in the class group:

[Rachel, Olivia's cosmetic surgery fund is just waiting on you now. Everyone's waiting for you to chip in.]

[We know your family isn't well-off, but even Yolanda's family donated, and her dad just lost his job last year.]

[Do you want us to crowdfund your share? Don't be so disheartening.]

I replied:

[My mom fainted and is in the hospital. I really can't afford this right now.]

Olivia replied instantly:

[It's okay... if Rachel is really struggling, let's just forget about it. I don't blame her...]

She said she didn't blame me, but the whole class exploded.

[Olivia, don't be too kind. She can afford lipstick, perfume, and skincare, her family has a car, and she's claiming hardship? Isn't that laughable?]

[Didn't her mom drop her off at school in a car the other day? What was it, a blue Volkswagen?]

[Her mom fainting means she doesn't have to donate? Why not say her grandma fell or her grandpa's in the hospital too?]

[Besides, Olivia didn't force you to donate, she just cried. If you don't donate, it's because your heart is too hard!]

My fingers kept shaking. I was about to reply "I really can't afford it" when I saw a new hot post pinned to the top of the school forum:

"You cried so I must pay? How vicious can a 'poor' girl be?"

The cover was a photo of me biting my lip and crying at the classroom door that day.

The first comment under the title was:

[Saying her mom fainted and is in the hospital, probably another old trick. I bet tomorrow she'll be posting her own donation QR code.]

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