Chapter 5

As expected, by that evening, the incident exploded on the university's anonymous forum, Fizz.

A post titled "Pure-hearted girl tries to save energy for the planet, gets bullied by wealthy roommates" was pinned right at the top.

The post featured three photos.

The first was Sienna, drenched in sweat, writing environmental quotes under a dim desk lamp.

The second was a candid shot of her crying in the hallway, holding her crumpled thirty dollars.

The third was of me, standing by with my arms crossed, looking cold and aloof—the perfect image of an arrogant, evil roommate.

The caption was highly manipulative:

"What is wrong with this world? Someone tries to protect the Earth through natural living, only to be forced to her knees to pay money by her spoiled roommates who can't live without AC. Do poor people with beliefs not deserve to go to college?"

The comment section was a toxic wasteland.

"The girl with her arms crossed looks like a total bitch."

"It's just AC. I grew up without it and I'm fine. Kids today are brainwashed by capitalism."

"I feel so bad for the eco-girl. Seeing her hold that money made me tear up."

"Expose the spoiled roommates! Avoid them at all costs!"

When Ashley showed me her phone, her expression was incredibly awkward.

"Norah, look... things are getting out of hand. Why don't you and Chloe just forgive her? Post a public statement on Fizz, otherwise how are we going to face people in class?"

Looking at the cropped, out-of-context photo, my chest tightened, and my heart rate began to spike erratically.

In my past life, I was cyberbullied exactly like this.

I had posted my medical reports, the cut AC cord, and Chloe's ruined insulin.

But nobody cared.

They only wanted to remember Sienna's sweating, innocent-looking face. They only wanted to believe in their perfect, impoverished saint.

I took a deep breath and pushed the phone away.

"She is the one lying online. Why should I be the one to apologize and forgive her?"

Mrs. Taylor had set up a temporary bed for me in the RA's first-floor duty office.

"Maintenance will fix the AC cord tomorrow. You sleep here tonight. There's a fan. Tomorrow morning, I'll push the dean for your single room."

The office only had an old ceiling fan that squeaked loudly, blowing warm air around, but it was a million times better than the artificial lake sauna upstairs.

At 2:00 AM, just as I was drifting off, a pungent, artificial floral scent hit my nose.

It smelled like the cheapest, lowest-grade incense sticks from a dollar store, mixed with heavy, suffocating smoke.

I began to cough violently. My heart rate instantly surged to 120 beats per minute, and my lungs screamed for oxygen.

I struggled to open my eyes.

Through the dim light from the hallway, I saw Sienna standing right by my bed.

She was holding a metal tray with seven or eight cheap incense sticks burning at once, releasing thick clouds of blackish smoke.

She was actively waving the smoke directly into my face.

"What... what are you doing?!" I gasped, clutching my chest as I scrambled back.

Sienna looked down at me with a terrifyingly gentle smile.

"Norah, Ashley told me your heart was acting up. Your heart is beating fast because your mind is full of modern anxiety and greed."

"This is meditation incense. Breathe it in. This raw, natural smoke will quiet your mind, and your heart condition will heal itself."

The thick smoke rapidly filled the tiny, unventilated room.

The 104-degree heat, combined with the toxic chemical fragrance and severe lack of oxygen, felt like a physical hand squeezing my heart.

"Get... get out..."

I reached out, trying to knock the tray from her hands.

Sienna grabbed my wrist with shocking strength. Her eyes were wide and manic.

"Norah, don't reject nature's gift! Breathe deep! Purge the industrial toxins from your body!"

My vision began to blur, and a tearing pain ripped through my chest.

A second before I completely lost consciousness, my fingers brushed against my phone on the pillow. With my very last bit of strength, I pressed the emergency SOS button.

As the metal tray clattered loudly to the floor, I collapsed onto the bed.

The last thing I heard was Sienna's horrified, self-righteous shriek.

"Norah! Why would you rather faint than accept Mother Nature's blessing?!"