Chapter 2I Can't Stop Crying

On the screen, my eyes were swollen and red, tears still streaming down my face.

Chelsea stood beside me, one arm wrapped tightly around my shoulder, looking for all the world like a caring friend offering comfort. But beneath her warm pose, her fingers were digging painfully into my collarbone.

"Go on," she muttered through her teeth, her bright smile never wavering for the camera.

I stared at the lens, my throat feeling as though it were blocked by stone.

Our other two roommates, Becca and Ashley, crowded around us.

Becca leaned against the ladder of her bunk, whispering, "Sienna, just say it. This whole drama is making the entire dorm look bad."

Ashley nodded in agreement. "Exactly, it was just a silly misunderstanding. Chelsea worked so hard to build her platform, and your brother's little stunt made her look terrible."

I stared at them, completely stunned.

So Chelsea was the victim here?

Not me, the girl who had been filmed without her consent.

Not me, the girl who had spent the last month trapped in this room while they laughed and asked if my tears were just a performance.

Seeing my silence, the warmth drained from Chelsea's face.

"Sienna, I thought you wanted to fit in."

"Now the entire dorm is being dragged into this mess because of you. Don't you think you owe us at least this much?"

My fingers trembled.

I remembered the day we moved in, when Nathan had carried my heavy suitcases to the threshold of the room. He had stood in the busy corridor, looking down at me.

"Are you sure you don't want me to get you a private studio?"

I had shaken my head, insisting I wanted to try. I wanted to experience normal college life, with roommates, late-night chats, and shared takeout.

Nathan had stared at me for a long time before gently patting my head. "If anyone treats you poorly, you come home. I'll always be here."

But now, I couldn't run back. If I ran back now, it would prove I was exactly as fragile as everyone thought.

More tears fell.

"The videos... I knew about them," I heard myself whisper to the camera.

Chelsea’s eyes lit up, and she brought the phone closer to my face.

"So your brother just misunderstood the situation today, right?"

I bit my lip so hard I tasted metal. "Yes."

"I wasn't bullied."

Each word felt like a physical weight pressing down on my chest.

"I was just having a hard time adjusting to dorm life."

"Chelsea didn't mean any harm."

Satisfied, Chelsea lowered her phone, immediately releasing her grip on my shoulder. She sat down at her desk to start editing.

Within ten minutes, the video was live.

She had placed the clip of me crying and defending her at the very beginning of the video, followed by the footage of Nathan confronting her in the auditorium.

Her caption read: I hope we can stop letting privileged backgrounds ruin the hard work of ordinary students.

The comment section exploded.

[So she's the board member's sister? Figures. Trying to ruin someone's life over nothing.]

[Poor Chelsea. Capitalists almost took away her hard-earned scholarship.]

[A rich girl sheds a couple of tears, and an ordinary student's future is nearly destroyed.]

I stared at the screen, the room suddenly feeling suffocatingly small.

At eleven o'clock that night, my phone rang. It was Nathan.

I stared at his contact name for a long time, but I couldn't bring myself to answer.

A moment later, a text popped up.

Sienna, did you record that video of your own free will?

My tears splashed onto the screen as I tried to type. I wrote and deleted several responses before finally sending three words.

Yes, I did.

The second the message sent, Chelsea reached over from behind and snatched my phone from my hand.

She glanced at the screen and let out a sharp laugh.

"Sienna, you really are a good girl."

I reached out to grab it back, but she easily hid it behind her back.

"I'll keep this for now," she said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "Just to make sure you don't change your mind in the middle of the night and complain to your brother."

My eyes welled with tears again. "Give it back."

Chelsea raised an eyebrow, looking amused.

"Say it louder."

"In fact, keep crying."

"I can film another video tomorrow: The board member's sister throws a midnight tantrum in the dorm."