---
They say that, at the end of a life, people remember their happiest moments.
But all she could remember were the painful ones.
"You've been disowned by the family."
"You've been expelled."
"She's a whore. I wonder how many men she sleeps with."
"Her sister and best friend are better than her."
"Donate your kidney to Chris."
"Don't ever talk to me again."
"Ivy is a famous actress."
"I love you—why can't you see it?"
"You have to die for me to be happy. Can't you see?"
Voices and memories crashed through Maria's mind like a broken record. Betrayal, humiliation, abandonment — they played again and again.
She had trusted them. She would have given them the world.
And yet, the people she loved most — her best friend Ivy and the man she loved, Chris — were the ones who killed her.
The funniest part?
Chris loved Ivy.
Ivy loved Mike — the only person who would have died for her.
Maria closed her eyes.
The world went silent.
And she died... with a heavy heart.
---
Tsk. I can't believe it. She actually made Chris go to the hospital! Is she crazy? a voice sneered.
I heard she made him a peanut cake. Doesn't she know he's allergic? Stupid girl. She claims to love him but doesn't know anything about him, another mocked.
I pity her parents. A black sheep daughter like her... If I were her father, I'd have killed her already.
"Good thing you aren't my father," Maria said coldly, making everyone gasp.
Normally, she would have stumbled over her words, embarrassed and tearful. But today? She was calm, sharp.
She looked straight at the boy who mocked her.
"At least my family can afford to raise me," she said sharply. "Unlike someone who's the product of a failed condom."
The boy's face turned purple with rage and shame.
Everyone around gasped again — whispers and laughter rippled through the classroom.
"You, Maria! How dare you!" the boy roared.
"No wonder Chris doesn't like you. A girl like you deserves no love!"
Maria only sneered.
"Since when does a scholarship charity case have the right to talk back? Even if I'm a shrew, I'm a wealthy one.
Did I eat your family's food? Your family's eggs?
Instead of running your smelly mouth, why don't you focus on your studies and try to change your pathetic life?"
The boy went pale. More laughter followed.
Maria calmly sat back in her seat.
Wasn't I shot in the head by Ivy?
How am I... alive?
She pinched herself.
The sharp sting of pain told her:
She was alive.
Back in the past.
Seventeen years old. Before everything went wrong.
Before she ruined her own life.
---
A soft hand touched hers.
Maria looked up into the fake smiling face of Ivy — her killer.
It took everything she had not to smash a water bottle over her head.
She calmly pulled her hand away.
Ivy smiled, pretending not to notice.
"Maria, I know you're upset about what happened with Chris, but you shouldn't insult your classmates. They only meant well," Ivy said in a soothing, teacher-like voice.
The others nodded, some sneering at Maria.
Maria snorted.
"I never knew mocking and humiliating someone was considered 'advice'."
Ivy's smile tightened.
"Everyone has their own way of caring. Sometimes advice sounds harsh, but it's for your own good," she said sweetly — while throwing Maria under the bus once again.
"So," Maria said slowly, "what do you want me to do now?"
"Apologize," Ivy said, her voice dripping with fake kindness.
"I don't want her apology!" the boy Maria insulted shouted.
"Someone like her doesn't deserve love or forgiveness!"
Maria raised an eyebrow.
"At least you know you're not worth an apology."
Then she turned back to Ivy.
"You said everyone has their own way of advising others — even if it sounds harsh, right?"
"Yes," Ivy said through gritted teeth.
"Good."
"I'm advising him to focus on his studies instead of worrying about me. Even if I fail, I won't be kicked out of school like a scholarship case. And to everyone else—"
She looked around coldly.
"Mind your business, or I'll 'advise' you too you will run to your parents crying."
Gasps. Whispers. Shock.
Ivy's face twitched.
"Maria, that's rude—" Ivy started.
Maria cut her off.
"Oh, now it's rude? Funny, when they mocked me, it was 'advice.' But when I defend myself, it's wrong? Ivy, aren't you being a little hypocritical?"
Without waiting for an answer, Maria grabbed her bag and left the classroom.
Ivy flushed red with shame as the others began to look at her differently.
I'm just trying to be a bad friend I'm trying to help her the best I can ivy said as forced a tear some cheered her up some still look at her weirdly
---
Later, the teacher announced:
"The school's annual Art Festival is next week. Anyone who wants to perform, please register at the gym after class."
Maria barely heard it.
She was thinking about her past mistakes.
All the times she craved love...
All the times she handed Ivy her sketchbooks, her songs, her designs — just so Ivy could impress Chris.
Ivy last word before her death came crashing in "you are phatic you will do anything for love you can't have at home even if it kills you"
She had been stupid.
Desperate.
Pathetic.
But no more.
She would make them all pay.
---
After school, Maria followed Ivy and a few classmates to the cafeteria.
Ivy kept talking about Chris, trying to bait Maria into reacting.
Maria calmly ate her food, ignoring her.
"She is acting all high and mighty" one of the girls that followed them commented softly
Don't say that Maria is just shy around strangers and don't like talking much ivy said smiling at Maria
But Maria ignored them and after eating went back to class
Afterward, she went straight to the gym to sign up.
A bored girl at the registration desk looked up.
"Oh, Ivy already signed up. No need for you to bother," she said dismissively.
Maria stared at her calmly.
"Who said I'm here for Ivy?"
The girl frowned.
"Then leave. Don't waste my time."
Maria leaned down and began to write her name.
Everyone stared.
Whispers filled the gym.
What her you doing who told you that you can write your name down the girl roared
Maria didn't bother to look at her as she continues to write
" why can't I write if I'm right the teacher said we can write our names if we like so who are you to tell me I'm not allowed to write my name of your have something to say we can meet the teachers"
Fine if you want to write them write it is not like I'm the one going to be the clown she taunted
Some laughed mockingly.
"Tsk. Even if she joins, she'll just embarrass herself," someone sneered.
"This is a performance show, not a confession booth for Chris."
Maria finished signing and stood tall.
"And acting like a bitch must be the only thing you know how to do," she said lightly.
Gasps echoed.
Maria ignored them all and walked away — head high.
She was back.
And she would never be the same fool again.
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She entered the house and it was quite she froze at the hallway as this house have bitter memory for her this house was were she was kicked out from where she was punish for everything where she was mocked by even the maid she did everything in to get the attention from her parents but they only have her twin siyin their eyes she was not even worth remembering she celebrated her birthday alone in this house she did everything she sold herself to save her family yet she was kicked out of this house like with no hesitation.
She took a deep breath and close the door and walk to the stairway
" Miss Maria you are home the master and madam are not at home today the butler said from behind stoping her in her steps
They were never around if her sister is not home she sneared and turn to face the butler
"Oh they are not around then make dinner alone for me then"
Won't you wait for your parents today miss your parents will appreciate it if you do the butler continued." I said I will not wait for them and even if I do wait do you think they will appreciate it so why should I wait just make dinner Maria replied him camly
The butler look at her and nodded then turn to the maid go make breakfast for the family then he instructed as the maid turn to leave Maria stop her
" I said make food for only me they are not at home so they will probably eat outside so make only for me and that is an order she said and left to her room ignoring the shock maid and butler.
---
[End of Chapter One]
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