Chapter 2 The Wish Is Granted

Sophia had just opened the post when the wheel suddenly started spinning on its own.

The whole class crowded around her.

The pointer swept past "Money," "Beauty," and "Love" before slowly coming to a stop on "Health."

Cheers erupted across the classroom.

"See? Naomi came back to save someone! She even knew exactly what Sophia needed!"

A button appeared in the center of the screen. "Claim Your Wish."

Sophia's trembling finger reached toward it.

I rushed forward and turned off the screen. "Don't press it!"

She jerked her hand away from me. "You're still trying to stop me?"

"Why did the wheel start spinning on its own? Who's running this account? We don't even know what's going on."

Beatrice rolled her eyes. "What, do we need an investigation before someone can be saved? Naomi's dead, and you're still doubting her. No wonder you were her only friend when she was alive. Maybe she couldn't stand you, either."

I clenched my fists. "Shut up."

"Am I wrong?" Beatrice leaned closer and lowered her voice.

"You keep saying you were helping her. So, why did she jump without even telling you? Was it really that she didn't want to live, or did someone keep making her feel like the whole class couldn't stand her?"

I slapped her pointing hand away.

Beatrice's eyes immediately reddened. "Everyone, look. She's getting defensive again."

Felix stepped in front of me.

"Clara, quit the act. We really thought you and Naomi were close. But think about it. Who would stop a dead girl from granting someone's wish? You keep saying there's something wrong with the wheel. Are you afraid we'll find out that you're the one Naomi really hated?"

The more they talked, the more convinced everyone became.

"That has to be it. She was jealous of Sophia and used Naomi to make herself look good. Now Naomi's back to grant Sophia's wish. Doesn't that expose her?"

Sophia stared at me. Whatever hesitation she had left was gone. "Clara, move."

"Sophia—"

"Stop it!" Her voice trembled.

"I trusted you too much. You told me Naomi was being bullied, so I stayed away from everyone else with you. Now that I think about it, everything I knew came from you. I never saw any of it myself."

My heart sank. "You forgot what they wrote on her desk?"

"What does writing on a desk prove?" Beatrice immediately chimed in. "Maybe she wrote it herself just to make you feel sorry for her."

The whole class burst out laughing.

I tried to rush over and grab the phone, but several girls immediately blocked me.

No one hit me. They simply stood shoulder to shoulder, forcing me to the back.

"Don't let her mess this up. This is Naomi giving Sophia a chance."

One of the boys took the phone and grinned. "Sophia, can't bring yourself to do it? Want me to?"

Sophia nodded through her tears.

"No!" I shoved past the person in front of me.

But the finger had already pressed "Claim Your Wish."

The phone chimed with a ding. "Wish claimed successfully."

Sophia covered her mouth, laughing through her tears. "My mom's going to be okay!"

Everyone crowded around her, congratulating her.

I was the only one left outside the circle, growing more and more uneasy.

Beatrice turned around and smiled at me. "Quit looking so miserable. Anyone would think it was your mom who was dying, not Sophia's."