But the thought of Megan's experiment pulled me back into a pit of despondency, dragging me down like a heavy anchor on a sinking ship.

I pondered, "If I can't unravel the truth behind this, I might never see my paper published.

"If a Chemistry student can't stand on her own and publish independently, it means the end of the world."

As I slumped over a desk in the study room, my worries weighing me down like chains, I suddenly caught snippets of chatter from the nearby group of classmates, their voices a distant murmur in my clouded mind.

"Did you see Megan's status? Apparently, someone plagiarized her paper!"

"Seriously? Who would dare copy the campus queen's work? That's just shameless!"

I perked up, curiosity piqued, quickly pulling up Megan's status on my phone. My fingers trembled slightly as I scrolled through her updates.

As I suspected, her first post addressed the issue directly, her words sharp and cutting: [Is it really okay to publish someone else's work without a second thought?]

A chill shot through me, icy fingers wrapping around my heart.

It hit me like a ton of bricks—this very status could be the root cause of the harassment and bullying I had suffered in my past life!

Megan was the reigning beauty of the campus, a beacon of perfection and grace.

I was just a clueless freshman trying to navigate the labyrinth of university life.

Her status and image far eclipsed mine, casting a long shadow over any aspirations I might have.

Quickly, the comments began pouring in under her post, a flood of support and indignation.

[What happened, Megan? I heard someone steal your research?]

[How could they? It's disgusting that someone would swipe an experiment after all the hard work you put in.]

[Report it to the school! We have a zero-tolerance policy for academic dishonesty—will definitely kick that trash out!]

I could only imagine how others might react to these comments, their words a storm of fury and scorn.

For me, a cold shudder ran down my spine, a memory of the past flaring to life.

As someone who had faced the brunt of online bullying, I knew all too well how terrifying it could be.

Instinctively, I almost shut my phone off, my hands trembling as if the screen might bite.

But just as I was about to scroll away, I spotted my name in the comments below.

[Is the queen talking about Emma from freshman chemistry? A few days ago, I saw her doing the same experiment as Megan.]

As soon as that comment hit, the floodgates opened, and people began replying fervently, their words a torrent of accusation and speculation.

[Emma? Where's her paper? Let's take a look.]

[I don't think I've seen her publish anything. It seems like she did the same experiment as Megan.]

[Experiments could overlap sometimes, that's absolutely ordinary—espeically wehn we're all in the same department. Plus Megan has claimed Emma plagiarizing before she even read her work? Seriously?]

[When do you have a say in this issue? Megan didn't name anyone specifically, so chill out!]

Before long, the comments section ignited into a heated debate, a digital battlefield where words became weapons.

Some classmates even took to their own statuses to back up Megan, their loyalty a shield against any perceived slight.

Among them, Ben went all out.

He paired one of Megan's gorgeous photos with a lengthy tribute, his words dripping with adoration:

[Megan is the most wonderful girl in the world, not to mention the hardest worker. She puts so much into her experiments without ever complaining. ]

[She would never deliberately try to make things difficult for someone who made a small mistake. She's kind and beautiful, she'll always have my love and support!]

His post racked up a slew of likes, each one a nail in the coffin of my fragile confidence.

I watched the notifications roll in, a bitter taste forming in my mouth, a reminder of the brutal cyberbullying I'd endured before.

I had narrowly escaped a repeat—thank goodness I hadn't published my paper yesterday.

Taking a deep breath, I prepared to leave the study room. Just then, my phone buzzed again, a final dagger in the heart of my resolve.

It was Megan's latest status, her words triumphant:

[Thanks for all the support, everyone! I appreciate your stance against plagiarism. However, I've decided it's time to focus on what truly matters like, say—my latest paper that's just been accepted for publication!]

Below was a link to her newly published paper. I hesitated for a moment, then clicked on it anyway.