System: Womb for Womb

Since Ruby stayed out all night, the RA reported her as missing, and the whole thing ended up on record. But instead of blaming her, Daniel put the blame on me for not covering for her.

"You two are roommates. What would it have cost you to have her back? Are you really jealous just because I picked her over you? Why don't you take a good look in the mirror? How could you possibly compare to Ruby? What right do you have to be so upset?"

Rolling my eyes, I brushed him off and made my way back to the dorm.

It was only the first week of the semester, and Ruby already had three boyfriends. Every time I came back from the library, she'd be downstairs, tangled up with a different guy.

A few of our coursemates had begun to take notice. While some judged her as shameless, others admired her bold personality.

A kind student gently warned her, "Sleeping with so many people will affect your health. As a young woman, it's important to look after yourself."

Ruby waved off the concern. "I'm perfectly healthy. I don't need your advice."

Her words silenced the room.

It was true; Ruby never fell ill.

In my past life, every gynecological problem she should have experienced fell on me instead. I made endless trips to the hospital seeking treatment.

Now, I wondered if her beloved mother would be able to handle what was coming.

For the following two weeks, Ruby continued her pattern of moving from one guy to another every three days. She was seldom in the dorm.

One afternoon, she called me out of the blue. "Hey, Victoria. My mom's sick. Can you come to the hospital?"

I immediately sensed this was no ordinary illness. Of course, I couldn't miss the drama.

When I arrived, Ruby and Daniel both looked tense. Their eyes quickly landed on the crystal bracelet still wrapped around my wrist. Seeing it there, they finally let out a sigh of relief.

I acted like I hadn't noticed their reaction. "What's wrong with Mrs. Winslow?"

Ruby let out a weary sigh. "The doctor said she's two weeks pregnant. She's also dealing with a serious gynecological issue. Apparently, it's the result of excessive sexual activity… When my dad found out, he yelled at my mom and stormed out. They still need more tests to figure out if the pregnancy can continue."

I looked over at Mrs. Winslow on the hospital bed. She was rubbing her belly, her face glowing with joy at the arrival of this new life.

Suddenly, Ruby seemed to recall something and gripped my arm nervously. "Victoria, have you been feeling any discomfort lately?"

I nodded. "Yes. I've noticed I've gained some weight. Plus, my period hasn't come yet. Since I'm here at the hospital, I'll grab some medicine later."

Hearing that, Ruby visibly relaxed, her shoulders dropping.

I couldn't help but smirk. While it was true I had put on some weight recently, the blame rested squarely on the irresistible food surrounding our campus. As for my period, it wasn't technically late. It had simply shifted on its own from the end of the month to the middle.

In the end, Mrs. Winslow was unable to keep the baby. Given her age, the risks of childbirth were considerable.

The doctor cautioned her to be vigilant about hygiene and take proper precautions. Failure to do so could lead to even more serious complications.

Nevertheless, neither Mrs. Winslow nor Ruby seemed to take the warning seriously.