Chapter 4

I slumped back in my seat and felt completely drained.

I couldn't help but wonder when our friendship had turned into this mess, with one person always taking and the other endlessly giving.

And when the one who always gave finally said enough, they ended up being treated like the bad guy.

I got out of the car and started walking home. My phone buzzed again with a message from Melissa.

[We've known each other for so long. How could you do this to me?

[Is a little bit of money really worth hurting our friendship?]

I stared at her message and found it a little amusing.

She didn't seem to know who had hurt the friendship first.

*****

Over the next week, Melissa called me more than thirty times, but I didn't pick up a single one.

Her messages on WhatsApp started off blaming me, but then they shifted to sounding hurt and sorry.

[Emily, I really know I was wrong.

[I've been thinking about it and I realized I was being selfish.

[Don't stay mad at me, okay? I promise I will pay you back.

[We've been friends for so many years. I don't want to let this ruin everything.]

I read every single message, but I didn't reply.

I needed time to sort out my thoughts, and I needed to figure out whether she was actually sorry or only wanted to pretend nothing had ever happened.

*****

On Wednesday night, I worked late and didn't get home until nine.

As I reached the front of my building, I spotted a familiar figure.

Melissa was leaning against the wall by the entrance, holding a cake box.

When she saw me, she straightened up immediately. "Emily," she called out, her voice cautious and almost nervous.

I stopped in my tracks, keeping my distance as I looked at her.

"I've been waiting here for two hours." She held up the box. "I got your favorite tiramisu. Can we please talk for a little while?"

I looked her over and noticed she was dressed very simply in a denim jacket and a plain white t shirt, with barely any makeup on.

She looked pretty worn out. It was hard not to feel a little sorry for her. "Come in," I said finally, and I opened the door to let her inside.

Melissa walked in like she had done it a hundred times before. She slipped on the slippers by the door and set the cake on the coffee table.

"Let me get you some water," she said and headed toward the kitchen.

"No need," I told her as I sat down on the couch. "Go ahead and say what you want to say."

Melissa paused for a moment but still poured two glasses of water anyway.

She sat across from me, holding her glass with both hands.

"Emily, I know I messed up," she said, looking at me with teary eyes. "I've been thinking a lot this week, and I really did cross the line.

"I kept making you pay for me, and I never paid you back. I didn't mean to do it. I guess it's because I got used to it.

"I got used to you always helping me out and used to having you around.

"Sometimes I really do forget because work gets crazy. It's not like I'm trying to avoid paying you back."

She honestly sounded sorry.

If this had been a week ago, I probably would have believed her. But not now.

"Were you busy when you went to Maledasia last month?" I asked.

Melissa looked a bit embarrassed. "That's different. It was my boyfriend's friend who organized the trip. I couldn't say no."

"What about that new bag you bought two weeks ago? The one that cost seven thousand. Were you busy then too?"

"I bought that bag with my own money." Her voice rose a bit. "Can't I spend my own money if I want to?"

"Of course you can," I said with a nod. "But shouldn't you pay me back too? You have money for luxury goods, so why won't you pay me back?"

Melissa was at a loss for words.

She lowered her head and traced her finger along the rim of her cup. "I thought you didn't mind. You always said yes so easily, so I figured you didn't really need the money.

"And since we're such good friends, I never thought you would keep such a close account."

Her words made my heart sink.

In her eyes, my easygoing attitude had become her excuse to take me for granted.

"Melissa, have you ever thought about this?" I looked at her. "I always agreed because you said you would pay me back.

"If you had told me from the start that you weren't going to pay me back, or asked me to give it to you as a gift, do you think I would have agreed?

"You always say you will transfer it to me later, but you never actually do. That is not forgetting. That is lying."

"I..." Melissa tried to retort but couldn't find the words.

The silence stretched on for a long time. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked up at me. "You are right. I messed up. I will pay you back right now."

She grabbed her phone and pulled up Venmo. "So how much do I owe you in total?"

"Twelve thousand dollars," I said.

Her finger hovered over the screen, frozen in place. "Wait, it is really that much?"

"You can scroll through the records if you want. I have kept track of everything." I handed her my phone and showed her the notes app.