Chapter 2
I reviewed every expense in my budgeting app.
Food: 700 dollars; Essentials: 250 dollars; Clothing: 400 dollars; Miscellaneous: 423 dollars.
The total was very high, but I hadn't made any big purchases.
I began noticing strange things while swiping through the list.
My grocery spending doubled, I got two identical deliveries, and my campus card showed charges I don't recall.
A terrifying thought struck me. Was Sofia actually living off my money?
Once the idea struck, memories snapped together like Pandora's box opening.
Sofia always showed up while I shopped and casually asked me to pick something up for her.
She always "borrowed" my shampoo or body wash, claiming she'd run out of her own.
She'd leave her campus card at the cafeteria, have me pay, and promise to repay me.
I looked at Sofia, grinning and typing quickly, likely replying to compliments.
My stomach twisted. All that extra money this month might have gone to Sofia.
She still played the "thrifty good girl" and soaked up her family's praise.
That's when I decided, right then and there. No more free rides. I'm nobody's fool.
"Lynn, can you get me a Burrito Bowl? My campus card's empty," Sofia called from her bed.
She asked as if it were natural.
My hand froze mid-pack as I shoved textbooks into my bag and took a deep breath.
"Sorry, I'm on a diet," I said firmly.
The room fell silent. I felt Sofia's eyes piercing my back.
"On a diet?" she snorted. "Didn't you eat fried chicken yesterday?"
I zipped my bag and faced her.
"That's why I'm cutting back today.
"Why not get it yourself or order in?"
Sofia's expression froze, her eyes flickering with confusion.
She sat up slowly. "Lynn, why the cold shoulder?"
"It's nothing," I said, looking away. "I've been spending too much and need to save."
Sofia laughed slyly. "So it's just about the money?"
She jumped off her bed, bare feet padding to me.
"Lynn, do you think I always mooch off you?" she asked quietly, accusingly.
I didn't expect her to be so direct and was momentarily speechless.
"You know my family is struggling," she said quietly.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"My parents are sick, and their medical bills cost us thousands monthly. It's a rough patch for me," she added.
I looked at her face, and my heart faltered.
I knew Sofia's family was struggling when the semester began.
She "just happened" to let me see three T-shirts in her drawer, collars stretched, one patched.
"Just packing light to save weight," she explained, masking a faint sigh as I turned away.
Before she posted braggy updates, I might've cut her some slack and felt guilty for being "stingy."
Now, seeing my huge bills and knowing my parents worked hard to pay them,
I couldn't tolerate her mooching.
I forced myself to interrupt her.
"I have plans with a friend. I must go," I said firmly.
Sofia suddenly grabbed my wrist hard. "Wait! Aren't we besties? You weren't like this before."