My Boyfriend Spent Pennies to See if I was Worth Dimes

The bracelet was delicate, its surface glinting with tiny diamonds embedded in it.

“Isn’t it pretty, Calliope? Guess what? Rob gave it to me,” Caitline said.

I didn’t bother responding, just shifted my gaze away.

Caitline seemed stunned by my indifference. For once, she shut up and we got through the class in peace.

But as soon as class ended, she shrieked, “Oh no, my bracelet… my bracelet is missing!”

“It’s the one my boyfriend just gave me. Please, you guys, help me find it!” she cried out.

That made me freeze. Oh, hell no. This was one of her setups, and I just knew the next second she’d pin it on me.

I hurried to pack up my books, but as I stood, a gold chain slipped out from between the pages and hit the floor.

Caitline dove for it like a damn hawk, held it up, and pointed at me. “Calliope, I never expected you’d be this kind of person! How could you steal my bracelet? This is a gift from my boyfriend!”

She yelled so loudly, with sobs in her voice, that everyone’s attention turned toward us, casting judgmental glances in my direction.

I couldn’t even defend myself. I just wanted to get the hell out of there.

But then I saw Robin standing nearby, his face dark, his eyes locked on me.

“If you didn’t want it,” he said coldly, “why would you steal it?”

I stared at him in disbelief. Even my voice betrayed how hurt I felt. “You really think I’d do that?”

He didn’t answer, but the look in his eyes said it all.

With a cold expression, he dropped a fancy little bag in front of me and said, “I guess I was wrong about you. Thought you were different.”

Without another glance, he took Caitline’s hand and walked away under the curious stares of the crowd.

I pressed a hand to my chest, struggling to breathe.

When I got home, I opened the bag he left me. Inside was a silver bracelet, shining brightly.

The design looked almost exactly like his gift for Caitline, except mine didn’t have a few more diamonds.

I stared at it for a while, then lowered my eyes and tossed the bracelet into its box, sealing it shut.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. ‘He obviously doesn’t like me, so why does he pretend? And now, he’s given me the same gift as Caitline. For what? Just to humiliate me?!’

This was the first expensive thing Robin had ever given me. ‘Is he done pretending now? Or is there more to this?’

The questions swirled in my head, but I couldn't figure them out, so I let them go.

Staring at the ceiling, I exhaled slowly. I’d have to find a time to settle this with him.

I didn’t owe him anything.

And I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him keep humiliating me.

Lying in bed, I scrolled through my phone, only to stumble upon a post about me on the campus forum from earlier that afternoon.

The comments were full of praise about how Robin, the computer science department’s heartthrob, and Caitline, the Fine Arts beauty, made the perfect couple.

Only one person mentioned me and Robin being a thing, but that got buried fast under the congratulations.

I turned off my phone and closed my eyes, but the ache in my chest didn’t fade.

These months with Robin—there’s no way I didn’t feel something for him.

I was thinking of that when suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was a message from him.

[Come to The W Seattle this weekend. Pick something expensive for her as an apology gift.]

I stared at the text and remembered—it was his birthday this weekend.

‘Is this him finally ending things with me?’

I hesitated but remembered that I’d already prepared a birthday gift for him.

I’d poured so much thought into it, hoping to make him feel cared for and that he mattered to me.

Now, I didn’t even want to give it to him anymore.

After days of being indecisive, I finally brought the gift to The W Seattle.

“Consider it as my way of saying goodbye to this foolish relationship,” I told myself.