My Roommate's Gold-Digger Dream, My Payback

Sophie had always helped us buy tickets when we traveled together, so all of our ticket information was saved on her phone. But this time, something felt off.

A wave of dread washed over me.

Without thinking, I snatched the phone from her hand and quickly deleted my personal info from the ticketing app.

I tossed the phone back at her and sharply asked, "Who brings their roommates along when they're on a date with their boyfriend? What exactly are you up to?"

For a brief moment, panic flashed across Sophie's face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. She straightened up, trying to regain control, and put on her usual fake confidence.

With a haughty sneer, Sophie shot back, "Ugh, you're so petty. You can't stand seeing me be generous, can you? I consider everyone my sister. What's wrong with thinking of you when something good comes my way? Honestly, you deserve to be single."

Of course, Rachel and Whitney immediately jumped to her defense.

Rachel, rolling her eyes at me, added, "Megan, you're seriously heartless. Sophie said it was a rare opportunity, and she didn't want you to miss out, so she bought the tickets for you. And now you're biting the hand that fed you?"

Whitney, with a smug smirk, joined in, "It's good to see your true colors finally, Megan. We won't be friends with you anymore after this."

"Friends?" I couldn't help but let out a cold, humorless laugh. "A friend wouldn't act as a middleman to make a profit. You buy a €15 train ticket and charge them €100?"

Sophie was always the type to grab every chance to make a quick buck, and I had ignored it before, mostly because my family was well-off.

But now? I wasn't going to tolerate it any longer.

Before Sophie could respond, Rachel and Whitney immediately rushed to justify her actions.

"Sophie took us abroad. Buying tickets was tough work. What's wrong with charging a small handling fee?" Rachel defended.

Whitney, with her usual icy tone, added, "You're just jealous Sophie found a rich boyfriend. Megan, you're really disgusting."

It's nearly impossible to reason with people who've already made up their minds—and even worse when they've been actively involved in tearing my family apart online.

I didn't bother to argue anymore.

Instead, I grabbed my valuables, shoved them in my bag, and went to bed, trying to block out the perturbation within me.

...

The next morning, they were up before me.

As they got dressed and left the dorm, every word they said dripped with mockery. I ignored them, waiting until they'd all left before I dragged my luggage out the door.

Just as I arrived at the school gate, I noticed a crowd gathered around a luxury sports car, taking pictures.

Among the crowd were two European-American men, both easily over six feet tall, standing out like sore thumbs.

My three roommates fawned over them, acting like little puppies.

I froze for a second. I hadn't expected the so-called European 'rich boyfriend' to show up in person.

I was about to walk past them, but then, as if on cue, one of the men, his arm around Sophie, locked eyes with me.

In perfect English, he called out my name. "Megan! Sophie's friend!"

Sophie's face immediately flashed with a hint of displeasure, but she quickly grabbed my hand, trying to redirect my attention.

"This is my best friend. She's been dancing since elementary school."

She introduced me to the two men, who eyed me up and down with those ambiguous, knowing smiles.

Rachel and Whitney were so captivated by their looks that they couldn't stop gushing.

Sophie explained, "We heard you weren't coming, but since you were worried about safety, he came to pick us up specifically." Then, she tried pulling me to the car, and she added, "My boyfriend came all the way here to pick us up. Don't be so stubborn."