The Girl Who I Sponsored for Three Years Replaced My Identity

Sophomore year hit hard. To avoid getting a lecture from my father during my next visit home, I made sure to attend every class and keep up with my studies.

The school’s schedule was brutal, also rather poorly arranged. After a long day full of classes, I was exhausted and drained. “I need to have a word with Dad about these ridiculous schedules when I get home—such classes are hardly fit for university students.”

Scrolling through short videos on my phone, I was relaxing in bed and watching some muscle-bound men at a nearby bar, when suddenly my roommate, Rosie Ward, from the lower bunk started pounding on my bed frame, nearly making me jump out of my skin.

“Nikki, check this out!”

Without warning, Rosie thrust her glowing phone screen in front of me. The screen showed a picture of a couple kissing.

“Isn’t this your boyfriend? What’s he doing kissing someone else? And why is it all over the Confession Wall?”

I grabbed my glasses from the side of my pillow and immediately recognized the jacket in the photo—it was a high-end, custom-designed piece I had my friend bring back from abroad. There was only one in the world, I had specially ordered for Simon’s birthday a couple of months ago, and now it was worn by the man in the photo. There was no mistaking it—that was Simon.

I realized I was cheated on and jumped out of bed, slipping on my slippers and heading to the door. “Be right back.”

“Damn you, Simon Charles, seriously. You couldn’t even get me a limited-edition gift in time, but you’ve got time to cheat on me?”

Instead of heartbreak, I felt a wave of anger, like having something valuable snatched away.

My anger overshadowed any sadness I might have felt. As I walked to the bar near the school gate, where the photo was taken, I imagined a dramatic confrontation, like in the movies about catching a partner cheating.

But when I arrived, even though they were still cozied up before my eyes, the dramatic confrontation I had imagined didn’t unfold.

“Nikki!” seeing me approach, Simon looked startled, quickly pushed the girl away.

“What’s going on, Simon? So, this is why you said you were too tired to hang out after classes? Busy kissing someone else, I see.”

“Let me explain,” Simon said, tried to reach for my hand, but I stepped back and turned away, avoiding his touch.

I restrained myself from hitting him and was still trying to decide how to handle this gracefully when the girl beside Simon stood up.

She pulled Simon into her arms and, right in front of me, planted a kiss on him. Then she turned to me with a sly smile. “Hi, senior, or Nikki if I may. Thanks for taking care of Simon for a while. But from now on, he’s with me. It’s not your business anymore."

Just as Simon tried to stop her, she cut him off and pulled out her card, telling the waiter in a carefree way, “All tables are on me tonight.”

Cheers erupted in the bar. The crowd fueled by free drinks, quickly joined in to deride me.

“She’s really lost it if she thinks she stands a chance.”

“Look at her, all pitiful and still hanging on to a guy who clearly doesn’t want her. Why not spend that time on reflection?”

“Wearing slippers and looking like that? No wonder Simon upgraded. How can you compare yourself with Miss Monroe? She’s the daughter of the city’s richest family.”

I didn’t care much about what they said, but the last comment hit me hard.

Since when did my dad have another daughter that I had no clue about?