The Perfumed Betrayal

"You've got some nerve calling me! Just Rachel's luck to have a ratty friend like you! Just get lost!" Daniel snapped.

His words jolted me like an electric shock. Somehow, I understood what was happening.

Carrying the gifts that Rachel gave me the day before, I slipped past security and headed back to Rachel's room.

Ignoring the contempt on her face, I said, "Do you think I'm materialistic? That I accept all your gifts for the money? I'll return it all to you. I just want you as a friend."

The day before, when she showered me with the gifts, I had found it all too extravagant to accept them. I refused once, but Rachel said that I would not be a very good friend if I turned down her gifts.

Perhaps she was testing me at the time.

Rachel looked at the gifts in disgust, as if they were all trash. Then, she looked at me, saying, "These are nothing to me. I'll say it once more: get lost. Otherwise, I'll call the cops and sue you for trespassing. My husband-to-be is powerful and rich, not to mention that he loves me. You'll be looking at jail time."

Then, Rachel dialed her phone.

Before the call connected, I left without the gifts.

I was barely a distance from her room when the gifts were also thrown out of the room.

I went back and picked them up. After all, it was a waste to throw them away. I had spent a lot, between the days I took off and the flight ticket.

I chose the afternoon flight to head home. That way, if Rachel needed me, I could still rush over to her.

I told my boyfriend, Zach Jaden, about this. I even sent him the photos from the day before, of me trying on the maid-of-honor's gown, chatting and laughing around with Rachel.

[This was the gown. It wasn't revealing or eye-catching. I tied my hair up in a demure bun. I wore simple jewelry. Respectful, but not flashy. I didn't even wear heels. I was shorter than Rachel. I have done all that I could think of, but I still don't understand why.]

Zach sent a hugging emoji.

[Since you've done nothing wrong, the problem lies with the friendship itself. Don't torture yourself over it. Come home. I'll take you out for dinner tonight. We'll relax and unwind.]

I sighed.

I was eagerly waiting for Rachel's message, but as I heard the last call for my flight, Rachel still had not sent me any message.

I went home, walking back to my rented place, deflated.

Zach had said he would pick me up from the airport, but he had a last-minute business trip and could not come.

The dinner that he promised me was also postponed indefinitely.

My college roommate of four years, now my housemate, Sharon Christie, noticed how depressed I looked.

She asked, "What happened? Did something happen at the wedding?"

I recounted the incident. She looked at me with widened eyes. "How did this happen?"

I had no idea. I sighed heavily. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed. You should get some rest, too."

Sharon nodded.

The next morning, I woke up to breakfast ready on the table. Sharon left a note, [Cheer up! I've gone to work.]

My heart felt full at the gesture.

After graduation, we were broke, so we decided to rent a place together. Later, as we got richer, we still continued sharing a place together. We were the best of friends.

I finished breakfast and took a photo for Sharon. Then, I tidied up and headed to work.

My superior had only approved two days of leave for me. He said I was an important figure in the company, so I could not be away for a long time. If I did not show up that day, my salary was going to be docked.

I stepped into the meeting room and saw the chairperson, Barbara Walkers, who rarely appeared.

I smiled at her, and she responded with a smile.

However, the moment I took a seat, her expression darkened. She slammed the table and sprang to her feet.