Chapter 2

Viola's eyes welled up with tears, but she held her head up high even as she loudly questioned me. "Eve, what gives you the right to talk to me like that? Yes, I'm poor. My family isn't well off too, and I've never carried a Chanel purse in my life. But you can't afford luxury goods either, so you became someone else's pet! What gives you the right to show off in front of me?"

Everyone around us turned to stare at us while I simply laughed out of anger. I did not even mention her, but she was already playing the victim card.

I stepped forward and looked down at her. "Viola, what makes you think I can't afford it?"

Her lips opened, but Aaron let out a scornful laugh before she could answer it as he gave me an impatient look. "Eve, who are you trying to fool? Other people might not know how you live, but I do. You wear the same few outfits over and over, and you always order the cheapest food in the cafeteria. Last month, you spent forever calculating how to save five dollars on your phone bill. At least Viola doesn't pretend to be someone she isn't. What do you have?"

He spread his hands, his voice dripping with contempt. "No matter what designer purses you have, they are all imitations anyway. Aren't you ashamed to use someone else's handout to humiliate Viola?"

I could hear the low chuckles from all around me as pain rose in my chest.

Last month was Aaron's birthday. I saw a post about a limited-edition game console some guy's girlfriend had bought him, and Aaron sent it to me with an envious emoji. I wanted to earn enough money myself to give him a present I could be proud of.

I took a job at a cafe near campus and stood for eight hours at a time until my feet were too swollen to fit into my shoes. I tutored high school students and spent two hours on the bus every day, talking until my throat burned.

At last, I saved enough.

But when he opened the present, he barely glanced at the console before rushing off to an internet cafe with his roommates.

Maybe… He had already forgotten all about it.

I took a deep breath and forced the pain down.

"Are you done?" I turned to Aaron as I enunciated each word. "Whether I can afford it is my business. What does it have to do with any of you? Move."

I turned around and started walking away, and the crowd parted for me.

I had taken only two steps when Aaron called after me. He sounded furious, as though my refusal had struck a sore spot. He hurried after me and grabbed my arm. "Eve, stop right there! Viola meant well when she asked me to talk some sense into you. Not only did you refuse to listen, but now you're giving us an attitude?"

I shook his hand off and his anger flared. "Apologize to Viola right now, then give that purse back."

Give it back?

It belonged to my family. Who was I supposed to return it to?

I said nothing and kept walking.

Aaron shouted after me as though I had slapped him in front of everyone. "Eve! Take another step and we're done!"

The crowd's whisper instantly became quiet. Everyone waited for me to turn around and apologize.

I paused for a moment.

Then I took another step without looking back.