The Laptop Trap
I sold my $3,500 top-spec laptop for scrap for seventy dollars.
In my last life, my roommate Caleb's laptop crashed right before his senior thesis deadline.
"Noah, the submission portal is about to close. Please lend me your laptop!"
I agreed without hesitation.
Then he forgot to save his work, downloaded malware by mistake, lost his entire thesis, and had to repeat the year.
Afterward, his parents and relatives stormed the university, accusing me of sabotaging his laptop because I was jealous of his graduate admission slot.
The story blew up online. Everyone called me a vicious, scheming college guy.
My father tried to clear my name and was beaten to death by extremists who thought they were defending justice.
Because of that stain, every job search collapsed. In the end, I jumped from a building in despair.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the eve of graduation defense.
I had just sold the laptop cheap when Caleb came running in, covering his face and crying.
"Noah, my laptop died. Lend me yours!"
I kept playing on my phone without looking up.
"If you're writing your thesis, go use the computer lab. Why come to me?"