- 5.
Mia magically pulled out a large box and
placed it in front of Liam.
When I saw what it was, my eyes widened.
I instinctively kicked the box I had under the
table further out of view.
Inside, was a brand new laptop.
The exact same one that I had bought for
Liam.
L
“Liam, that old laptop of yours is ancient.
Here, I got you a new one.”
“I didn’t want to go too crazy with the price,
you know? Just picked out something
random, hope you don’t hate it.”
This laptop, tagged at $1,999.
I’d spent six months as a tutor to save up for
- it.
Every weekend I took a two–hour bus ride to
the other side. of town, teaching kids.
Just because that tutoring agency paid ten
dollars more per hour than the ones near
campus.
Something I had worked so hard for, that I
<
Mia dismissed it with a casual, “Just picked
out something random.”
My hand holding the chopsticks was shaking.
Mia suddenly turned to me, smiling softly.
“Oh yeah, I haven’t even seen what Liam’s
girl got him yet.”
With that, she walked behind me.
Before I could react, she grabbed the box
from my hands.
I instinctively lunged to grab it back.
The gift box, half–opened by Mia, crashed
onto the floor.
<
My precious laptop, the one I d carried so
carefully, hit the ground with a dull thud.
“Oops, sorry,” Mia said, but I didn’t hear any
remorse.
I knelt to check the laptop.
The frame was warped, the screen had a
bunch of cracks, and it wouldn’t even turn on.
Liam crouched next to me, reaching out to
help me up.
“Hey….”
I actually heard a bit of guilt in his voice.
I pushed his hand away and numbly put the
laptop back in the box.
く
Then, I turned and bolted out of the private
room.
Once I was out of the door, I ran like hell.
Liam seemed to finally understand what
happened.
“Hey!”
