I slumped onto my bed, frustration pulsing through me. Emily's voice floated from the kitchen, calling me to join her for the ramen she had cooked. I dragged myself to the table, the steaming bowl doing little to improve my mood. We ate in near silence, my unspoken questions hanging between us. When we finished, I retreated to the bed, sitting at one end while she perched on the other, her presence both comforting and teasing.
"Babe, I'm going to miss you," Emily said softly, almost convincingly. "If it wasn't for my cousin, I'd be staying right here with you.""Yeah, no problem," I muttered, my tone flat, barely hiding my irritation. She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with that familiar charm. "Oh, and my friends back at school? They're going to want to hear all about this trip. Maybe you could get me something to show off, a little gift or something.
Her words pulled me back to reality. "Hold up. If your cousin's not giving you money, how are you getting back to Miami?" Emily's face fell, her eyes shimmering with sudden tears. "Please, Ethan," she said, my name sounding strange in her pleading tone. "You're the only one I have here. I can't be stuck in Athens. I've got a huge exam tomorrow, a four-credit course. Please." Her voice broke, and the tears flowed faster, tugging at my conscience. I didn't know why I suddenly felt soft, but her tears hit me hard. I imagined her stressed, trapped, and struggling to pass her exam. "Alright," I said, softening. "Don't worry. I'll hit the ATM and get you something."
Her face brightened, and before I knew it, she closed the gap between us, her lips finding mine in a kiss filled with fire and promise. This time, when my hands moved to her shirt, she didn't stop me. I fumbled with her buttons, my fingers brushing the edge of her bra, then finding her skin. My heart raced as I pressed closer, but she pulled back, her eyes wide and innocent. "Babe, don't you think it's a bit soon for that? We have our whole future ahead of us—marriage, endless nights together. Why rush our first date?" Her voice was sweet, but her words felt like a barrier.
I froze, my expression tightening. She sensed my change in mood and leaned in again, kissing me softly, her hands trailing over my chest. "Go to the bank," she whispered, her breath warm against my ear. "I'll have a surprise for you when you get back."
The word surprise triggered something in me. My frustration melted into excitement, and I got to my feet in seconds, grabbing a shirt from my closet and my debit card from my wallet. Just as I reached the door, her phone rang. She picked it up, her voice calm as she murmured, "Okay, alright, yeah." After hanging up, she caught my questioning look. "That was my roommate in Miami, asking when I'll be back." I nodded, but suspicion gnawed at me. I stepped outside, pausing on the porch for ten minutes, my mind racing with doubts. Am I being played? What if she's telling the truth about her cousin? She promised a surprise, maybe I'll finally be with her. But those ChatNow messages...Should I confront her? If she asks how I got into her account, what do I say? And if I don't give her the money, how's she getting back to Miami? She's got that exam tomorrow. Emily's face flashed in my mind: her smile, her curves, the way she made my heart race. She's too beautiful to be playing me…right?
The thoughts battled in my head until I couldn't think straight. Finally, I decided: I'd give her $100. If I were paying for a surprise, that felt fair, less than I'd spend on a night out, and I had already written off the $200 I sent for her train fare. A decision was made; I called an Uber. "Take me to Broad Street," I said, naming a spot near downtown Athens. The driver nodded. "That's $10, man." I didn't care.
We passed the university's iconic arch and busy coffee shops, pulling up near a bank across from a Waffle House. The ATM line at Bank of America was a nightmare, so I crossed the street to a quieter Chase ATM, joining a line of about a dozen people. My impatience grew with every second, my mind fixated on Emily's promised surprise. I muttered under my breath at anyone who lingered too long at the machine.
When I was sixth in line, an urge hit me. I pulled out my phone and logged back into Emily's ChatNow account to check her recent messages. What I saw stunned me. Five minutes ago, she had started a chat with Hunter_X.
Hunter_X: Hey, babe. What's good?
Emily: Sweetie, I'm great. Last night was unreal, you're the best I've ever had.
My head throbbed with a dull ache. I scrolled up, rereading to make sure I wasn't imagining it.
Hunter_X: Miss you already. Those moves of yours… damn. If you weren't leaving for that test, I wouldn't let you go.
Emily: Don't worry, I'll be back after the semester break. Can't wait to feel you again.
Hunter_X: How's it going with that guy you mentioned? The one you said was helping with your bus fare?
Emily: I'm at his place now. He's at the bank getting me money.
Hunter_X: Come back for a quick one, please.
Emily: Time's tight, and he'll be back soon.
Hunter_X: Ten minutes, I promise. I'll make it worth it.
Emily: You sure?
Hunter_X: Promise. Be ready for a wild ride.
Emily: Okay, set the stage. I want you ready when I get there. I'll be quick.
I shouted, "No way!" drawing stares from the people in line. "You okay, man?" someone asked, but I couldn't answer. My vision blurred with anger and something worse. BETRAYAL. I stepped out of the line; my legs were shaky. Just then, my phone pinged with a text from Emily: Babe, I forgot my student ID at my cousin's. I'm running to grab it. Back in 20 mins, promise.
Tears burned my eyes, hot and humiliating, as I stood on the sidewalk. I wasn't just a fool; I was the biggest fool. Ethan, you're going to make her pay for this, I vowed, my heart pounding with a mix of hurt and fury. She had played me, and I wasn't going to let her walk away without consequences.