2
475words
“Did I ask for those flowers from him?”
“There’s shade under the trees downstairs—what’s he up to?”
“I’m not buying into his sob story.”
I crossed my arms,staring at Sophie with disdain.
Her faded T-shirt,worn-out jeans,and outdated braids screamed neglect,but her face was defiant.
“Emma,how can you speak of Ryan that way?”
“After he sent you those flowers!”
Her sharp chin and slanted eyes were full of spite,making my skin crawl.
Claire Evans,watching a show on her phone,noticed our argument and chimed in.
“I saw Ryan when I returned earlier.”
“He asked me to bring the flowers to Emma and offered to buy me a smoothie in return.”
“But I refused.”
Claire sighed,eyeing Sophie’s expression of cluelessness.
“Do you know why?Because we’re not Emma.We don’t get to accept things for her.”
“If Emma wanted them,Ryan could’ve texted her,and she’d have gone down herself.Why involve us?”
Claire’s words were earnest,but Sophie didn’t take in a single one.
She gave Claire a dismissive glance.
“Maybe some people are just too proud,playing hard to get?”
“I kindly brought them in,and now I’m the bad guy?”
“I know you city girls think highly of yourselves compared to me,a country bumpkin.”
Sophie was about to play the victim again,but Iinterrupted her,sneering.
“Ha,everyone in this dorm knows I don’t like Ryan!”
“He’s chased me for months—have I ever given him the time of day?”
“But you,accepting his gifts without asking?Why not just date him for me while you’re at it?”
“You act if we’re bullying you—that’s ridiculous.”
I threw the roses into the trash without hesitation.
Sophie rushed to retrieve them,eyes red with indignation.
“You don’t want them?I do want them!”
“You don’t appreciate them,but I will!”
She salvaged the bouquet,arranged it on her desk,and snapped a photo for social media.
[Poor flowers finally found a new home~]
I suppressed a laugh,feeling a rush of satisfaction.
Sophie,now that you ‘ve taken the flowers,you can’t reject the creep now,can you?
The next afternoon,Sophie,for once,washed her greasy hair and applied cheap lipstick she’d hoarded,then left cheerfully.
Claire asked where she was going,mentioning we had class later.
Sophie ignored her,rolled her eyes and muttered,“Mind your own business.”
“Jealous because no guys are interested,always studying,no guys interested…”
Claire’s face darkened.
“What’s Sophie’s deal?I ask out of genuine concern,and she says I’m manless?”
I sighed,and patted Claire’s shoulder.
“Haven’t you figured out what makes her trick?”
“To her,we’re just city elitists who despise her.Why would she be nice?”
Claire was pretty and kind—hardly lacking suitors.But as a freshman,she focused on academics,hitting the library or competing in contests,accumulating awards.
She wasn’t short of male attention;she just didn’t need it.
My words cheered Claire up,and lessened the sting of Sophie’s jab.
“Exactly!I don’t need guys in mt life!”
“Men just distract me from my studies!”
She clenched her fist,shouting triumphantly.
