She dropped everything on the desk with a loud thud.
“Some people just can’t stand seeing others succeed. They think that by not lending me money, they can block my path to chasing my dream. Pathetic.”
Her snide words were aimed straight at me.
I knew she must have found another “sucker.”
Sure enough, that evening, I saw a post on the college forum.
“Feeling for my treasure girl, working so hard for her dream but being suppressed by her roommate.”
The post came from an anonymous account, but every word pointed at me and Linda.
It even included a photo of Linda wiping away tears at our dorm door.
The comments poured in, full of insults directed at me.
“What kind of roommate is that? So toxic.”
“Exactly. Can’t stand to see someone else succeed, huh? Classic jealousy.”
“Expose her, let everyone see what kind of person she is.”
The post quickly gained traction, and soon Ethan appeared in the comments.
He replied under his real name:
“I believe Linda is a kind girl. Please don’t assume the worst about someone chasing their dreams. I’ve already helped her with the equipment. I hope her livestream goes smoothly.”
Everyone praised him endlessly.
Linda showed me his reply on her phone.
“See, Sarah? Ethan is on my side. What do you have to compete with me?”
“Congratulations,” I said. “You’ve found your knight.”
With Ethan’s financial support, Linda’s streaming setup leveled up instantly.
High-def camera, professional lighting, microphone—all complete.
She even spent extra to promote her livestream announcement on the platform’s homepage.
Our dorm table was completely transformed into a streaming studio.
“Sarah, move your lamp—it’s blocking my shot.”
“Kelly, eat quieter—you’re ruining my vibe.”
Kelly could only retreat to the balcony with her snacks, too afraid to argue.
I didn’t mind. I quietly packed up my things and gave her more space.
The more invested she became, the harder the fall would be when it all came crashing down.
The day before the livestream, Linda suddenly realized a fatal problem.
“Oh no, my leeches.”
She clutched the glass jar.
“Melissa used medical leeches that cost over a thousand a jar. But I already spent Ethan’s money on equipment.”
The jar in her hands was the one she had first bought from some sketchy online seller for fifty bucks.
The water inside was murky and foul, and the leeches lay limp at the bottom, barely alive.
“How can I livestream with these? If I use them, people will laugh me off the Internet.”
Linda panicked, pacing in circles.
And once again, the first person she thought of was me.
She grabbed my arm.
“Sarah, my dear Sarah, help me just one more time, please? Just this once.”
“I know you’ve got some savings. Lend me a thousand. As soon as I get donations, I’ll pay you back—double.”
I pulled my arm free, looking troubled.
“Linda, I really don’t have the money. Why don’t you ask Ethan again?”
“I can’t bring myself to ask him again.”
When I refused, Linda turned to her fan group on Discord to play the victim.
“Guys, disaster struck. The leeches I prepared for my livestream are ruined. I need money urgently to buy new ones. Otherwise, tomorrow’s stream will be canceled. Is my dream really going to end here?”
