When Austin's message landed, the group only got louder.
"Austin, you're just too easygoing. That's the only reason Denys thinks he can look down on everyone. No manners at all."
"Right. Eight years and he never once said a word in here. He's obviously barely scraping by. If it weren't for you, he wouldn't even qualify to walk through the doors of the Grandview Restaurant."
"A guy like that deserves to be broke his whole life."
The comments kept getting nastier, and I was about to reply.
Then my phone rang. Austin, his voice heavy with concern.
"Denys, don't take what they said to heart. We're all classmates. Just pretend you didn't see it, and whatever you do, don't get into it with them."
"Falling out with everyone is bad for all of us."
He sounded anxious, like he'd worried himself sick over me.
But I could tell exactly what was going on. He was scared.
Scared I'd lose my temper and lay it all out in the group chat, expose what he really was.
So he'd called the second he could, hoping to talk me into swallowing it and taking the blame.
That was the only way he got to keep his big, generous, high-and-mighty image intact.
I gave a faint smile and answered calmly.
"Relax. I won't fight with them."
The moment I promised, Austin let out a long breath, his voice lifting.
"Good."
"So tomorrow's reunion, make sure you set it up right. Don't you dare make me lose face."
I didn't agree outright. Instead, I asked one more time.
"And the balance?"
"The nine hundred eighty thousand you've racked up over eight years, plus this dinner. When exactly do you plan to settle it?"
Austin got impatient at once.
"All right, all right, I'll pay you after the reunion. It's just one meal. Why are you still going on about this?"
Pay me after the reunion.
He'd been saying that line for eight years.
And he'd never once made good on it.
Before, I always kept my patience, reminding him over and over that his tab at the restaurant kept snowballing, that he really couldn't keep putting it off.
But this time, I just nodded and said mildly:
"Fine."
"I'll set it all up. I promise you'll be satisfied."
Hearing me agree so readily, Austin was clearly thrown for a second.
Then he laughed, pleased with himself.
Like he'd finally tamed his prey, his voice full of pride.
"Remember, I want the biggest private room, the top-tier menu."
I gave a small "Mm," and answered flatly.
"Got it."
Austin hung up, satisfied.
I quietly opened my chat with him.
The last message was still the gift money he'd sent a few minutes ago.
Originally I'd meant to turn down his booking, which was why I'd never accepted that hundred-dollar deposit.
But now I'd changed my mind.
I tapped to claim the gift money, then called the manager and told her calmly:
"Set aside the biggest private room in the restaurant. I'll need it tomorrow."
"Oh, and one more thing I need you to handle for me."
Once everything was arranged, I checked the group chat again. Austin was showing off some more.
"Everyone, it's all taken care of. Tomorrow the Grandview Restaurant will host us in their biggest private room, top-tier service all the way."
"I made a point of setting up the drinks too. Premium liquor, all you can drink."
"Just be there on time. Every last cost is on me, so eat and drink to your hearts' content."
The moment he posted it, the flattery and praise came flooding in, one after another.
"Austin's a legend. A spread that fancy must cost a fortune, right?"
"It's not just about money. It's about status and connections. Only Austin could get the Grandview Restaurant to host us in the biggest room with the top-tier treatment."
"Amazing. Getting to be Austin's classmate is honestly the luckiest thing that ever happened to me."
Austin fired back instantly.
"Pocket change. As long as everyone has a good time."
Reading his reply, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Austin. Eight years.
Eight years playing the big man off my restaurant, eight years soaking up the praise, and eight years running up a debt to me.
All of it, tomorrow, I'm going to collect back piece by piece, principal and interest, every last cent.
