"You've been ripped off again and again, with your so-called acquaintance, friend, or whatever."
"I told you all along that not a single one of them is unreliable!"
I was truly furious and frustrated.
From when I was a child to a teenager now, Patrick had been deceived countless times by his so-called acquaintance, friend, or whatever to handle in almost everything.
And I had argued countless times with him about it, but he still insisted on.
Patrick wasn't satiesfied.
"You know nothing, Patricia. If it weren't for my wide social network to find someone picking you back home, you might be kidnapped to be raped or even killed on the way by stranger!"
"And your laptop isn't good enough. If it weren't for my kindness, no one else would offer you this price!"
Here we went again.
Every time I argued with him, he always managed to argue with excuses.
Undenieable, his so-called acquaintance, friend, or whatever had led things more complicated and disadvantageous.
Yet he still didn't get my points and chose to trust his connection to handle things better.
"I can take the train back by myself. The chances of what you're saying happening are very small ...."
Patrick interrupted me. "It's because I found someone so it didn't happen."
I was tongue-tied. I felt dizzy and almost breathless.
My older brother, Luigi Dempster, happened to be passing by and overheard our argument, a bit gloating.
"He's so kind to bring you home, how could you not treat him to a meal? You've been hanging around books so much that you don't even know your manners."
My father, seeing someone agree with him, grew even more confident.
"You brat, you just don't get the principle of using acquaintances to get things done, a society, you get it?"
He nudged my forehead hard.
I returned to my room, annoyed and dissapointed, clutching my empty bag.
It was normal for me to have kinds of reaction.
Three years ago, after taking the college entrance exam, I had already chosen a local university based on my scores.
But Patrick asked me to change my first choice to Queensland University.
He promised me, "I have a friend who will help get you into Queensland Unniversity."
I wasn't a fool. I knew my family's financial situation. I didn't even want to mention my father's so-called friend.
Choosing a university was a major life decision and I didn't want to rely on outsiders.
"Did your friend explain the specific process? Do I have to change my choice? Even if he's so capable, can he just help get me into that university?" asked me to Patrick.
Speechless, he went to make a phone call and came back in a hurry.
"My friend works at Directorate of Education. He said, it's confidential and can't be leaked, so you can rest assured."
The more he convinced me, the less I believed him.
Just pretend to change it to Queensland University and then change it back as soon as he left.
I thought the problem would just end there.
However, I had yet my admission letter.
My father leisurely crossed his legs and said, "Don't worry, I've got someone to take care of it. Just wait for the admission letter from Queensland University."
I only then learned that he got my account and password from my mother, Lucia Dempster, then changed it back.
He had only chosen Queensland University.
Patrick continued. "What are you afraid of? If you're going to a university, you'll go to the best!"
I was so angry that I didn't talk to him for a month.
I just watched him go from being so confident at the beginning to making phone calls multiples times later.
After confirming I had been rejected, I tearfully questioned him, "Can't you just see me doing well? I told you he wasn't reliable, so why didn't you believe me, why?"
Three years of hard work had been utterly shattered and the culprits were my family. Devastated, frustrated, I wished I could jump off the top floor.
What I got in return was a slap from my father, who was furious and embarrassed.
"If your grades weren't so low, how could my friend have failed to accomplish this!"
