My girlfriend, Chloe, was cornered by some rough types, clearly in distress, but all I did was quietly flip open my textbook and review. In my past life, I couldn’t stand by. I stepped in, and I ended up hurting one of those guys. The next day, Chloe framed me, claiming *I* had assaulted her. I lost my chance at a scholarship, a direct path to a prestigious university. Eventually, the police let me go due to lack of evidence. But when I walked out, I saw Chloe nestled in that thug’s arms, giggling, “Honey, this nerd doesn’t get our fun. He actually thought you were assaulting me, hahaha, it’s so hilarious!” Chloe then added, “Good thing we set him up to take the fall. Otherwise, that scholarship wouldn’t have been mine.” “Since he loves meddling so much, I’ll just break an arm and a leg,” the thug sneered. They beat me, left me crippled, and dumped me in a saltwater tank, where I suffered agonizing, bone-rotting torture every day. My Nana Sue, who came looking for me, was drowned in a tub by those same thugs. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that very day Chloe was being cornered.
“SLAP!” A loud, stinging slap. My left cheek burned instantly. “Jason, are you even a man? Just watching your own girlfriend being… You, why didn’t you save me last night?” Chloe’s voice trembled, her tears streaming down her face. I pressed my tongue against my throbbing cheek, suppressing the rage churning in my chest. “Chloe, weren’t you having a blast? I thought you were really enjoying yourself,” I said, my voice cold. “Besides, we broke up. Do whatever you want. I have no right to interfere.” I turned to leave, but she grabbed my sleeve. Her attitude suddenly softened. “I don’t agree to the breakup. You haven’t tutored me for today’s class yet, have you?” I almost burst out laughing. Chloe, the girl who hadn’t opened a textbook once in three years of college, was now using “tutoring” as an excuse to keep me around? I knew her too well – she was only sticking to me because of next week’s midterms, and she needed my notes and tutoring to pass. “Let go.” I peeled her fingers off, not looking back. Last night, at eleven, I was in my dorm, rushing to finish a paper when my phone buzzed. “Chloe” flashed on the screen, and my fingers froze. She’d changed her number after we broke up, and I’d deleted all her contacts. “Jason… help… help me…” Chloe’s slurred voice came through, background noise a chaotic mix of music and laughter. “Golden Horizon Hotel… they’re forcing me to drink…” My heart just *clenched*. Chloe and I had grown up together; I’d always looked out for her like a little sister. Even after all the times she’d messed up, my family did owe hers a debt of gratitude for their past help. After a tough internal debate, I decided this would be the last time. I grabbed my jacket and rushed out. Chloe loved to party, but her alcohol tolerance was terrible. When we were together, I never let her drink outside. When I finally, breathlessly, knocked on room 1818, the sight before me chilled me to the bone. The door was ajar. Chloe, her clothes disheveled, was straddling Blake’s lap – that trust fund kid whose family owned a chain of hotels. He was bringing a drink to her lips. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glazed, but a smile played on her lips. She didn’t look forced at all. “Well, well, if it isn’t Jason, the top student,” Blake grinned, his arm tightening around Chloe’s waist. “Looking for your ex-girlfriend? Too bad she prefers playing with me now.” Chloe turned, saw me, and her expression stiffened for a split second, but then she quickly smiled. “Jason? What are you doing here… Come have a drink with us…” I stood there, feeling my blood turn to ice. So, the “cry for help” was just her drunken whim, or part of some twisted game she was playing with Blake. I’d rushed over like an idiot in the middle of the night, only to witness *this*. “My apologies.” I turned and left. Behind me, I heard Chloe’s cackles and Blake’s mocking voice, “Poor guy’s always poor. Can’t even afford a hotel room, still trying to get a girl?” Stepping out of the hotel, the night wind cut through me. I stood by the road, suddenly feeling utterly pathetic. Twenty-two years of friendship, of shared life, and in Chloe’s eyes, it was nothing more than a transaction – me providing academic help in exchange for her company, and now she’d found a wealthier buyer. “Jason! Wait!” Chloe chased after me. I quickened my pace, but she still managed to block my path. “What do you even want?” I couldn’t help but raise my voice. “Wasn’t last night clear enough?” Chloe bit her lower lip. “I was drunk… I don’t remember anything…” Her eyes darted away. “Blake said he’d help me with my failing grades for the finals, so I…” “So you exchanged your body for grades?” I scoffed. “What a noble transaction.” Her face flushed crimson. “How can you say that?! If you hadn’t insisted on breaking up, I wouldn’t have…” “I insisted on breaking up?” I cut her off. “You were the one who said, ‘Jason, we’re not from the same world. You can’t give me what I want.’ Remember?” That was three months ago, on Chloe’s twentieth birthday. I’d worked three jobs, saved up to buy her a fancy necklace, while her friends showered her with designer bags and perfumes. That night, in front of everyone, she threw the necklace back at me. “Jason, let’s break up. You can’t even afford a decent birthday dinner. We’re not from the same world.” I remember standing at the restaurant entrance, clutching that “cheap” necklace, watching her and her friends drive off in Blake’s Porsche. “I was just… upset at the time,” Chloe now explained, reaching for my arm, but I pulled away. “I know you’re the best to me, Jason. See? I came back for you.” Watching the calculation in Chloe’s eyes, impossible to hide, I suddenly realized I’d never truly known this person. For over two decades, I might have been in love with nothing more than a carefully constructed illusion. “Chloe,” I took a deep breath. “We’re done. Truly done. I won’t write your papers anymore, I won’t cheat on tests for you, and I certainly won’t continue to be your on-call backup.” Her expression instantly twisted, the sweet facade crumbling to reveal something ugly underneath. “Who do you think you are? A poor student with nothing but good grades! I’m giving you face by even looking your way!” “Then please take that ‘face’ back,” I said calmly. “I don’t need it.” As I turned to leave, I heard her scream hysterically behind me, “You’ll regret this, Jason! Without me, you’re nothing!” My phone vibrated. It was a message from my advisor: “Jason, your MIT exchange application has been approved. Congratulations.” I stopped, and then I smiled. The world, it turned out, was so much bigger than I’d ever imagined. And my worth? It never needed Chloe’s approval to be proven.
I never thought Blake would personally seek me out. “Heard you were peeping on Chloe and me getting cozy yesterday? That desperate?” People around us had already stopped, pulling out their phones. “Move.” My voice was low as I tried to walk around them. “Chloe told me you’ve been harassing her, refusing to let go,” Blake said loudly, making sure everyone could hear. “Broke bookworms are always broke bookworms, can’t even keep a girlfriend. Know what she said on my bed last night? She said you—” I didn’t wait for him to finish. I punched him square in the face. Blake, caught off guard, clutched his face, staring at me in disbelief. His two goons instantly lunged. “Jason! Are you crazy?!” Chloe’s voice suddenly cut through the crowd. She pushed her way to the front, glanced at the bruise on Blake’s face, then turned to me, her eyes filled with accusation. “How could you hit him?” I looked at her, suddenly feeling an absurd hollowness. For over twenty years, I hadn’t even raised my voice at her, and now she stood beside the man who had humiliated me, demanding answers. “Chloe,” I wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of my mouth. “Last night, you called for help. Was *this* the kind of ‘help’ you were calling for? Blake’s bed?” A ripple of whispers broke out among the onlookers. Chloe’s face went white, then quickly flushed crimson. “What are you talking about?!” she shrieked. “I never called anyone!” Blake’s eyes glinted maliciously. “I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this school. My dad’s a board member. Who do you think the Dean’s office will believe?” I met his gaze head-on. “What else do you have besides your daddy’s money?” Blake stumbled back, falling onto the ground, his face a grimace. His two goons started forward but were held back by my stare. “Jason!” Chloe suddenly rushed over and grabbed my arm. “Do you know what you’re doing? Blake’s family—” “I know,” I shook off her hand. “He’s rich and powerful. So what? Is that why you chose him?” Chloe’s lips trembled. “You just don’t understand…” Her voice suddenly dropped. “The life I need, you can’t give me…” “And are you getting it now?” I scanned the growing crowd, then looked at Blake, still sitting on the ground. “Being with someone like this, is *that* the life you want?” Chloe didn’t answer, but her eyes flickered. Just then, the piercing whistle of campus security echoed from a distance. Dean Miller, without asking questions, sternly reprimanded me, “Jason. You assaulted a fellow student without provocation. According to school regulations, that’s a disciplinary strike.” “Without provocation?” I couldn’t help but retort. “He started it—” The Dean cut me off. “Considering your otherwise good record, if you’re willing to apologize publicly, we can go easy on you.” I looked at Blake. A triumphant smirk played on his lips, his eyes practically screaming, “You’re done for.” “I won’t apologize.” I met the Dean’s gaze directly. “He provoked and insulted me and my family first.” The Dean’s face grew even sterner. “Jason, think carefully. A disciplinary strike will affect your MIT exchange qualification.” My heart sank. The MIT exchange was a goal I’d worked for two years, my only chance to escape my current situation. I looked at Blake, his smile widening, clearly knowing this was a sore spot. The room fell terrifyingly silent. I thought of my parents, working overtime in the factory, of them scrimping and saving every penny to send me to college, of the light in my father’s eyes when he said, “Son, our family is counting on you.” Then I remembered Blake’s sneering face as he insulted my parents, and Chloe standing by his side. “I’d rather take the disciplinary strike than apologize to someone like him,” I said, every word deliberate. The Dean shook his head in disappointment, picking up his pen to sign the document. Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open. “Wait!” A familiar voice rang out. I turned in surprise to see my roommate, Sam, standing in the doorway, breathless, holding up his phone. “I have video evidence! Blake provoked him first! And his two goons started the physical contact!” The Dean frowned, taking the phone. The video clearly showed the entire incident. The atmosphere in the room instantly shifted. Blake suddenly stood up. “That video’s edited! My dad—” “Enough!” The Dean sharply cut him off. “Mr. Blake, we will handle this matter fairly. Now, please go back to your room.” Blake’s face was ashen as he glared at me, then slammed the door shut and left. The Dean tiredly rubbed his temples. “Jason, while your actions were understandable, hitting someone is still wrong. Write a statement. This matter ends here.” Walking out of the Dean’s office, Sam punched my shoulder. “You’re a wild one, man!” My phone buzzed. It was an email from my advisor: “Final confirmation for MIT exchange. Please submit your visa documents as soon as possible.” I took a deep breath and replied, “Already prepared. Will submit tomorrow morning.”
On the weekend break, I went back to my old place to visit Nana Sue. I didn’t expect to run into Chloe at the edge of town. Nana Sue warmly took Chloe’s hand. “Came from the city? Had dinner yet? Why don’t you come eat at our place?” I was about to object, but Chloe already smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Nana Sue, I haven’t eaten yet. I’m here for a community project, and I didn’t expect to run into Jason.” Community project? I scoffed inwardly. Chloe hadn’t completed a single volunteer hour without paying someone off in three years of college. How could she possibly be doing a community project? On the way home, Nana Sue and Chloe chatted animatedly. Chloe was uncharacteristically well-behaved and attentive, asking Nana Sue about everything. Nana Sue beamed, praising her, “This girl is so thoughtful.” “Jason,” Chloe suddenly said after dinner. “I have a research report for this community project that I need to write. You’re a great writer, could you take a look?” I was about to refuse, but Nana Sue spoke first. “Jason, your classmate came all this way, it’s not easy. Help her out.” Seeing the expectant look in Nana Sue’s eyes, I had no choice but to nod. A flicker of triumph in Chloe’s eyes confirmed my suspicion: this was a trap. I led Chloe to the small table in the backyard and asked coldly, “What do you really want?” Chloe’s expression immediately changed, her earlier sweetness gone. “I just wanted to see the famous Nana Sue,” she said, glancing around the modest yard, a hint of disdain in her eyes. “So this is where you grew up.” I clenched my fists. “If you’re here to insult me, you can leave now.” “Don’t be so tense,” she suddenly smiled again, pulling a USB drive from her bag. “I really do need your help. Blake is forcing me to submit an economics paper, due next Monday. You know I can’t write it. Please help me, just this once.” “Why don’t you ask Blake for help? Isn’t he so capable?” I sneered. A shadow crossed Chloe’s eyes. “He… he’s in a bad mood lately. Jason, just for Nana Sue’s sake? She was so happy just now, if she knew you were so cold…” She was using my Nana Sue against me! I took a deep breath, weighing my options. If I refused, she might cause a scene in front of Nana Sue. If I agreed… this was clearly a trap. “Just this once,” I finally conceded. “Leave the files, and I’ll give it back to you tomorrow.” Chloe flashed a triumphant smile, pressing the USB drive into my hand. “I knew you were the best.” She leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Don’t tell Nana Sue about our ‘little secret,’ okay?” The next morning, I finished revising the paper and was about to head to the local library to email it to Chloe. As I stepped out, I saw a black Mercedes pull up at the edge of town. The window rolled down, revealing Blake’s detestable face. “Nana Sue,” Blake suddenly said, “Jason and I have a small academic disagreement. He thinks data can be freely altered, but I believe academic integrity is more important. What do you think?” I stared at him in shock. What was he babbling about? Nana Sue looked at me, puzzled. “Jason never lies, does he? Is there some misunderstanding?” Blake sighed, pulled out his phone, scrolled a bit, then handed it to Nana Sue. “See, this is a paper Jason ghostwrote for someone else, and he even got paid for it. That’s a serious disciplinary violation in college.” I leaned closer and saw it: on the screen was the very paper I’d revised last night, complete with my name as author and a screenshot of a transaction record! This was a complete frame-up! “That’s not true!” I snatched the phone. “Nana Sue, he’s lying!” Nana Sue looked at me, then at Blake, her eyes filled with confusion and worry. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Sam: “Emergency! Someone posted on the campus forum accusing you of long-term paid ghostwriting, with ‘evidence’ attached. The Dean’s office is already investigating. Your MIT qualification might be canceled!” I felt like I’d fallen into an ice abyss. So, this was their real objective. Blake stood up, feigning concern.
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