Chapter 3 The Money Was There

By Friday, I couldn't withstand the hunger any longer. I had four classes that morning, and all I had was two cups of water.

By noon, my stomach started cramping up from time to time. I split the half-pack of crackers left in my backpack into two portions and only dared to eat one.

During my afternoon programming class, my hand shook as I held the mouse. The code on the screen started to blur.

My roommate eventually slipped me a piece of candy. "Nora, you're looking way too pale."

After class, she insisted on dragging me to the cafeteria.

I ordered a plain baked potato and a side salad. The total came to $6.50.

I tapped my campus card, but the payment was declined for insufficient funds.

There were still people waiting behind me, and my face immediately started to burn in mortification. I quickly lowered my head and checked my phone. My dining balance was only $0.63.

My roommate immediately held out her card. "Use mine."

I was about to tell her I'd pay her back when my phone suddenly started vibrating.

Several new messages had appeared in the class group chat. They were from my mother.

"I'd appreciate it if none of Nora's teachers or classmates lent her money."

"She's been pretending to be helpless since she was little. The more people help her, the more she thinks all she has to do is cry to get what she wants."

Two more messages followed.

"Her father has a family of his own. I stayed with him all these years because I loved him. I have never wanted a single cent from the Callahan family."

"Unfortunately, my daughter didn't take after me. Now, all she thinks about is money. She's also been trying to compete with the child in that family."

A loud roar seemed to go off in my head. The voices around me faded. My legs went weak, and I grabbed the edge of the table to steady myself.

People were already asking for follow-ups in the group chat.

"So, she's his illegitimate daughter?"

"If her family is so rich, why is she always borrowing money?"

My roommate slammed her tray down and grabbed my phone. "She's not pretending to be helpless. She borrowed money because her mother took back the money she was supposed to live on."

The group went silent for a few seconds.

Then, someone said, "Figures. You two are probably just alike. Look at you being her knight in shining armor. Are you getting something out of it, too? Why don't you cover her living expenses from now on?"

My mother actually replied, "Thank you for caring about her, but Nora is very good at getting other people to stand up for her. Don't let her use you."

My roommate's face turned red with anger. She started typing again.

I snatched the phone back. "Forget it."

It was only after the word left my mouth that I realized I was shaking.

She was only trying to defend me, but now she was getting attacked because of me.

I ran outside the cafeteria and called my mother. "Mom, delete those messages from the group."

"So, now you're embarrassed?"

"My roommate has nothing to do with this."

My mother's voice was flat.

"Then, admit that you were wrong. Tell them in the group chat that you only took a job and borrowed money because you were mad at your family. Show some sincerity, and I might consider giving you the $1,000 living expenses for this semester again."

I doubled over as another wave of stomach pain hit me.

1,000 dollars would feed me for a long time.

I actually typed a reply. "I'm sorry."

However, I couldn't bring myself to hit "Send."

What had I done wrong? Was I wrong for being hungry? Was I wrong for wanting to earn some money of my own? Or was I wrong for not even being able to afford a $6.50 meal?

"Nora, I'm giving you one last chance."

My tears fell. "Mom, I really don't have any money left."

There was a two-second silence.

"If you don't have money, then learn to go without. It's better for a girl to grow up poorer; at least she won't grow up obsessed with money."

The call ended.

The $6.50 meal had already gone cold. I lowered my head and took two bites, but I couldn't swallow another.

The next morning, my academic advisor asked me to come to her office.

I had barely reached the door when I heard my mother's voice.

"She isn't struggling financially. She doesn't need to apply for financial aid. Her father gives me $200,000 every month. He also gave me another $80,000 at the beginning of the school year for her tuition, housing, and living expenses."

I stopped in my tracks.

$80,000?

My mother continued, "Of course, I didn't give it to her directly. A child can't grow up thinking that having wealthy parents means she's entitled to everything."

I lowered my head and opened my banking app. My account had a balance of just $3.27.

I still owed my roommate $129. She had paid for yesterday's $6.50 meal, too.

Yet, my mother had just said that my father gave her $80,000 at the start of the school year.