Last-Minute Betrayal
In the final minute before the exam, my childhood friend, the one who was supposed to bring both of our exam documents, handed in only his own admission ticket.
When it was my turn, his hands were empty. He said matter-of-factly,
“Your exam ticket and ID aren’t here. Skip a subject and give your Cornell slot to Summer.”
I froze. I couldn’t believe he would sabotage my college exam just to help Summer.
Summer Hayes was the class beauty, but my grades had consistently outshined hers throughout high school.
I looked at the boy I had known for eighteen years. Anger and disbelief bubbled up, making me laugh bitterly. Then I turned and walked away.
Behind me, Jason Turner shouted, exasperated.
“You are so good at school. So what if you repeat a year?
“And now you are skipping the exam on a whim. How will that make Summer look? Are you really letting everyone think she forced you?”
I didn’t even glance back.
Skipping the exam on a whim. He had no idea.
Two weeks ago, I had already secured an Early Admission spot in Harvard’s Physics Talent Program.
Coming to the college entrance exam today was just a gesture of our eighteen-year friendship, going through the motions with him.
Since he didn’t care, that friendship ended here.