My Two-Faced Roommate

Just a month into the semester, I managed to make my roommate, who claimed to have a serious heart condition, so angry that she had to be hospitalized.

When the ambulance arrived at the dormitory, all the people in the building were stunned.

My other roommates quickly added fuel to the fire, claiming, "It's all because Kayla's words are too harsh."

As for Tilda, everyone just thought she was being bullied.

1.

Yes, I admitted my words were unpleasant. To put it nicely, I had mastery of words. To put it bluntly, I sucked at communication. In other words, I had low emotional intelligence and refused to compromise.

On the first day of college, Tilda's parents asked us for a favor, "Tilda has a serious heart condition and isn't in good health. As her roommate, please take good care of her."

I ignored them, but the other roommates eagerly nodded, "Don't worry. Tilda is our roommate, and we'll be living in the same room for the next four years. We'll take good care of her."

"Thank you guys."

Tilda sat by her bed, smiling kindly, but her tone sounded as condescending as her parents'.

This feeling was all too familiar.

Yes, she treated me this way in high school too.

So, what others perceived was me being unreasonable and Tilda being understanding.

I didn't expect her to continue this tactic in college.

"Kayla, you look familiar to me. You remind me of a classmate I used to have."

"Really? What a coincidence."

"We used to be very close. She was my best friend in high school."

Tilda smiled, "But she's not in the country now. Otherwise, we could hang out together."

I forced a smile. As the victim of her emotional manipulation, I knew full well that I was the best friend she mentioned.

Meeting her again, I only wanted revenge and to see if her skills of manipulation got any better.

2.

"Izabella, my health isn't good. So, we need to set a reasonable schedule."

On the second day of school, Tilda made her demands to the dorm leader.

"No noise before eight in the morning. Lights out after nine at night, and no other light sources."

Seeing the refusal in everyone's eyes, she blinked and feigned innocence. "I have a serious heart condition. You wouldn't mind, would you?"

"Of course not."

I could hear the reluctance in Izabella's response, but I just watched the drama unfold. After all, I didn't live in the dorm room. From the first glance at Tilda, I knew it was better to live outside than be emotionally manipulated in the dorm.

Besides, my parents had rewarded me for getting into college by buying me a 300-square-meter apartment outside the school.

"Izabella, it's so cold this morning. The cold air will definitely choke me if I go out. Could you bring me breakfast? A cup of coffee and a sandwich, please."

Izabella hesitated. She had an optional course with a very strict teacher, and being late would definitely affect her grade.

"I have class later."

But Tilda continued, "Izabella, you know I have a serious heart condition."

The dorm fell silent, and Izabella had no choice but to agree, "Alright then."

This was a common scene during the few days I stayed in the dorm room, and I was just an observer, not expecting Tilda to bother me too.

3.

"Kayla, I didn't sleep well last night. I might need a nap later. Remember to help me with the roll call in class."

She was used to ordering others around, assuming everyone would indulge her, and didn't even bother to ask.

"No." I refused outright.

Everyone knew the teacher for this class required each student to stand up and answer roll call, and had warned, "Anyone caught skipping class will fail, and if I find someone attending the roll call for another, both will fail."

How could she expect me to risk failing for her?

"Kayla, you know..."

I interrupted, "Know what? I don't know where you got the nerve to ask such a favor. Don't you know this teacher is very strict? If caught, both of us will fail."

"Sorry, I didn't know."

Tilda looked pitifully tearful, and another roommate couldn't stand it.

Fern tried to persuade me, "Kayla, you're making a big deal out of nothing. Besides, everyone knows Tilda's health isn't good. Why can't you help her?"

"Why don't you help her?"

Tilda immediately turned expectantly to Fern, who awkwardly lowered her head without speaking.

"Fern, don't pretend you didn't hear me. You just said it's no big deal."

Tilda was quick to take advantage of the situation. "Fern, I'll leave it to you then. Thanks."

Fern replied with a long face, "You're welcome."

She looked at me with resentment, and I didn't understand why they enjoyed emotionally manipulating others but hated it when they were blackmailed emotionally.

4.

"Tilda Moore."

"Here."

Fern ended up helping Tilda with the roll call, but her momentary hesitation was enough for the sharp-eyed teacher to notice something off.

"Kayla Stanley."

"Here."

"Fern Gordon."

Fern stood up hesitantly, angering the teacher so much that he threw down the attendance sheet. "Are you taking me for a fool? Do you think I'll buy your stupid trick?"

"What's your name exactly?

"Fern Gordon."

Neither of them got away with it. Both failed the class. The two, usually getting along well, nearly fought with each other in the dorm.

"Fern, you damn liar. Now we both failed the class."

"Tilda, aren't you ashamed to say that? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have failed."

Fern was furious, thinking Tilda was shameless, and tried to seek support from me. "Kayla, tell me, wasn't she the one begging me to sign in for her? Otherwise, how would I have failed?"

Why drag me into their mess? I didn't oblige, "I don't know. Don't ask me."

Izabella, as the dorm leader, tried to mediate between them, but she was clueless, asking me, "Kayla, you three were the only ones there. Your account is important. Just tell us what happened."

"My account?" I retorted, "What? Am I being interrogated like a criminal?"

Izabella went speechless at my question, still trying to assert her authority, but I couldn't be bothered. I grabbed my backpack and left.

Clearly, they brought it upon themselves, yet they wanted me to judge who was more wrong. Ridiculous.

5.

A few days ago, they were glaring at each other, ready to fight, but now they were wearing matching outfits like best friends. But I knew they were just fair-weather friends.

Coincidentally, Tilda had used this trick on me before. Back then, I was even more excited than Fern, practically over the moon.

I was eager to give the world to her, only to realize she took me for nothing.

I didn't warn Fern. After all, they were in a symbiotic relationship. If I said anything, she'd think I was jealous.

"Kayla, Tilda gave me this bracelet. Isn't it pretty?"

"It's quite pretty."

Hearing my reply, Fern smiled proudly, flaunting it in front of me several times.

How could I not recognize it?

It was the first gift I gave Tilda back in high school, a bracelet with tiny diamonds from a well-known brand. I remember how touched she was when she received it.

"Laura, this is the first gift you've ever given me. I promise I'll treasure it."

"Does it look good? I just bought it recently. Since Fern and I are close now, I decided to give it to her."

Tilda hinted, and I couldn't help but interrupt, "Isn't this style of bracelet from several years ago?"

Tilda's proud smile froze at the corner of her mouth as I gave her a piercing look. She awkwardly explained, "Maybe it's a classic model. So I can still buy it now."

"Oh, I see."

I said with a hint of sarcasm. Tilda fell silent, looking very aggrieved. As Fern had just received something from her, she felt duty-bound to step in.

"Kayla, if you're jealous, just say it. No need to be sarcastic. I think it's sour grapes."

She shot me a disdainful glance. I didn't bother to reply, simply raising my hand. The sleeve of my loose sweater slipped down, revealing a bracelet of the same brand on my wrist, but larger, shinier, and adorned with a massive gemstone.

Honestly, this bracelet wasn't the most expensive piece in my collection, but at that moment, actions spoke louder than words, proving Fern's words were unwarranted.

"Maybe it's a fake."

Fern loyally defended Tilda, and I replied calmly, "Turns out you're the typical case of sour grapes."

Fern's face turned red as she closed her mouth. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tilda staring intently at my wrist. I didn't hold back. "Tilda, please don't look at my wrist with such longing. I almost thought you were going to bite me."

"You're overthinking."

"I hope so."

I arched an eyebrow, successfully irritating her before leaving the dorm room with spirit.

6.

In the empty apartment, I recalled my high school days. Back then, I had gained weight due to illness and turned into a chubby girl, which made me very insecure.

I didn't dare speak to others, fearing they'd ask why I was so fat. I avoided crowded places and couldn't bear to be asked why I gained so much weight.

I was very resistant to my former environment. My parents were busy with work and couldn't always be by my side, so they sent me to see a psychologist. His advice was to change my environment, and after some consideration, my parents decided to send me back to my hometown.

There, my grandparents could take care of me, and the people in the small town were more friendly.

On my first day there, I was happy because no one would ask why I suddenly became so fat. They would just assume I was born that way.

Many people were born chubby, but few become fat due to illness. Curiosity would make people focus more on rare cases.

I understood they meant me no ill, but I hated having to go through such questions.

Every question of theirs felt like a stab to my heart.

In my most helpless moments, I met Tilda. She was slender and cheerful, just like I used to be. I saw a reflection of my old self in her, so I didn't resist her approach.

Moreover, while everyone else was still observing me, she was the first to actively reach out.

Her proactive approach made her special to me for a long time.

Tilda took me to all the fun places in the town.

Knowing I was feeling down, both my busy parents and my loving grandparents gave me plenty of pocket money, which I spent on the two of us.

When Tilda said she didn't have any pretty dresses, I bought her some. When she wanted to join a dance class but didn't have suitable shoes, I asked my mom to buy them and send them here.

I treated her better than my own cousin, even spending all my pocket money to buy her that diamond bracelet for her birthday because she pointed at a magazine and said she liked it, but her parents wouldn't let her buy such expensive items.

Though Tilda wasn't the prettiest girl in school, she was quite attractive and had no shortage of boys chasing her. However, she told me she only wanted to focus on her studies and get into college.

But when she met Austin, she changed her tune.

"Laura, aren't we best friends?"

"Of course we are."

Tilda was thrilled with my response and shyly glanced at Austin, who was reading nearby. "Then promise me you'll help me become Austin's girlfriend."

"How do I do that?"

I was slow to catch on and didn't understand what Tilda was hinting at, but since she said we were best friends, I would definitely help her.

I'd help her with anything, but Austin was different to me.

Austin didn't give Tilda a chance. When he heard us talking, he rejected her outright.

"Sorry, I'm not interested in dating right now. I just want to focus on getting into college."

I didn't know when he developed such lofty goals, but I didn't say it in front of Tilda. She was my best friend, but Austin was my very best friend, someone Tilda couldn't replace.

He was the only one who knew I transferred schools and the only one who saw me after I unexpectedly gained weight.

7.

Austin's rejection made things start to change. I noticed Tilda no longer wanted to hang out with me, yet she still told me what she wanted, expecting me to buy it for her.

Though I became sensitive due to my weight gain, I wasn't foolish. I decided not to be taken advantage of and confronted her for an explanation.

"Tilda, why haven't you been hanging out with Laura lately?"

"Why should I hang out with such a fatty girl? People might question my taste in friends."

With that, they burst into laughter. The term "such a fatty girl" hit their funny bone, making them laugh uncontrollably. It also struck my most sensitive nerve, and I felt like I couldn't breathe, crying in a corner.

The tears weren't because of Tilda's betrayal but because I couldn't escape the impact of my weight gain. No matter what I did, all they knew was that I was such a fatty girl because it was so accurate. Without seeing me, they could laugh at me just because I was fat.

I nearly passed out from crying, but Austin arrived quickly and helped me breathe, allowing me to recover. He didn't know what happened, but seeing me cry so hard, he took me home.

Tilda's harsh words behind my back angered me, but she did nothing illegal, just morally questionable.

Before I could confront her, she began putting on a show. It was then I realized some people were born with great acting skills.

She started spreading rumors throughout the school, like how my weight wasn't natural but due to illness.

High school students were no longer children, but not everyone had the ability to think independently. They usually relied on imagination.

They concocted countless diseases within their imagination to define my illness. I ignored them, just watching coldly to see what Tilda would do next.

8.

"Laura, why did you gain so much weight?"

"What kind of illness is it? Can't you satisfy our curiosity?"