The Day I Met Her Parents, My Girlfriend Ditched Me for Her Junior

There was a onesecond silence on the other end.

She probably hadn’t expected me to say that. “What do you mean?” There was confusion in Tessa’s voice, and even a hint of impatience. “I just had something come up.

Why are you blowing up like this?” I stared at the sweet and sour fish on the table.

My mom had specially ordered it, saying it was the dish my girlfriend liked. “I’m not blowing up. I’m being very clear.

We don’t need to see each other again.” “Will, can you be reasonable? Leo is a guy, and he ran into this kind of thing out there. Am I supposed to ignore it?

If it were you, wouldn’t you want people around you to help instead of standing by?” I almost laughed out loud. “Tessa, seven thousand of that ten thousand was money I saved from side jobs over the last two years.

I don’t care who you lent it to. Give me back my seven thousand within three days.” “Are you insane? The money’s already been lent out.

Where am I supposed to get seven thousand for you?” “That’s your problem.” I stood up and picked up the coat from the back of my chair. “Three days.

If I don’t get the money, I’ll take legal action.” “Will! Don’t push it!” “Me, push it? Today was the first time my parents were meeting you.

I started booking the restaurant and researching the menu two weeks ago.

I was up until three last night because I was worried you’d get stuck in traffic today, worried you’d be nervous, worried my dad’s questions would be too hard for you. And you?

You ran off to be some saint and save the world.” After that, I hung up and turned my phone off.

My mom was sitting across from me, her eyes already red, but she held back her tears. My dad lifted his teacup, took a sip, then set it down. “Dad, Mom.” I forced a smile. “Sorry.

I let you down too.” “What are you saying?” My mom’s voice was a little hoarse. “Let you down?

The one who should be embarrassed isn’t you.” My dad didn’t say anything. “The food’s gone cold.

I’ll ask the waiter to heat it up.” I pressed the call button on the table. “Will,” my dad finally said, “what are you planning to do about this relationship?” “Break up.” My mom froze for a second. “Don’t you want to think about it a little more?” “Mom, if she can leave me hanging like this on a day like today just to deal with some younger guy’s problem, then after we get married, whenever something comes up, is she going to run off to handle his problems too?” My dad nodded, a very small motion, but I saw it. “Then break up.” My dad said, “It’s better to see the truth early than late.” The waiter came in and took the dishes away.

My mom took the chance to grab my hand. “Son, Mom just feels bad for you.

You prepared for today for so long…” “It’s fine.” I squeezed her hand back. “Just pretend I treated you both to a meal.” When the dishes were brought back, my mom insisted on putting a rib in my bowl. “Eat.

Don’t waste it. This place really does make good ribs.” After dinner, I sent my parents to the subway station.

At the entrance, my mom suddenly turned around and hugged me. “If she doesn’t pay that money back, tell me.

Mom still has some savings.” “No need.” I patted her back. “I can handle it myself.”

My dad stood at the turnstile and looked back at me. He didn’t say anything, just waved at me. I didn’t take a taxi. I walked all the way back.

It took forty minutes to get to the apartment complex I’d lived in for the past two years.

It was called a complex, but really it was just two old buildings, and the hallway lights were always broken.

I pulled out my phone, turned on the flashlight, and climbed up step by step. When I got there, I took out my key.

Before I even put it in the lock, I heard voices coming from inside. The door opened.

The lights in the living room were on, and there was a pair of sneakers by the entryway that I’d never seen before. “Will?” A male voice came from inside, sounding a little panicked.

I looked up and saw Leo standing up from the sofa in the living room.

Behind him was Tessa, standing by the coffee table with a disposable paper cup in her hand. “Why are you back?” Tessa frowned, and her tone actually carried a bit of questioning.

I leaned against the doorframe. “This is my place. Isn’t it normal for me to come back?” “That’s not what I meant.” She paused. Leo stood there, looking uneasy. “Will, I’m sorry.

It’s all because of me. Tessa was just trying to help.

Don’t blame her…” “You don’t need to apologize.” I cut him off. “She’s the one who lent out the money, not you.” Tessa set the paper cup down on the coffee table and walked over a few steps. “Will, don’t talk like that.

Leo really is in a tough spot. He got scammed, and he couldn’t even pay rent—” “So you brought him home?” “What do you mean, brought him home? I just let him stay two days.

Once he finds a place, he’ll move out.” I glanced at the living room.

There was a thin blanket on the sofa, and the pillow was the memory foam one Tessa usually used. “You sleep on the sofa?” “Yes, he sleeps in the bed, and I sleep on the sofa.” She nodded as if it were perfectly natural. “It’s only for a few days.” “Tessa, did you even ask me?

This is a place for two people.

Do you not need to talk to me before letting a third person stay here?” She froze for a second, then her expression turned a little impatient. “You weren’t here, were you?

And it was urgent. He had nowhere to stay tonight.” “So because he had nowhere to stay, he gets to stay at my place? He has no other friends? No coworkers?

No hotel?” Leo’s eyes went red, and his voice started to shake. “Will, I’m really sorry.

I’ll leave right now…” “What are you leaving for?” Tessa turned and blocked him, then looked back at me, and there was actually a bit of blame in her eyes. “Will, that’s enough.

He’s just a young guy, and he just came to this city for his internship. He doesn’t know anyone.

Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this?” “I’m making a big deal out of this?” I suddenly felt exhausted. “You’re right.

I don’t have to.” I walked into the bedroom, opened the closet, and started stuffing my clothes into my suitcase one piece at a time. Tessa followed me in.

When she saw me packing, her voice finally changed. “What are you doing?” “Moving out.” “You’re crazy. All because of this.”

“This?” I slammed a sweater hard into the suitcase. “Tessa, do you know where you were supposed to be today? Sitting across from my parents in that restaurant.” “And what happened?

We waited for you at the restaurant for an hour.

My parents asked me three times why you still hadn’t shown up, and I couldn’t even make up an excuse.” “I was even worried you’d been in a car accident, or that someone had hit you on the way there.

I was almost about to call the hospital and check.” “Instead, you were giving your younger guy money. With my money. Seventy thousand dollars, and you didn’t even ask me once.

You just transferred it.” She fell silent. “And now you’re telling me he got scammed and couldn’t pay rent, so he moved into our place.

Tessa, tell me this—if you lent him the full ten thousand, how is he still unable to pay rent?” I stared at Tessa and waited for her answer.

She opened her mouth and looked away. “He got scammed out of nine thousand, and out of that ten thousand, I kept one thousand for his living expenses.” “So the ten thousand was used to fill the scammer’s hole, and you gave him the remaining one thousand.” “Yes.” I didn’t know when Leo had appeared at the bedroom door, but tears were streaming down his face. “Will, I really didn’t know that money included yours.

Tessa told me it was her own savings, and that’s why I…” “You don’t need to cry.” I zipped up the suitcase. “Crying won’t solve anything.” Tessa came over and tried to hold my hand down. “Will, don’t leave yet.

Let’s talk this through.” “Talk about what?” Leo said softly from the doorway, “Will, how about I pay you back that one thousand first…” “That one thousand was mine to begin with.” I looked at him. “You got scammed out of nine thousand.

That’s your problem. But my seven thousand can’t be short by a single cent.” “What kind of person are you?” Tessa’s voice suddenly rose. “He has nothing right now.

Where do you expect him to get the money?” “I already said it. That’s your problem.” Leo suddenly rushed over and grabbed my arm. “Will, don’t go. I’ll go. I’m leaving right now.

I’m not staying here anymore.” “Let go of me.” “Will, please—” “I said let go!” I shook his hand off. He stumbled back from the force and hit the shoe cabinet with a dull thud.

Tessa’s face changed, and she rushed over to steady him. Then she turned to me, looking as if I’d done something unforgivable. “Will!

What are you doing?!” I looked at the way she was protecting Leo, and suddenly everything became clear. “Give me my seven thousand dollars back within three days.

Otherwise, I’ll have my lawyer handle it directly.” Her face changed. “How dare you?” “See if I dare.” I pulled the door open and dragged my suitcase out.

The hallway lights were still broken, so I took out my phone and turned on the flashlight. Behind me, Leo’s tearful voice came through. “Tessa, go after him…”

After dragging my suitcase for twenty minutes, I got to the motel near the apartment complex. About ten minutes later, my phone rang. It was my mom.

I took a deep breath and answered. “Mom.” “Did you get home?” Her voice was very calm, as if nothing had happened that afternoon. “I did, Mom.

Don’t worry.” I didn’t tell her I was staying at a hotel. “That’s good.” She paused. “Will, don’t rush too much about the money. Mom will transfer you twenty thousand tomorrow.

Use it first.” “No need, Mom. I can handle it myself.” “Listen to me.” My mom’s voice suddenly turned serious. “You’re out there on your own. You can’t be without money on hand.

That seven thousand was money you worked hard to save. If she doesn’t pay it back, you can’t just let it go.” “I know, Mom.

I gave her three days.” “Three days?” My mom was silent for a moment. “What if she really doesn’t pay?” “Then I’ll go to a lawyer.” There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then my mom let out a soft laugh. “All right, my son has made up his mind.

Then do it your way.” After hanging up, I took a shower. When I came out, there were six missed calls on my phone. All of them were from Tessa.

After the sixth missed call, she sent me a message: “Will, you scared Leo badly. He cried in the living room for two hours.

Can’t you have a little conscience?” I stared at that message for a long time. Even now, she was still worrying about her younger guy. I didn’t reply.

I just turned my phone off and went to sleep. The next morning at seven, I was woken by a knock on the door. “Room service.” It was a man’s voice from outside. I froze.

I hadn’t ordered room service. I walked to the door and looked through the peephole. Tessa was standing outside. Somehow, she had found this hotel.

I didn’t open the door. “Will, I know you’re in there.

Open the door.” I took my hand off the doorknob and stepped back. “If you don’t open the door, I’ll just stand here.” “Suit yourself.” After saying that, I turned around and went to wash up.

When I came out after washing my face, she was still there in the peephole. She was leaning against the hallway wall, typing on her phone. My phone buzzed.

It was a message from her new number. “Will, let’s talk. I can explain Leo’s situation, and I’ll figure out the money too.

Don’t keep hiding from me, okay?” I put my phone down and started packing my things. Ten minutes later, I dragged my suitcase over and opened the door.

She straightened up at once. “Will—” “Move.” “Can you listen to me for a minute?” “No.” I dragged my suitcase toward the elevator.

She followed and grabbed the handle of my suitcase. “Will!

Let me finish!” I stopped and looked at her. “Go ahead.” I let go of the handle and crossed my arms. “Leo’s situation was my bad judgment.” She took a deep breath. “But Will, I really didn’t mean anything by it.

He’s just a young guy who just graduated. He didn’t know anything and got scammed out of nine thousand dollars. Some of that money was tuition his parents scraped together for him.

He was so desperate he almost did something stupid… so I couldn’t just ignore him.

If it were you, you wouldn’t have stood by either.” “Tessa, don’t use me as your excuse.” I looked her in the eyes. “If it were me, I’d call the police, help him get legal aid, and go with him to the bank to freeze the account.

But I wouldn’t use the two of our savings to fill the hole, and I definitely wouldn’t transfer the money without talking to the other person first.” She went quiet. “And you brought Leo home, let him stay in my room, sleep in my bed—did you ever think about how I’d feel?” She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. “Tessa, you don’t need to explain anymore.” I grabbed the suitcase handle again. “Pay me back within two days.

After that, we’re even.”