After a speech, the teaching assistant approached and mocked me, "Erica, you've been so self-reliant, collecting trash for a year. I suppose you don't need financial aid anymore?"
This was her way of telling me that if I didn't obey her like the other students, running errands for her, she'd find ways to make my life difficult, starting with canceling my financial aid.
I turned my back on her, giving her no chance to speak further, and she stormed off in anger.
After she left, Joel came in.
In front of everyone, he held a bouquet and approached me.
"Erica, do you have plans later? I'd like to take you out for dinner."
I knew his friends were peeking from outside the door, and Juliette, who had been chasing Joel, was also watching.
Oblivious to the truth, Juliette sneered, "She doesn't have time; she's busy collecting trash. Joel, what's with your taste? Shouldn't you get your eyes checked?"
To spite Juliette, I took the flowers from Joel. "I don't have other plans."
Joel's eyes lit up with joy, and he glanced smugly at his friends outside. "Shall we go then?"
As we left, I hooked my arm through Joel's and said to Juliette, "Jealousy makes you ugly."
Juliette's face turned pale.