My Sister Controlled My Life with Pocket Change Chapter 03
When I walked into the bathroom the next morning, I noticed right away that my only bar of soap was missing.
“Rhea took it to wash Buddy’s clothes.”
“The fabric on those little outfits is delicate. You have to hand-wash them with bar soap. Just use the regular soap for your shower.”
“I’m not charging you for this new bar of soap, by the way.”
Mom’s voice came from just outside the door.
She paused, then added, “Hurry it up, will you? You get five minutes of free water. I’m timing you.”
I didn’t respond and just moved faster.
The moment the five minutes were up, the nagging started again.
I scrambled into my faded, worn-out school uniform and rushed out the door.
Today was my last day of tutoring. Once I finished the session, I could finally collect my paycheck.
The pay wasn’t much, but it was enough to buy myself a new phone and a new set of clothes.
It was enough to let me leave for overseas with my head held high.
I knocked on the door. The woman who employed me had just hung up the phone, and her voice was ice cold.
“Leave. Don’t bother coming back.”
I froze in confusion. “Why? I haven’t even started today’s lesson yet.”
She let out a mocking laugh.
“You really don’t know? Someone who couldn’t even get into college thinks she’s qualified to teach my child? You’ve been lying this whole time!”
I tried to explain on instinct. “That’s not…”
She cut me off. “It’s not what? I never imagined you’d have the nerve to pretend to be a college student. Thank god your parents told me the truth!”
I stood rooted in place, my mind going completely blank.
Hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door. My parents and Rhea had all shown up.
Mom grabbed me by the arm, shot me a vicious glare, and immediately turned to the woman with an apologetic smile.
“I’m so sorry about this. Our kid doesn’t know any better. We’re so sorry for the trouble.”
I desperately tried to defend myself, but Mom raised her voice and drowned me out.
“Are you really that vain? You didn’t even get into college and you still dare to work as a tutor? And you even had the audacity to tell people you could go study abroad?”
Her face was flushed with anger.
“Where would we even get the money to send you abroad?”
The commotion drew the neighbors out of their homes.
Rhea glared at me with disgust.
“Pathological liar. You’re absolutely shameless.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it landed squarely in everyone’s ears.
The onlookers stared at me with contempt, whispering and pointing among themselves.
I was furious and frantic at the same time.
“I didn’t lie!”
Dad grabbed me roughly by the arm.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? You haven’t embarrassed us enough? We’re leaving!”
I clung desperately to the doorframe.
“My paycheck…”
The woman frowned, her expression filled with revulsion.
“I already paid your parents.”
She muttered something about “ridiculous” under her breath and slammed the door shut.
I didn’t care about anything else. I spun around and grabbed my parents.
“Give me the money!”
They yanked me by the arm and dragged me away.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve asking for money! We’re going home! Stop humiliating us out here!”