I Couldn’t Afford My Parents ‘Time Chapter 07
Mom, Dad, and Melody stood at the doorway.
Mom was wearing a brand–new dress.
Dad had a camera hanging around his neck.
Melody wore sunglasses, looking annoyed.
They weren’t here to send me off.
It felt more like they were here for a belated photo op they
could show off to everyone.
The moment Mom stepped inside, she looked around the room.
The dorms at Columbia are not impressive.”
Dad raised his camera.
“Hazel, go to the campus entrance.”
“Let’s take a family photo.”
*Once we post it, all our relatives and friends can see.
“Everyone has been waiting”
I didn’t move.
“How did you find me?*
Mom avoided my eyes.
“All we had to do was ask Ms. Collins.”
“We’re family.”
“Why would you hide something like this from your own family?”
Then she wrapped her arm around mine affectionately.
Come on. Cheer up!”
“You’re getting our time for free today.”
Dad tried to talk me into it
Your mom even postponed the graduation party because she
came all the way to New York for you.”
Don’t make things harder for her.”
I looked at them.
Even now, they still thought spending one day with me was
some huge favor.
Melody suddenly took off her sunglasses.
“Are we done taking pictures yet?”
‘I still have to go to Universal Studios this afternoon.”
Mom immediately comforted her.
“Almost, almost.”
“Mom promised to take you, and I won’t break that promise.”
She pulled me outside.
“Let’s take the pictures first.”
‘After that, we still have to take Melody out.”
“Honestly, it’s better if you don’t come.”
“You can stay in your dorm and unpack.”
I couldn’t help laughing.
So this was never really about sending me off.
They were only stopping by while taking Melody out to have
fun, just to get a photo they could show off.
Dad’s camera was already pointed at me.
I raised my hand to block my face.
‘Don’t.”
The smile on Mom’s face disappeared instantly.
“We came all the way here to spend time with you, and this
is how you act?*
“I didn’t pay for your time.”
“Today’s free!”
“But I don’t need it.”
Mom froze.
Dad slowly lowered his camera.
Before, they were the only ones who got to refuse to sell their
time.
They never imagined I could refuse to accept it.
“Hazel.”
Dad softened his voice.
“Are you still mad about that day I didn’t go with you to get
your graduation documents?”
“Melody paid for that time.”
We had to stick to the rules,”
“But this time, we came here to make it up to you.
I looked at him.
“You should take Melody to Universal Studios first.”
“Don’t keep her waiting after she paid for your time.”
Melody’s expression changed.
“Hazel, do you have to be so sarcastic?”
“After Mom and Dad found out you got into Columbia
University, they’ve been talking about you every single day.”
“My tutoring schedule, my tutors…”
“Everything got pushed back because of you.”
“You already have everything.”
“Why do you still have to take them away from me?”
suddenly understood.
To Melody, their love and attention weren’t a bonus.
They were something she had taken for granted since the day
she was born.
Something as natural as breathing.
So whenever they looked at me, even for a moment, she felt
like I was taking something that belonged to her.
Mom quickly pulled her into her arms.
No one is taking anything from you.”
‘You’ll always be the one Mom and Dad care about the most.”
Only after saying that did she remember I was still standing there.
The dorm room fell silent.
Morgan’s parents hadn’t left yet.
Everyone was looking at her.
Embarrassed, Mom took it out on me.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“You just had to make everyone watch us become a joke.”
I didn’t say anything.”
That look on your face says enough.”
“You’re blaming us.”
Dad gently tugged at her arm,
“Enough.”
“She’s just starting college.”
He took out a bank card from his wallet and placed it on my desk.
There’s $10,000 on this.”
“The password is Melody’s birthday.”
“Take it.”
“Consider it our way of making it up to you.”
I pushed the bank card back.
“No need.”
Mom immediately said:
“Think carefully.”
That’s $10,000.”
If you take it, you’ll come home during breaks and tutor Melody.”
Don’t turn around later and say we forced you.”
I let out a small laugh and placed the bank card back into
Dad’s hand,
“Then I need it even less.”
A car horn sounded from downstairs.
Melody glanced at her phone and impatiently urged them.
“The car is here.”