I Couldn’t Afford My Parents ‘Time Chapter 01

I Couldn’t Afford My Parents ‘Time Chapter 01

My Parents‘ Time Had a Price Tag. 

Ten minutes of hugs cost $20. 

A meal with them cost $100. 

A full day of their company cost $600. 

Melody never lacked their company. 

Because Mom and Dad gave her a $10,000 allowance every month. 

I had neither. 

Mom always told me: 

“You’re the older sister.” 

You need to learn how to stand on your own feet.” 

For years, no matter how hard I worked, I could never earn 

enough to buy a whole day with them. 

Not until I graduated high school. 

I held the $600 I earned from my part–time job. 

Then I looked at them and said: 

‘Mom.” 

“I want to buy one full day with you.” 

Just as I was about to take out my Columbia University 

acceptance letter, Melody suddenly ran into the room. 

“Mom!” 

I want to go to Disneyland.” 

Mom and Dad immediately stood up. 

I froze. 

reached out and grabbed them. 

“But I already bought the whole day.” 

Mom pulled her hand away. 

Then she threw the money back at me. 

I raised the price.” 

$600 only gets you ten minutes now.” 

*Not today.” 

“We’re not doing this.” 

Melody giggled. 

She rushed into Mom’s arms. 

Then she happily pulled my parents out the door. 

No one looked back at me. 

I stood alone in the empty living room. 

I picked up my money from the floor. 

Then I bought a ticket to New York City. 

If my parents‘ time was really that expensive… 

Then from now on, I didn’t want a single minute of it anymore. 

By the time they came back from Disneyland, it was already past lunch. 

Melody held onto Mom’s arm. 

Dad carried the things they bought. 

The three of them laughed and chatted together. 

No one asked what I had eaten. 

Mom stopped when she passed the living room. 

Hazel.” 

‘You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” 

“We brought back some food from the restaurant.” 

“Come eat with us.” 

I froze. 

Growing up, I had never shared a meal with them. 

Because I was never able to afford it. 

Had they finally realized they had gone too far? 

I walked to the dining table. 

Dad pulled out a chair for me. 

Mom even placed two slices of pizza on my plate. 

A small warmth rose in my chest. 

But then she pushed a plate of gambas al ajillo toward me. 

“Hazel.” 

Mrs. Harper isn’t here today.” 

Your hands are better suited for this.” 

Peel them for Melody.” 

My hand froze around the chopsticks. 

Mrs. Harper was the housekeeper. 

So they weren’t trying to make it up to me. 

They just needed someone to replace the housekeeper. 

Melody didn’t notice my expression. 

She casually handed me her empty plate. 

Thanks, Hazel.” 

She had always been the one everyone adored. 

She believed everyone should do things for her. 

Including me. 

Melody already thanked you.” 

So peel them properly.” 

Mom reminded me. 

I lowered my head and started peeling. 

To earn that $600, I had spent an entire month washing dishes at a restaurant. 

The skin on my fingertips had cracked from being soaked in water every day. 

A sharp piece of shell pierced my finger. 

A drop of blood fell immediately, 

Mom screamed. 

“Be careful!” 

“How is Melody supposed to eat that if you get blood on it?” 

I wiped my wound with a tissue. 

Then I continued peeling. 

Melody took out her phone and made a bank transfer. 

“Mom.” 

‘Dad.” 

Can you take me to a movie tomorrow too?” 

Both of my parents‘ phones buzzed at the same time with a 

bank text. It was for $600. 

Mom immediately smiled. 

She touched Melody’s head. 

Of course.” 

We’ll spend the whole day with you,” 

I couldn’t stop myself from asking: 

“Didn’t you raise the price?” 

“$600 only buys ten minutes now.” 

Mom looked at me. 

“You’re already an adult.” 

“Of course the price is different for you.” 

“Melody is still a child.” 

How can you compare yourself to her?” 

But Melody was only one year younger than me. 

That $600 came from the allowance Mom and Dad had just given her. 

The money went from their account to Melody. 

Then from Melody back to them. 

After one round of transfers… 

She had bought their entire day. 

I sat across from them. 

I peeled the last shrimp. 

The pizza in front of me was already cold. 

hadn’t taken a single bite. 

Mom took the last piece of shrimp. 

She checked the time. 

“Exactly ten minutes.” 

“Your dad and I spent time with you today.” 

“Pay the $600.” 

I stared at her. 

But I was peeling shrimp for Melody the entire time.” 

“You were sitting right next to us, weren’t you?” 

Mom looked completely justified. 

“You were with us.” 

The time already happened.” 

You can’t just refuse to pay now.” 

Dad frowned. 

“Rules are rules.” 

Don’t make your mother repeat herself.” 

“I don’t have the money.” 

Where did your money go?” 

I hesitated. 

The words got stuck in my throat. 

I didn’t want to tell them I had bought a ticket to New York. 

City. 

Mom quickly lost patience when I stayed silent. 

“If you don’t have it, owe us for now.” 

“Pay us back after you get your salary next month.” 

She pointed at the dishes on the table. 

“Mrs. Harper won’t be back until tomorrow.” 

Wash everything before you go.” 

I felt completely helpless. 

Melody used the money Mom and Dad gave her to buy their entire day. 

And I had to go hungry while peeling shrimp for her, washing dishes for them… 

And somehow, I was still the one who owed my parents $600,