Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)
Chapter 60

"How about you guys give me a pinch?" Sylvia chewed on her pizza, her cheeks puffing out.

One roommate actually reached over, but was quickly pulled back by another.

"Sylvia, thanks for joining us. We've always had trouble getting everyone together in our dorm. Kinda jealous of the other groups."

"Yeah, I don't get why you were always hanging out with Freya, especially since she's...ouch."

"Let's just focus on the food, okay?"

Another roommate tried to smooth things over with a laugh.

Sylvia smiled at them, saying, "I know what you want to say. In fact, I should be the one thanking you guys."

"Huh? Why's that?" asked the more naive roommate, clearly puzzled.

"After all this time, I put my trust in the wrong person. Yet, you still invited me over for dinner. Thank you, really."

And she was grateful for giving her a hand in the past life too.

"It's clear now, at least. Freya had a copy of your key. She'd frequently come over to our dorm when you weren't around, claiming you were cool with it. We didn't want to make a fuss."

"And she'd always play the victim or the poor girl around you. We tried to warn you before, but you thought we were being paranoid. Behind your back, she'd complain about how you looked down on her for being poor and gave her orders, making others hesitant to approach you. We all knew you treated her the best, always willing to give her anything nice you got from home."

The more they talked, the more agitated they became, while the third roommate generously waved her hand.

"Let's not ruin a good meal with all this negativity." She passed the menu to Sylvia, "Pick whatever you like, don't be shy." "Alright."

Sylvia opened the menu but found herself without much appetite, and then she decided, "Let's just have some drinks instead."

"Sounds good."

Soon, each of them got a couple of beers. Not too much, just enough to not get drunk. But as it turned out, they kept ordering more, eventually leaving everyone in a drunken daze.

Sylvia propped her head, feeling the weight of her grievances unable to dissipate, and leaned her head on a roommate's shoulder.

"Don't go back to your hometown. I know you want to stay here."

Her roommate blinked in surprise, "How did you know I was thinking of going back?"

Sylvia insisted, "Just hear me out, don't go."

After going back, that roommate ended up in a rushed marriage and suffered through domestic abuse which led to her miscarriage. She sighed, "I did get an offer from a company I really like, but they're asking for a bribe. Where would I get that kind of money?"

"I give you!" Sylvia quickly pulled out a card, "Please, don't go back, okay?"

"You..." Overwhelmed and slightly teary from the alcohol, her roommate was touched.

The others chimed in, "Your field isn't bad, and your hometown's just a small town. It's hard to grow there. After all the effort to leave there and pulling yourself all the way to finish your degree, would you really go back?" "Yeah, it would be such a waste," the naive roommate shook her head.

Sylvia grabbed her hand, "And you, don't go for that job interview you've got lined up."

The naive roommate laughed it off, "But it's a good company, my mom knows someone there. The pay and benefits are great."

So naive, really.

"You're being considered way above the usual intern level, do you think that's likely? Not to burst your bubble, but with your average grades and the company filled with returnees from abroad, why would they pick you?" "Why?"

"Because..." Sylvia thought to herself, "They know you are naive, and later would coax you to be their bondsman, a loaner."

Yet, Sylvia couldn't bring it to her. Pondering for a while, she explain, "There's a big event coming up, they're swamped. An intern matching their field, who they can boss around, costs much less than an experienced professional. Once your internship ends, they'll find any reason to let you go, and you'll be left regretting it."

Checking her phone, the roommate gasped, "Oh my God, there is really a big event. No wonder they're rushing me to come to the position as soon as I can. I need to talk to my mom about this."