The Harsh Truth My Mother Told Me Over The Phone

Three years into my studies abroad, my mom issued an emergency decree: get back home immediately. Word had reached her that my childhood friend, Jasper, was being thoroughly played by a master-level gold digger. The girl was calculating every move, luring him in, taking his money and his heart, and turning him into a walking ATM. Jasper's mom was completely out of options. She begged me, his childhood "white moonlight," to fly back and strip away the scammer's sweet, innocent facade. At the time, I was strolling along the riverbank in Florence, taking a photo for a passing couple. I replied nonchalantly, "Look, everyone has to suffer a little for love. Besides, if it's a mutual trap, who cares? How bad could it really be?" My mom went dead silent over the phone for two seconds. "There's a green field on top of his head big enough to race a herd of wild horses." 1 My childhood friend, Jasper, had been targeted by a top-tier green tea manipulator. She didn't just demand an astronomical bride price. On the very eve of the engagement party, she insisted on adding a brand-new luxury sports car to the deal. Jasper was willing to swallow the disrespect, but his mother wasn't. After conspiring with my mom, they decided to throw a Hail Mary and summon me back to save Jasper from his own romantic stupidity. Fearing this was just a trick my mom pulled to lure me home, I reached out to my best friend, Phoebe. Phoebe promptly sent me a album's worth of photos showing the girl cozying up with other men. Damn. There really was a whole cavalry riding on Jasper's head. I didn't waste another second. I booked an overnight flight and landed just in time to crash the engagement banquet. The party was held on the thirty-second floor of Starlight Grand Hotel. It was obvious Jasper had poured his heart into setting it up, though the same couldn't be said for his bride-to-be. Before my plane took off, I learned from a mutual friend that everything had been set and invitations sent. Then Whitney, the bride, suddenly demanded a new car at the last minute. The elevator doors chimed open, and the sharp click of my high heels broke the tense standoff in the room. Under the gaze of dozens of guests, I lunged forward and threw my arms around Jasper's neck. "I missed you so much, babe!" I squeezed and kneaded his handsome, bewildered face. "Why did you lose so much weight?" Beside him, Whitney, wearing a champagne-colored mini dress, visibly froze. She was petite, pale, with soft features and almond eyes. Objectively speaking, a classic beauty. The exact "innocent first love" archetype that straight guys fell for instantly. Brushing a strand of hair behind my ear with my flashy manicure, I leaned toward Jasper and whispered softly, "This is it?" "Jasper, who is she?" Whitney asked, her voice soft and sweet like honey. I hopped down and turned to face her, my tailored crimson dress bold and striking. "Oh, you must be my bro's girl!" I shook her hand enthusiastically. "Jasper talks about you all the time! You look so thrifty and traditional, not materialistic at all." Around us, mutual friends stopped eating, drinking, and scrolling on their phones. Everyone was practically begging for popcorn. Whitney eyed me up and down, keeping a perfectly harmless smile on her face. "Is that so? How come Jasper has never mentioned you to me before?" I raised an eyebrow. Okay, she had some moves. I looked over at Jasper, a guy whose IQ and EQ were on completely different planets. He didn't pick up on the subtle jabs at all and was actually preparing to make a friendly introduction. "Harper, this is Whitney, my fiancée. Whitney, this is Harper. We grew up together." I promptly shoved him out of the main battlefield. "Oh, he probably just didn't want you to overthink things," I said smoothly. "We practically shared the same cradle growing up. His dad was strict, so whenever he got in trouble, he'd hide at my place. We ate together, hung out together, basically shared everything. But honestly, what's there to worry about? Us girls should stick together." I playfully flicked the back of Jasper's head. "Don't worry, Whitney. Now that you two are together, I'm definitely on your side." The overwhelming flood of information left Whitney momentarily speechless. She could only offer a strained smile. "Well... thank you then." "I heard you have your eye on a new Honda?" I continued, analyzing the situation with utmost seriousness. "Jasper is being way too stingy. When I went abroad, he gifted me an Acura. How is he being so clueless now? You definitely shouldn't back down on this." The entire banquet hall fell dead silent for a few seconds. Nobody expected me to shift the conversation so fast. But what came next was even faster. "Since Whitney isn't satisfied, let me just cancel this engagement party. Marriage is a huge deal. You should only hold the party when all the terms are settled." Before Whitney could recover from her utter shock, I was already waving down the event host. "Wait! Who are you to cancel it just like that?" someone shouted from the guest tables. "Why are outsiders interfering in their relationship?" She even brought her own hype squad? I smirked slightly. "Outsiders shouldn't interfere. So, are you his insider?" Felix, my other childhood friend who had leaked the info to me, spat out a mouthful of red wine. Low giggles rippled through the crowd. Jasper frowned slightly, stepping between Whitney and me. "Alright, Harper. You traveled a long way back. Let's keep the peace." "I am keeping the peace! We're all just chatting and laughing," I said, poking his chest lightly with my fingernail. "Since the floor is already booked, why don't you convert this into a welcome-back party for me instead?" Whitney finally lost her composure. "Harper, was it? You just got back, so you might not know this. Booking a private floor at Starlight Grand is extremely difficult, and reservations can't be modified on a whim." I crossed my arms and remained silent. Felix looked like he was about to burst from holding in his laughter. "Whitney, you might not know this since it's your first time here, but the CEO of Starlight Grand is actually her dad." 2 After the party dispersed, Jasper's mother insisted I come over to their house. I excused myself, claiming I needed to adjust to the jet lag, and promised to visit another day. Jasper offered to drive Felix and me home. As for Whitney? She was "urgently" called away by her company. The male lead behind the wheel remained completely silent. In the back seat, drowsiness finally caught up with me, and I drifted into a light nap. Only Felix, sitting beside me, was enthusiastically sending voice notes to friends who hadn't made it to the event. "You guys hated Whitney and flaked on the party. You missed out big time." "Queen Harper returned today and completely wiped the floor with her." I rolled my eyes. "Why don't you add 'All hail the Dragon Lord' while you're at it?" Felix's fox-like eyes curved into a mischievous smile. "Trying to play the green tea game in front of you is like trying to teach Shakespeare how to write English." That much was true. Unlike Jasper, I had never been particularly popular with the older generation growing up. In math class, I used to draw portraits of the handsomest boy in the room, fold them into paper airplanes, and toss them across the aisle, watching his face turn bright red. I was once dragged into the office by an angry middle-aged female teacher and scolded severely. She strongly advised my homeroom teacher to move me to the "seat of shame" right beside the podium. "Sure thing," I had said, playing with a pencil without even looking up. "Just don't ask me to design the school bulletin boards for the next couple of semesters." In middle school, I hated wearing the stuffy school uniform jacket during hot summers, so I tied it around my waist. The patrolling dean caught me and berated me for lacking modesty and decency. I looked at the righteous, overly paternal man for a second, then smiled and tapped my left cheek. "That's funny. Your son didn't seem to mind it at all." The boy I drew back then was Felix, who later moved into our neighborhood compound. The dean situation was eventually solved by Jasper, who spent hours sweating over a three-thousand-word self-reflection essay on my behalf. The three of us formed an inseparable trio ever since. Jasper lived up to his clean-cut reputation. While other boys were covered in sweat and rolling in the dirt, he kept a neat buzzcut and crisp, pristine shirts. I used to think that if the neighborhood voted for the "Ideal Son-in-Law," he would easily top the list. Felix was equally handsome. The very first time I felt self-conscious about my appearance was because of him. But he had a sweet tongue; even when he broke the rules, he maintained a polite, obedient front. Then there was me. The most common evaluation I received was: "So young, yet so flashy and manipulative. Doesn't look like a proper girl." "Her parents are busy with business and neglect her upbringing. Look at her, showing off her shoulders and legs all day. How improper! Only my foolish boy would fall for that." "Tell me about it! But if she ever tried to be my daughter-in-law, I'd refuse." At the time, Jasper and I were walking on the shaded side of the alley, and those sharp whispers floated down clearly from above. He immediately used both hands to cover my ears. Even though it was early spring, sweat had broken out across his forehead. Jasper looked down at me and said softly, "Don't listen to them. You are yourself." The sunlight shifted, catching the tips of his messy hair and eyelashes. He looked impossibly handsome. In the quiet space of our shared breath, his face flushed red as he made his very first promise to me. "Harper, it's not up to them to want you or not. I want you." 3 Before I could reunite with all my old friends, I was summoned by my ridiculously busy father. He pointed at trending clips and social media posts, asking me what was going on. I gave the screen a quick scan. The original post title was: So, in the end, I still lost to his childhood white moonlight. It was a long, emotional essay detailing how meticulously she had cared for Jasper and how deeply she loved him, only for me to return from abroad and turn their engagement party into my personal welcome-back bash. The attached photos included sneaky snaps from the venue and a pitiful selfie of her with red, crying eyes. The comment section was a chaotic mess: Holy crap, novel trope in real life? Did she crash a wedding? So shameless! Stealing someone's man? Total pick-me energy. Lacking boundaries is terrible, but her face is stunning. Honestly, who wouldn't be confused? Are your morals following her looks? No matter how pretty she is, you can't do that! After reading through, I handed the phone back to him. "So, did you call me here because this happened at Starlight Grand and hurts the corporate image, or because you actually care about your daughter?" "Of course—" "Of course it's about Starlight's reputation," I took a deep breath, stepping back while looking at him. "Otherwise, you would have known that my mom was the one who called me back. It's been five days since I landed in San Francisco from Florence." With that, I turned and walked out. It didn't matter. It was a fact I had known for a long time. It was simply being reconfirmed once again. I adjusted my emotions while driving, and by the time I stepped into the private lounge, I was back to my usual self. "Hey, welcoming our heiress back! Did you bring back a handsome Italian souvenir?" "Nope." "That doesn't sound like you," my best friend Phoebe pinched my cheek. "Who are you keeping yourself pure for, huh?" My heart skipped a beat. My hand holding the wine glass paused for a fraction of a second. Felix took a deep breath and dramatically clutched his chest. "Harper, I didn't expect... I'm so moved. I accept your proposal." "?" I passed my wine glass over to him. "You haven't even had a drink yet. What kind of drunk talk are you spewing?" The lounge erupted into exaggerated laughter and teasing. Jasper sat quietly in a dim corner, wearing a light blue shirt. Shadows fell across his brow, hiding his expression. "You guys backed the wrong pair! Who do you think Harper came back for?" "Oh right! Why is Jasper being so quiet?" Someone finally noticed the supposed main character, turning everyone's attention toward him. "Harper didn't come back once during her two years of grad school, yet she rushed back specifically for you!" "Isn't she a hundred times better than the Ginger Girl?" "Don't compare Ginger to Harper. Is she even worthy?" Phoebe leaned over to explain the nickname to me. "Ginger refers to Whitney." "Why?" She grinned wickedly. "Because ginger never blooms, no matter how much water and fertilizer you give it." Clatter. Jasper set his fork down on his plate with noticeable force. The room went instantly silent. He had a notoriously gentle temper and almost never lost his cool. It was rare to see him with such a cold expression. I was somewhat surprised. "You can keep your personal opinions about Whitney," he said calmly. "But we haven't broken up. In front of her fiancé, you shouldn't talk about her like this." "Fiancé? You gave yourself that title, didn't you?" Phoebe snapped back sharply. "Jasper, what kind of fiancée demands a luxury car the day before the engagement? If Whitney really loved you, we wouldn't say a single word!" "I work long hours. She brings me meals, cleans my place, and takes care of everything. Is that not love?" "Ha! If some handsome sucker threw ten grand at me every single month, forget being a maid, I'd call him daddy!" Felix and I spoke in unison without any warning. "Woah, woah, let's not go that far." Then we looked at each other across the round table. "Why are you copying..." Double synchronization. The tension in the lounge suddenly turned hilariously awkward. I cut him off with a look and pulled down Phoebe, who was about to stand up in frustration. "I'm going out to the hallway for a smoke," Felix ran a hand through his hair, chuckling lazily. "Keep it down in here. People outside might think we're running a fight club." "Shut up, you instigator," I poked him playfully, sending the golden boy off before turning back to Jasper. "Go on." "Hmm?" "Other people's opinions aside, you know your relationship with Whitney best. I want to hear the full story straight from your mouth." "Why did your mom frantically reach out to mine, begging me to come back and reason with you?" Jasper softened his tone. "It's just about the bride price. Harper, you know that while I'm not swimming in cash, I can afford it. My mom thinks Whitney is materialistic, but she just doesn't understand her. Whitney works incredibly hard. She came here alone with no background or family support. Since I love her and have the means, why shouldn't I make the girl I love comfortable?" Honestly, Jasper had always been a man of few words. This was the first time I had ever heard him speak so candidly, openly, and passionately. He was clearly head over heels. It seemed the purpose of my trip back home was... I smiled, and before I could offer my blessing, the lounge door was suddenly kicked open. The excitement in Felix's eyes was practically overflowing from his expression. He pointed a thumb over his shoulder at Jasper. "I stepped out for two minutes, only to catch your true love flirting with another man by the window." 4 The room exploded into shocked silence. All our friends exchanged bewildered glances. Jasper's composure was almost unbelievable. "It's probably her boss." "Well, her boss is certainly attentive," Felix shook his head with a sigh. "My boss never sends me flowers." What?! One second Phoebe was mocking Jasper for being a hopeless romantic, and the next second she was fiercely defending her friend, her face red with rage. "Screw this! Perfect timing to settle the score for her online smear campaign too! Watch me tear that fake bitch apart!" The group scrambled to hold her back. "Don't deploy the nuclear option!" "This restaurant isn't ours! We can't wreck the place!" "Calm down! Calm down!" "Phoebe, sit down," I said calmly. "Certain things can only be resolved by the main parties involved." Jasper looked pale. Before leaving, he offered us a polite nod. "I'm sorry. I'll resolve this and come back as soon as possible." I dropped a few peeled shrimp onto Phoebe's plate. She finally sat back down, grumbling as she ate, "He's tall, handsome, smart, an elite professional! How did he end up so brain-dead in love?" Everyone in the lounge ate in silence, wondering what kind of storm Jasper was about to walk into. After all, she was his first love. To prevent him from doing something drastic out of heartbreak, Felix was assigned the heavy duty of keeping watch from a distance. I slowly sipped my soup, feeling an inexplicable restlessness creeping into my mind. I couldn't pinpoint the source, like a tangled ball of yarn with no loose end. Was it because of Jasper? Words spoken in our youth meant nothing. Why take them seriously after all this time? Was it because of Felix? Having a crush on him was ancient history from elementary school. Even Jasper had moved on, so how could a guy who naturally attracted women like Felix stay focused on one person? "Let's wrap it up," Felix returned, pulling out the chair next to me, Jasper's former spot, and sitting down casually. "Where is he? Why are you back alone?" I asked. "Do you care that much?" A faint flush of alcohol tinted the corners of his eyes. His cool fingers lightly tapped the tip of my nose. He draped an arm over the back of my chair, effectively leaning over me. "Why don't you go after him then?" I frowned. "Felix, you know I hate the smell of smoke." He stared at me with hazy, dark eyes for a moment, then obediently sat back upright. He almost looked a little pouted. I sent him to keep watch, so why did he come back smelling like a brewery? Dinner was effectively over. Seeing his state, I doubted we'd get any useful information out of him. Everyone packed up their things and paired off to head home. Felix was genuinely tipsy. Phoebe and I had to haul him from both sides just to drag his heavy frame into my car. Just as I was congratulating myself on staying sober, Phoebe turned around and stepped straight into her family's Mercedes. Great. So I was the sole driver left to handle the mess. Starting the engine, I glanced at Felix slumped in the passenger seat. Annoyed yet helpless, I leaned over to fasten his seatbelt, only for him to catch my hand. We were old friends, so a little touch was nothing. But... The warm, dim light inside the car contrasted with the chilly night air outside, making the heat where our palms met feel dangerously intimate. I feigned annoyance. "What are you doing?" Felix mumbled something incoherently under his breath. Left with no choice, I leaned my upper body completely over him to listen closer. Hearing what he said, rage exploded in my chest, and I landed a quick punch right against his ribs. "Sleep with you?! Listen to yourself! Are those human words?! Felix, you dare harbor those kinds of thoughts about me?! Believe it or not, I'll tell your dad tomorrow! You—" My punch sent him into a coughing fit, unable to utter a full sentence. "Get out of my car right now! What are you leaning closer for? Do you want me to—" His hand reached past me, grabbing... the bottle of mineral water in the center console. The second half of my sentence froze in my throat. I watched in total, dumbfounded silence as he unscrewed the cap and chugged the water down, his throat moving rhythmically, his long fingers gripping the bottle tightly. A deep flush spread all the way to his ears. Oh... He meant water. After finishing the water, he tossed the empty bottle cleanly into the roadside trash can outside the window. He turned back to look at me, his expression extremely complex and hard to read. "Harper, I really wonder what on earth you learned at the Florence Academy of Art." I felt like dying of embarrassment. The sheer humiliation was off the charts. Maybe I should just board a plane back to Italy right now. Clearly, I was no longer suited for survival in this city. A playful glint surfaced in Felix's eyes as he enunciated each word clearly: "Give... me... water. Water. Not that." I glared at him fiercely. "Shut up! You're getting a free ride and you still have so much to say? That water was two bucks. Venmo or CashApp? Pay up right now!"