Chapter 5: The Confession I Never Expected
I didn’t sleep much that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the dress on the floor.
I saw Mia holding those scissors.
I heard her say she did me a favor.
But now there was something else.
The message.
The secret.
The fact that she had planned everything.
By morning, I was exhausted.
I walked downstairs expecting another argument.
Instead, I found Mia sitting at the kitchen table.
Alone.
That surprised me.
Usually, she needed an audience.
She needed someone watching.
Someone taking her side.
But this time, she looked different.
Smaller.
“I got your message,” I said.
She looked up.
“Sit down.””
I almost walked away.
Then I noticed something.
Her eyes were red.
Mia had been crying.
I sat across from her.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Finally, she said something I never expected.
“I’m sorry.””
I didn’t respond.
Because apologies were easy.
Especially after getting caught.
She looked down.
“I know you don’t believe me.””
“You’re right.””
She swallowed.
“I deserve that.””
The honesty surprised me.
“What changed?””
She looked at her hands.
“Dad took everything away.””
I almost smiled.
“So that’s why?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“I mean… maybe that’s what forced me to think.””
I stayed quiet.
Mia took a deep breath.
“I hated how everyone compared us.””
“We were never the same.””
“I know.””
Her voice cracked.
“That’s what made me angry.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
She looked at me.
“You were yourself.””
That answer confused me.
She continued.
“You didn’t have to pretend.””
I didn’t know what to say.
Mia had always seemed so confident.
So certain.
But sitting there, I realized something.
Maybe confidence and insecurity could look exactly the same from the outside.
“I thought if I ruined something important to you, everyone would finally see you weren’t perfect.””
I shook my head.
“You never needed to compete with me.””
“I know that now.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“But I didn’t know how to stop feeling like I was losing.””
I looked away.
Part of me felt sorry for her.
Another part reminded me of what she did.
Understanding someone’s pain didn’t erase the damage they caused.
“I need to ask you something.””
She nodded.
“What?””
“Was the dress the only thing you planned?””
Her silence scared me.
“Mia.””
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
“There’s more.””
My heart sank.
She unlocked it.
There were messages.
Lots of them.
Between her and the friend who helped her.
I read through them.
And every line made me feel worse.
They had talked about embarrassing me.
They had planned to make jokes after the ceremony.
They had even planned to spread rumors that I only got my scholarship because teachers felt sorry for me.
I felt sick.
“She hated you too?”” I asked.
Mia shook her head.
“No.””
“Then why?””
“She wanted attention.””
I laughed quietly.
“So both of you destroyed my life because you wanted attention?””
Mia looked ashamed.
“I know.””
I stood up.
“I need some time.””
“Mia…”
“No.””
I looked at her.
“I’m glad you finally told me the truth.””
Her face relaxed slightly.
“But I need you to understand something.””
“What?””
“You don’t get to hurt someone and decide when they should forgive you.””
She nodded.
“I understand.””
I walked away.
But before I reached the stairs, she said something that made me stop.
“There’s one more thing.””
I turned around.
“What?””
She looked terrified.
“The reason that girl helped me.””
“What about it?””
Mia swallowed.
“She didn’t do it because she hated you.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“Then why?””
May you like
Mia looked at me.
“Because she wanted something from your father.””
