For the tenth year of being Liam’s shadow, he got bored. He posted a picture of me on his Instagram story with a caption. “Gofer for sale. Great cook, on-call 24/7. Highest bidder wins.” The girl he liked was the first to view it. Ten minutes later, he deleted the story and posted a new one, a simple text screen. “Lost a bet. Just a dare, don’t mind it.” But someone already had. Liam’s friend with the eating disorder called me immediately. The price he offered was staggering, just for me to be his chef. I took the money. 1 The call from Alex came while I was in the middle of cooking. I answered it on speaker. “Is this Lily? This is Alex.” “Yes, this is she. What’s up?” I was a little confused. I had no idea why Alex would be calling me. During freshman orientation at A-University, we were all forced to live in the dorms, and Alex had been Liam’s roommate. After that first month, they both moved into apartments off-campus, but they’d stayed good friends. I didn’t know him well, just a few passing encounters through Liam. “I saw Liam’s story,” he said. “I remember you’re an amazing cook. Would you consider coming to work for me?” Alex laid it all out in a few sentences, then asked, “Three thousand a month, how does that sound? If that’s not enough…” “Wait,” I cut him off, my brain finally catching up. “What story?” With the phone still on speaker, I switched apps and tapped on Liam’s profile. There was nothing new. Alex paused. His deep voice held a note of confusion. “You didn’t see it?” A moment later, he sent me a screenshot. Liam had posted it two minutes ago, and he’d deliberately hidden it from my view. [Gofer for sale. Great cook, on-call 24/7. Highest bidder wins.] In the corner, a familiar profile picture was the first viewer. It was my roommate, Tiffany. The same Tiffany that Liam had been telling everyone he was going to win over. My heart felt like a chunk of it had been ripped out. I stood there, frozen. “I need a chef.” Alex’s cool, collected voice pulled me back. “The price is negotiable.” “…Okay.” My own voice trembled as I clutched the phone and agreed. After hanging up, I looked at the feast I had just prepared. It was laughable. My dad worked as a driver for the Davis family. My mom was their housekeeper. So, since I was a child, I’d lived in the staff quarters on their massive estate. Liam loved to have me around, and he insisted I go to school with him. For ten years. When it was time for college applications, there were other cities I wanted to go to, but after a bit of whining from Liam, I caved and came with him to A-University. Ten years of constant companionship. I thought we were best friends. I secretly started to feel something more. Until college, when Liam saw Tiffany. It was love at first sight for him. He was constantly asking me for advice on how to get her. My heart sank, but I accepted it quietly and agreed to help. Even if we couldn’t be anything more, all those years of friendship had to mean something. Until I saw that story. So, in Liam’s heart, I wasn’t even a friend. Just a “gofer” he could sell off at will. Since we started college, Liam, with his picky palate, couldn’t stand the cafeteria food or takeout, so I made time every day to cook for him. He’d skip his easy elective classes, and I’d attend for him and do his homework. If he needed someone to run an errand or grab him a drink, I took care of it. Thinking about it now, it’s no wonder he thought I was a gofer he could just “transfer.” And it was my own fault for being so naive, for genuinely thinking a rich kid like Liam would ever see me as a true friend. With a bitter laugh, I took a picture of the food I’d just made and sent it to Alex. Just finished cooking. Want to eat now? I can bring it over. Alex replied instantly. Yes. Then he sent me two hundred dollars and an address. With money in my account, the sadness subsided, replaced by a surge of anger. Liam never paid me a dime, so what right did he have to treat me like a servant? To sell me? Alex was far more generous. Just as I was about to head out, Alex sent another screenshot of Liam’s story. [Lost a bet. Just a dare, don’t mind it.] Sorry, it seems he was just joking. My mistake for being so forward. A joke? My chest tightened. Even if it was a joke, it just proved that to Liam, I was nothing more than the butt of one. I replied to Alex: It’s fine. Our deal still stands. Great. Alex sent a sticker of a puppy with the word “Waiting!” I stared at the cheerful little dog and fell silent. From his cool exterior, I never would have guessed Alex was the type to use cute stickers. 2 One of my roommates was a local from A-City and had gone to the same high school as Alex. According to her, Alex had a reputation for being cold and unapproachable. He had the face of a stoic god but a mouth that could cut you down to size, and he didn’t give anyone the time of day. I started to worry. If he didn’t like my food, would he yell at me? I could handle being yelled at, but would he ask for the money back? It was two hundred bucks, after all. Anxiously, I followed the address to Alex’s house. I found myself standing in front of a two-story standalone villa. I stood there for a moment. Why couldn’t the world have just one more rich person, and why couldn’t it be me? I rang the doorbell. Alex opened the door, his face unnervingly pale. I blinked, a question forming in my mind. Was he always this thin? He was wearing a baggy black t-shirt. His wide-boned shoulders filled it out at the top, but the rest of it just hung off his frame. The skin on his face was stretched taut over his bones, making his already sharp features look even more sculpted. “Are you sick?” I asked after a quick hello. He seemed surprised by my directness, hesitating for a second before humming a quiet “mmhmm.” Good thing I’d made a relatively light meal. I stepped inside and unpacked the food from the insulated containers. “This was a bit last-minute. If there’s anything you don’t like, just let me know.” “Okay.” But clearly, my worries were for nothing. In less than ten minutes, like a storm passing through, Alex had eaten every last bite. He looked like he hadn’t eaten in days. But that made no sense. It’s not like he couldn’t afford food. I didn’t dwell on it. Seeing that he was finished, I got ready to clean up. “I’ll do it.” Alex beat me to it, carrying the dishes to the kitchen. Huh… a pretty decent boss. I sat in the living room scrolling through my phone and saw a message from Liam. Where are you? Tiffany said she wants to try that one dish from our hometown. I remember you’re great at it, you should add it to the menu tonight. Oh, and she doesn’t like onions. You haven’t finished cooking today, have you? Never mind, if you’re short on time, just make a few extra dishes without onions. Did he really think I was his personal, live-in chef? This is the 21st century! Nope. I replied decisively. I’ve been sold. You’re on your own from now on. The “is typing…” bubble on his end appeared and disappeared for a long time, but no message came through. Alex walked out of the kitchen, pulled out his phone without a word, and sent me the three thousand dollars. He didn’t speak, but money whispered. I looked at my bank balance and felt a thrill of joy. If I had to be a gofer, I’d rather be his. In the end, Alex and I happily came to an agreement. I would cook lunch and dinner for him. On days I didn’t have class, I’d come over at the scheduled times. On days I had class, I’d cook in advance and leave the food in a warming cabinet for him. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was getting paid way too much for just cooking. So, I decided I would be his loyal minion, on-call 24/7. 3 Liam called, a hint of guilt in his voice. “You saw the story, didn’t you?” I stayed silent. “I didn’t mean it like that, it was just a joke.” I still didn’t say anything. Liam’s voice grew more urgent. “Didn’t I post right after that it was fake? I didn’t actually mean to sell you off.” Then, a girl’s voice came through the phone. “Liam, you and Lily were always so close. It’s natural for her to be upset. Just give her some space to cool down, okay? Why don’t we go get some sushi?” It was Tiffany. Hearing her, Liam seemed to make up his mind. “You need to think this through. I can’t keep you by my side forever.” Then he hung up. I was speechless. Keep me by his side? Had he been watching too much melodrama? Any lingering trace of affection I had for him evaporated. I blocked him on everything. I’m not an idiot. When I realized I liked Liam in college, I bent over backward for him, helping him with everything. Even when he fell for Tiffany, I suppressed my own feelings to help him win her over. The problem was, Tiffany was always bothered by me being around Liam. So, to put her mind at ease, Liam chose this method to draw a line in the sand. To make it clear that I was just a gofer he could get rid of whenever he pleased. If that’s how it was, then there was no point in me sticking around to be humiliated. I started my new routine, splitting my time between campus and Alex’s villa. His place was close to school, only a twenty-minute walk. But Alex, saying he didn’t want me to waste time, got me a brand-new, top-of-the-line electric scooter. The moment the keys were in my hand, I was moved beyond words. How could anyone say it doesn’t matter who you’re with? Sucking up to Alex got me everything. Sucking up to Liam only got me hurt. 4 After that day, the vibe in our dorm room became tense. Tiffany would constantly talk about the new designer bag Liam bought her, or the fancy restaurant he took her to, going on and on about how good he was to her. But no one engaged. I was exhausted from running back and forth all day, cooking and studying. At night, all I wanted to do was sleep. My other two roommates were either lost in their TV shows or buried in their books. After a week of being ignored, Tiffany snapped. After class, I hopped on my new scooter, ready to zip over to Alex’s. I twisted the throttle, but the scooter didn’t move. A force was holding it back. I looked behind me. It was Liam, grabbing the back of my seat. He frowned. “Lily, I know you have a problem with Tiffany, but you can’t gang up on her with your roommates.” Gang up on her? We were both speaking English, but I had no idea what he was talking about. “Did I hit her? Did I curse her out?” Liam’s face flushed. “She said you and your roommates are giving her the silent treatment!” I let out a cold laugh. “Lily, we’ve been friends for so many years. She’s my girlfriend, can’t you have a little dignity?” Friends? Dignity? Who was the one who announced to the world I was his gofer? Who was the one without dignity? Who was the one who made me part of his twisted game? There was no point in arguing. I said coldly, “Let go. I’m in a hurry.” Liam didn’t release his grip, his face a mask of disappointment. “You’re only doing this because I like Tiffany, aren’t you? Lily, even if we can’t be together, we’re still friends.” “And I don’t like you. It has nothing to do with Tiffany. Even if she wasn’t in the picture, it would still be impossible for us. After all these years, if it was going to happen, it would have happened already. You don’t need to take it out on her.” He was just saying whatever popped into his head. But… So he knew how I felt about him all this time. Which means he asked for my help with Tiffany on purpose. I looked down, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips. Liam thought I was admitting guilt. He said, in a patronizing tone, “Lily, I think it’s time for you to start dating.” “I have a few buddies, all good guys, you’ve met them. I can set you up.” He listed a few names. “You’ve met Alex, too, but don’t even think about it. His standards are really high…” “Dude, are you gonna be a while?” A familiar voice cut him off. A hand clapped him on the shoulder. Liam turned to see Alex walk past him, swing a long leg over, and settle onto the back of my scooter. “We’re in a hurry to get home for dinner. Just text her if you have something to say.” Alex’s voice was lazy. “Alex?” Liam stared, looking from him to me, as if a lightbulb had just gone off in his head. “No wonder you had the guts to block me. You found a new target.” He sneered. “Lily, your affections are pretty cheap, aren’t they?” Alex let out a soft sigh. “Cheap? Weren’t you just telling her to find a boyfriend? Now that she has, you’re not happy about it.” Liam’s expression shifted. “Alex, are you serious?” “Mmhmm.” Alex was noncommittal. “I’m pursuing her.” I felt my face flush. Alex was practically a campus legend at A-University. My patron was using his own reputation to help me save face. The loyalty was real. The air grew thick with tension. Liam took a step back, his breath catching as he laughed coldly. “Alex, don’t you know that Lily, she…” “Liam!” Tiffany appeared at the perfect moment, grabbing his arm. “It’s fine,” she said softly. “You don’t have to fight my battles for me. I’m moving out soon anyway.” Liam seemed to remember something, and his expression calmed. “Stop pretending. You’re just trying to get a reaction out of me, aren’t you?” His gaze swept over my face. “Bullying Tiffany out of jealousy on one hand, and putting on a show with Alex on the other. You’ve got a lot of moves, but I’m not falling for it.” Liam pulled Tiffany away. As he passed Alex, he muttered, “I don’t know what Lily’s paying you, but you don’t have to play along with her act…” A weight settled on my back as Alex’s head rested against me. His hair was soft, but it tickled, sending a pleasant shiver from where we touched all the way up to my scalp. I stiffened slightly. “Let’s go. I’m hungry.” His usually clear voice was low and a bit husky, almost sounding like… he was whining? I shuddered, shaking the strange thought from my head. Ignoring whatever expression Liam had on his face, I twisted the throttle, and the scooter shot forward. 5 Back at his place, I felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry. You got dragged into my drama with Liam, and it’s affecting your friendship.” After all, they were good friends. I only knew Alex because of Liam. I remembered the first time I met him. They had all gone out drinking, and Liam had called me to pick him up. When I got there, everyone was wasted except for Alex. He wasn’t as thin back then. He was leaning back on a sofa, half his face cloaked in shadow, a couple of buttons on his black shirt undone. His profile was sharp and handsome, and he was still holding a glass between his long, pale fingers. “Here for Liam?” he’d asked in a low voice. I nodded, spotting Liam asleep on his side on another couch. I was about to help him up when Alex moved faster, pulling him to his feet. “Let’s go,” he said flatly. I was a bit embarrassed. “I can get him, you don’t have to…” “It’s fine. I was leaving anyway.” Alex helped Liam into the elevator and got him into the car downstairs before disappearing. After that, I’d see Alex whenever I went to find Liam. They even took the same elective courses. When I sat in on Liam’s classes, I’d often see Alex. He’d even save me a seat sometimes. Alex’s voice pulled me back to the present. He lowered his long lashes, his gaze searching. “Is that the only thing you wanted to say to me?” “Uh…” I remembered how he’d stood up for me in front of Liam, how angry he’d made him. I had to show my gratitude. “Maybe…” I asked tentatively. “Do you need help with your elective homework?” The professor for the class I took for Liam had assigned two short papers, which I’d already finished. Now that Liam and I were on the outs, there was no reason to give them to him. Alex paused, then looked down and smiled, a hint of resignation in his expression. “Yes.” The next second, my phone buzzed with a notification: a transfer of two hundred dollars. I fought to keep my lips from curling into a grin. “Oh, you really don’t have to do that.” “Take it,” Alex said, his tone leaving no room for argument. So, I “reluctantly” accepted. A few days later, Liam texted me from a new number. Let’s see how long you can keep up this act. I hope you can keep it up in front of your parents. My parents? I scoffed. When Tiffany moved out, she made sure to warn me not to bother Liam anymore. She also said that once she and Liam were married, the first thing she’d do was have my driver dad and housekeeper mom fired. It was pretty clear what kinds of things Liam must have been telling her. I needed to get my family away from the Davises, and soon.
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