Chapter 3 The Fortune-Teller
"The ring? Are you serious?" Jacob laughed at how an ancient ring like that was offered for 1 million dollars.
I sipped hot chocolate with my favorite marshmallow. I still can't forget the two unexpected events that I experienced today. Asked to tell a fortune and offered 1 million dollars for a ring that belonged to my ancestor.
"I was also confused about whether the person was serious or not. Because the expression on his face didn't look like he was joking at all. I didn't even realize he was walking towards me. How strange!"
"That's because you daydream too much, so you can't focus. What if it turns out he's a bad guy and wants to harm you? You're really careless!"
"I don't want to hear your anger! What do you think I should do?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"About that fortune-telling offer?"
"Can you really tell fortunes?"
"I can't, but-"
"If you can't predict, why did you accept the offer?"
"But I promised to tell them tomorrow!"
"You idiot! You might as well cancel it and admit to them that you can't actually tell fortunes!"
"How could that be? If I told them, I would definitely be considered lying!"
"If you force yourself to predict them and then the predictions are not proven, you will be humiliated and considered a fraud!"
"So what should I do?" I started to get nervous hearing Jacob's explanation, which seemed quite reasonable. If my predictions are not correct, they could spread bad rumors about me on campus.
"Forget it! It's better for you to confess quickly than to keep forcing yourself." Jacob went to his bedroom after making me panic with his stupid words. He's really annoying.
"What about the offer from the strange man who wanted to buy this ring?" I asked before Jacob entered his room. He turned and looked at me with an annoying look.
"Do you really need money so you're thinking about selling the ring you inherited from your ancestors?"
"It's not like that, if that man gave us a million dollars we could buy a big house and not have to share this small apartment."
Jacob sighed, his expression changed and it seemed like I had said something wrong. But I also don't want to keep resetting him. Since my grandfather started to get sick, Jacob was the one who paid for all my living needs and also my grandfather's. He worked hard for us even though we were not related by blood.
Jacob is an orphan like me, but he is more unfortunate because he never met his parents at all. He was found by our neighbor in a box in the middle of winter. They took him who was still very small at that time and looked after him until he was 14 years old. However, the family decided to move and Jacob refused to come because he didn't want to leave me, who at that time only lived alone with my grandfather.
"I don't mind sharing everything I have with you. We both don't have family or anyone we can rely on, so we both become dependent on each other. But if it turns out you want to live in a bigger house, I can't say anything." He said with a disappointed face and went into his room as if not letting me say anything else.
He really makes me feel guilty now, even though I didn't mean that. He has sacrificed too much for me and also for my grandfather. He did not go to university even though he received a scholarship to study in Massachusetts and preferred to work as a mechanic in a car repair shop to make money.
I feel that Jacob deserves a better life and if there was anything I could do, I would definitely do anything to make him happy.
I stood back and forth anxiously in the university park, waiting for the arrival of Melisa and her two friends. As Jacob said, I've been thinking about it all night and it would be best if I refused Melisa's offer to tell her fortune.
I'm not a fortune teller and I can't predict, if my predictions weren't right, she would definitely be very disappointed and probably ask for the money she gave back.
"Layla, sorry you've been waiting for us for a long time, right?" From a distance, I could see Melisa, Stephanie and Kerry walking towards me, waving.
Melisa's face looked cheerful and that made me even more afraid to cancel our plans for today.
"How is it? What should I do?" I thought. Damn it, I really got caught into a very unpleasant situation because of my stupidity yesterday.
"I brought the car, how about we go to the parking lot now?" Melisa asked.
"S-sorry, looks like our plans have to be cancelled!" I said confused. I held my breath because I was too stressed.
"Cancel? Why?"
"Th-that, actually I can't predict at all. That's why I'm afraid of disappointing you. I'm really sorry!" I said while bowing to show my regret.
"You're not used to fortune telling? But yesterday you said you could tell fortunes?"
"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to lie. I just got carried away. Please forgive me!" I said. Now I don't dare lift my head and look at their faces. I don't know what their current expressions are like, they are definitely not happy.
The atmosphere became silent for 10 seconds, I don't know what they thought after hearing my confession, but I hope they can forgive me.
"Okay, we understand, you don't need to be so sorry like that, Layla. Then just forget about the prophecy. We have to go, see you?" Melisa said as she left with her two friends.
"S-see you-" I said quietly. I looked at the backs of the three of them who were getting further away. I felt that they weren't really taking advantage of me. For some reason I had a bad feeling and it was very disturbing.
