The Monday after Sara's birthday party, school hallways buzzed with chatter. Everyone had heard about the lavish event at the Chen mansion — the sparkling chandeliers, the endless food, the important guests.
"Your party was amazing, Sara," Emily Zhang gushed as she linked arms with her. "I swear, it was the best I've ever been to."
Hannah Wu chimed in, her voice high with excitement. "You're so lucky! My parents barely let me invite five people for my last birthday. But you—your father invited half the city."
Sara laughed lightly, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Their words sounded like compliments, but underneath she sensed something sharper, like envy dressed as admiration.
During lunch, Mei Lin joined them at the table, casually tossing her long hair over her shoulder. "Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is," she said bluntly. "It was just a birthday party."
Emily's smile faltered, and Hannah rolled her eyes. "Well, not everyone can throw a party like that, Mei Lin."
Sara quickly tried to smooth things over. "It's not about the party. I just wanted everyone to have fun."
"Exactly," Emily agreed, placing her hand over Sara's. "That's what makes you so kind. You think of others first."
But Mei Lin's sharp gaze lingered on Sara, as if silently warning her to look beyond the pretty words.
After school, the group went to a café downtown. Emily insisted on ordering the most expensive drinks, while Hannah added extra pastries to the tray.
"Sara, you don't mind paying, right?" Emily asked sweetly. "After all, it's just coffee. You're the richest among us."
Sara hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. "Of course, it's fine."
Mei Lin raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
As they sat by the window, Emily leaned closer, lowering her voice. "By the way, that boy at your party—Daniel Li. He was staring at you, wasn't he?"
Hannah giggled. "Oh my God, yes! Do you like him, Sara?"
Sara flushed, shaking her head. "No, it's not like that. I don't even know him."
"Well," Emily said, exchanging a quick glance with Hannah, "if you're not interested, maybe we could be."
Sara's smile froze. It was supposed to be a joke, but something in their tone made her chest tighten.
Later, walking home with Mei Lin, the silence stretched between them until her cousin finally spoke.
"You're too soft, Sara," Mei Lin said flatly. "Emily and Hannah aren't your friends. They're leeches."
Sara frowned. "That's not true. They care about me."
Mei Lin stopped walking and looked her directly in the eye. "Care about you? Or about what you can give them? You'll see, sooner or later."
Sara's heart ached. She wanted to argue, but the memory of Emily's hand on hers, the way Hannah's eyes sparkled when talking about Daniel, kept replaying in her mind.
Were they really her friends? Or just smiling masks, waiting for the right time to slip?
That night, lying in her room, Sara stared at her phone, scrolling through messages filled with hearts and compliments from her friends.
For the first time, their words didn't feel warm. They felt heavy. Empty.
And Sara wondered if Mei Lin was right.