Chapter 143 - A friend or a foe

When Mana finally got home after her tête-à-tête, she heaved a huge sigh. She should feel good about getting retribution for all the times Lina had overshadowed her and made her feel unimportant. 

She thought back to the time when they graduated. She had managed to pull through with decent grades. It had been so difficult because the University was one the best in the world and most elite in the country. 

She was a star student at her small school, but when she got to the University she was no longer a big fish in a small pond, but rather a very, very small fish in a very, very large pond.

She had neither a strong and powerful family background nor looks. She had gotten in solely by luck, when a new admission had dropped out and she was next on the waitlist. She was moderately intelligent, but not prodigal.

Simply put, she was an insignificant face, a small person lost in a big crowd of influentials. 

But Lina had seen her. Lina had been there with her through their years at University. She had given her pep talks, ate lunches with her and defended her from bullies. 

So why did she have this hateful feeling towards her best friend suddenly growing in her chest? 

Lina had always had it easy. She was beautiful, and charming and confident. People flocked around her for attention. She was eccentric, as she was individualistic — doing things her own way. 

Yet, she never even had to try to stand out on top of her class. Their majors were different, but everyone in every faculty knew the great Lina and her out-of-the-box ideas. 

Her mysterious backing always made people curious and wonder at who she really was. Especially since confronting Lila during orientation hadn't got her into any trouble at all. 

All Mana knew, was that Lina came from a small rural village in Country J where she lived with her aunt and cousin. Once she left, she had never looked back, since they had hated her. 

Lina had never gone back home for holidays or big occasions, nor did she receive any familial visits in the big Capital City.

As far as Mana knew, Lina got her own apartment and started the Consultancy straight out of college. She often went on long business trips and never really talked about them. But she had still always picked up Mana's calls. 

She had still always been available to Mana in every circ.u.mstance. Been her friend, and her support. 

But Mana still felt, Lina had never really been present. She would tell her not to worry about grades and to focus on what she loved, but when did Lina ever have to worry about grades? She was always and ace.

Lina always told her to start small, get a job where they pay may be average but she would get to learn a lot. But when did Lina ever have to struggle with applications? She got offered high paying jobs she hadn't even applied for a turned them down. 

Lina always told her to love and appreciate herself when she got rejected by the boy she liked or they began dating other girls. But what would Lina, the girl with a million love confessions know about rejection and hurt? 

When Lina had disappeared for months during her coma and Mana couldn't access her, she had felt more alone than ever. The one person who acknowledged her had disappeared without trace. Her worry for Lina had grown to pain and rejection. 

But when Lina had come back, Mana's heart had softened. She was so happy to see her best friend alive and well. She had been so happy that Lina married someone who cared about her. 

She was so happy Lina had remembered her that one day. She was relieved, that even though Lina was lost, she hadn't lost her. 

But then the pain and the hurt that had entered her life when Lina was gone, it hadn't subsided. Mana had had a hard time at work, bullied and demeaned by her coworkers and not making any progress at the law firm. 

She still lived in a stinky, little apartment and could barely afford any luxuries while Lina was drowned in excess…and she didn't even care. 

And when she met Loren, her heart had swooned. Yet, Lina hadn't even given her a chance, being rude and trying to lose him, instead of trying to help her get together with him. 

She only cared about herself. 

Maybe Lina only kept her around because keeping someone like her around made Lina look better. Or worse, feel better about herself for being so 'charitable'. 

After all, everyone did always say — "What's Lina doing, hanging around with that nobody?", "She even has a heart of gold, taking insignificant people under her wing!" "That Mana is really lucky to have somebody like Lina being such good friends with her." 

As these thoughts clouded her head, Mana had no doubt that she wanted to give Lina a taste of the loss she had always felt. 

She thought about Lila's words and she firmly decided to herself that her relationship with Lina just wasn't worth the pain anymore. 

She picked up her cell phone and quickly wrote a text. 

*Li, let's meet at the café tomorrow. I have something I want to say.* 

As she sent the text, Mana took a deep breath. She reminded herself of the pain she felt and stood strong in the decision she was taking. 

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~ at the Moshi Mansion ~ 

Shen and Lina arrived back home together. Shen picked Lina up at work discretely and they were back home in time for dinner. 

Butler Min welcomed them back at the entrance while Housekeeper Tan was inside getting the table set and dishes prepared. 

"Welcome back young Master, Madam." Butler Min said pleasantly, a relieved smile on his face. 

The entire household was relieved and ecstatic that their master and mistress had finally made up and the chilliness between them had melted into a warm spring. 

Nobody had to walk on eggshells anymore, or most importantly, worry about their master turning into the devil himself. 

Shen and Lina greeted the Butler back. 

"Is dinner ready? Madam is hungry and we will retire soon. It has been a long day." Shen said to the Butler. 

Butler Min gave him an awkward glance. 

"Actually young master, you have company." 

Shen's ears perked up in annoyance. Company? Right now? Who would come to their house unannounced?

But Lina's face had already broken into a smile. She knew the only two people in the world who would inconvenience Shen without any prior warning. 

"Mother, Father!" she called as she ran into the house. 

Shen stood with Butler Min at the door, a scowl on his face. His parent's had dropped in yet again, to steal his wife's attention. There was never a husband who greeted his parents as sourly as Shen Moshi did that evening.