practically a sister. You’re so close… why don’t you give him a kidney? Your blood types might even be a match.”
A flicker of panic crossed Colby’s eyes before she quickly clutched her chest and started coughing dramati- cally. “I would, but… I have a heart condition, you see… cough, cough…”
[LIE DETECTED. HEART CONDITION IS A FABRICATION. COMMENCING REALITY-ALTERATION.]
This time, I couldn’t hold back a small, bitter laugh. “You know what they say. If you cry wolf enough times…”
Colby opened her mouth to retort, but a sudden, sharp pain lanced through her chest. She gasped and doub-
led over.
Ryan instantly rushed to her side, handing her his glass of water, his face etched with worry. When his eyes
met mine, however, they were blazing with fury.
“Why do you always have to make everything a competition? Even this? Colby’s health is fragile, and you’re deliberately trying to upset her. Apologize. Now.”
I was speechless with rage. In the three years we’d been together, he had defended her countless times. Colby, the “best friend,” had inserted herself into every corner of our lives, even crashing our first-anniversary dinner “just as a friend.” Every time I complained, Ryan would shut me down with, “Can’t you just stop being
so petty?”
Now I saw it all clearly. Their relationship had been a lie for a long time.
I refused to apologize. He was about to argue further when a doctor emerged with a file. He walked directly to Ryan and handed him the report.
“The results are the same as two days ago,” the doctor said gravely. “It’s renal failure. You need a transplant,
and you need it soon.”
Ryan’s aggressive posture melted away. He turned to me, his expression softening into one of pathetic vuln- erability. “You heard the doctor, Ruby. Now do you believe me?”
The doctor stepped forward, his tone serious. “Ma’am, you’re Mr. Hayes’s girlfriend, correct? His condition is extremely critical. We’ve checked the donor database, and your blood type is a near-perfect match. You’re our best hope. Please, consider saving your boyfriend’s life.”
The system was silent. Not because the doctor wasn’t speaking, but because Ryan’s lie was now the absolu- te truth. His condition was critical.
Every eye in the hallway swiveled to me.
Colby, still clutching her chest, pointed a trembling finger at me. “See? Now do you believe it? If you don’t donate and something happens to Ryan, you’ll never have a moment’s peace for the rest of your life!” Her face was pale, but her voice was sharp with accusation. “Ruby, don’t be so selfish! This is the man you’re supposed to spend your life with. It’s just one kidney! You can live perfectly fine without it. How can you be
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