Bonds Beyond Wealth

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Angela and Daniela were friends and roommates at the university.
Angela was in the medical laboratory science department, while Daniela was in the law department.
Angela came from a humble home. They didn’t have much money, but they were at least average. Her dad worked for an oil company in their community, while her mom taught at the primary school as a civil servant.

Daniela, on the other hand, came from a filthy rich family. Her mom was the personal advisor to a governor and ran several businesses around the country, while her dad was a robotics engineer in China.
Daniela never lacked anything, and the fact that she was the second and last child, with a large age gap between her and her older brother — a high-earning model — didn’t help matters. She was spoiled, getting whatever she wanted.

Angela and Daniela had met one day when Angela was stranded, and Daniela helped her with a large amount of money.
Angela appreciated her and wanted to pay her back when she had the money, but Daniela didn’t want it because she didn’t need it.
Angela had to try her best to convince Daniela to take back the money because she couldn’t accept such a large sum from someone she didn’t know well. After much persistence from Angela, Daniela accepted it, and they became friends from that point, eventually renting the same room for their second year.

For someone spoiled, Daniela was quite good with her manners and morals. Angela had heard and seen how many children like Daniela were used to taking people’s belongings without permission, but Daniela never stole. The only problem Daniela had was that she was disorganized and messy. She couldn’t arrange or take care of her things.

Angela sometimes helped her clean and arrange her things but often only tidied up her side of the room because she didn’t want to take over from where Daniela’s nanny at home left off, or she simply didn’t have the energy.

One afternoon, while Angela was lying on her bed, it was obvious that her side was neat and organized, while Daniela’s side was messy, with clothes scattered everywhere and even biscuit wrappers from a week ago piling up in the corner of the bed.
Angela didn’t have any classes that day and decided to stay in.

Suddenly, Daniela dashed into the room in a hurry, leaving the door open. She was sweating as if she had just run a marathon.
“Where is it?” she kept saying under her breath.
Angela turned to look at Daniela, wondering what had made her so panicked. “What are you looking for?” she asked.
“My assignment,” Daniela said as she threw her clothes off the bed one by one.
“Where did you keep it?” Angela asked.
“I don’t know, I left it here,” Daniela said as she scattered her bed even more.
“Then it should be there because I didn’t touch anything,” Angela replied.
“I don’t know, everything is just higgledy-piggledy,” Daniela said, frustrated.

Angela smirked at her. “Forget about the big words. If only you weren’t so messy and disorganized.”
“What do you mean?” Daniela shot an angry glance at Angela, who was now looking at her phone and didn’t notice the tension building.
“I mean, I wouldn’t blame you completely — I know the fault lies with all the nannies at your home,” Angela said jokingly.
“You know what? I can’t even argue with a poor rat like you. I’m privileged, at least, and wasn’t raised by church rats,” Daniela blurted out, trying to hurt Angela’s feelings.

Angela, however, wasn’t hurt, just shocked. She stared and smiled in surprise at Daniela, who went back to searching for her assignment.
Angela saw the file as Daniela flung one of her clothes but didn’t notice it herself.
“It’s there,” Angela pointed at the assignment.
Daniela picked it up and dashed out of the room.

Later that evening, Daniela came back from school feeling sad after replaying the whole incident in her head. She bought burgers, chicken, and drinks to apologize to Angela.
She walked over with the bag of things she’d bought to Angela, who was lying on her bed scrolling through her phone. Angela pretended not to notice Daniela standing in front of her.
“I’m sorry,” Daniela said in a low, soft tone. Angela still didn’t respond.
“Look, I don’t know what came over me. I was just angry and probably in denial that, indeed, I’m very careless and spoiled,” Daniela said as a tear rolled down her face.

Angela looked at her, then took her hand. “Look, being privileged isn’t bad. If I were privileged, I’d be happy. But it’s important to know how to care for yourself and be independent,” she said, sitting up. “I forgive you.”
“Thank you,” Daniela said between sobs.
“Let me see,” Angela said as she took the bag from Daniela. “I’ve forgiven you, but the next time you call me a rat again, they’ll have to build a wrestling ring for us,” Angela joked as they both laughed.