Chapter 2 – The Price of Respect
No one moved.
Sarah stared at Ryan as though the man sitting across from her had become a stranger.
"What do you mean... we're not paying together anymore?" she whispered.
Ryan didn't raise his voice.
"I mean exactly what I said."
He pulled out his wallet and handed the waiter his card.
"Charge me for my meal."
The waiter hesitated before nodding.
Sarah's friends exchanged nervous glances.
Jade finally scoffed.
"So this is about money?"
Ryan looked at her calmly.
"No."
"It's about respect."
Silence returned.
Ryan continued.
"For two years I've paid because I wanted to make Sarah happy."
"I never kept score."
"I never complained."
"But somewhere along the way, kindness became expectation."
He looked directly at Sarah.
"I invited you on a date."
"You invited everyone else."
"You never even asked."
Sarah opened her mouth.
"I didn't think—"
"I know."
"That's the problem."
Her eyes slowly filled with tears.
One by one, the women began checking the bill.
Their confidence disappeared.
The expensive wine.
The premium steaks.
The endless cocktails.
Splitting the check suddenly wasn't nearly as funny as ordering it.
One friend quietly muttered,
"I didn't realize it would be this much."
Ryan smiled faintly.
"I did."
The waiter returned.
Ryan signed his receipt.
Stood up.
Buttoned his jacket.
"I hope all of you enjoy the rest of your evening."
Then he looked at Sarah one last time.
"When someone loves you, they shouldn't feel invisible."
Without another word...
May you like
He walked away.
No one tried to stop him.
