I Bought A Cup Of Coffee Using My Brother’s Card

I replied immediately.

[I told you, it was an accident. I didn’t check the payment method when I ordered.]

[Who knows? Maybe Alan’s last few relationships fell apart because of your little mistakes!]

My mom’s words made my fingers go numb from anger.

I sent a voice message to yell at them without holding back.

“It’s just one cheap coffee! What dirty thoughts are you all thinking? He’s my brother. What’s wrong with linking his supplementary card? Buying a coffee isn’t a crime! How are his failed relationships my fault now? You guys blew it yourselves! Whenever he brought a girlfriend home, before she could even introduce herself, you were already grilling her about her parents’ pensions, jobs, and property like some IRS audit! Alan’s got no car, no house, no savings. And you don’t think that’s the problem? God forbid a woman has standards! If you were you, would you marry him?”

I finished in one breath.

If Julia had not been pregnant, would they even approve of this relationship?

[Ungrateful brat.]

My dad sent a 60-second voice message.

“How dare you talk to us like that? We sacrificed everything to raise you, and this is what we get. An ungrateful…”

I did not finish listening.

Julia chimed in with a snort. [Oh wow. Even criticizing your parents now? You’re something else. You really know how to stir up family drama, don’t you?]

Alan stayed silent as ever.

An aunt who usually kept to herself piped up.

[Julia, don’t get worked up, and Sofia, just drop it already.]

The other relatives were online, but they were just watching in silence.

Some even messaged me privately.

[Wow, Sofia, big family drama, huh? No other family can turn a fight over a ten-dollar iced latte into World War III!]

Seeing my own family become a laughingstock, I was about ready to ignore it all, shut my phone, and go to bed.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed again. Julia had tagged me in the family group.

I opened it and saw a few screenshots.

[Sofia, do you have no shame? Sending suggestive photos to your own brother? Are you trying to disgust me?]

I had a bad feeling about this. I zoomed in on the screenshots.

The photos were familiar. A tasteful, modern take on a classic dress. A pair of heels to match.

Those are things that I carefully picked out for her as a birthday gift.

How on earth were these photos suggestive?

[Julia, look closer. Those were supposed to be your birthday gifts. I wasn’t sure about your size, so I asked Alan. He’s the one who told me to send the photos. Can’t you read? The messages are right there!]

No sooner had I sent that than Julia sent another screenshot.

It was part of my chat with Alan, but the one important line where he typed, [Send me the photos.] was completely blurred out with pixelated blocks. Only the dress photos remained.

[Ha.]

Julia quickly followed up with a sarcastic message. [In that case, why didn’t you send them to me? Why your brother?]

I tried to keep my cool.

[How many times have I sent you a friend request? Did you ever accept? He’s my brother. What’s wrong with asking him his wife’s size?]

Meanwhile, the relatives who did not know the full story started chiming in.

Aunt Mary: Oh, Sofia. Even between siblings, you need to have some boundaries.

Aunt Philippa: Yeah, sending photos like that to your brother is improper.

Mark: Sofia, that’s really not okay.

What really hurt me were my parents’ messages right after.

Dad: I can’t believe I raised such a shameless brat. You’re an embarrassment!

Mom: You stupid girl! Apologize to Julia.

Absolutely not. Apologizing would be like admitting I actually did something wrong.

I immediately pulled up my private chat with Alan.

[Alan, you’ve got to clear things up in the group. Things aren’t what Julia’s making them out to be. You’re the one who told me to send the photos. And she kept rejecting my friend requests. Clear this up now!]

[Relax. It’s not that big of a deal. Just don’t argue with Julia. Just let her vent a bit, and she’ll let it go. It won’t cost you anything. Just let it roll off your back.]

His flippant, careless response completely set me off.

[Let it roll off my back? Take a look at the group chat right now. They’re calling me a disgusting harlot who throws herself at her brother. Give it another day, and they’ll be accusing me of incest!]