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"Why did you do it, Ben?" Emma's voice cracked as he held up the printed email in his trembling hand. They were alone in the office, the hum of the air conditioner filling the silence between them.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ben replied without looking up. He kept staring at his computer screen, his fingers frozen above the keyboard.
"Don't lie to me!" Emma's eyes burned.
"Lie about what?" Ben replied in pretense.
"This email—sent to the manager—accusing me of leaking client data. It came from your account," Emma said with certainty.
"So, you think I betrayed you?" Ben snapped, finally turning his suddenly pale face and set jaw to Emma.
"I don't think; I know." Emma snapped as well.
"Guy! What is this, na? I still do not know what you are talking about," Ben lied again.
"I actually stood by you when you messed up that presentation last quarter. I stayed up all night helping you fix it. And now, when the promotion is in sight, you decided to throw me under the bus?!" Emma exclaimed in fury.
Ben rose immediately from his chair, his own voice rising now. "Do you think it was easy watching you shine while I was treated like your shadow?! Everyone sees only you; everyone praises Emma—the perfect guy, the reliable one. What about me? Don't I deserve to be seen too?!" Ben yelled in full— blown jealousy.
"So this is about envy, huh?" Emma blinked.
"It's about survival!" Ben yelled, clenching his fist.
"Hmmm! I see," Emma simply said in amazement.
"Do you know what it feels like to sit in the same office, do the same work, yet nobody notices you? The manager only calls your name, only trusts you. I was invisible; I felt invisible, Emma. I had to do something," Ben explained, smelling of stench and jealousy.
"So you thought destroying me would make you visible?" Emma asked with a trembling voice as he stared at Ben with a tightening chest.
Suddenly, the room felt colder. Neither spoke for a long moment until Emma whispered, "I told you everything, Ben. Every dream, every fear, every challenge. I called you my brother. And this is what you chose?" Emma muttered in heartfelt pain.
Ben's eyes glistened. For the first time, his voice softened. "I didn't want it to go this far. I thought maybe if I raised suspicion, the manager would finally see me as competent. I never imagined it would break us like this." Ben muttered, feeling regret.
"It already has," Emma said in a flat voice.
"Please, don't hate me. I was drowning. You were my friend... my only friend... and I ruined it. I ruined us." Ben said remorsefully, trying to step closer.
"Please don't come closer to me! You are definitely a bitter, jealous snake. I was blinded by your fake and deceptive friendship. While I was busy helping and loving you as my own brother, you were also busy stabbing and biting me confidently in disguise, as if our friendship meant nothing to you. Why it took me so long to figure this out is truly my biggest agony." Emma whimpered in pain.
Emma lowered the email, his hands shaking. The anger inside him was burning, but beneath it was something heavier—grief.
"I am sorry; it's the devil's work," Ben said hoarsely.
"Just... just... stop calling the devil; you are the one who harbored and nurtured this wicked plot in your heart, the devil was on his own; you personally went to him and partnered with him to carry out this evil, it's you; it's all you, Ben. You... are the real devil in disguise." Emma snapped with a grieving, breaking voice.
"Please tell me how I can make it up to you again. Please, this was not my intention; I didn't mean to lose our friendship like this," Ben said under his breath, strained with pain, trying to reach for Emma.
"Don't... you dare... touch me." Emma drifted farther away. "You didn't just ruin us, Ben," he continued, "You ruined yourself. Because when the truth comes out—and it definitely will—you won't just lose me. You'll lose everything in shame and disgrace. I promise you that." Emma said bluntly, with certainty and clarity in his voice.
Tears almost slipped down Ben's eyes as he stood there. He tried to control his tears from dripping as a man, but deep down, his heart was in anguish. He tried again to reach out, but Emma stepped back.
"I'm going to the manager," Emma said, his voice steady now. "I'll clear my name. And I'll tell him what you did. This is where our paths split. Enjoy your backstabbing, snaky, evil life in pieces." Emma said bitterly through clenched teeth.
Ben collapsed back into his chair, burying his face in his hands. "Emma, please..." he pleaded in pain and shame.
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However, Emma was already walking to the door. He paused, his hands on the handle. Without turning, he said, "I blamed myself at first—for trusting you. But now I see clearly. The blame is yours alone."
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Ben in the silence of his own betrayal.
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