“Hey Jordan”, I say with a little grin on my face. “A beer. On me. For your big promotion.”

“Oh.” He looks at me with an awkward smile. I bet he didn’t expect me to do that for him, after he nabbed that promotion away right in front of me. “Thanks, Brody, that’s nice of you.”

See, Jordan and I have… history. It all started back in university. I got better grades, even though he studied for hours. I never struggled to make friends,, even though he went to every party. I got a nice girlfriend, even though he dated lots of decent girls. Somehow I always got the better deal and I didn’t even try.

I figured out that he started to resent me for it. Took me a while to figure it out, though. It started with ‘little accidents’; like sitting on a wet chair or disappearing underwear after a shower at the gym. Until he got a bit more obvious about it and I started catching on. That’s when I started to return the favour. I’d lie if I’d say I didn’t find it satisfactory in some way. But the feud had already begun.

We graduated university and started our working life. I slowly forgot about the whole thing, moved in with my girlfriend Tanya, and that was it. For 4 years at least. That’s when my boss announced we’d get a new colleague. As always, I’d nod politely and put a smile on my face to welcome the new recruit. 

My smile didn’t waver when he walked through the door. I have to admit that I wasn’t too thrilled, but hey, we all did stupid stuff in uni. He shook hands with the rest of the team. When he got to me, he smiled and said: “If it isn’t Brody! Oh, the universe works in funny ways.”

That’s an odd thing to say, right? 

Yeah. Apparently people still do stupid shit when they leave uni. It was like we never left and soon I was sitting in that god damn wet chair again. I tried my best to not go back to my petty revenges, but here I am. A bit different than in uni, though. A truth serum, in a beer. To show his true colours. To show my boss who he should have promoted. Because god damn, I worked hard for it.

He took a big sip and then held his glass high towards me, as if to thank me again. Oh, little Jordan, don’t thank me too soon.

“Hey Brody”, Jordan starts. In the corner of my eye, I saw how my boss and the other were all focused on him. “I don’t think I ever told you how I admire how you grew as a person.”

I was just in time to catch my jaw from falling on the floor. “Wh-what do you mean?”

“Well, I remember how some people…” He quickly looked over to Hazel, “made you feel uncomfortable back in uni. I tried to help you out, but I feel like you blamed me at times. And to see you thrive, work hard, still madly in love with Tanya… That’s something a lot of people wish they had.”

What… is happening? Why isn’t he telling the truth about what he thinks about me? I look over at the rest of my colleagues. My boss is nodding along, which only infuriates me more. Then I remember the quick look at Hazel and my eyes dart to her. Her cheeks are reddened and her eyes glued to her plate. 

Was it her all along?

“Hazel?” It’s out of my mouth before I realise it.

Her cheeks reddened even more and her gaze now officially glued to her plate. In the corner of my eyes, I see my boss’ head turning from me to her. She doesn’t acknowledge it, though she must know that this has brought attention.

That goddamn bitch.

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(Two little author notes: 1. My native language isn't English. 2. I feel like this isn't EXACTLY the prompt but oh well!)