I LOANED MY FRIEND $5,000 AND HE LOST FOR A FEW YEARS — BUT ON MY WEDDING DAY, HE CAME BACK IN A LUXURY CAR AND PAID ME 100 TIMES BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT HIS BILLIONS WERE INVESTED IN
THE TEST OF FRIENDSHIP

Carlo and James are young people. They both grew up poor in a small village. They were treated like brothers. When they graduated from college, Carlo was lucky enough to enter as an IT Professional, while James was always looked down upon in the businesses he worked in.

One night, five years ago, James knocked on Carlo’s apartment. He was crying, disheveled, and felt like the world was his burden.

“Dude,” James sobbed. “I need your help. This is my last card. I have a Tech Start-up idea, but no bank will lend me money. No one believes in me. You are my only hope.”

“How much do you need?” Carlo asked.

“$5,000 (about P250,000),” James replied. “I promise, I will pay you. Double that. If this doesn’t work, I will just kill myself.”

Carlo was stunned. The $5,000 was all he had saved for three years. It was supposed to be used for the downpayment on the house he wanted to buy for his future family.

But he looked at James. He saw the desperation and the fire in his friend’s eyes.

Carlo took a deep breath. He took out his passbook and withdrew the next day.

“James,” Carlo handed over the envelope. “This is all my money. I don’t need interest. Just promise me you’ll succeed. And don’t forget me.”

“Thank you, Carlo! I owe you my life!” James hugged him.

James left for America the next day to try his luck there.

THE LOSS

A month passed… three months… a year.

There was no news of James.

Carlo called his number, it could not be reached.

He sent a message on Facebook, only seen or the account was deactivated.

He asked James’ relatives, but they said, “He didn’t let us know either. Maybe he hid out of shame.”

Carlo became miserable. Because his savings were gone, he had a hard time getting up. His fiancée, Sheila, was angry with him.

“I told you!” Sheila scolded. “Don’t trust James! He’s a fraud! Where’s your $5,000? Where’s our house purchase? It’s gone!”

“I trust him, Sheila. Maybe he just got caught,” Carlo defended, even though inside he was hurting too.

Five years passed.

James was still gone. Carlo had accepted that he had been scammed by his own best friend. It hurt, but he had to move on.

THE WEDDING DAY

Carlo and Sheila’s wedding day arrived.

It was held at a simple garden venue. Because of the tight budget (since Carlo still hadn’t fully recovered), the reception was simple.

Sheila’s parents were not happy.

“Carlo,” said her father-in-law during the reception. “If you hadn’t loaned your swindler friend a loan, my daughter’s wedding would have been at a hotel today. Look at this, the heat, the mosquitoes.”

“Excuse me, Dad,” Carlo bowed. He was embarrassed.

While the priest was speaking for the Blessing of the Food, they suddenly heard a loud engine roar.

VROOOOM!

All the guests turned to the garden entrance.

A convoy of five black Cadillac Escalades entered. And in the middle, there was a gleaming Silver Rolls-Royce Phantom.

“Who’s that?” the guests murmured. “Do we have a politician visiting?”

The Rolls-Royce stopped right in front of the reception area. Bodyguards wearing sunglasses and earpieces got out.

The driver opened the door of the Rolls-Royce.

A man got out.

He was wearing an Armani Tuxedo that clearly cost thousands of dollars. He was wearing a Patek Philippe watch. His shoes were shiny Italian leather.

The man took off his sunglasses and smiled.

Carlo was stunned. The spoon he was holding fell.

“J-James?!”

James. The friend who disappeared. Now he looked like a Billionaire.

James walked over to Carlo and Sheila’s table. The guests were amazed at the wealth they were seeing.

“Carlo, man!” James greeted loudly. “Sorry, I’m late! I just came from New York, I flew out as soon as I read your email.”

“James…” Carlo stood up, unable to believe it. “You’re alive… your wealth is…”

“Yes man,” James smiled. “And I’m here to keep my promise.”

Suddenly Carlo’s Father-in-Law interrupted.

“Oh! James!” the father-in-law shouted. “You have the nerve to show up here after you stole Carlo’s money! Where’s the $5,000?! Maybe your car was stolen, right?!”

The surroundings fell silent.

James just smiled. Calmly.

He motioned to his assistant. He handed him a Metal Briefcase.

James placed the briefcase on the newlyweds’ table. He opened it.