Sad, lonely gay? (1)

Years ago now, boyfriend Maiyuu helped himself to my credit card and transferred to his elder sister B20,000 as an emergency loan.

He withdrew it as cash, for which the interest rate charges are high. I found out about it when the credit card statement arrived.

He said he was too afraid to ask me for the money, in case I said no. So he just took it.

His sister, who has a family, put it to good use. It ended up as part of the capital fund in a low-interest loan scheme which her husband offered to staff of their factory.

I recall meeting the husband years ago, back in the days when we still visited them. Maiyuu's last visit to his sister was this time last year. I did not go with him on that trip to the provinces.

Maiyuu's sister and her husband ran the firm. They offered low-interest loans as an incentive to keep with the company. The default rate was low, because staff appreciated getting the help.

She sent us a share of the interest payments which staff paid to the fund. I never saw the money, as it went straight to my boyfriend, but it amounted to B2,000 a month.

The other day was Maiyuu's 30th birthday. That's a turning point in any young man's life, yet on that day his telephone was unusually quiet.

I asked him if anyone had called to offer birthday wishes.

'No one at all,' he said.

'Not even your sister?'

'I haven't heard from her in months. I may as well not have a sister. I am better off by myself,' he said.

I asked what happened to the interest payments. 'They stopped several months ago, too.'

'Will you call her about it?' I asked.

'No.'

I thought about his response. In a text message, I reminded him that the money which he gave his sister was a loan, not a gift. More importantly, it was my money, and I would like him to find out what happened to it.

now, see part 2