Current Events > AITA? Friend got mad that I felt underpaid for job.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Old friend and I are teachers. This friend. I often do feel used by them, but I care about them. Every year, we have a city-wide test that they always ask for my help with. They cant do it alone, because they cant speak English fluently enough to write it (we live in Japan).

Anyway, this year, test comes around. I help them, as usual. But then they send me a small starbucks gift card, and quickly goes off.

Earlier, I had asked for more uh.. respectable pay? They are a good friend, and Id help for free, but I also need to keep a healthy boundary and not be taken advantage of. This is a big test after all, and Ive also helped their students win awards for other things. I felt unappreciated a bit. Maybe they thought they would give me something else, maybe they thought this was a kind gesture?

Anyway, i call the friend, and say, calmly and nicely, that i dont mean to offend, but 700 in Starbucks was correct? Friend started flipping out, too, me off the job, said i would be replaced with someone else, and stopped returning calls or texts. Then they sent me another gift card for 1000 and said i dont need you, but i appreciate the help you already did so much. This felt like a weird gut punch. Was i wrong for standing up? I understand maybe they got offended, cultural, thing, misunderstanding. I feel really bad, but they also wont even have a conversation about it.

TLDR: old friend only gives me a 700 (5USD) starbucks card for help on an important test, and when we agreed to more fair compensation before, because last year was low. This year was lower. Friend then completely takes me off the job and says they will replace me, and gives me another gift card saying they appreciated me so much. Then never replied.

Tldr yes you are