Hi all, wondering if I’m the asshole in this situation.

I will try to keep it short. Recently at my workplace a new position opened that we could apply for. 2 of my best friends openly told me they were applying for the position, but never asked me if I applied. I did apply as it was a significant wage increase with a job role more suited to my skills.

Anyway, both of my friends asked me for help and advice on their application which I obviously helped with. I didn’t try sabotage their chances either, j genuinely believe whoever gets the role should get it based on merit. And the fiercer the competition just made me prepare that much more.

It was announced in our department meeting that I was the one who got the role and my friends sent me a message later congratulating me.

I replied thank you but that’s when it got weird. Literally both of them became quite hostile and arsey towards me. Telling me that I was an asshole for also applying for the position and that I didn’t tell them I applied. They inferred that I tried to sabotage their opportunity and made a huge deal out of it. And now I’m left wondering if I was an asshole?

I genuinely do mean it that if they asked me I would have told them I have also applied but I don’t know what to make of it now