Chapter 5: Setting Up Profiles
The living room looked different that night—not because anything had changed physically, but because the air itself felt charged. Linda sat upright on the couch, laptop balanced carefully on her knees, while Mathilda sprawled beside her, legs tucked under her body, phone in hand. The TV was on, but muted, forgotten. All attention was on glowing screens and racing hearts.
"This feels… serious," Linda said quietly, breaking the silence.
Mathilda glanced at her. "It is serious. This is us officially putting ourselves on the market."
Linda winced. "I hate when you say it like that."
Mathilda laughed. "Relax. Think of it as… presenting yourself to the universe."
Linda exhaled slowly and stared at her profile page. Her name, age, and photo were already there. Seeing herself summarized in a few boxes made her uncomfortable.
"How do you describe yourself in a few sentences?" Linda asked. "What if I get it wrong?"
Mathilda smiled knowingly. "You won't. You're just overthinking—like always."
Linda shot her a look. "Excuse me. Thinking things through is not a crime."
Mathilda held up her hands. "Didn't say it was. But this—" she pointed to the screen "—isn't a job interview. It's dating."
"That's worse," Linda muttered.
They both laughed, but the nerves were real.
Linda clicked on the About Me section.
"So… what are you writing?" Mathilda asked.
Linda hesitated. "I don't know. I don't want to sound boring. Or desperate. Or fake."
Mathilda leaned over. "Okay. Let's do this together. You talk, I type. Or you type, I translate."
Linda smiled faintly. "Fine."
She thought for a moment. "I'm confident, independent, and… I value honesty."
Mathilda nodded. "Good. Keep going."
"I like calm places. Coffee shops. Walks. Deep conversations," Linda added. "I'm not into games."
Mathilda typed rapidly. "Boom. That's strong."
Linda read it back. It sounded… like her. Real. Not perfect, but honest.
Her chest tightened. "What if no one likes it?"
Mathilda looked at her seriously. "Then they're not your person."
Linda nodded, swallowing.
Now it was Mathilda's turn.
She grinned and cracked her knuckles dramatically. "Alright. Watch a professional."
Linda smirked. "This should be good."
Mathilda spoke aloud as she typed. "Fun-loving, spontaneous, hopeless romantic with a soft heart and loud laugh."
Linda laughed. "That's accurate."
"I like men who can make me laugh," Mathilda continued. "Confidence is cute. Arrogance is not."
Linda raised an eyebrow. "Put that in bold."
"Oh, I am," Mathilda said.
They moved to the What I'm Looking For section.
Linda froze again.
"This part feels… heavy," she admitted.
Mathilda nodded. "Yeah. Because now we're saying it out loud."
Linda stared at the blinking cursor. "I want someone emotionally mature. Someone consistent."
Mathilda smiled softly. "Say that."
"I don't want confusion," Linda continued. "I want clarity. Effort. Respect."
Mathilda reached over and squeezed her hand. "You deserve that."
Linda's eyes stung slightly, but she blinked it away.
Then Mathilda turned back to her own screen.
"I want someone exciting," she said. "Someone who texts good morning. Someone who chooses me."
Linda typed it for her slowly. "Someone who chooses you."
Mathilda's smile faltered for a split second. "Yeah."
They didn't comment on it, but both felt the weight of those words.
Next came Preferences.
Mathilda read aloud. "Age range?"
Linda answered immediately. "Older. Or at least emotionally older."
Mathilda laughed. "Of course."
"And you?" Linda asked.
Mathilda shrugged. "Age doesn't matter. Energy does."
Linda smiled. "That's very you."
They scrolled through hobbies, interests, deal-breakers.
"Smoking?" Mathilda asked.
"No," Linda said firmly.
"Cheating?"
Linda snorted. "Absolutely not."
"Good hygiene?"
Linda laughed. "Why is that even a question?"
Mathilda grinned. "You'd be surprised."
As the profiles filled out, excitement began to replace fear.
Notifications popped up occasionally—views, likes, interest.
Mathilda squealed softly. "Someone just viewed my profile."
Linda's heart raced. "Mine too."
They stared at their screens like something might jump out.
"This is real," Linda whispered.
Mathilda nodded. "Yeah. It is."
A message notification appeared on Linda's screen.
She froze.
"Oh my God."
"What?" Mathilda asked, instantly alert.
"I got a message."
Mathilda gasped. "Open it!"
Linda hesitated. "What if it's weird?"
"Open. It."
Linda clicked.
It was simple. Polite. Respectful.
She exhaled in relief. "Okay… that wasn't bad."
Mathilda smiled. "See? The world didn't end."
Mathilda's phone buzzed seconds later.
Her eyes widened. "Oh."
Linda leaned closer. "Let me guess. Charming?"
Mathilda grinned. "Very."
They laughed nervously.
"Why does this feel like the first day of school?" Linda asked.
"Because it is," Mathilda replied. "New chapter. New people."
Linda leaned back against the couch, heart pounding. "I'm excited. And terrified."
Mathilda nodded. "Same. What if I mess this up?"
Linda looked at her. "You won't. And even if you do—we learn."
Mathilda smiled softly. "Promise we don't let men ruin us?"
Linda laughed. "Promise."
They clinked their mugs together like champagne glasses.
Outside, the city continued as normal—cars passing, lights blinking—but inside that apartment, two women were stepping into something unknown.
Love.
Risk.
Possibility.
Neither knew that their excitement, their honesty, their shared journey was about to be tested in ways they couldn't imagine.
But for now, there was hope.
And that was enough.