Chapter 12: Betrayal Begins
The walk back home felt endless.
Mathilda moved quickly down the street, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if she could hold her heart together by force. The cold air stung her face, but she barely felt it. Her mind replayed the scene again and again—Linda's smile, the man's face, the moment everything made sense.
Behind her, Linda hurried to catch up.
"Mathilda, please," Linda called out. "Wait."
Mathilda stopped abruptly and turned around. Her eyes were red, but dry. The tears had already burned through her.
"Don't," Mathilda said sharply. "Just don't."
Linda froze.
They stood there under a streetlight, Valentine decorations swaying gently above them, mocking the moment.
"I didn't know," Linda said again, her voice shaking. "I swear to you. If I had known, I would never—"
"But you know now," Mathilda cut in. "And you still chose him."
"That's not true," Linda replied quickly. "I didn't choose anyone."
Mathilda laughed bitterly. "You were sitting across from him. Smiling. Planning a future. Don't tell me you didn't choose."
Linda's chest tightened. "I was just as shocked as you were."
"Shock doesn't erase betrayal," Mathilda said.
They walked the rest of the way home in silence.
When they reached the apartment, Mathilda unlocked the door with shaking hands—someone else's spare key, not her own. She stepped inside and tossed her bag onto the floor.
Linda followed, closing the door softly behind her.
The apartment felt different now. Smaller. Heavier.
Mathilda turned suddenly. "How long?"
Linda blinked. "How long what?"
"How long were you talking to him?" Mathilda demanded.
Linda swallowed. "A few weeks."
Mathilda nodded slowly. "Same."
The room went quiet.
"So you read his good-morning texts?" Mathilda continued. "The ones where he said he wasn't talking to anyone else?"
Linda's eyes widened. "Yes."
Mathilda's voice rose. "And you didn't think it was strange that he said the same things to both of us?"
"I didn't know he was talking to you," Linda snapped, defensiveness creeping into her tone. "You never showed me his face."
Mathilda stared at her. "You didn't ask."
Linda crossed her arms. "Because I trusted you."
Mathilda scoffed. "Funny. I trusted you too."
Linda felt the words hit her chest like a blow. "You're acting like I did this on purpose."
Mathilda stepped closer. "You sent me your location knowing you were with him."
"Because you needed the key!" Linda shouted. "What was I supposed to do? Let you sleep outside?"
Mathilda's eyes filled with tears. "You should have told me the truth the moment you realized."
"I was still trying to understand it myself," Linda replied. "Everything happened so fast."
Mathilda shook her head. "You didn't even leave with me."
Linda hesitated.
That pause said everything.
Mathilda's voice broke. "You stayed."
Linda felt her throat close. "I was in shock."
"No," Mathilda said softly. "You stayed because you didn't want to let go."
Silence fell between them.
Linda finally said, "I didn't steal him from you."
Mathilda laughed bitterly. "You didn't steal him. But you didn't give him up either."
Linda's frustration boiled over. "Why is this all on me? He's the one who lied."
"I know," Mathilda said. "But you're my friend."
That hurt more than any accusation.
Mathilda turned away, pacing the room. "I told you everything. My fears. My hopes. You watched me fall for him."
"And I was falling too," Linda said quietly.
Mathilda spun around. "So my feelings don't matter?"
"They do," Linda said quickly. "But mine do too."
Mathilda stared at her in disbelief. "So that's it? We're equals now? Same man, same lies, same heartbreak?"
Linda didn't answer.
Mathilda's voice dropped. "You were supposed to protect me."
Linda's eyes burned. "I'm not your parent."
Mathilda flinched. "I didn't say that. I said you were my friend."
Linda sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. "You're acting like I planned this."
Mathilda stepped closer. "You're acting like I should just accept it."
Linda raised her voice. "What do you want from me?"
Mathilda shouted back, "For once, choose me!"
The words echoed in the room.
Linda froze.
Mathilda's shoulders shook. "I've always been second. To men. To life. To you."
"That's not true," Linda said.
"Isn't it?" Mathilda asked. "You're older. More confident. Men notice you first. And now this."
Linda felt tears slip down her face. "I never wanted to hurt you."
"But you did," Mathilda said simply.
The truth settled between them.
Linda wiped her face. "I don't know what you expect me to do."
Mathilda's voice was tired now. "I expect you to stop pretending you're innocent."
Linda straightened. "I won't apologize for something I didn't do intentionally."
Mathilda nodded slowly. "Then we're done."
The words hung heavy.
"What do you mean?" Linda asked.
Mathilda walked toward her room. "I mean I need space. And until you understand what this cost me, I don't want you near me."
Linda followed. "You can't just shut me out."
Mathilda turned. "Watch me."
She closed her bedroom door.
The click of the lock sounded final.
Linda stood alone in the living room, heart pounding.
She slid down onto the couch, burying her face in her hands.
Outside, laughter floated in through the window.
Inside, a friendship cracked wide open.
This wasn't just about a man anymore.
It was about trust.
And once broken, trust never shatters quietly.