Chapter 14: Man Chooses Linda
The apartment was silent.
Mathilda sat on the couch, arms crossed, her jaw tight. Her eyes were red from crying the night before. She didn't want to move. She didn't want to speak. She just sat there, simmering, thinking about the betrayal that had unfolded over the past twenty-four hours.
Outside the apartment, Linda paced nervously. Her phone felt heavier than it had ever felt. Every buzz made her heart leap.
Finally, the message appeared on the screen.
I think we need to talk. I need to be honest.
Linda swallowed hard. Her fingers trembled as she typed back:
Okay. Where?
The response came immediately.
I'll come over. Give me ten minutes.
Linda's stomach flipped.
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. She opened the door. He stood there—hands in his pockets, looking unsure, almost nervous.
"Hi," Linda said softly.
"Hi," he replied. His voice was calm, but there was tension behind it.
"Come in," Linda said. "Do you want some tea?"
"No, I just… I wanted to talk."
Linda nodded, and they sat down in the living room. Her mind raced with possibilities. Could this be the moment he chose her? Could this be the start of something real?
He sighed and looked at her, his gaze serious.
"Linda… I have to be honest," he began. "I know both of you. I know what happened, and I know I hurt Mathilda."
Linda's heart raced. She stayed silent, waiting.
"But I need to be honest with myself too," he continued. "And I… I have feelings for you. I like you more than I expected. More than I can ignore."
Linda's chest tightened. Relief and excitement surged through her at the same time.
"You… choose me?" she asked, almost whispering.
He nodded. "Yes. I choose you. I know it's complicated. I know I've hurt her too. But my heart… it's with you."
Linda's lips trembled. "I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," he replied gently. "I just wanted you to know how I feel."
They sat in silence for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. For Linda, it felt like everything she had hoped for, everything she had wanted, was finally coming together.
But outside the room, Mathilda was pacing.
She had seen them together when she returned the spare key the night before. She had watched Linda smile at him, and something inside her had snapped. The anger had stayed, smoldering. Now, hearing that he had officially chosen Linda pushed her fury to the breaking point.
She stormed back into the apartment, fists clenched.
"Linda!" she screamed.
Linda jumped, startled. The man's eyes widened.
Mathilda pointed at Linda. "How dare you! You knew and you still stayed!"
Linda stood, trying to remain calm. "Mathilda… wait. Please. Sit down. Let's talk."
"Talk?" Mathilda shouted. "There's nothing to talk about! You took him! You stole him from me!"
"I didn't steal him!" Linda said firmly. "He made his own choice. I didn't know he was talking to you!"
"That's not the point!" Mathilda yelled. "The point is that you stayed. You encouraged this. You let it happen! You're smiling while I'm hurting!"
Linda felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I didn't mean for this to happen!"
"You didn't mean for this to happen?!" Mathilda screamed, her voice echoing through the small apartment. "You're supposed to be my best friend! My friend! And you just… took him!"
The man stood awkwardly, hands raised as if to calm both of them.
"Mathilda… please," he said gently. "It's not her fault. I chose Linda. I made the decision. It wasn't forced."
"You don't get it!" Mathilda yelled, turning on him now. "You lied to me! You pretended! And now you're telling me it's my fault too?!"
"I didn't lie to you," he said, his voice steady but defensive. "I didn't want either of you to get hurt, but I can't control my feelings. I like Linda. I want to be with her."
Mathilda's chest heaved. She could hardly breathe. She felt like her world had collapsed. All the late-night conversations, the laughter, the secrets shared… it had meant nothing.
She turned back to Linda, eyes blazing. "And you! You should have walked away! You should have told me the truth as soon as you realized!"
Linda's voice broke. "Mathilda… I told you! I didn't know! How many times do I have to say that?"
"That's not enough!" Mathilda cried. "Not enough! I trusted you! I told you everything! And you… you didn't care about me at all!"
"I do care about you!" Linda shouted, tears streaming down her face. "I care more than anything! But I can't control who he likes!"
Mathilda's hands shook as she pointed at Linda. "You're lying! You stayed! You made a choice!"
"I didn't choose to hurt you!" Linda yelled. "I didn't! I… I loved him too!"
Mathilda's laughter was bitter, shaking. "Loved him? You think loving him makes it okay to betray me?"
"I didn't betray you!" Linda shouted, desperation in her voice. "I didn't know! I couldn't have known!"
The man sighed and stepped closer to Linda. "I told you I made my choice," he said firmly. "It's me, not her."
But Mathilda wasn't listening. She stormed toward the door, fists clenched. "I can't do this! I can't watch you smile while I'm destroyed!"
"Mathilda, wait!" Linda cried, trying to stop her.
But Mathilda pulled the door open and shoved past them, slamming it behind her.
Linda sank onto the couch, shaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hands trembled. She felt hollow inside, a mix of relief and heartbreak. She had the man's choice—but at what cost?
Outside, Mathilda walked quickly down the street. Every step felt heavy. Every heartbeat felt like betrayal. She could barely process the words she had just heard.
"I trusted you," she whispered to herself over and over. "I trusted you. I trusted you."
Her mind replayed the scene in her head. Linda's face smiling. The man standing beside her. The way he had chosen Linda, without hesitation.
And it wasn't just the man. It was the loss of their friendship. The years of laughter, secrets, and support—all of it shattered in a single moment.
Back in the apartment, Linda sat silently, leaning against the couch. The man watched her, unsure how to comfort her.
"I… I'm sorry," he said softly. "For all of this. For Mathilda. For the fight. For everything."
Linda shook her head. "It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault. It just… happened."
"I know," he said quietly. "But I still feel terrible."
Linda nodded. "I feel… happy and sad at the same time. I wanted this, but not like this."
He reached for her hand. "I know. I promise I'll make it up to you. I want this to work."
Linda let him hold her hand, but her thoughts drifted outside to Mathilda. Her best friend. Her sister in everything but blood.
She felt guilty, angry, and lost—all at once.
Hours passed. Neither of them moved from the couch. The room felt heavy with silence, broken only by the occasional sigh.
Linda's phone buzzed. A message from Mathilda.
We are done.
Her heart ached. She stared at the words, unsure what to feel. Relief? Sadness? Anger?
All of it.
She finally typed back:
I'm sorry.
And hit send.
It wasn't enough. She knew it.
Not for Mathilda. Not for her friendship. Not for herself.
The rest of the night passed slowly. They ate nothing. They spoke little. The Valentine decorations seemed cruel now, reminding them of love and loss all at once.
Linda had the man's choice—but the victory was hollow.
Mathilda had lost trust, friendship, and maybe even a piece of herself.
And nothing would ever be the same again.