Noah
The silence after her door shut was louder than any argument I'd ever had and I have had a lot.
I stood in the hallway for a long time, my hand hovering uselessly in the air where it had knocked only a few minutes ago. Her name still echoed in my head, the way she'd said she couldn't do this like it was a confession and a goodbye all wrapped into one big box.
I hated myself for not stopping sooner.
I hated myself more for wishing she hadn't stopped at all.
"Mila," I said again, softer this time, even though I knew she wouldn't answer.
Nothing. What was I expecting.
I dropped my hand and stepped back, the weight of everything crashing down all at once. Lena. The kiss,her moaning my name,The way Mila had looked at me like I was something she wanted and something she was afraid of at the same time.
And then there was Leah.
My jaw tightened at the thought of her smile. Too calm way too pleased. Like she'd gotten exactly what she came here for.
I paced the apartment, running a hand through my hair, my thoughts spiraling. I should have known better than to let my guard down. Should have known that Lena never did anything without a reason. Forgetting something? Showing up unannounced? That wasn't an accident it was caculated and planned
My phone buzzed in my hand.
Leah.
I stared at the screen, anger burning hot hot in my chest. I didn't open it. Didn't want to see whatever version of the story she was about to twist and throw back at me. I locked my phone and tossed it onto the couch like it had burned me.
I leaned against the counter, breathing hard, replaying the moment Leah walked in. The way Mila froze. The way she'd looked at me like the ground had just disappeared beneath her feet.
God.
I dragged my hands down my face.
This was all my fault.
I was the one who let things get out of hand . The one who crossed lines without ending the old ones. I told myself I wasn't choosing between them and that it is normal for people to feel this way about their roommates of the opposite gender and i was just infatuated with her that I could handle this like an adult.
But obviously I couldn't.
And now Mila was locked in her room, probably thinking the worst of me or worst having another attack and I can't do anything to help.
I tried knocking one last time.
"Mila," I said quietly. "I just… I need you to know I would never hurt you on purpose."
Still nothing.
I swallowed hard and stepped away, forcing myself to give her the space she'd asked for. If I stayed any longer, I'd only make it worse.
The rest of the night passed in a huge blur. I sat on the couch, stood up, sat back down,paced like a dog looking for something checked the door like she might come out. She didn't. I barely slept.
When morning came, it didn't bring clarity. Just consequences.
My phone exploded the second I turned it on.
Missed calls. Messages. Notifications from numbers I hadn't saved.
I opened one.
Unknown: Is it true you cheated on Lena with your roommate?
My stomach dropped.
Another.
Unknown: You should be ashamed.
Another.
Unknown: I always knew you weren't what you pretended to be.
My heart started pounding.
I opened social media.
And there it was.
A blurry clip. Cropped just enough to tell the story someone wanted told. No context. No sound at first then I turned the volume up and felt my blood turn ice cold.
Leah's laugh.
My name in the caption.
The comments were already brutal and I was receiving death threats
I locked my phone and threw it onto the couch harder than necessary, breathing through the anger before it consumed me. This was exactly what Leah wanted. Control. Humiliation. A spectacle.
And Mila was right in the middle of it and I caused it all of it
I was halfway to her door again before I stopped myself. If she'd seen it and I knew she had then she needed time. Not explanatins shouted through wood. Not me trying to fix things with words that were already too late and meaningless when the damage has already been done
I grabbed my keys instead.
I needed to see Lena.
Not to beg. Not to justify not to yelll Just to end it cleanly before more damage was done.
The café was packed when I walked in. Lena was already there, sitting like she'd been carved into the chair, calm and composed. She looked up when she saw me, her lips curving into a smile that didn't reach her eyes like a villain from a marvel movie
"So," she said. "You saw the video."
"You posted it," I said flatly.
She tilted her head. "I shared what I found."
"You set it up."
Her smile sharpened. "You kissed her."
"I did," I said. "And I'm not going to pretend I didn't. But what you did—"
"Spare me," she interrupted. "You humiliated me. I just made sure everyone knew."
I leaned forward, lowering my voice. "Take it down."
She laughed. "Why would I do that?"
"Because Mila didn't ask for this," I snapped. "She didn't consent to being dragged into your revenge."
Her expression flickered, just for a second. Then hardened again.
"She knew what she was doing," Lena said. "Girls like her always do."
That was it.
"I'm done," I said. "With you. With this."
She stared at me, disbelief flashing across her face. "You're choosing her."
"I'm choosing not to be with someone who thinks hurting people is a game."
She scoffed. "You'll regret this."
"Maybe," I said. "But not as much as I'd regret staying."
I stood and walked out before she could say anything else.
The apartment was quiet when I got back.
Too quiet.
I dropped my keys on the counter and called out, "Mila?"
Nothing.
My chest tightened.
I checked her door it was Locked Her shoes were gone no longer scattered with mud in the front door step
Panic bloomed fast and sharp.
I grabbed my phone again, ignoring the messages piling up, and opened my texts.
Me: Where are you?
The typing bubble appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Then:
Mila: I needed air. I'm okay. I promise
Relief hit me so hard I had to sit down.
Me: I'm so sorry. About everything.
A long pause.
Mila: I know you didn't record it. But I can't do this right now.
I closed my eyes.
Me: I understand. Just… please don't disappear.
Another pause.
Mila: I won't. But things have changed.
I stared at the screen, the words sinking in deeper than anything Leah had done.
Things had changed.
And for the first time since all of this started, I realized the truth I'd been avoiding.
Whatever this was with Mila it wasn't something I could control, hide, or half choose.
And if I didn't fight for it the right way, I was going to lose her completely and I wouldn't let that happen