Chapter 6

Charlotte, after finishing her program, turned off the television and decided to retire to her room. She lay down on her bed, her phone in hand, ready to browse her TikTok account to relax. But barely had she started scrolling through the videos when one in particular caught her attention. It was a video filmed at the restaurant where Gloria and Jacob had gone that evening. The scene shown left her speechless.

The video captured everything: the orchestra playing a soft melody, Jacob kneeling with the engagement ring, and the unexpected reaction of Gloria, which shocked the entire restaurant. Charlotte felt her heart tighten as she saw the comments flooding in. Most of the internet users criticized Gloria, calling her all sorts of names for humiliating Jacob in public this way. The words were harsh, and some even went as far as saying that Jacob deserved better, that Gloria had no heart.

Charlotte simply couldn’t believe it. She sat up on her bed, her hand trembling, replaying the video over and over. Each viewing was another slap, a reality she struggled to accept. After taking a deep breath, she whispered softly, as if to herself:

— Gloria really did this? She really embarrassed that man like that? What was going through her mind? She could have just accepted it to avoid embarrassing him, and then talked to Jacob privately if she wasn’t interested… Oh no, she broke that man’s heart in such a cruel way…

The words hung heavily in the air. Troubled, Charlotte got up from the bed and went to the window, her gaze lost in the darkness of the night, waiting for her sister’s return. She wondered how she would be able to talk to her about all of this.

Meanwhile, on the road, the atmosphere in Jacob’s car was heavy, suffocating. Silence weighed between them, a silence that seemed to scream all the unsaid things, all the broken hopes. Jacob, his heart in pieces, kept his eyes fixed on the road, struggling internally not to break down. His phone kept vibrating in his pocket, but he didn’t have the strength to answer. His sister Sophia and his best friend Mousse kept calling him, no doubt informed of what had happened. Perhaps they had also seen the video that was already circulating on social media.

But Jacob didn’t want to talk. He eventually put his phone on silent mode, his only goal being to drop Gloria off at her place and leave. He didn’t even plan to go home; the very idea of locking himself in solitude felt unbearable.

As he drove, his thoughts swirled in his head, mixing in a cacophony of confused and painful feelings. He spoke to himself, trying to understand what he had done to deserve such humiliation.

— What did I do to life to deserve this? he thought. What am I going to do now? How can I respect Gloria’s wishes when I love her so much… If only she knew what I feel for her, this love that burns deep inside me… Why can’t she see it? Why can’t she understand that I would do anything for her?

The questions spun in circles in his mind, with no answers, leaving a dull pain, an emptiness he didn’t know how to fill. Every mile he drove brought him closer to the moment when he would have to let her go, and he didn’t know if he would have the strength to do so.

In the suffocating silence of the car, Gloria didn’t speak a word, but her thoughts clashed, filling her mind with questions and doubts. She couldn’t help but think of Samson, the man she had just met, who, in such a short time, had captured her heart. Her thoughts kept revolving around one question: how would Samson react if he learned what had just happened? She was worried about losing a chance to solidify her budding relationship with him.

“If it had been Samson who had proposed to me…” she thought silently. “I wouldn’t have hesitated for a second before jumping into his arms. He’s the man I need. He fits all my criteria. A tall man, with that athletic body, that charisma… That’s what I’ve always dreamed of. Jacob, you’re sweet, but I never imagined building a life with you. You’re just a friend, a best friend, almost a brother, and nothing more.”

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the ringtone of her phone. Her mother’s name appeared on the screen, and Gloria frowned, wondering why she was calling her at such a late hour. Nevertheless, she answered, putting the phone to her ear.

— Hello, Mom? she said in a soft voice.

— Hello, Gloria, how are you? her mother replied in a harsh tone.

— I’m fine, Mom, she answered, a little confused by the palpable tension in her mother’s voice.

— Are you sure you’re fine? And that everything is functioning properly in your head? That you’re still capable of thinking like a sensible person?

— But Mom, what does all this mean? Gloria asked, increasingly perplexed.

— I just saw a video on Facebook, the one where you embarrassed that wonderful man in front of everyone. Did you really do that?

— Oh, really? Gloria replied, her voice tinged with annoyance. You know what, Mom? I really don’t have the energy for this right now. And if Jacob had consulted me before doing that, none of this would have happened. Anyway, goodnight.

Without waiting for a response, Gloria hung up. She sighed heavily, feeling the mental exhaustion pile up. This evening, meant to be just a simple outing with friends, had turned into a nightmare.

“Leave me alone,” Gloria muttered, shoving her phone into her bag with almost desperate force. The oppressive silence in the car finally pushed her to break the ice by speaking directly to Jacob.

— Jacob, are you now satisfied with what you did? Because of your stupid proposal, I’ve become the subject of gossip on social media. I even wonder what possessed you. Since when do you feed this unrealistic idea that I could be interested in you to this extent? Yes, it’s true that I like you and that we’ve shared a lot since our youth, but my love for you has nothing to do with what you seem to hope for. Now I understand why you had all those jealous outbursts every time a man approached me. You really hurt me, Jacob, and I will never forgive you for that. Because of you, I won’t be able to move freely anymore. Oh my God, why did I accept this invitation? Please, stop the car.

Jacob, stunned by her words, pulled over to the side of the road, trying to understand what was happening.

— I’m really sorry, Gloria, I…

— I don’t need your apologies. Drop me off here.

— But we’re only a few steps from your house…

— That’s exactly why I’m asking you to leave me here. Go back to your place. It’s late, don’t worry about me. Because now, you know very well that what you hoped for can never come true.

Gloria opened the door and got out of the car. She turned one last time toward Jacob, a glimmer of disappointment in her eyes.

— Thank you very much for the evening, even if you ruined it with your unrealistic ideas.

Jacob watched, helpless, as she took a few steps toward her house. Once she had passed the gate and disappeared inside, Jacob stayed in the car for a moment, weighed down by the events. Then he turned around and drove slowly, his mind full of torment and disappointment.

Gloria was about to put her key in the lock when the door suddenly opened. She found herself face-to-face with her sister Charlotte, who looked at her with an expression of defiance and reproach.

— Welcome, my dear sister, who really knows what she wants in life, Charlotte said, her tone laden with sarcasm.

Gloria, realizing her sister had already heard about the incident, expressed her irritation:

— I really don’t want to argue with you tonight. I’m tired and need to rest. I hope you understand that? I have to prepare for the embarrassment your so-called perfect man has caused me.

She pushed Charlotte aside and entered the large living room, her shoulders tense. Charlotte, refusing to let her leave without a word, closed the door behind her and followed Gloria.

— You really broke that man who has been madly in love with you for all these years, and you act as if you don’t care? You think what you did is acceptable, huh?

Gloria stopped and turned to her sister, her face closed.

— You just said something sensible, Charlotte. Yes, I don’t care. You saw it, I never asked him to fall in love with me, and I don’t need that love he thinks he’s giving me. So leave me alone, please. I’m not the only woman in the world. And if you think he’s so great and perfect, you can very well be with him. Goodnight.

Charlotte, stunned by her sister’s words and the harshness of her responses, stood there, seething with anger, unable to reply. Gloria walked away, leaving Charlotte in the hallway, completely disoriented.