His Best Friend Took My Seat, So I Took My Freedom

At our graduation party, we played a matchmaking game with buzzers. The girls had lights at their podiums. They could turn their lights off for the guys they rejected, and in the final round, the guy could turn off the lights of every girl except his final pick. I had loved Ethan for four whole years. Right before our thesis defense, he finally gave me an answer: "Once we graduate, let's officially be together." Knowing this, the other girls politely turned their lights off. But Chloe—the girl he always called his "platonic soulmate"—chose to keep her light on for him until the very end. I thought Ethan wouldn't even hesitate. Yet in the final seconds, he walked over to my podium and turned my light off. When the host revealed his secret crush card, Chloe's name was written on it in bold letters. I stood there completely humiliated. The room erupted into cheers and whistles, but a chill ran down my spine. Ethan, however, was annoyed by my cold face. After the party, he cornered me: "Chloe is my best friend. I couldn't just stand there and let everyone laugh at her if she got rejected." "We're going to be together anyway. Why do you have to be so petty about this?" Just minutes before, while in the restroom, I had overheard a few girls mocking me behind my back: "Rachel applied to Apex Group so long ago and never heard back. Ethan just made one quick call to his dad, and Chloe got the job effortlessly. And Rachel still thinks she's special to him." I looked at Ethan standing in front of me, looking entirely righteous and unapologetic. I remembered right before the graduation ceremony, when he held my hand and begged: "Don't move back to your hometown. Stay here in the city with me, okay?" In that very second, everything became clear to me. I didn't want to anymore. The rest of our classmates began trickling out of the venue. A few guys from their club shouted over to him: "Why are you just standing there, Ethan? Chloe is totally wasted, and she won't stop calling your name!" I hadn't even wanted to come to this party tonight. I had submitted my resume to Apex Group weeks ago. HR told me my background was impressive, but they were choosing between me and one other final candidate. Then this afternoon, a senior from our department who already worked there called me: "The hiring manager actually preferred you, Rachel. But the other girl has connections that nobody can compete with." When I found out that the other girl was Chloe, it felt like a knife to the chest. I had told Ethan clearly that I wasn't in the mood to celebrate. Yet he insisted on dragging me along: "This is our first party together as a couple. I already told everyone you're coming. You wouldn't leave me hanging, right?" He looked so calm and innocent. If I hadn't overheard those girls in the bathroom, I might still believe he had nothing to do with it. He went around calling us a couple, but he had never even formally asked me out. Two years ago, I took the leap and confessed to him. He rejected me, claiming he wanted to "focus on his studies." That had always been an open wound for me, especially since people loved to gossip behind my back: "Every other couple goes all out when they get together. But Ethan never posted Rachel on his Instagram, and she hasn't even received a single flower from him!" "What if she forged that love letter herself just to look relevant?" I could never defend myself, because Ethan never publicly defined what we were. I genuinely thought he invited me to this party to make things official. I thought being around him would take away the sting of losing the job I worked so hard for. Instead, my pain only deepened, and I became the biggest joke in the room. The moment Ethan heard Chloe was drunk, he abandoned me and sprinted back inside. A girl who loved drama walked up to me with a smirk: "It's pretty late and impossible to get an Uber out here. We rented a van, but it's paid per seat." "From the looks of it, the passenger seat of Ethan's sports car already belongs to Chloe. Care to squeeze in the back with us?" When we arrived, Ethan had driven the brand-new sports car his parents gave him as a graduation gift. A two-seater. He had taken my hand earlier with a fond smile: "The seat next to me belongs exclusively to you." And now, I watched as he half-carried Chloe out, gently settling her into that very same passenger seat. He didn't care that I was standing right there. He just waved to the crowd: "Chloe's feeling awful. I'm taking her home first." The roar of his engine mixed with the muffled whispers of our classmates, ringing painfully in my ears. In that instant, I knew this whole thing was over. On the ride back, I pulled out my phone and rejected the remaining interview invitations from other local firms: "Thank you for the opportunity. However, I have decided to return to my hometown."The university gave graduates one week to clear out of the dorms. The moment I stepped inside, my roommates swarmed me: "How did it go, Rachel? Did Ethan finally give you the romantic proposal we've all been waiting for?" Ethan was known for being extravagant. For his club's anniversary, he paid for a group trip for all the members. He pumped massive amounts of cash into club events without batting an eye. Yet what made everyone desperate to be around him was the drone show he pulled off for Chloe's birthday—ten thousand drones lighting up the night sky. When that happened, I was quietly preparing to confess to him for the second time. My heart had shattered into pieces. The next morning in class, someone asked him: "With a show that huge last night, are you in love with Chloe or what?" Ethan had playfully punched the guy's arm and laughed loudly: "What are you talking about? She's my bestie! If you were my best friend, I'd do the same for you!" He was willing to give the world to his "platonic friend," but to me, the girl chasing after him, he couldn't even spare a single word of affection. I forced a smile and replied to my roommates: "What proposal? We aren't even officially together." Yet my roommates had all been there the day Ethan handed me that letter. They had hugged me with tears in their eyes, saying: "Love really does pay off, Rachel! You finally got him!" My roommates stopped asking. I went into the bathroom to wash my face, feeling an overwhelming weight on my chest. Through the door, their hushed whispers drifted in: "Don't bring it up anymore. Chloe just posted a Snap Story—she's staying at Ethan's place tonight." "What is wrong with him? He's making Rachel look like a complete idiot!" I turned the doorknob, and they immediately fell dead silent. I crawled into bed, shivering despite the blanket. It took all my courage to open the app. Right on cue, a message from Chloe popped up: "Sorry about tonight! Borrowing your boyfriend for a bit." "He's honestly so sweet. I couldn't even stand up in the shower just now, so he waited outside the door the whole time. He almost came in to wash my hair for me!" Her public story was a photo of her resting her head on Ethan's chest, looking sleepy and flushed: "Lucky to have my bestie crash with when wasted, otherwise I'd be sleeping on the streets lol." That penthouse downtown was gorgeous. Chloe had been there countless times. I had never been invited once. Once, a guy teased Ethan about it: "You've got that luxury apartment sitting right there. Why do you never bring girls over?" "It's my home, not a hotel. Nobody gets in except my future wife." "Come on, Chloe's there all the time!" Ethan understood the teasing, his cheeks turning red as he muttered: "She's different!" And now, Chloe was publicly claiming her "different" status for everyone to see. Meanwhile, as his supposed girlfriend, I didn't even have the right to be angry.Maybe Ethan felt guilty after seeing that I viewed Chloe's story. When I woke up the next morning, my phone was filled with missed calls from him placed in the middle of the night. A text was pinned at the top: "I'll pick you up for lunch today. Let me cook for you at my place!" He was acting casual, pretending nothing had happened. I ignored him all morning, and by noon, my phone began ringing off the hook. "Why haven't you replied? I'm already parked outside your dorm." "I don't want to go," I said bluntly. After witnessing how blatantly he favored Chloe, there was no way I could sit across from him and share a meal. Ethan's tone turned harsh: "If you don't come down, I'm not leaving. You left your wallet in my car yesterday. Are you telling me you don't care about your ID and credit cards anymore?" Defeated, I walked downstairs. He stepped out of the car to open the passenger door for me—just as gently as he had done for Chloe the night before. "I didn't bring your wallet with me, so you'll have to come up to my place to grab it." He glanced at me as he started the engine. "Are you still mad about yesterday? Look, Chloe and I are purely platonic. Why do you always overthink and make yourself miserable?" I stayed silent the entire drive. He didn't think he had done anything wrong. Anything I said would just be white noise to him. Yet Ethan remained patient. He put on his most charming front, trying to baby me the whole way. I told myself I was just there for my wallet. I would treat him like any ordinary classmate, finish the food, and leave. He prattled on about the ingredients he bought, reciting my favorite dishes like a mental checklist. "I'm your personal chef today. Whatever you crave, just say the word!" But the second I stepped through his front door, I froze. Chloe was sitting on his couch in a tiny slip dress, holding his iPad. Seeing me, she smiled like the hostess of the house: "Feel free to grab some slippers. There are brand new ones on the third shelf. Ethan and I picked them out together at the mall last week." I took a sharp breath and turned to look at Ethan. He immediately rushed to explain: "She's leaving right after lunch. The sun is blazing outside right now, so there's no rush for her to go." Noticing my stiff posture, he grabbed my hand and led me inside. "I woke up super early to buy groceries. It's your first time here, and I really wanted you to have a good time." "Don't be mad, okay? After we eat, I'll explain everything to you and give you your wallet back."To keep Chloe and me from arguing, Ethan had me stay in the kitchen with him, claiming he wanted me to see how much effort he was putting in. Yet he completely failed to notice the matching couple's dishware set sitting on the counter. Once the food was plated, Chloe called out from the dining room: "Ethan, bring me the pink set! You know that's mine, right?" "Yeah, yeah, I got it! Stop yelling!" Ethan called back. I stood there like a ghost, caught in their intimate banter, feeling entirely out of place. Ethan's cooking was genuinely good. But today, the food tasted like cardboard in my mouth. I just wanted to finish quickly, grab my things, and get out. Chloe, however, had no intention of letting me off easily. She bossed Ethan around, telling him to put food on her plate, before casually turning to me: "So, Rachel, I heard you applied to Apex Group too? You're so talented, you definitely got the offer, right?" Ethan's hand froze for a split second. I looked at Chloe and replied evenly, "They only hired one person. I didn't make the cut." Chloe burst out laughing. "Oh no, what a bummer!" She nudged Ethan with her foot under the table. "Wait, didn't you review everyone's resume through your dad's friends? How could you give the spot to me when you knew your own girlfriend wanted it?" Apex Group had been my dream company since my sophomore year. I told myself that if I stayed in this city, Apex was my only goal. To meet their hiring criteria, I spent the last two years entering every competition I could find and working relentless internships while sacrificing my sleep. Everyone who knew me knew how hard I worked. Even Ethan had asked me directly before, and I told him Apex was my dream. My eyes burned, and it took everything in me not to break down. Ethan scowled and snapped at Chloe: "Just eat your food! Why do you have to bring that up right now?!" Chloe rolled her eyes playfully. "How was I supposed to know you were such a loyal bro? Choosing your best friend over your girl!" Ethan panicked, quickly looking at me. "Rachel, it's not what it sounds like..." I put my fork down, stood up, and cut him off: "I'm full. Give me my wallet. I have things to handle back at campus." Knowing he was caught red-handed, Ethan didn't dare hold my wallet hostage anymore. I refused to let him drive me back. As the door clicked shut behind me, Chloe's voice drifted through the gap: "You had the guts to do it, but not the guts to admit it?" "Weren't you the one who told the VP at Apex that Rachel is super capable and could thrive anywhere, while I was hopeless and needed this break?" "I haven't even complained about you dragging my name through the mud, and you're catching an attitude with me?"For the next two days, I completely cut contact with Ethan. He called me constantly and even tried getting mutual friends to set up meetings. I rejected every single attempt. Left with no choice, he sent me long paragraphs on Snap: "Chloe's skills are weak. If I didn't help her, she wouldn't land a single job. But you're brilliant, Rachel!" "Tell you what, pick whatever company you want, and I swear I'll have someone get you in. Somewhere even better than Apex!" Reading his texts, my heart turned to pure ice. It was never about the job. It was about how he dismissed every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears I poured into my dreams—all to pamper Chloe. I refused to reply. That evening, rumors about the three of us blew up on the campus forum. [I heard Ethan pulled strings to steal Rachel's job offer at Apex and gave it to Chloe. Aren't Ethan and Rachel dating?] [Someone clearly doesn't know them. Ethan has always treated Chloe like a princess. Only Rachel's friends ever claimed there was a love letter. Who even knows if they're real?] The thread split in two—half defending our relationship, half mocking me for having an unrequited obsession with him. I didn't care enough to engage. But then, Ethan's roommate jumped into the comments: [Stop spreading garbage if you don't know the truth. They're a real couple, and Chloe is just his close friend. Ethan is sitting right next to me, so keep your fake theories to yourselves.] The original poster panicked and deleted the thread. Everyone thought the drama was over. Then the following night, another thread exploded. It was filled with provocative, candid photos of Chloe wearing a skimpy slip dress inside Ethan's apartment, looking as if they were taken secretly. [Ethan is dating Rachel, so what exactly is Chloe doing over at his place dressed like this?] The comment section went into full meltdown: [OMG, Chloe posted a story the other night, and the decor matches Ethan's penthouse!] [Total pick-me behavior! Playing the 'bro' card while walking around in lingerie at his house? Poor Rachel...] Hundreds of comments piled up, all attacking Chloe. Chloe immediately sent me a furious direct message: "If you have a problem with me, say it to my face! Why are you pulling such disgusting, petty tricks?" Before I could even process what she was talking about, Ethan called me, his voice trembling with rage: "Rachel, you've crossed the line!" "I told you a thousand times that Chloe and I are strictly friends! I admitted I was unfair about the job, and I promised to make it up to you! Why would you stoop so low and ruin her reputation like this?!" My head spun. I tried to defend myself: "It wasn't me! I didn't post anything—" Ethan let out a cold sneer, cutting me off: "Not you? You were the only person who came over that day! Do you honestly expect me to believe Chloe leaked photos of herself to get trashed online?" He slammed the phone down. Minutes later, he posted a public statement on the campus forum: [Chloe and I have completely clean hands. The photos are a malicious attempt by someone with an agenda to smear her character.] [I once thought Rachel was the person I wanted to build a future with. But after what happened, I will be seriously reconsidering our relationship.] He didn't state my name directly, but every finger was pointed squarely at my chest. In an instant, the narrative flipped. "Manipulative" and "jealous" became the labels plastered all over me. Mutual friends began blowing up my phone with insults. Even our academic advisor summoned me to the office: "Keep your personal drama off public platforms. Letting your emotions get out of hand like this damages the university's reputation." Hate messages flooded my phone every single hour. Ethan knew, but all he told me was: "I talked to Chloe. As long as you give her a public apology, she's willing to post that she forgives you." He sounded like he was doing me a massive favor, insisting that as long as I admitted my fault, he wouldn't break up with me. I hung up without saying a word, went online, and changed my flight back home to tonight. I didn't owe anyone an explanation, and I certainly didn't owe anyone an apology. I was graduated. I was free. Once I left this city, all this petty noise would cease to exist.