Oliver was sitting straight, looking up then down — the more he tried to talk with Zia, the more he felt guilty, saying everything was because of him.
She could relate to it. She actually knew anyway...
Zia looked at him, wiping her tears off her damn cute face. Typically, I wasn't there to see her...
He got serious, looking all impatient.
He slightly bent his back towards her side, his legs naturally opening widely. She wiped her tears off, and he looked to his right side, avoiding seeing her.
But she collected her thoughts and sighed.
"Did you know about her feelings before?"
He turned his face slowly, adjusting his tone and putting his hand on the table while tapping the table with his knuckles, still opening his palm...
Kch! kch! kch!
As he said—
"I didn't know... okay."
He looked into her eyes with a sadistic face.
She leaned backward, taking in a deep breath.
"Hm... hmhmhm..."
She breathed it all out.
"Huuu..."
While leaning back—
"So now... why did you reject her?"
He looked dead serious, ready to confess to her.
"Because I'm... in love... I have someone else who I love."
The reason why he suddenly wanted to confess was simple — seeing her cry like this made him a bit brave. His mind constantly thought about how to comfort her. He felt he needed to take a step forward, more than just chitchat... maybe even a hug.
Basically, he was fantasizing.
She gradually changed her expression into her usual serious look, but this time there was more disdain in her face.
"And who might that be?"
His heart felt as if it surged all the blood in his body at once. The pressure inside made him feel overwhelmed.
He carefully faked a smile and looked at her. She was totally disdainful.
She looked at him with a slightly angry face.
As someone who loved her and was obsessed with her—
HE COULD NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE.
Right off the bat, he said—
"I—It's y—you... OKAY... IT'S YOU!"
He stood up, shouting while holding his head, waving his body like a gear fixed to only half a circle.
He leaned forward, then rolled slightly backward, and suddenly bounced toward her face.
"I love you... I love you..."
His terrified face made him look definitely like a psycho. He was bending his fingers consecutively, again and again, right in front of his chin — looking upward.
"I really do... I want you to love me back... as well..."
Tapping on his chest after getting close to her face, he used his other hand and placed it on the table.
"I love you too much... don't ignore me... don't give me that look..."
She kept her serious face but now wore a truly disdainful expression. The disgust in her eyes spoke louder than her words.
"So you love me, you're obsessed with me and all, just because I avoided you? Just because I can't be yours?"
His hands shivered as if he had been in ice, learning how to swim for the first time.
At this point, he didn't even know what he was saying.
"So... so maybe... like... please understand... I love you..."
She bent forward, getting very close to his face, and said directly—
"But I don't love you back. That's the reality, and I won't love you back no matter what you do. That's just it. Sorry to say, Oliver, but I'd better not see you stalking me again."
And with that, his desire for social acceptance and belonging... ended up being a waste.
He never knew if she liked him, yet he kept stalking and annoying her to the point where she would run off if she heard the name Oliver.
She looked away, breaking eye contact. But she was truly surprised by how he responded.
He took off his shirt and put it on his head, covering his eyes but not too much.
He looked at her with sad eyes and a burning heart.
"I was a fool... Now I know why... why did he tell me not to overreact? Why do I make myself look so stupid... Sometimes, you know what Zia? Let's forget we knew each other. As it stands now, it's a painful memory for both of us."
"Miss Elliot."
He left the restaurant, looking pale and holding himself from crying.
---
On the other side of the story—
I'm laying on the rooftop ground while Ezabel is on top of me. The way she looked at me...
Her eyes dazzling like the sun, sprinkling her beautiful, radiant, butterfly-like light. She smiled a bit at me while her eyes held tears.
She woke up slightly from her back, and while sitting on my stomach— I smelled her aromatic scent, feeling the air I breathed in fill with hopeful love.
The way her hands pressed my shoulders made me feel the tingling touch of a feather.
She looked at me, smiling again.
"Seriously. Did you fall in love with me or what?"
I never expected she would push me to the edge of wanting to jump up, hug her, and then cuddle her in my arms.
The very thought of it coming to my mind made me feel relaxed. I never really cared that much, but I guess my heart is a chicken heart or something.
I actually felt like I was in love with her for a moment there. She caught me off guard.
"Hey, quit messing around and get off me. You're too damn heavy."
She wiped her tears, still smiling at me.
"But your face says it needs more... Wanna take it to another level? I'm totally okay if it's you. I don't mind at all."
She slowly rested on my chest, her left cheek pressed to me, listening to my heartbeat, while poking my right side with her finger.
"And... wow, you have a pretty V-shaped body. Your chest is too big for me."
Just to check my heartbeat.
I slowly sank deep into thoughts—
Who is she?
Wasn't she crying a minute ago?
What is going on with her?
Why is she doing this to me?
Until I realized this girl playing with my chest is actually...
Ezabel's little sister, who is about my age—
LUNA MERRIILEY.