Love, On Read (MxM)

Chapter 14: Girlfriend No. 6

A/N: Yes, I'm still alive and still writing this story UwU Sorry for being so late, I was writing a short story for a contest a little while back and took quite a break. A few flashbacks are lined up for a couple of chapters, that hopefully show another glimpse into Ollie's past with the two idiots. Enjoy as always, and love you all <3

Chapter 14: Girlfriend No. 6

Ollie's POV

It wasn't unusual for hordes of high schoolers to pass by Haruto's coffee shop, especially two hours after the high school down the road got out. Most hung out at the mall or by the fast food places across the street, but there was a fair share of people that didn't mind taking the longer walk to the coffee shop for less lines. As Haruto and I joked, the ones who came here were the real ones who knew what real coffee was all about. Too bad it was his day off today, so I couldn't make fun of them later about it.

Except today had been different. It wasn't the wannabe hipsters or band kids that decided to stop in, but what looked to be half their football team and their partners (or fans). Football players, no matter the age, left a bitter taste in my mouth. In jerseys and duffle bags no less, the football team was just as I remembered; loud, annoying, taking up way too much space, and most likely pompous attitude.

Trying to resume my people watching from my seat, I pretended to ignore their overbearing presence.

Of course, that was a fail; the unwarranted memories of my time through that hell had resurfaced. Maybe it was the chaos of nonsense they were spouting, or the overly PDA couple practically eating each other's necks like a starved person. Or maybe it was just the bitter realization and thoughts of Haruto being like that with that "adorable idiot" he confessed to liking the other day. Was I hopelessly jealous, jamming to the Sour album a little extra hard these past few days, or was I just an idiot, who knows?

It wasn't the same high school I had attended, or should I say either of them, but the irony of it all was that two of the jerseys were the same numbers Mason and Benjamin wore, 9 and 3, respectively. What a shit coincidence.

At least neither of them looked like them, I guess that was a plus. Yet, the way number 9 had quietly stood around, even quietly placing his order with Janice and Mi-young reminded me of Mason. Fitting in with them, when really, there were more differences than similarities. Something I had learned about Mason a little too late. Had he never broke that trust to begin with, I'd imagine things would've been very different for the both of us. Maybe I would've stayed in touch, answered his calls and texts, maybe even openly accepted the wedding invite.

Of course, that's not what happened, and this is where I was, sitting at a coffee shop, staring at some teen's nostalgic jersey like some absolute creep. Surely this kid wasn't a total ass like Mason was, or Benjamin for that matter. Or so I hoped. Then again, it was hard to beat those pieces of shit.

But I mean, Mason hadn't always been a little shit, or hadn't always been in the mental burn book I had concocted that year. Of course, his name quickly got added again shortly after, following the events of the Winter formal, but that's another story.

Reminded of just how many names I had mentally put in that book, I cringed. The days spent sandwiched between raging hormones and emotionally (and sexually) confused high schoolers really ran me through the ringer. All these pretentious teens with their inflated egos; where all those overly attached couples roamed the halls, walking with their girlfriends and boyfriends like a trophy piece. Glad I didn't have to relive that all over again.

Well, not physically. Mentally, it replayed over and over like a nightmare I couldn't seem to wake up from. Then again, teens in general always left a bad taste in my mouth. Driven by their hormones and desire to socially climb the ranks.