Before You Say Goodbye

CHP 18: I AM APOLOGETIC!

"Oliverrr" screamed Cheryl at the top of her voice, but Oliver didn't hear it at all, he was busy writing and didn't pay any attention to the things going on around him. "Oliverr" Cheryl called again while rushing towards him only to realize he had his earphones plugged in and was busy listening to "Drake's" songs. Tshhh-Tshhhh-Tshhhh, she banged the bench in front of him to get some attention, but Oliver just looked up to the ceiling, without even glancing at the girl's face, and continued his work. "Oliver it's me, Cheryl!!!" Yelled Cheryl while snatching Oliver's phone and pressing the pause button for the songs. Oliver was furious as he looked up to see who dared to do that, and to his astonishment, it was Cheryl!
Oliver was bewildered to see Cheryl after so many days but he tried not to make his excitement or concern for her too evident. "So, how was your vacation? Cool ha!" said Oliver sarcastically. "Stop it, Oliver. I know I was wrong. It was my fault, I agree to it and I'm really sorry.." said Cheryl in an apologetic manner, while actually regretting her actions. "About damn time you understood Ms.Cheryl Mathews! Have you ever acknowledged how many people here had to be languishing because of you? Nope, not at all! Or else you wouldn't have vanished like this for so many days and I now have really started to ha--" but before Oliver could complete his sentence, Cheryl just hugged him and started weeping. "I...I know... I was wrong from the beginning. I'm an idiot...I shouldn't have done this to you...I'm *sniff sniff* I'm so sorry," sniveled Cheryl embracing him tighter. Oliver took unawares at first, then hugged her back and said "It's okay!" though it wasn't at all okay for Oliver to not have any answer to where Cheryl was all this while, it wasn't okay for Oliver that Cheryl didn't care about him even a bit, it wasn't okay that Cheryl wouldn't even let him express his side of the story and what he felt, it wasn't in the least okay for Oliver because he wanted to propose Cheryl and tell her he loved her and once again, he couldn't. Still, keeping his emotions suppressed in his heart, he said "IT'S OKAY" half-heartedly, with a feeling of dejection, worry for Cheryl, and yet again, some anxiety of losing her. "It's alright Cheryl, calm down and have some water" responded Oliver soothingly while pulling back from the embrace to go get her some water. Oliver offered Cheryl water and asked with concern "Better? Everything alright?". "Yeah... sorry for that outburst, I couldn't help it...and also, I am sorry for disappearing. I know you weren't to blame for what happened at the party. It was all because of that dipshit Jennifer," vented out Cheryl while sipping water. "No, it wasn't anybody's fault. It was all destiny and was maybe meant to happen. Also Cheryl, sometimes we do mistakes, it's okay to do mistakes but to make them correct is out job which we have to do some time or the other, or later regret! And apologizing doesn't always mean that you are wrong, sometimes apologizing maybe mean that you care about the other person!" Said Oliver with extreme placidity. And about Jennifer, she is actually a --" as Oliver was going to tell Cheryl the truth about Jennifer and how kind and polite she really was and how the circumstances had made her like that, a collective voice echoed from the back. It was the THREE MUSKETEERS, Catherine, Michel, and Felix. "Heyy Cheryl! Wassup my girl, you seem hotter than the last time I saw you and Oliver, how're you buddy?" responded Catherine with utmost joy and excitement "Yeah Cheryl, how have you been? And are you two on good terms now? Is it all sorted out?" questioned Michel. "It was a great trip, but to be honest guys, I'm extremely sorry for leaving just like that without informing any of y'all. But I seriously needed a break," replied Cheryl. "Good," said Felix with a small smile. "And yes, me and Oliver just spoke a bit right now and we've got it completely figured out, right Oliver? I had this realization that I was completely at fault and I behaved too rashly. I'm sorry if I worried or hurt y'all too." "It's okay girl, Chillout now. Sometimes it's better to accept people's apologies rather than fighting right!" assured Catherine. "Anyway guys the lectures are about to start now. Let's have our seats, shall we?" said Michel and everyone took seats close to each other. Michel, Felix, and Oliver sat in front of Cheryl and Catherine who were gossiping about something. Oliver wasn't feeling alright. Although he had accepted Cheryl's apologies, he was unable to wholeheartedly forgive her since he couldn't forget the level of mental trauma, stress, and anxiety he had to go through in the past 7 days of Cheryl just disappearing without a word. Oliver was completely disheartened, he wanted to tell her everything he had suppressed in his mind, but couldn't. He couldn't bear the burden any longer and decided to talk to Cheryl during the Lunch Break. But, little did he know that there awaited a new challenge, ready to invade their lives and make it go either way.