Before You Say Goodbye

CHP 40: WE NEED TO TALK

Many days and a million rumors later, the whole high school agreed on Oliver and Jennifer's relationship. Kate and Michel even spoke to Oliver about this.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? What about Cheryl then?" interrogated Michel.
"She was just a friend to me since the beginning, wasn't she?" replied Oliver trying not to show his dilemma.
"She was...I agree. But you had feelings for her, didn't you?" questioned Kate.
"Not at all, I was just a friend always...we never had any romance going on between us anyways. She never considered me more than a friend" Oliver lied again.
"So are you happy with Jennifer? Truly?" asked Kate.
"Look here Oliver, I really care about you and Cheryl. To be completely honest, I care about you two more than I care for Jennifer. And we all thought that there was some beautiful connection between you and Cheryl at the prom. The entire high school thought so too and hence, you were also the best couple that day" added Michel.
"Why can't FRIENDS go to prom as a couple? And why must they always be crushes to have a wonderful chemistry between them? Besides, I promised Jen that I'm gonna be with her! I don't understand why everyone is being so judgemental!!" Yelled Oliver and just left for his internship work, leaving Michel and Kate completely speechless.
It had been weeks now since Cheryl and Oliver had properly spoken. Whenever they came across, they greeted each other and then went back to doing their own personal things. They were behaving like strangers or those travel buddies we meet at a bus stop; we just recognize them by their faces and say hello, that's it.
Things were getting worse and more messed up, but no one had that much time to actually sit and untangle the whole mess. None stepped up to make them sit together and clear all misunderstandings. Kate and Michel did try a few times, but there was no point in doing that since Oliver and Cheryl didn't want to clear the misunderstandings themselves because they'd already jumped to their own conclusions. Time was running like water, but as they say, you can never stop time nor hold water in your fist.
One fine day, Oliver received a text from Jennifer asking him to meet her in the Canteen hall.
"Hey"
"Hi!!" Jennifer gave Oliver a hug when he arrived.
As Oliver went in for a kiss on the cheek, she stopped him and said "Sorry...not now, can we talk?"
"Uh...okay. Yes," he replied, a little confused.
"Alright, so umm....let me tell you that this is not at all easy for me. I care about you and love you a lot. I want you to be happy in life, always. But, I think it's time we break up."
"Sorry what? Di.. did I hear it right? Bu-"
"Oli, please sit down and listen to me. I love you a lot, I really do. I love you more than anything. But, you have to understand that for a relationship to go well, both the partners should like each other equally. Even you know that this isn't going well. It's getting more and more chaotic and the problem here isn't any third person intervening or trying to split us apart but, it's the both of us. Since the beginning of our relationship, we both haven't been completely honest with each other. We're not at all focusing on each other. Don't get me wrong Oli. You are really sweet and any girl would be super lucky to have you. You've also given me a lot of care and support. You've always been there for me no matter whatever I did and the numerous mistakes that I've made. But....I think it's time I accept it, and I hope you will too. I feel like you are more inclined towards Cheryl than me. And that's completely alright. I understand. Also, I need to come out with something. I..I'm a bi."
"Oh! Okay..uh..wait what! That's..hold on..that's too much at once. I need time to process all this" exclaimed Oliver.
Jennifer placed her hand on Oliver's arm and said, "I know it's too much at once. But, I felt like I needed to tell you all this. There's no point in being in a relationship where both are not completely sincere to each other. I know this is tough for you, trust me, it's difficult for me as well. But, I'm not able to focus on you entirely. I just can't. I really like you and care about you Oli. I can't imagine my life without you but... but I don't think it's working out between us. To be very honest, I've known I was bisexual since the beginning of high school. And right now, I feel like I'm starting to like women more than men.  Besides, I also know how much you love Cheryl. She's a wonderful person to be with. So, I'm freeing you from this relationship and you can really go and ask out Cheryl or any other girl for that matter..and, I WILL support you. And just because our relationship ended, doesn't mean we have to get all awkward around each other and not even talk or anything like that. I just think we're better off as friends Oliver."
Jennifer had lied, she lied about the part that she couldn't focus on Oliver entirely. Actually, she loved him a lot, she loved him so much that she was ready to let him go, for his own happiness. She could see Oliver's affection for Cheryl. She had even started liking men more, but she did what she could. She did what she thought was the best for Oliver and Cheryl. Honestly, she was the girl who needed love the most, who actaully got her crush to date her after waiting for so long. But, she ignored her own feelings and decided to let Oliver go. She, in her mind said: "Oliver, If you're honestly gonna be happy with Cheryl, I will be happy for you...May you get your true love dear Oli. May God give you your Cheryl."
Jennifer had been observing Oliver's actions since they had started dating. She knew that Oliver liked Cheryl and that this relationship wasn't actually from the heart. But, she loved Oliver and wanted to be with him for atleast some time. After a while, she realised there was no point in continuing this relationship because she could see Oliver wasn't completely happy with all that was going on. He always gave Jennifer the love she deserved. But she could see Oliver feeling suffocated amidst all this. She was very certain that this breakup was coming in some time. So, instead of crying and regretting later, our girl Jennifer, did it herself. How drastically Jennifer had changed; from the self - centered girl craving for Love and attention, to the girl who let go of her love to see him become someone else's, for him to be happy with someone else.
Oliver just kept listening to Jennifer, unable to find the right words to respond to these extremely heartfelt and sincere confession from Jennifer. After a few minutes, he said,  "Umm...I am sorry Jennifer. I truly am. But I think you're right. There's no point in our relationship. I indeed can't do this any longer. I'm really sorry. I wasn't honest with you, and thanks a lot for understanding and actually making me realise what I want. Also, the thing you've told me of you being a bi, it just shows how much you trust me and I'm really really super lucky to have you trust in me so much. I will never let this trust of yours break. I'll never let you lose faith in me. And... about Cheryl, I don't know what's wrong with her. She has been ignoring me for weeks straight. And honestly, I don't even know if I should like her anymore." said Oliver, speaking his heart out.
"You should tell her your true feelings Oliver" answered Jennifer while getting up from the chair with a smile, a smile which covered for her shattered heart.
"Doesn't she know already?" Exclaimed Oliver.
"Maybe, Maybe not" replied Jennifer. Before she could leave, Oliver got up and gave her a BIG HUG. He thanked her for all that she'd done for him, all that she'd taught him in these few weeks of them being together. Jennifer kept a smile plastered on her face till she could see Oliver. She turned around and left the canteen, leaving behind a very still and emotional Oliver looking at her retreating figure.
"I will always love you Oliver James...Always." said Jennifer to herself while walking out of the college canteen with a smile, as two huge tears rolled down from her left eye. She then wiped her tears and ran home, controlling her feelings, running away from the truth, leaving her love behind, letting him go...before saying a painful yet, lovable goodbye.