Study Cases

19

Olivia POV

My morning routine had become a delicate dance of avoidance. Alex, now feels like a stranger on my daily existence.

I appreciate Alex giving me space, but the vacuum between us felt like an uncharted territory. I miss his texts in the morning or his glances at me when we were together with our friends. His subtle smiles... fuck I even miss his freckles.

His want of reconciliation were evident and yet, there he was, respecting my need for distance.

Each morning, as I saw him next to Tommy or in our class together, I could feel his eyes on me, seeking reassurance or perhaps forgiveness. I chose to ignore him in his gaze, burying myself in essays and my studies.

B and JJ, though discreet, couldn't help but notice the tension, I notice them looking at both of us and I saw how B leaves the room when Alex calls her. Does he ask about me?

Days turned into weeks, and I'm turn about this whole situation.

Right now I'm sitting alone in the classroom, I see Alex approaching cautiously. His eyes hold a mixture of regret and hope, silently pleading for an opportunity to bridge the gap.

"I've been giving you space, Olive," his voice soft yet laced with sincerity. "But I also want to make things right. Can we talk?"

I sigh , torn between the desire to maintain the distance and the desire to say fuck it and kiss him. "Fine, let's talk"

"I know I messed up," Alex admitted, his gaze unwavering. "I should have told you about the existence of that database I'm truly sorry. But I have something to say and I know it may ruined everything but I'm pretty sure if you find out later you're gonna hate me for real"

"How do you know I don't hate you right now?"

"I see your eyes princess. You're mad and disappointed but you don't hate me" he tried to hold my hand but I didn't let him "my first here I was a manwhore" nothing I didn't know "I wanted to enjoy my youth and my head was all messed up"

"Why?"

"A story for another time" his lips curved a little and I could see pain on his expression

"The point is I did a stupid thing. I started taking notes of the girl I was with so I wouldn't forget their names and their likes. I was always an organized person"

"Are you trying to tell me that you were the one who created that shit?" I can't believe, I even feel nauseated.

"It started for me ok? I'm not proud of it. Then people started using the sheet and now it's a thing around campus. I took of Zoe the moment Tommy started dating with her"

"Am I suppose to thank you for being a good human being?" I can't deal with this

"I'm being honest.... I want you to know the whole truth before forgiving me"

The apology echoed in the silence that followed. I stare at him, searching for sincerity amidst the wreckage of our fractured trust.

"I need time," I finally replie, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "Time to figure out if I can forgive this. But Alex, you need to shut down that thing NOW. You should've done that immediately if you think seriously about us."

Alex nodded, accepting my terms with a solemn expression.

The revelation hit me like a tidal wave, the person I thought it was a caring and thoughtful person created such a fucked up thing.

I feel a mix of disbelief, anger, and an overwhelming need to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

I stay the next class alongside Alex, the tension thickening with every passing minute. I could feel his eyes on me.

He started writing in his computer and turn it over to me " Are you ok?" He had written

I rolled my eyes and looked away because every second I look at him my anger pikes.

As the class came to an end, I grab my belongings, my mind swirling with unanswered questions. Alex must've sense my internal struggle, so he stops me before I leave

"I need to talk to you, Olivia," he implored, desperation evident in his eyes.

My response was simply ignored him, I need to find B. I have to speak with her now before my head explodes

With a heavy heart, I call B.

"He created the database, B," I say "All this time, he knew, and he never told me."

B listened in silence, allowing me to unload the burden that had been gnawing at my soul. I'm not even thinking about the fact Alex is her family and just pouring my heart out.

"Ok, my brother is a fucking asshole" she curse . "Evaluate your feelings and give yourself the time you need. I know you like him but girl... you have the right to be angry. If he did such thing maybe he's not the person you thought he was. I for sure now I'm gonna kick his ass when I see him"

"He said he was young and stupid... and he was a mess" does B knows anything about that? she must know, but maybe it's just too personal. I need to know " do you know anything about that?"

Silence, that's what B gave me. Although I couldn't see her face I could tell she was thinking of what to say.

"He's the one who needs to tell you Liv. Yeah we're messed up but that's no excuse for what he did"

"He seemed really sorry"

"Or sorry he got caught" she says and I laughed because I sense she's gonna give him the longest talk "you really him, don't you?"

"Why you say that?"

"If you didn't you would you consider forgive him. If it was just a boy you would leave his ass and tell everyone what he did"

She's not wrong, even in the past I would run away of a boy who did something like this but the Alex I knew isn't capable of doing something so horrible.

"Yeah... I really like him"