Olegie [NSB]

17

Oliver's POV

The evening air was cooler than I expected as I stepped onto the balcony, leaning against the railing. The sounds of the city below echoed faintly, but it was quiet enough up here to think, to breathe. Too quiet, really, considering everything that had been swirling in my head for days now.

I hadn't planned to talk to Reggie tonight, but there he was, standing a few feet away, staring out at the same view. The tension between us was palpable, like static in the air, threatening to break. We hadn't properly talked since everything blew up between us. Since I confortended him about Vanessa. Since I told him I wouldn't deal with him unless he ended things with her for real.

The problem was, he had ended things with her. And yet, I was still furious.

I glanced at him, catching the way his eyes lingered on me before he quickly turned away. I wasn't letting him off easy, not after everything.

"So, you got something to say, or you just gonna keep staring?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

Reggie shifted, his shoulders tense. He ran a hand through his hair, still avoiding my gaze. "I don't even know where to start," he said finally.

"Maybe with the truth," I shot back, sharper than I intended. "Since you've been avoiding that for a while now."

He flinched, but I wasn't going to feel bad for that. I was hurt. I had been hurt for weeks. He needed to understand that.

"I know," Reggie murmured, finally turning to face me. "I messed up. I should've told you the truth about everything a long time ago, and I should've never put you or Vannessa in that situation."

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for more. "Go on."

He sighed, stepping closer but still keeping a safe distance. "I'm sorry, Oliver. I'm sorry for making you feel like you weren't important, like I didn't care. I never wanted you to feel like I was choosing her over you. I just—I didn't know how to handle everything."

The sincerity in his voice softened me a bit, but it wasn't enough. Not yet.

"I get it, Reggie, but an apology isn't going to fix everything. You think just saying 'sorry' erases how you made me feel? How you messed with my head?"

"I know it doesn't," he said quickly. "And I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. Anything."

I stared at him, searching his eyes for any hint of dishonesty. But all I saw was guilt and desperation. Maybe he really did mean it this time.

"Anything, huh?" I repeated, a bitter laugh escaping me. "Alright, Reggie. You want me to forgive you? Then you're gonna have to earn it."

He nodded, not hesitating for a second. "Tell me what I have to do."

I pushed myself off the railing and walked closer, stopping just in front of him. "Okay. Here's the deal. I've got a list, and you're going to do every single thing on it if you want me to even consider forgiving you."

His brow furrowed in confusion, but he stayed silent, waiting for me to continue.

"One: You're going to make things right with Vanessa. I don't care how, but you're going to make sure she stops stirring up drama about you, about us. Without outing me, obviously."

Reggie nodded, already looking determined. "I can do that."

"Two: You're going to stop avoiding me. If we're going to fix this, you need to stop hiding. No more games, no more dodging conversations. We're either in this or we're not."

He swallowed, his eyes flickering with emotion. "I won't avoid you anymore. I promise."

"Three: You're going to start treating me like I matter to you. No more half-assed apologies, no more keeping me a secret. If you want us to work, you've got to be all in. I'm not settling for less."

There was a flicker of something in his eyes—fear, maybe—but he nodded again. "I will. I'm all in, Oliver."

"Four: You need to figure out what you really want. If you're still hung up on her, or if you're not ready for this, then let me go now. I'm not waiting around for you to make up your mind."

Reggie's breath hitched, and for a moment, I wondered if he'd back down. But he didn't. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice steady. "I know what I want, Oliver. It's you. It's always been you."

I held his gaze, searching for any cracks in his words, but for the first time in a long time, he looked certain. Still, I wasn't letting my guard down just yet.

"And last: You're going to give me time. Time to figure out if I can forgive you. You can't just fix this overnight."

"I understand," he whispered, his voice almost breaking. "Take all the time you need."

We stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of everything finally settling between us. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust that he'd follow through on his promises. But trust wasn't something you could just rebuild in a single conversation.

"Alright," I said, stepping back and giving him some space. "You've got your list. Let's see if you can actually do it."

Reggie nodded, looking more serious than I'd ever seen him. "I will, Oliver. I'll do whatever it takes."

I turned back toward the railing, staring out at the city again. "Good," I muttered, more to myself than to him. "Because I'm not giving you another chance after this."

As I heard him walk back inside, I stayed there, the cool breeze washing over me. Maybe, just maybe, things could change. But for now, I wasn't ready to let him back in. Not yet.

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