𝐆𝐁𝐅 ❥ Aiku Oliver

03 - Where It Hurts

Sure it was so simple, but for someone who had a reputation like his, it didn't feel that way.

But this was the first time she got to know about his reputation, things her 17-year-old self never bothered learning. Maybe it was because she was more focused on Oliver as the player but never really who he was outside the field. Emi finally realized just how popular the man and his friend group were. She knew it should have turned her off– the fact that he slept around, couldn't keep a girlfriend for more than a month or so, and all the other stuff she learned about his "relationships".

She didn't know why or what it was about Oliver that kept dragging her in. She knew at some point she fell into the category of Oliver's so-called situationships despite neither of them stating it out loud. The man never really called her a friend but would ask her to hang out every now and then, which he apparently does with all his "lady friends" when he has nothing else to do.

She should have hated it, how she only gets to be with him when he tells her to. But she basked at the slightest attention the man gave her, it was probably the same thing with all the other women she knew of. At that point she didn't care, at least she could rest well knowing that Oliver doesn't favor anyone higher than the other.

She had nothing to be jealous of.

Hangouts turned into something more and at that point, she knew she couldn't let him go. No matter how much she tries to tell herself to just give up, she couldn't. While he was nowhere near the best, he still gave her happiness and comfort. She felt loved even if it were only between sheets and it probably didn't mean anything to the man she was with. Her head was telling her to respect herself more, to give herself more credit.

To be with someone who'd love her the same way. To be with someone other than Oliver.

But like a drug, she continued to indulge herself with his presence despite knowing how bad it was becoming for her. Up to the point wherein she knew she was addicted and she would do everything to stay in his good graces. He could ghost her and go MIA for however long he likes, as long as he came back.

And he always does.

Emi knew she was no different from the other women he had been with, as much as she hated it, she couldn't help but be comforted with it. At least she can be content with the fact that no one's getting more affection or better treatment than her. That content later disappeared when she met him outside of their usual hangouts. She couldn't help but think that maybe she should have just listened.

She shouldn't have been more curious about him. She shouldn't have said hi to him when she saw him unexpectedly.

Cause damn ignorance was truly bliss.

Emi was 18 years old when she found out just why she or anyone else could never really have Oliver for themselves.

Oliver always greeted her with a nod of acknowledgment and a smile when they met inside the University. It had been her first time crossing paths with him outside so she was flabbergasted when saw how the man ignored her. She probably must have seen it wrong, he probably didn't see me. Emi told herself. So she approached him, which she later regrets.

Because as soon as she reached him, a pair of hands suddenly came clutching Oliver's arm. Emi paused and glanced at the woman it belonged to, who also did the same, looking at her with the same amount of curiosity.

She knew Oliver hated shopping, he hated going to the mall in general. He only went when he needed to. She couldn't help but suddenly feel angry at the sudden confusion she was feeling, was this woman a new girlfriend of his? Is he, once again, in the honeymoon phase of their relationship?