Chapter 15: Biscuits and Hurtful Words

Finn's POV

I was seated on a chair as Mrs. Hunt prepared the tea and biscuit. Along with me on the table were Oliver and Austin. We were seated under the house's overhang, and the wind and temperature was just perfect under there. 

Their backyard had two pools. One was a small hot tub that was also under the shade of the overhang, it had lights underwater which made it all aesthetic-y. And one was the traditional big pool that had a small waterfall thingy that also produced pink lights. There was a huge tree on the other side of the backyard and a big fire pit beside it with intricate logs as the seats. Beside the big pool were pool lounge chair and small chairs beside them. The whole backyard looked like what rich people would usually have.

As for the place that we were currently sitting in. It was big couch filled with small pillows which was very comfortable and a simple table with pots of plants and stacked books on top of it. 

In basic words, they're rich as hell.

As I finished gawking at their house, Mrs. Hunt appeared with a plate of biscuits and two cups of tea and a kettle. 

"I didn't add much sugar there, it defeats the purpose of tea." She said with a warm smile.

"You have a lovely home, Mrs. Hunt." I said with a smile as I took a sip of tea. It was warm and zesty and totally tasted different from all the other teas I've tasted.

"Thank you and by the way, please call me Jen, you're totally a family now." 

I nodded gratefully before taking another sip. The sun started to peek out from the clouds which warmed the atmosphere.

"Call me if you two need anything. Austin, please help mama and clean up your toys in the kitchen." Jen said which made Austin follow her into the house.

As Oliver and I watched the two disappear into the house, he suddenly chuckled.

"Why are you laughing?"

His laughter died down but he still had a smile on his face. "Nothing, it's just sweet that Austin actually follows my mom's orders now. He used to be so stubborn." He said.

I looked at him for a long time before looking out the pool and sighing. This whole thing that's going on with Oliver and his family was reminding me of my own situation. Pulling me back to last night where I saw them fighting. It's been occupying my mind so much that I didn't even remember the things that have happened today. 

"What's on your mind?" Oliver suddenly asked.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Since when have you cared of what I thought?" 

He squinted his eyes at me. "Finn. Come on, indulge me just this once." 

I once again fought the urge to smile but it wasn't a hard battle since I remember why he asked why I was zoning out. 

"It's... nothing. Nothing you need to worry about." 

He looked back at the house where there were a lot of noises such as Austin giggling and screaming in delight and when it seemed like there was no one there, he sat beside me.

"Hey, I know that my family, especially my mom, is a little intense but I swear, they love you, like a lot. They might even love you more than me." He joked.

"I literally just met your mom, and it's only the second time I saw Austin." 

He rolled his eyes before pinching my cheeks which was really getting annoying. "I told them a lot about you, silly." 

"Why?"

"Because I like you-" He suddenly stopped upon realizing what he just said. "I-I mean..." 

I rolled my eyes. "You're dating my bestfriend. See, this is why you're so irritating. You can't make up your damn mind." I blurted out without caution.

The atmosphere completely soured after the last word escaped past my lips. I couldn't bear the awkward silence so I finished the tea and stood up. 

"I think I'll just... search up ideas for the, uh, project." I said before leaving him on the couch alone and entering the house.

. . .

I was on the couch of their living room when Oliver entered from outside, a guilty look on his face.

"Let's go up to my room and get started on it." He said as he was already on the bottom of the staircase.

"I'll work better here." I replied dryly without looking up at him.

His footsteps stopped. "Finn. Our materials are there. It would be difficult going up the stairs back and forth." He said with a slightly irritated tone.

I finally looked up at him just to see him staring back at me, his brows furrowed.

"Fine." I muttered before following him up the stairs.

I know I was acting like a complete asshole to him especially since he kept trying to start conversations and make things easier for me. It made me guilty but it's a defense mechanism, I don't want to be associated with him because he's now dating my best friend and it'll make it easier to avoid him and for him to avoid me if I act childish and a pain in the ass. Maybe, somehow, if I act like I hate him will actually make me hate him.

Once we were in his room. I plopped down on the chair at the corner of his room to finish what I was doing. There were some noises in the background which I assumed was Oliver bringing out the materials. I looked up just as I finished typing the last word on my notes app. 

His room was beautiful. The walls were colored a dark Aegean blue. Most of his furniture were black and there was a TV in front of the King sized bed. On his night stand was a picture of him and his family seemingly in a very cold place, hence the winter clothes that they were wearing. One was a polaroid photo of him when he was young and a familiar boy who seemed to be the same age as him. And the last picture frame was lying face down.

"You ready to start?" 

I was pulled out of my thoughts when he spoke. I grumbled as a response which I could definitely tell he wasn't happy about but he kept his mouth shut.

I sat down with him on the carpeted floor and started on cutting out the paper pieces that we needed. We were supposed to make some sort of foldable with all that 'fun' and 'creative' and 'quirky' stuff that I didn't wanna do.

"What do we do with the definitions, printed or handwritten?" Oliver asked, breaking the silence that I've became accustomed to.

"Printed." I muttered.

"Huh?" 

"Printed." I said louder this time.

He stood up and went to his desk to open his computer and started to research about the stuff that we needed in the first foldable. 

As I was cutting out some paper pieces. I felt a sharp pain when I brought down the teeth of the scissors. 

"Ow!" I cried out in pain, dropping the materials by accident.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Oliver asked, hurrying towards me with a concerned look on his face. 

He grabbed my hand gently but I instinctively pulled away. "Ah, yeah, I'm fine, don't worry." I said, showing him my finger but my eyes widened when there was a small gash, blood dripping down my index finger.

"Okay. Let me clean that up." 

"No, no, it's fine, continue with your research-" I stopped as another gush of blood oozed out of the wound, making me wince in pain.

"No, Finn. I'm helping you." He said before leading me onto his bed. "Okay, this is gonna sting a little bit." He warned as he was pouring rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. 

He started on cleaning the area around the wound before focusing on the wound itself. I held back a grimace as the sting coursed through my arm.

"It's okay, you can wince." He teased.

"Shut up." I said in annoyance but I didn't move my hand from his possession.

He continued cleaning the wound, pressing the wound gently so the blood would stop. I just stared at him as a strap of his golden blond hair would get on his face and he would move it but it doesn't relent. How his lips were pressed together in concentration, how his cheeks were naturally flushed and how his brows were furrowed.

Just as he finished securing the band-aid on my finger, I pulled away.

Oliver sighed tiredly. "Finn. Why are you so distant lately? What did I do wrong." 

Except for the fact that you keep playing me and my bestfriend, and every time we're together, you give me false hope and so I'd think that you actually like me but then the next day, I'd always see you and my best friend together being all sweet and cuddly and always whispering to each other? Or the fact that we were betraying my best friend and potentially hurting her once she found out that we had a connection? Or maybe the fact that you can't make up your fucking mind so this charades game could've ended sooner, 'cause every single damn time, I always get hurt from your bullshit?

I didn't say anything, of course. I just looked away to avoid eye contact with him.

He sighed exasperatedly before leaving me sitting on his bed.

. . .

Oliver turned off the engine and I was about to hop out of the door when Oliver grabbed my wrist.

"Finn, wait." 

I sat back down again and closed the door beside me. I looked straight ahead to avoid eye contact with him.

"Finn. Look at me." He then tipped my chin and turned my head towards him. "Please, tell me what I did wrong." 

I removed his hand from my face and crossed my arms like a petulant child... which seemed to have been his breaking point.

"Finn, this isn't funny anymore. You're acting like a child and you wouldn't say anything. How could I make it up to you if I didn't know what I did wrong for you to be mad at me. I've been trying to talk to you properly but here you are, acting so distant, acting all secretive, acting all immaturely. I want to talk to you so we could solve it but what? You avoid me. It doesn't work like that, Finn. I don't like games." He snapped at me, his voice raised from anger but I wasn't fazed, instead, I was angrier than I was before.

I reiterated his very last sentence in my mind, which fueled the fire inside me.

"Finn. I don't like games."

And then it was my turn to say my part.

"You don't like playing games? How come you've been playing Heather and I all this time? You don't know what you did? Or you can't admit what you did? You don't like being given mixed signals when all this time, you've kept me in the dark about your fucking feelings. One day it's me and then the next, it's Heather. And what if Heather finds out about this thing between us? She's gonna be hurt again! It's me or her, Oliver, it's not that complicated!" 

The words came pouring out like word vomit, every single pain I've felt being around Oliver coming out of my mouth, every single shit I've went through, out of my mouth.

"Finn. I've been so confused. And you can't blame me for that. I apologize for hurting you but my situation isn't any better than yours. It's not easy being so guilty because I don't know how to control my feelings!" 

The heat of the moment must've been so intense because I felt my eyes heat up and blur.

"You don't understand, Oliver. I need you to make up your mind so I'd know what I am and what I'm not to you. So I'd finally know my place in your life without being blind all the time! Tell me, what am I to you?!" I asked him.

He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Moments passed and he just kept silent.

I nodded in understanding. "Just what I expected." I said quietly before opening the door and slamming it shut.

I ran into my house with my face buried in my hands. My eyes filled with tears, and my heart heavy in my ribcage.

Was I being reasonable or was Oliver's excuse good enough? I was confused, but I felt guilty. 

I reached my room and gently closed the door so no one would suspect anything before tucking myself into my bed. All I could recall was Oliver's face, filled with hurt. And that was the only time I was able to reflect whether or not I should've been getting hurt amidst everything. It wasn't anyone's fault but mine falling for Oliver. And if that was the case, then it would've been simpler, we wouldn't have to fight. But no, Oliver decided to return my feelings but at the same time, he didn't drop Heather. I didn't know what to feel, I didn't know who was in the right or wrong.

All I knew was that I was hurt.