Chapter Sixteen: It's Just A Little Crush

But Amanda is still hesitant because she doesn't want to hurt her parents by causing a scandal that could ruin her family's reputation. And he doesn't have any idea what to do at this moment. If only he could be a rich man just like Emmett Albreicht. It would be very easy for him to marry Amanda, and parents will definitely like him as their only daughter's husband and as a son-in-law. He will have a happy-ever-after lovestory with the woman he loves.

But the sad reality is, he is just a simple and average poor man, who doesn't have his own house, doesn't have a car, with just a little bit of savings at the bank. He doesn't belong to a rich, prestigious and reputable family and he is not a suitable marriage partner to Amanda.

Oliver drank his brandy, one shot, and he asked the bartender for another drink. He wants to drown his sadness and his problems even just for tonight...

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LARA SMITH

Lara is at the rooftop again for her 15-minute break. She roamed her eyes around, hoping that Oliver isn't at the rooftop because she wants to have a moment of peace and quiet. And besides, she still feels a lit bit awkward after accidentally hearing that "phonecall" few days ago.

Lara heaved a sigh of relief once she made sure that Oliver is nowhere of sight. She was about to go to her favorite wooden bench when she suddenly heard one, familiar voice.

"You thought you won't see me again here, right?"

She almost had a heart attack when Oliver suddenly appeared behind her. She saw him grinning from ear to ear, and she wants to erase that stupid grin on his face. It's clear as day that he is having a good time teasing her. And to add salt into the wound, he started laughing. 

"You're really enjoying this, huh?" Lara sarcastically spat back at him.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't help it! But thank you for making me laugh." Oliver responded, as soon as she stops laughing.

Lara just helplessly sighed while walking to her favorite spot at the rooftop. Oliver followed suit, with a smile on his face.

"Here. This is my token of apology to you." Oliver suddenly again. He pulled something from his pockets and gave her a can of her favorite brand of coffee.

"How did you know this is my favorite coffee brand?" Lara asked, while looking surprised.

"I remembered what you were drinking the first time we met here at the rooftop. I went to the vending machine, saw this thing and bought it." Oliver said, in a casual manner.

"Well, thanks..." Lara accepted the coffee can from him.

"I was actually hoping that I could bump into you today here at the rooftop." Oliver enunciated.

Lara's brows met in a frown after she heard the man.

"And why is that?" she asked in return.

"I don't know... Maybe you're the only one who knows my secret and I need someone to talk to today."  relayed Oliver, while shrugging his shoulders.

"Alright, go ahead and spill it out." Lara encourages him to speak out.

"You see, I am confident to say that my girlfriend and I are genuinely and seriously love each other, but it seems like we're starting to fall apart as days goes by." revealed the depressed Oliver.

"And what made you think that you and your girlfriend are falling apart?" Lara questions Oliver.

Oliver bowed his head, while pretending that he's looking at his feet, but he just doesn't want other people to see him getting teary-eyed.

"She's engaged to be married to someone else." he finally answers.

At the same time, Lara's frown deepens when she heard Oliver's reply.

"What? What a minute, I don't understand... So, you have a romantic relationship with her, but she's bound to marry another man? How did it all happen?!" she unbelievably exclaimed.

"I know our relationship is so complicated, but I truly believe deep inside my heart that our love for each other is true, and she doesn't love the man she's supposed to get married with. The only reason why she's in this situation is because she wants to be a dutiful, loyal and loving daughter to her parents, and she didn't have any choice but to agree with the arrangements..." Oliver explains everything further.

"Wow... Just wow. I thought these kind of things only happens in tbe movies or television dramas, but I never thought it could happen in real life as well." commented Lara, while shaking her head.

"I love her so much, and I'm willing to take the risk of loving her eventhough we're world's apart. I thought we can overcome all the challenges and the obstacles that comes our was as long as we love each other, but I was clearly and sadly wrong..." added the depressed Oliver.

"Well, that's love. It's like a double-edge sword. It can make you happy at first, but there are many complications in the end. That's why I promised myself never to fall inlove to save myself from being hurt." Lara revealed.

"You mean, you've never been inlove before?" Oliver suddenly asks her.

"Yes. I never intend to in the future." Lara firmly stated.

"Well, you've got a point there. Falling inlove with someone can hurt you in the end, just lke what's happening to me right now." relayed Oliver while letting out a sad smile.

Eventhough Lara said she doesn't have the plans to fall inlove with someone, it doesn't mean that she won't be attracted to the opposite sex. She can admit to herself that she's attracted to someone else right now, but the catch is, he's already in a romantic relationship with someone else. But she decided to just keep it a secret and just admire him from afar because she doesn't want to cause and troubles and complications to the couple.

It's a secret crush, and it will not go beyond from that.