Devoted (or Fake) Embraces Filled with Regret

The thoughts were plaguing Oliver's mind for a long time.

He slumps in the hard plastic chair with a nauseating feeling in his gut. He's in his library class, minding his business and following the instructions by reading a book. The teacher had begun to talk about Una who left their class early.

"Una isn't loved because of you guys! You guys need to grow up, and act your age. So disrespectful!" The teacher admonished, slamming their hands onto their desk with heavy force. Oliver couldn't help but feel a lump start to form in his throat, unable to swallow it down. His neck felt trapped and taut. Oliver bows his head in shame as tears begin to brim powerfully in his eyes. He's covetous for validation, yet he's earning the opposite. Criticism and hate. What did the poor boy do wrong here?

Oliver clutches his book with miserable gusto. He's determined to apologize for everything he did wrong, fueled by a guilt trip! The bell rings loudly in his ears before he slowly gets up from his seat. He makes his way out of class and walks pathetically down the hallways. His shoulder was shoved by a group of rowdy boys from a higher grade. His brow furrowed in a sorrowful way, a grimace contorting his visage. His frame jerked for a second as he tried to control his emotions before he continued on.

Once the vocaloid had gotten his library books into his locker, he rushed into the classroom, throwing his folders and notebooks on the desks. Una sits disruptively in her chair, her leg propped over another, a disgusted look on her face. Oliver felt as if that revoltion was towards him even though Una was staring at the cracked walls. He inhaled deeply, his legs shaking as they hauled themselves in front of the mean-spirited girl. He drops to his knees, tears blurring his sight. He swallowed them thickly back. He connects his hands together and begs for forgiveness.

"U-Una! I-I'm s-so sorry..." His voice begins to crack audibly with emotion. "I'm so s-sorry for being s-such a bad f-friend! I'm sorry for e-everyone!" He raises himself to one knee and gives Una a trembling hug, a sob escaping his esophagus.

Una's eyes widened in dizzying shock. "Oliver? Really? Jeez, it's okay. Why are yo-" Oliver shook his head, interrupting Una. Oliver immediately stands to his feet, striding back to his desk. He scrambles to organize his notebooks, all the while with remorse washing through him. Fukase stares questioningly at his friend whose body is reacting fiercely to overcoming feelings. Oliver's body convulses with sobs as he fights to keep his tears in. Flower grows worried, asking him what's wrong with a sympathetic tone. Oliver doesn't answer nor give a sign that he heard her.

Oliver breaks. Emotions floods out of him like a cracked dam, tears trickling down his cheeks. Snot begins to run heavily from his nose, dripping from his chin. Crying was never pretty, was it? After a minute of hushed whispers, Meiko eventually found him wailing with his head buried in his arms due from the help of his concerned classmates. She directs him out of the classroom for a talk.

Guilt is powerful, one way or another, isn't it?