Chapter 50

At that moment, upon hearing what Cora just said, Oliver couldn’t help but laugh—not mockingly, but more like someone caught off guard by an unexpected question. It came out light and short, followed by a shake of the head. “Wait, what? Cora, what are you even saying right now?” He looked at her with a half-smile and furrowed brows, amused and confused all at once. “You’re asking if I feel anything for Malisa? Like, Malisa Malisa p>

Cora raised an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms, clearly not buying his reaction just yet.

Oliver chuckled again, rubbing the back of his neck. “Come on, Cora. Why would I? I barely know her. I’ve only seen her three times, and it’s not like we’ve had any deep conversations or anything. So no, I don’t feel anything for her. That’s just not true p>

But Cora didn’t budge. Her gaze remained steady, a playful glint in her eye. “You sure?” she asked, leaning in a little closer, teasing him now. “Or are you just too shy to talk about it? If that’s the case, don’t worry. I’ll help you out. I’ll talk to her for you. I’ll make everything nice and smooth. You won’t even have to stress p>

Oliver’s face scrunched up instantly. “What? No! Don’t make anything smooth for me,” he said quickly, raising both hands in mock defense. “There’s nothing to make smooth. I don’t feel anything for her, alright? She’s your friend. She can be my friend. And that’s it. That’s the highest I’m willing to go. She’s cool, but I’m not looking at her in that way. Seriously p>

Cora tilted her head, still watching him with a knowing expression that said she wasn’t fully convinced. “Hmm… I still don’t believe you,” she said softly, as if talking to herself. “You’re just too calm for someone who’s always been… alone p>

Oliver blinked. “Huh p>

“That reminds me,” Cora added thoughtfully, narrowing her eyes. “I’ve never seen you with any other lady. Not even once. When I got married to that fool, James, you were there. You watched the whole thing. But even then… you never had anyone. You never followed anyone. You never brought a girl around. You were always just… by yourself p>

She leaned back slightly, studying him more intently. “Over the years we’ve known each other, Oliver, you’ve never dated. Not even once. Or did I miss something p>

Oliver fell quiet for a moment. The playfulness faded from his face. He looked out toward the street for a second, then back at her. His voice was softer now. “You’re right,” he said simply. “That’s really true p>

He let out a slow breath, his hands slipping into his pockets. “I’ve never been with anybody, Cora. I’ve never dated, never even tried. And it’s not because I didn’t want to. It’s just He paused, thinking. “I’ve never seen the right person p>

At that moment, Cora raised an eyebrow, staring at Oliver like he had just spoken in another language. “Wait, wait, wait—what?” she said, squinting her eyes at him. “What are you even saying, Oliver? You’ve not met the right person? Like, is that even a real thing p>

Oliver blinked, unsure where she was going with this.

“I mean, seriously,” Cora continued, now gesturing with her hands like she was building her argument. “There are so many beautiful women out there—kind, smart, strong, everything! And you’re standing here telling me that out of the millions of women walking on this earth, not one of them made your heart beat faster p>

She gave him a dramatic side-eye. “You expect me to believe that p>

Oliver just shrugged, stuffing his hands back in his pockets. “Well… yeah p>

Cora stared harder, almost like she was trying to x-ray his brain. “No. I don’t buy it. Are you sure something’s not wrong with you? Like… are you scared of women or something? Is it trauma? Or maybe you just like being lonely p>

Oliver’s lips curled into a small, dry smile. “Medically, I’m okay, Cora,” he said calmly. “Physically, too. You can see for yourself p>

He looked at her with a straight face, no hint of playfulness this time. “But I haven’t met the right person. Not yet. And you know we’re friends, so I’m not gonna pretend or sugarcoat it. I haven’t found that person—the one I’d want to give my world to. That’s the truth p>

Cora slowly folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. She was listening carefully now, not just joking.

“And Melissa?” Oliver added. “No. I don’t feel anything for her. So please don’t try to start matchmaking me or something. That’s not gonna work p>

There was a pause. Cora tilted her head and sighed. “Alright, alright. No problem,” she finally said, raising her hands in surrender. “I hear you. But just know one thing—this is not over. We’ll revisit this conversation again. You think you’ve escaped, but no. I just don’t want to ruin our evening p>

She softened a little and looked at him more gently. “Oliver, I just want you to experience it too—you know, what it means to love and be loved. Not just us being best friends or you hiding behind your company and quiet life. Something deeper. Something real p>

Oliver smiled faintly and nodded. “Okay. Noted. Can we just go in now? I think your front door is starting to feel bad for us, the way we’re standing here like a movie scene p>

Cora grinned and opened the door, stepping aside for him. “Well, maybe if you had a girlfriend, I wouldn’t need to stand here giving you life lectures all evening p>

Oliver laughed. “You talk too much these days, Cora p>

Cora chuckled and winked. “You caused it, if you have gotten yourself a girlfriend, I wouldn’t have even talk about this in the first place p>

At that moment, Oliver gave a soft, thoughtful smile—the kind that barely lifts the corners of your lips but says a whole lot more than words ever could. “Well,” he said gently, “just wait for me. Very soon… I’m going to have one. Very, very soon p>