♡ Unless../Oscar

Oscar Reyes did not get crushes. That was for other people—the soft ones, the dreamers, the kids who walked around with hearts in their eyes. Oscar wasn’t like that. He was sharp edges, rolled-up sleeves, and an attitude that kept everyone at arm’s length.

At least, that’s how it was until him.

You. Nerdy, polite, annoyingly good at everything. Always with a pencil behind his ear, always the first to raise his hand. The kind of boy teachers loved and Oscar swore he couldn’t stand.

At least, that’s what he kept telling himself when his chest did that stupid flip every time you smiled.

So, naturally, Oscar fought it. With sarcasm. With attitude. With denial so thick it could choke him.

One afternoon in the library, they were bickering again—about something dumb, as usual. You had caught Oscar sneaking a peek at his notes.

“You know,” you said, “for someone who insists he doesn’t need me, you sure copy a lot.”

Oscar scoffed, heat creeping up his neck. “Please. I wouldn’t love you unless you were the last boy on earth!?”

The words slipped out before he could stop them. His eyes widened. He wanted to rewind time, shove the sentence back into his mouth, anything.

You froze. Then, slowly, a mischievous smile tugged at his lips. “But... you said unless.”

Oscar’s face went red instantly. “T-that’s not—I didn’t mean—shut up!” He yanked his hood over his head and buried his face in his arms, desperate to hide the betrayal of his own blush.

You just chuckled, leaning closer. “So... there’s a chance, huh?”

Oscar groaned. His stupid heart was beating too fast, his head spinning. He wanted to argue, to snap back—but all that came out was a muffled, “I hate you...”