Hearing Robbie speak, I had no words left in me. My trust in him had been shattered the moment he turned away during the darkest days of my life. I had endured so much alone that my love for him withered quietly over the years. I used to pray that we'd never cross paths again. And even when fate brought us face to face once more, I couldn't tell if he came chasing me out of guilt or something deeper. I was terrified that if I allowed myself to hope, it would all come crashing down again.
But despite myself, I started to like his presence, to lean into the warmth he offered me and Twen. I was scared of how natural it began to feel. Scared that I would get used to him, only for him to vanish like before. I held back, kept my heart locked away, unwilling to trust him completely. I was afraid that if I fell in love with him again, I'd only end up broken again.
Now, after hearing everything... I'm at a loss. He wasn't chasing me out of guilt. He truly wanted me in his life. Like a forgotten dream I never allowed myself to revisit, suddenly it became real, and he was standing in front of me.
My thoughts were tangled, storming through my head, yet I said nothing. I just stared at him, lost. Robbie reached out and gently cupped my face with both hands, kissing my forehead. His fingers threaded through my hair as he whispered,
"Don't look so torn up. I didn't say all that for sympathy. I just wanted you to know. I was a coward, confused, and selfish back then. But not anymore. I won't push you to believe. You don't owe me anything."
I looked at him, then down at my hands. "Eight years ago, when I first came to Warham, I was alone. Scared out of my mind. No one would hire me the moment they heard my sub-gender."
Robbie's eyes widened slightly. I'd never told him this part. Back then, I figured he wouldn't care. But now, I feel he deserves to know. So I continued, my voice quiet but steady.
"I ended up on the street. I was scammed out of my savings, had no food, no place to stay… and a child to protect. And then, Twen fell sick. For the first time, I understood the terror of losing someone."
Robbie's arm came around my shoulders, pulling me close. My chest had grown tight without me realizing, but it eased as soon as he held me. He already knew some of this, but not all. And to tell him the next part, I had to revisit the rest.
I exhaled and went on. "That's when I met Fred. He was just sixteen, awkward, sharp, and surprisingly kind. He took me and Twen in. He had no hidden motives. He got Twen treated and gave me a job. To this day, I owe him everything."
Robbie tensed.
"My job was to clean and cook. That's it. But… I'd never taken care of anyone before. I never got the chance to raise my own siblings, and Fred… became like one. He was a good boss. Never demanding, never condescending. I liked looking after him. It was our strange little dynamic."
I paused, heart hammering. "But things changed. I didn't even notice when it happened. One day, during his high school graduation, he told me he was in love with me."
Robbie's whole body went still.
I placed a hand on his and continued gently, "I was shocked. I didn't know what to say. He told me I didn't have to answer. To just take my time. But a few days later, his father, Fernando, came to see me. He was calm, polite, and terrifying in how matter-of-fact he was."
I swallowed. "He said he had high hopes for his son. That he couldn't let an Omega, and a single parent, like me, drag him down. He asked me to leave Fred's life. Said he didn't want to use force, but he would if he had to. He mentioned Twen, too, as a warning."
I clenched my fists. "I was scared. I knew they had money, power, and influence. They could've made our lives hell. So I left. I packed up that night and disappeared. When Fred came looking for me, I—"
My throat closed up. Tears brimmed in my eyes. "I said horrible things. I hurt him on purpose. Because telling him the truth would've broken his relationship with his father, and I couldn't be responsible for that."
I covered my face as tears spilled. "If I could go back, I'd slap myself for hurting Fred that way. He didn't deserve it. And yet… he's still so kind, still my friend and still… in love with me. I DON'T deserve him."
Robbie held me as I cried, one arm steady around my back, the other smoothing my hair. He didn't interrupt. Just let me pour all my guilt, grief, and shame out. I had never confessed to anyone.
When I finally quieted, breath raw and eyes sore, he helped me wipe my face. I cleared my throat and continued.
"I went back to La Costa more than once, but I couldn't bring myself to face Fred. By the time I finally got the courage, he'd gone abroad. I waited. I had to apologize, even if it was too late. If I didn't… the guilt would eat me alive."
I looked at Robbie, who was watching me silently, his gaze steady and unreadable.
"I thought… you were like me. That you chased me down because the guilt was unbearable. I didn't know what your feelings were. I was afraid to hope."
"I know," he said softly, holding the hand I had placed on his cheek. "You have every reason not to trust me."
I hesitated, unsure of how to tread the line between honesty and self-preservation. "Robbie… I still don't know what I feel for you. But I don't want you to leave. Twen deserves more than I can give him alone. Your presence could change his whole future. I'm sorry if that sounds—"
"Ssshhh," Robbie said, pressing a finger to my lips.
His voice was low, but firm. "Don't ever say you're being selfish. He's my son too. It's my responsibility to give him the life he deserves. You've done more than enough. Even if you can't love me… that doesn't change anything. I'm not leaving."
I chuckled through the remnants of my tears. "Even if I can't love you back?"
Robbie gave me an exaggeratedly serious look. "Hmm... yeah. It's fine. I'll just have to make you fall in love with me again."
"..."
He grinned and laughed at my deadpan expression, then tucked me into bed, snuggling in beside me. His voice, close to my ear, was soft and grounding.
"Let's sleep."
A faint smile curled at my lips. Somehow, it felt familiar. We often ended up curled against each other, tangled in old comforts and new uncertainties. Robbie's warmth had always lulled me to sleep. Tonight, it soothed something deeper, raw, and buried.
The guilt I carried for Fred was like a jagged stone I'd kept tucked in my chest. Tonight, it finally loosened. I knew Robbie had his own pain, and maybe tonight, he let some of it go too.
Now, only one thing remains: my feelings for Robbie. So much time has passed, layered in misunderstandings and scars. Just because the wounds have been aired doesn't mean they've healed. We can't pretend everything's magically perfect. Love, if it comes, will need to be rebuilt slowly and carefully.
Sighing, I closed my eyes.
"Tony?" Robbie's voice broke the silence.
I murmured, "Yeah?"
"My mum wants to meet you. She's flying in tomorrow. Would it be alright if we saw her this Saturday?"
My eyes opened, startled. I turned toward him. "Your mum?"
He smiled, boyish and shy. "Yeah. I told her about you and Twen. She's really excited to meet you both. There was so much going on, I kept putting it off… but now that she's back, I wanted to ask. Will you come?"
"You're sure?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Won't she be disappointed... seeing you with someone like me?"
His smile vanished. His voice turned sharp. "What do you mean, 'someone like you'?"
I shrank slightly under his sudden change. "Y-you know… me being an Omega. Having nothing to offer. I'm not exactly—"
Robbie cut in. "You're better than any of those overblown Alphas flaunting their generational wealth and fake pride. You're extraordinary."
I blinked, stunned. Wasn't Robbie one of those rich Alphas once upon a time? I decided not to point that out. He's trying to change. We both are.
He yawned, already half-asleep, and mumbled, "So… Saturday evening?"
I nodded faintly. "Yes."
He smiled and wrapped me in his arms again. As sleep crept back in, I nestled into his chest and prayed, not for strength or protection, but for love.
I prayed I'd fall for Robbie again. And this time… that we'd make it last.