Chapter 9

Third POV

Kova let out an exasperated sigh, his patience wearing thin.

"What?" he heard Vanessa mumbling under her breath beside him, sounding utterly betrayed.

He turned his head, and his eyes twitched in disbelief.

There she was—Vanessa, his loud, chaotic best friend—chatting away with Aden, the very guy they had been arguing with just an hour ago. Not just talking—bonding.

'HOW ARE THEY TALKING LIKE LONG-LOST FRIENDS?!' Kova internally screamed.

Vanessa and Aden were deep in conversation, animatedly discussing the show, passionately debating the plot twists, and tearing apart the parts they didn't agree with as devoted Potterheads.

"It was so not cool. I don't accept it," Aden whispered with a serious shake of his head.

"I agree with you. I won't accept it either. Like—"

Kova clenched his jaw.

'AGREEING WITH HIM? REALLY, VANESSA?'

He tried—really tried—to focus on the show. But again.

"How is that possible?" Vanessa gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth.

"I don't know. I swear I don't know."

Kova shut his eyes tightly.

'THEY ARE IRRITATING ME.'

Deciding he had enough, Kova turned, ready to tell Vanessa to shut it, but then—he stopped.

Across the row, someone was staring at Vanessa and Aden. The dim lighting made it hard to see their face, but something about them felt familiar.

Kova narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better look. The person, realizing they were caught, swiftly turned their head toward the stage.

'That was creepy.' A shiver ran down Kova's spine.

But more than that… why did they look so familiar?

'Maybe I'm just overthinking.' He sighed and shook the thought away.

For now, there was a more pressing issue.

"Keep your voices down." Kova's deep, serious voice cut through Vanessa and Aden's ongoing rant.

Vanessa gulped. Even Aden, who barely knew Kova, straightened up in his seat.

Damn, his glare was terrifying.

With a silent agreement, both of them shut their mouths and finally focused on the show.

After the Show

"I swear I didn't expect that ending," Vanessa said excitedly as they walked out of the theatre.

"Me neither!" Aden agreed, equally thrilled.

Kova stopped walking and took a deep breath.

"Okay, that's ENOUGH." His voice echoed.

Vanessa and Aden blinked at him.

"REMINDER—" Kova glared at them.

"Vanessa, he scratched our car. Aden, she took a freaking screwdriver and scratched YOUR car in revenge."

Silence.

"DON'T YOU REMEMBER? YOU ARE NOT FRIENDS."

Aden's eyes widened in realization.

"Oh hell yeah, HOW DID I FORGET THAT?!" he shrieked.

Vanessa gasped.

"OH RIGHT, we had to PAY for that stupid scratch YOU made! I had to give up all my pocket money, dude!" she shouted at Aden.

Aden looked equally offended.

"YOU started it!"

Kova groaned.

'Maybe I shouldn't have reminded them.'

Suddenly—

"Vanessa."

A soft, melodic voice called her name from behind.

Vanessa froze.

Something about the voice made the hairs on her arms rise. She turned around—and her breath caught.

Liza Shawn.

Her long, ruby-red hair flowed perfectly in the breeze, her rapture-blue eyes shining under the golden sunset. Her skin glowed like fresh porcelain, and that smile.

God. That smile.

"Damn," Aden muttered beside Vanessa.

"Is she a model?"

"I… I don't know," Vanessa whispered back, completely mesmerized.

"Her fashion sense is insane," Kova added, subtly checking his own outfit.

They weren't wrong.

Liza was dressed in an orange oversized sweater that hugged her frame perfectly, paired with a rainbow-striped skirt that flowed down to her knees. A pair of white sneakers completed her effortlessly chic look. And to top it off—

A Levi Ackerman-themed backpack.

She looked effortlessly cool.

'Damn. That smile is dangerous.' Vanessa thought, swallowing hard.

Meanwhile, Kova's sharp eyes caught something else.

The way Liza's gaze flickered straight to Aden.

A smirk tugged at Kova's lips.

'Interesting.'

"Who's he?" Liza finally spoke, eyes still trained on Aden.

Vanessa, still caught in a daze, opened her mouth to answer, but—

"He's Vanessa's friend," Kova answered instead, his smirk deepening.

Both Vanessa and Aden turned their heads so fast Kova was sure they got whiplash.

"FRIENDS?!" they yelled in sync.

"Yeah," Kova shrugged.

"You two were bonding over Harry Potter the entire time."

Liza's lips curled slightly.

"Yeah… too close." she murmured, just loud enough for Kova to hear.

His smirk widened.

"We are NOT friends!" Vanessa screeched.

"Oh, come on." Aden scoffed, stepping back.

"First of all—WHO would want to be friends with her?"

"Hey! What do you mean—"

"Well, unfortunately, I'm her best friend." Kova dramatically raised his hands with an innocent look.

Vanessa whipped around.

"Kova. Not you too."

Aden placed a hand over Kova's shoulder, shaking his head.

"Man, I feel bad for you. I'll pray for you at church this Sunday."

Kova nodded solemnly.

"Thank you, brother."

Vanessa glared.

"That's rude."

Aden snorted. But before he could say anything else, his gaze unconsciously lingered on Vanessa for a second too long.

'She actually looks… kind of cute when she pouts.'

He immediately looked away.

Meanwhile, Kova, noticing everything, barely held back a knowing grin.

"Aww, Nessa." Kova pulled Vanessa into a playful side hug.

"I'm happy to have you, though. Thanks to you, my life is never boring."

Liza suddenly burst into laughter, drawing all eyes toward her.

Vanessa, still slightly flustered, stared at Liza before—she started laughing too.

Aden, despite himself, let out a chuckle.

Even Kova shook his head with a smirk.

Not gonna lie… this was fun.

Aden turned to Vanessa, smirking.

"Not gonna lie, you're actually fun to be around."

Silence.

Vanessa froze.

Then—

"WHAT?!" she shrieked, spinning toward him.

Aden winced, covering his ears.

"Damn, girl, stop screaming."

Kova sighed.

"I swear, I'm surprised my eardrums are still intact."

Vanessa, still in shock, pointed at Aden.

"YOU SAID YOU LIKE MY COMPANY!"

Aden rolled his eyes.

"Whatever."

Vanessa's grin widened.

"Well, then—welcome to the friend group, Aden."

"Wait—"

Before Aden could protest, Vanessa suddenly blinked and turned to Liza.

"Wait. Liza."

Her expression turned serious.

"What are you doing here?"

....

Well, another Update for 18 to 80.

I hope you are going to stick around with Vanessa.

have a good day.