Albert and Keanu exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by the intense conversation unfolding before them. They had stumbled upon Aviana having a private discussion with Cedric. Intrigued, they decided to eavesdrop, their bodies hidden in the shadows.

"Oh, so you're a stalker, Al," Keanu teased, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Shut up," Albert retorted, trying to maintain a serious demeanor.

As they trailed behind Aviana, their curiosity led them to a secluded spot where they could see Aviana engaging in a private conversation with a man named Cedric. Albert and Keanu concealed themselves and eavesdropped on their discussion.

"Are you still going to follow me even here?" Cedric's voice carried a mix of frustration and weariness.

"I will follow you until death," Aviana replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "That's what we promised each other, and now you've replaced me with someone else. Are all our memories meaningless to you?"

Albert and Keanu exchanged glances. It became evident to them that Aviana and Cedric had once been in a relationship. The pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place.

"I loved you before, yes, that was true," Cedric confessed, his voice tinged with sorrow. "But you cheated on me. I love someone else now, and I'm sorry, but I won't leave her."

Cedric's words cut deep, leaving Aviana devastated. She called out to him desperately, but he left without looking back.

"Ced! Ced!" Aviana cried out, her voice filled with heartbreak.

Observing the scene unfold, Keanu couldn't help but interject with a touch of sarcasm, "Oh, it's over. I should have brought popcorn.". But his attempt at levity was cut short by the sound of a ringing phone. His eyes widened, and he cursed himself for forgetting to silence it.

"Turn off your ringtone!" Albert hissed, his voice laced with urgency. "She'll find us."

Keanu fumbled with his phone, his fingers trembling. The ringing stopped, but it was too late. Aviana's despair caught the attention. He knew he had pushed too far, but a sense of revenge had consumed him.

"What do you want me to do with you stalkers?" Aviana questioned, her voice quivering with a mixture of anger and sadness.

Albert, unable to restrain himself, retorted sharply, "Wow, you didn't even mention that you're Cedric's ex and that you can't move on, always following him like a dog."

Aviana's eyes widened in shock, her tears blending with her pain. She warned Albert to be careful of his words, but he continued, pushing her to the edge.

"Maybe that's why he left you because he would rather be with someone else than you," Albert spat out, his voice laced with bitterness.

Aviana ran away, crying, her heart shattered by Albert's words. Keanu looked at his friend disapprovingly.

"Come on, bro. Seriously, you made Aviana cry," Keanu chastised.

"Oh? What's wrong with that? I was just getting even, right?" Albert responded callously.

Realizing the gravity of his actions, Keanu urged Albert to apologize to Aviana, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding. Albert hesitated but eventually relented.

Albert followed Aviana, tracking her to the rooftop. The wind whispered gently, carrying the weight of their emotions.

"You really followed me all the way here, huh?" Aviana questioned, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and sadness.

Albert, now remorseful, spoke softly, "Sorry, I went too far. Sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation."

Aviana, her eyes still puffy from tears, remained guarded. "Your sorry doesn't matter anymore. It happened, and it can't be changed, just like Ced and I's relationship. Unless you can separate them, haha," she said, a hint of bitterness in her laughter.

"Do you want to talk about it? Maybe it'll lighten the mood a bit. Or do you just want me to leave?" Albert offered, his voice laced with genuine concern.

Aviana hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "Leave," she finally replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Albert turned to leave but soon found himself retracing his steps. Aviana looked at him, surprised by his return.

"You're really stubborn," Aviana remarked, a mix of gratitude and confusion in her voice.

"It's not gentlemanly to leave you here crying all alone," Albert replied softly, his eyes filled with regret.

Aviana's defenses slowly crumbled as Albert extended a towel, offering solace in the form of a simple gesture. She accepted it, grateful for the small act of kindness.

As they sat together on the rooftop, Albert asked, "So, what really happened?"

Aviana began pouring her heart out, sharing the story of her relationship with Cedric. For five years, they had been inseparable, facing countless challenges together. However, her ex had resurfaced, blackmailing her into secrecy, threatening harm to Cedric if she didn't comply. Fearful for Cedric's safety, Aviana had reluctantly followed the demands, but when Cedric discovered the truth, he refused to listen, severing their connection and leaving her broken-hearted.

"He transferred to another school and never showed up again. After a year, I saw him in this place and found out that he studies here," Aviana revealed, her voice tinged with sadness.

Albert's curiosity was piqued further as he inquired about Aviana's blackmailer ex. She explained that she had him arrested, but Cedric believed she had used her father's influence to manipulate the situation.

Albert's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, your father is a Colonel?"

Aviana confirmed, "Yes, Colonel Fernando Poe Laxamana Jr."

Humor tugged at the corners of Albert's lips. "I hope your father won't shoot me when he finds out that I made you cry."

"No, he won't. You might just end up like Rizal," Aviana joked, a glimmer of a smile breaking through her tears.

Cedric, the man she loved, was now with someone else—Jolie. Aviana turned to Albert, seeking solace in their conversation. "Maybe you don't understand because you don't have someone you love," she said, her voice filled with a mix of sadness and frustration.

Albert looked at Aviana, his expression betraying a secret. "Actually, I do. I have a crush on someone," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aviana's eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously? So, who's the unlucky girl you like?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Albert's gaze fell to the ground, tears welling up in his eyes. "It's Jolie," he said, his voice cracking.

Aviana's heart skipped a beat. "Wait, Jolie?" she repeated, unable to comprehend the revelation. A flood of emotions washed over her, and tears streamed down her face. "Wow, if you look at destiny, it's such a pointless life," she cried, feeling the weight of her own unrequited love. "I didn't know someone like me existed."

Albert's tears began to fall, mirroring Aviana's pain. "Well, not exactly pointless, but close enough—a pointless life," he said, his voice filled with empathy.

Aviana's tears flowed once more, but a newfound connection blossomed between them—a shared understanding of heartache and longing.

"Hey, didn't you say earlier that you would forgive me 'unless I separate them'?" Albert's voice cracked with vulnerability.

Aviana, contemplating his words, finally relented. "Yeah, why?"

A hint of mischief danced across Albert's face. "Can I be your partner in crime?" he proposed, a mischievous smile forming on his lips.

Confusion washed over Aviana's face. "Huh?" she managed to utter, not comprehending Albert's sudden suggestion.

Albert pressed on, his voice laced with determination. "Let's steal them away," he declared, his eyes fixed on Aviana's.

Aviana gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Huh!? That's wrong, we can't do that.," she protested, grappling with the moral implications of Albert's proposal.

Albert nodded, acknowledging the impossibility of their plan. "Yes, I know, but is it fair that we loved them, but we're the ones getting hurt? We did everything for them, and it all ends up in nothing. That's not right," he argued passionately. "What do you say, G?"

Aviana's mind raced, torn between her moral compass and the chance to reclaim her happiness. Silence hung in the air for a moment before she finally spoke. "G, let's separate them," she said, her voice filled with determination.

A smile crept across Albert's face. "And let's steal them away," he added, the glimmer of hope returning to his eyes.

Aviana took a deep breath, sealing their pact with a single word. "Partners in Crime?" she asked, extending her hand towards Albert.

Albert grasped her hand firmly, sealing their bond. "Partners in Crime," he affirmed, a newfound sense of purpose energizing his spirit.

To be Continued...