Albert walked around the gaming hub, scanning the area until his eyes fell upon Aviana engrossed in the claw machine. Disappointment washed over him as he approached her.

"Hi," he greeted her, attempting to surprise her.

Aviana jumped in shock, momentarily forgetting her pursuit of the stuffed cat. "Oh God! Geez, what the hell are you doing? I was about to get it!"

Albert offered a sheepish apology. "Oh, I'm sorry. But what the hell are you doing? We were supposed to sabotage the two, remember?"

Aviana's gaze shifted from the claw machine to Albert, a hint of guilt flickering in her eyes. "Oh, right. But the cat is so cute. I want it. By the way, have you seen the couple?"

"Yeah, they're watching a movie right now," Albert replied, his disappointment palpable.

Aviana questioned his decision. "Why didn't you follow them?"

"I don't have that much money, do you?" Albert confessed, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Nah, I just spent it on this cat," Aviana admitted, her disappointment evident. "And I didn't even manage to get it. Stupid claw machine."

Albert couldn't help but agree. "Yeah, stupid claw machine. If only you didn't spend your money on that cat, maybe you could be sabotaging the two of them now."

Aviana retorted, "Why didn't you just call me?"

Albert reminded her, "Hello, you have my phone, remember?"

Aviana chuckled, realizing her oversight. "Relax, doofus. We just have to wait for the two of them."

She handed over Albert's phone, prompting him to check the movie duration.

"The movie is two and a half hours," Albert informed her.

Aviana shrugged nonchalantly. "So? We'll kill some time. This isn't a sport, doofus. Come on, let's eat somewhere."

Albert let out a sigh of resignation. "Fine, then."

The two of them found a place to eat, enjoying each other's company as they passed the time. After their meal, they took a leisurely stroll, exploring the surroundings while they anxiously waited for the movie to end.

"What's taking them so long?" Albert wondered aloud, his impatience creeping in.

Aviana replied with a touch of sarcasm, "Um, I don't know, maybe it's the movie."

Eventually, Jolie and Cedric emerged from the cinema, and Albert and Aviana seized the opportunity to tail them discreetly.

Albert and Aviana overheard snippets of their conversation as they followed closely behind.

"Hey, let's make a photo album," Cedric suggested.

"A photo album about what?" Jolie inquired.

"Just, you know, our date and all," Cedric explained.

Jolie's face lit up with excitement. "Oohhh, that would be great. Let's start right now."

They paused momentarily to capture a selfie, their smiles radiating happiness.

"I like this one. Let's have it printed," Jolie suggested.

Cedric agreed with a nod. "Sure, I'll lead the way."

Jolie and Cedric headed to a print shop to have their selfie picture printed, and Albert and Aviana discreetly followed suit. Once inside, Jolie placed the printed picture on a nearby desk, and the couple sat down. As Albert and Aviana shadowed them, they began to devise a plan.

"We should work together on this one," Albert suggested, breaking the silence between them.

Aviana raised an eyebrow, seeking clarification. "What do you mean?"

Albert elaborated, expressing his reasoning. "Okay, every time we've acted alone, we haven't been successful. I don't think we should take turns anymore; we should tackle this as a team."

Aviana considered his proposition and nodded in agreement. "Fair enough. So, what's the plan?"

Albert took a moment to strategize. "Alright, here's the plan: You distract them, and I—"

Aviana interrupted him firmly. "No, no, no, mister. It would be weird for me to distract them. Cedric would immediately sense that something's up. Let's switch it up. You distract them, and I'll sneak in from the back and grab that picture."

Albert nodded, understanding her point. "Clear. Let's do it."

With the plan in motion, Albert boldly approached Jolie and Cedric, feigning surprise.

"Hey, Jolie, Cedric, what are you doing here?" Albert greeted them, wearing a friendly facade.

Jolie smiled warmly. "Hey Albert, how are you?"

Cedric echoed her sentiment. "Hey, Albert."

Albert muttered under his breath, "I want to punch Cedric so bad." Nevertheless, he maintained composure and responded to Jolie's question.

"I'm good. So... what are you guys doing here?" Albert inquired, trying to steer the conversation.

Cedric answered nonchalantly, "We were just having a date."

Albert forced a smile. "Wow, great."

As Albert engaged in small talk, he discreetly observed Aviana sneaking towards the back, successfully grabbing the picture without drawing any attention. Satisfied, he seized the opportunity to bid his farewell.

"Oh, anyway, I wish the two of you good luck. I better get going," Albert announced, preparing to make his exit.

Jolie expressed gratitude. "Aww, thanks, Albert."

Cedric chimed in, bidding him farewell. "Be seeing you."

As Albert walked away, he whispered to himself, "Be seeing my fist at your face," venting his frustrations internally while keeping up appearances. The duo had successfully secured the picture.

Albert approached Aviana, eager to see if she had successfully retrieved the picture.

"Hey, did you get it?" Albert asked, his anticipation palpable.

Aviana proudly presented the picture, a mix of excitement and disbelief on her face. "Yeah, I did it. Oh my god, I just stole something."

Albert chuckled at her reaction. "Wait, you've never stolen anything in your life?"

Aviana shrugged. "Do you go around having a father who's a General?"

Albert nodded, acknowledging her point. "Fair enough."

Curiosity piqued, Aviana inquired, "Did they notice?"

Albert reassured her, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "No, they didn't. They're probably fighting about it now."

Aviana couldn't fathom why a mere picture would be worth fighting over. "It's just a picture. Why would they fight over something so stupid, numbnuts?"

Albert reflected on her question. "Well, it's a start."

Aviana's attention was suddenly drawn to Jolie and Cedric, who were heading towards the Ferris wheel.

"Speaking of the devil, there they are, heading to the Ferris wheel," Aviana remarked, her voice tinged with excitement.

Albert paused, contemplating their next move. "Oh, right."

Confused by his response, Aviana probed further. "What?"

Albert hesitated before offering an unexpected suggestion. "We can stop this now if you want."

Taken aback, Aviana sought clarification. "What... What are you talking about?"

Albert gathered his thoughts and revealed his change of heart. "Look, I've given it some thought since our conversation earlier, and you were right. We need to let them be happy, even if it hurts us."

Aviana grappled with conflicting emotions, realizing the implications of his words. "So, you want us to stop now?"

Albert took the picture from Aviana, holding it in his hands. "Here's the deal."

He paused, meeting her gaze, and continued. "If you rip this picture and take Cedric's side, we will continue sabotaging them. But if you choose to walk away and let them be, I won't hold it against you."

Aviana was acutely aware of the consequences of her decision. "You do know that if I walk away, there's a chance you may never have her?"

Albert nodded solemnly. "I know. But at least she will be happy."

After a moment of contemplation, Aviana made up her mind. "Okay. I think we should let them be."

Albert accepted her choice, a sense of resignation evident in his eyes. "Okay."

They turned their attention to the couple in the Ferris wheel, observing their joyous moments together. Aviana, however, couldn't help but notice the pain etched on Albert's face. Her own desires resurfaced, conflicting with her newfound resolution. In a hushed voice, she expressed her inner turmoil.

"But you know, my heart tells me I should have been her," Aviana confessed, her voice barely audible.

Albert's eyebrows furrowed, struggling to comprehend her conflicting emotions. "What?"

Aviana mustered the strength to vocalize her true feelings. "I love him. I want to be with him more than anything."

Albert raised a valid concern. "But what if they are meant for each other?"

Undeterred, Aviana asserted her desires. "I don't care."

Albert continued his inquiry. "What if she deserves Cedric?"

Aviana's determination remained unwavering. "I won't stop."

Albert's voice softened, a mix of understanding and resignation. "And what if they're genuinely happy together?"

Aviana's resolve faltered, but she remained resolute. "Oh, just give me the damn paper."

Albert reluctantly handed her the picture, acknowledging her unwavering determination. Aviana tore the picture, symbolically choosing her side in their mission to sabotage Jolie and Cedric's relationship.

As they held their respective halves, Albert extended his hand towards Aviana. "Partners?"

Aviana hesitated for a moment, then reached out to shake his hand. "Partners."

United in their decision, they stood there, clutching their torn pieces of the picture, a symbolic representation of their continued efforts to sabotage the relationship between Jolie and Cedric.

To be Continued…