Albert's desperation grew. "Seriously, I'm sorry," he pleaded, genuine remorse in his words. "Let me treat you at school on Monday as thanks."

A brief silence followed, and then Keanu relented. "Okay," he agreed, his voice softening. "Don’t do that again ok. Are we cool?"

Albert breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah, we're cool," he confirmed, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Okay, bye. I've got to run home," Albert added, already starting to pick up his pace.

But before he could end the call, Keanu spoke up, stopping him in his tracks. "Wait!" he called out urgently.

Albert's heart raced, a mix of curiosity and trepidation filling him. "What?" he asked, his voice tinged with unease.

"Why are you trying to sabotage the relationship of Jolie and Cedric?" Keanu asked, his voice laced with confusion.

"What do you mean?" Albert finally managed to sputter, his voice trembling with disbelief.

"Al, it's obvious," Keanu continued, his voice firm and accusatory. "First, you still can't get over Jolie. Second, you continuously lie. And third, they were talking to you when the picture was lost."

Cold beads of sweat formed on Albert's forehead, betraying his discomfort. He clung to denial, weaving a web of falsehoods in a desperate attempt to salvage his damaged reputation. "Dude, it's just a coincidence," he protested. "I'm not trying to sabotage their relationship. Trust me."

Keanu's voice remained steady, unyielding. "Looks like more than a coincidence to me."

Desperation fueled Albert's voice, his plea laced with sincerity. "Why can't you trust me?" he implored. "When did I ever lie to you?"

Keanu's response was swift, unforgiving. "Yeah, like a million times."

The truth struck Albert like a punch to the gut, leaving him reeling. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, then spoke with newfound determination. "Okay, I take that back. I'm not going to sabotage their relationship, I promise. Do you trust me?"

Keanu's voice softened, a glimmer of hope seeping through his doubt. "Okay, but you better keep your word."

Albert nodded, even though Keanu couldn't see it. "Yeah, yeah, I won't."

Albert ended the call, his mind swirling with a mixture of anxiety and determination. He whispered to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the evening.

"This can't be good," he muttered, his thoughts racing. "Keanu is starting to catch up, and I barely just started. I need to hurry before he catches up."

The following day arrived, the weight of exhaustion settling upon the students as they trudged through another day of school. As the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes, the group of friends gathered near the school gate, engaged in lighthearted conversation.

"Al, I bet you didn't learn anything from our philosophy class today, did you?" Keanu teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Albert chuckled, pushing back against Keanu's banter. "The one who never learns is you," he retorted playfully.

Keanu raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with amusement. "Oh, Albert, it seems you've mistaken me. I'm always open to learning, even from our philosophical discussions," he countered. "Unlike you, who always sleeps in class. I bet you won't be able to tell me what we discussed today."

A competitive fire ignited within Albert, and he couldn't resist the challenge. "Oh, you want to bet on it?" he replied, a smirk dancing on his lips.

Keanu grinned, accepting the challenge with gusto. "You betcha."

Their playful banter was interrupted by Aviana, who voiced her exasperation. "Oh, God, stop with the betting!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with fatigue. "I don't want any new information in my head right now."

Jolie chimed in, her voice strained. "Yeah, my head can't take any more. I think my brain is about to explode."

In that moment, Cedric stepped forward, his arms outstretched, seeking solace in an embrace with Jolie. But before they could fully indulge in their affection, Aviana interjected, putting a halt to their cuddling.

"Oh, yeah, Cedric, can you give me your notes?" Aviana requested, a touch of desperation in her voice. "I didn't have a chance to take notes earlier in that science subject."

Cedric nodded understandingly. "Oh, sure, no problem," he replied, retrieving his notes to share with his friend.

Cedric furrowed his brow, slightly puzzled by Aviana's exaggerated reaction to his notes.

"Here," he said, handing over the papers.

Aviana glanced at the notes, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes, and pretended to be shocked at Cedric's handwriting.

"Wow! Beautiful writing," she exclaimed, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Cedric, momentarily taken aback, couldn't quite grasp what Aviana was doing. "Hey! I know you can still understand my writing," he responded, his confusion evident.

Jolie, who had been observing the exchange, perked up at Cedric's use of the word "still."

"'Still'?" she questioned, curiosity coloring her voice.

Cedric's eyes widened as realization washed over him. "What?" he stammered, his mind racing to find an explanation.

Albert, aware of Aviana and Cedric's past relationship but choosing to keep up appearances, decided to play along.

"Yeah, you did," Albert chimed in, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Didn't he, Keanu?"

Keanu, catching onto the subtle game, nodded in agreement. "Ah, yeah."

Jolie's confusion grew, her curiosity piqued. "What's that about, bae?" she asked Cedric, seeking answers.

Aviana remained silent, unable to speak, much to Cedric's alarm. Panic flickered in his eyes as he quickly assessed the situation. Spotting a jeep approaching, he hastily made a decision.

"I guess I'll head home now. Bye," Cedric said hurriedly, his voice tinged with worry.

Jolie, sensing his distress, called out to him. "Bae, wait!"

Cedric, not wanting to draw attention to the situation, immediately rushed inside the jeep. Jolie and Keanu followed suit, leaving Albert standing there, about to join them. However, he noticed that Aviana seemed reluctant to follow.

In a moment of secrecy, Albert approached Aviana, speaking in hushed tones.

"Hey, what are you doing?" he whispered urgently.

Aviana glanced at him, her expression conflicted. "You can just go ahead. I'll just walk home," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Albert's eyes widened in realization. He knew they couldn't miss this opportunity, the chance to witness the first potential argument between Jolie and Cedric. He tried to convince Aviana to join them.

"We can't lose this opportunity. We need to see this through. This could be the first time they argue about something," he urged.

Aviana nodded, understanding the significance, but still hesitant. "I know, I know, but... I have never ridden a jeep yet," she confessed, her voice filled with a mixture of longing and apprehension.

Surprised, Albert couldn't help but quip, "What? Are you a princess?"

Aviana sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. "Hey, it's not my fault if I have an overprotective father."

As Jolie's voice called out, prompting them to join the rest of the group, Albert locked eyes with Aviana, seeking her commitment.

"Are you with me? Partner," Albert asked, determination etched on his face.

Aviana hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Partner."

A knowing smile crept across Albert's face as he laid out their plan. "Oh yeah, if Jolie asks about you two, dodge it," he instructed, seeing the path they needed to tread.

Aviana understood the implications and nodded in agreement. "I see where you're going. Okay, I will do it."

Aviana settled into the spacious jeep, finding it surprisingly comfortable.

"This isn't so bad," she commented, casting a glance at Albert, who smirked in response.

Jolie, eager to continue her line of questioning, turned to Aviana.

"Bae, my question," she began, only to be interrupted by Cedric's continued inability to speak.

Jolie, undeterred, redirected her attention to Aviana, hoping for answers.

"Aviana?" Jolie prompted, her voice laced with curiosity.

Aviana attempted to dodge the question once again, hoping to maintain the delicate dance of secrecy.

"When are we leaving?" Aviana deflected, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

Keanu interjected, shaking his head. "We're not leaving until the jeep is full," he clarified.

As more passengers piled into the already crowded vehicle, the space grew tighter, testing the group's comfort levels.

Jolie, determined to uncover the truth, persisted with her inquiry.

"Hey, Aviana, do you two know each other from before?" Jolie pressed, her gaze fixed on Aviana.

Once again, Aviana skillfully sidestepped the question, redirecting the conversation.

"We're leaving soon, right?" Aviana asked, hoping to change the subject.

Keanu shook his head once more, his tone matter-of-fact. "Nope," he replied.

A sense of frustration tinged Aviana's voice as she realized the jeep was becoming increasingly crowded.

"What? But the jeep is already full," she exclaimed, her exasperation evident.

To her dismay, more passengers boarded the already overflowing vehicle, further diminishing any sense of personal space.

Aviana let out an exasperated sigh, her discomfort palpable. "Okay, my seat is a bit uncomfortable right now, but I think I can manage," she muttered.

The driver, oblivious to Aviana's discomfort, chimed in with a surprising announcement.

"Move over! Ten more passengers can still fit inside!" the driver called out, a glint of determination in his eyes.

Aviana's frustration reached its peak as she realized the jeep would become even more cramped.

"Oh, come on!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with both annoyance and resignation.

The jeep became increasingly crowded as more passengers squeezed into the limited space. The discomfort was palpable as everyone struggled to find a comfortable seat. Finally, with a jolt, the jeep lurched forward, setting off on its journey. However, tensions were rising within the group, and Jolie's anger was reaching its boiling point.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me you guys know each other," Jolie seethed, her voice laced with frustration, directing her ire at Cedric and Aviana.

Albert, always quick on his feet, decided to play along, adding to the mounting tension.

"Wait, you guys know each other?" Albert feigned surprise, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Keanu, curious by nature, couldn't resist joining the conversation.

"How long have you known each other?" he inquired, his gaze shifting between Cedric and Aviana.

Cedric, feeling the weight of Jolie's anger, attempted to explain, his words stumbling over one another.

"Well, not that long," he admitted, hoping to downplay the significance.

Jolie's frustration grew, her patience wearing thin. She couldn't understand why they were evading her questions.

"Then why are the two of you keep dodging my question? Is there something I should know?" Jolie demanded, her voice rising with each word.

Albert, observing the scene unfolding, whispered to himself, recognizing that Jolie's anger was nearing its peak.

"Here it is," he murmured. "She's becoming angry. Just a little bit more."

Jolie's attention shifted back to Aviana, seeking answers amidst the chaos of the overcrowded jeep.

"Aviana?" Jolie implored, her tone tinged with a mix of desperation and confusion.

Aviana, feeling regret for choosing to ride the jeep in the first place, voiced her frustration.

"Don't ask me. I'm starting to regret that I rode this jeep. If I knew that this is always the situation in jeeps, you wouldn't be asking me now," Aviana replied, her voice tinged with irritation.

Jolie's mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information and the evasive behavior.

"Don't tell me the two of you are...?" Jolie trailed off, her voice filled with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

Both Aviana and Cedric were rendered speechless, unable to provide a direct response.

"Do you used to be a couple?" Jolie's voice broke the silence, her tone a blend of hurt and disbelief.

Cedric finally found his voice, his words tinged with regret. "Yes," he admitted, his gaze fixed on Jolie.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jolie's voice cracked with emotion, her heartache evident.

Cedric struggled to find the right words. "I couldn't because..." he started, his sentence left hanging in the air.

Jolie's frustration boiled over. "You couldn't because what? You said no secrets," she interrupted, her voice filled with a mix of anger and betrayal.

Cedric, feeling cornered, attempted to defend himself. "I wanted to tell you, alright? But..."

Jolie cut him off, her voice laced with pain. "Yet here we are. Are there more secrets that you are not telling me?" she demanded, her eyes searching his face for answers.

Cedric's voice wavered as he tried to salvage the situation. "Alright, I'm sorry, okay? What do you want me to do? Go back in time?" he pleaded.

Jolie's anger intensified, her voice trembling. "Don't talk to me right now," she declared, her words dripping with hurt.

As the tension reached its peak, Keanu, drawing from his own experiences, interjected, his tone sympathetic.

"Dude, let her be right now. I was once in a situation like this with Jolie," he advised Cedric, his voice filled with empathy. "Trust me, she broke my nose back then."

Aviana, trying to lighten the mood, injected a touch of humor amidst the heaviness of the moment.

"I never realized I could sit with only one butt cheek, huh," she remarked, a wry smile crossing her lips.

To be Continued…