"Are you messing with me?" Vince asked, half-serious, half-hopeful.
Vanessa looked at him, then broke into a quiet laugh.
"Isn't that how it goes in anime or dramas?" she teased. "Confessions at the top of a Ferris wheel."
Vince stared at her for a second.
Then, without hesitation, he leaned forward.
Their faces were suddenly inches apart. He could see the sugar dust on her lips from the cotton candy, the reflection of the sunset in her eyes. He held her gaze, steady, searching—waiting.
Vanessa didn't pull away.
She didn't look surprised.
If anything, she looked like she was waiting for him to do something.
The silence stretched.
Then—
"Sigh..." Vince leaned back into his seat, running a hand through his hair.
Vanessa blinked.
Then smirked.
"Ah... that was a perfect chance."
"Not yet," he said quietly.
Before he could react, Vanessa grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him toward her.
Soft lips brushed his cheek.
Vince froze.
Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke, warm against his skin.
"Thank you... for spending today with me."
She released him just as quickly and leaned back into her seat like nothing had happened.
Vince stared at her, stunned.
This was the first time she'd taken the initiative. It wasn't like her at all. And yet—his chest felt light, his heart racing, joy threatening to spill out no matter how hard he tried to keep his composure.
The Ferris wheel slowed, the cabin gently lowering.
"Ah... our ride's over," Vanessa said, glancing down as it came to a stop.
She stood up. "Let's head home."
"Y–yeah..." Vince muttered, still holding his cheek as he followed her out.
His face was burning.
And for the first time, he knew for sure—
This wasn't just teasing anymore.
They walked to the taxi stand together and waited in silence until a cab finally pulled up. Vanessa leaned in first, giving the driver her address. Vince slid in beside her, watching the city lights blur past the windows.
When the taxi stopped in front of her house, Vanessa opened the door.
"This is where I get off," she said, turning back with a small wave. "I'll see you at school."
For reasons Vince couldn't explain, something twisted in his chest.
It felt... final.
Like this goodbye carried more weight than it should have.
He smiled anyway, forcing the thought away.
"Yeah. See you."
She stepped out, the door closing softly behind her.
Vince watched until the taxi pulled away—until her house disappeared from view.
And even then, the feeling didn't fade.
The next day.
Vince was summoned to the Balar estate's main office. The air felt heavier than usual the moment he stepped inside.
His grandfather, Wesley, stood near the desk, arms crossed.
"Prepare yourself," Wesley said flatly. "You'll be transferring to an overseas school."
Vince froze.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I said what I said," Wesley replied coldly. "You'll be finishing high school abroad."
"I'm not transferring," Vince snapped. "You don't get to decide my life for me."
Wesley's expression hardened.
"Yes, I do."
He grabbed a tablet from the desk and tossed it onto the table. The screen lit up—grainy footage of the park fight. Vince. Darian. Sirens in the distance.
Vince's jaw clenched.
"This is—"
"Do you have any idea how much our stock would drop if the media got hold of this?" Wesley barked.
"My grandson—seen as a delinquent getting into street fights. I won't allow that kind of damage. Not now."
"That still doesn't give you the right to send me overseas," Vince shot back.
Wesley scoffed.
"And that girl you've been associating with—her father is a loan shark. An underground criminal."
He slammed his hand on the desk.
"Why would you involve yourself with people like that?"
Vince's eyes burned.
"You investigated Vanessa?" he yelled. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I'd rather not see you turn out like my bastard son," Wesley snapped.
The room went dead silent.
Vince stared at him—no anger now, just something colder.
"When did you ever care about family?"
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked out of the office.
The door shut behind him with a quiet finality.
Wesley exhaled sharply, staring at the empty doorway.
"Ungrateful kid," he muttered.
But even as he said it, something unsettled him.
Because for the first time—
Vince hadn't backed down.