Rival Offline (Anya Forger x Damian Desmond)

Chapter Twenty Two: Friends

Becky, Ewen, and Emile stared at the pair in disbelief as Anya held Damian's hand, a bright gleaming smile spread across her face. It was an unexpected sight, and the change in their dynamic was so abrupt that it left the group in stunned silence.

"Wh-what the hell happened??" Ewen blurted out, eyes wide as he tried to process the scene before him.

"We're friends now!" Anya announced excitedly, her voice filled with genuine joy.

Damian glanced away, clearly a bit embarrassed by Anya's enthusiastic declaration, but he didn't let go of her hand.

"Oh, this is so sweet! Love is finally in the air!" Becky chimed in dreamily, spinning around them with a delighted smile, her hands clasped together as if she were in the middle of a fairy tale.

Damian's face flushed bright red he let go of her hand. "It's not like that!" he stammered, trying to maintain his composure, but the protest only made Becky giggle more.

Ewen and Emile exchanged a bewildered glance. "Did we miss something?" Emile asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know, but this is definitely not what I expected when we came to the aquarium," Ewen muttered, still baffled.

"Well... you're lucky you didn't get stuck with Becky," Ewen grumbled, looking utterly exhausted. "She's got the energy of a thousand suns." He rubbed his temples as if just being near her enthusiasm was enough to drain him.

before anyone could say more, Becky clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Now... it's time to go shopping!" she declared, a triumphant grin on her face. In one swift motion, she linked her arms with both Anya and Maya, pulling them closer.

"Hey, actually, we're gonna take Ewen back to the hotel," Emile said, draping an arm around his friend's shoulders. "He looks really tired."

Damian nodded, walking beside them. "Yeah, you guys go ahead. We'll catch up later."

"See you all later!" Damian called back, giving a quick wave as they started toward the exit.

Becky, now left with Anya and Maya, wasted no time as they began browsing the stores. She had a mischievous gleam in her eyes, practically bursting with curiosity. She pulled Anya closer and leaned in conspiratorially.

"So, Anya, I need to know," Becky whispered, trying to contain her excitement. "How did you manage to get Damian to like you? He seems like such a rock—unmovable!"

Anya blinked, caught off guard by Becky's question. "Uh, I don't know... I just told him the truth," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant, but there was a hint of nervousness in her voice. "I think he just needed someone to listen."

Becky's eyes widened, clearly fascinated. "Wow, so you cracked the code with honesty! That's so... simple but genius! I've never seen him open up to anyone before, not even those two friends of his."

Maya, who had been quietly listening, nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe he just needed a friend who wasn't afraid to challenge him," she mused. "Someone who could see past the walls he puts up."

Becky sighed dreamily. "That is so romantic, Anya! You're like the heroine in a love story!"

Anya's face flushed. "It's not like that!" she protested quickly, waving her hands. "We're just friends, okay?"

Becky giggled. "For now, maybe!" she teased, making Anya's blush deepen. "But who knows what could happen next?"

Anya rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but smile. "You watch too many romance shows, Becky."

"We should get some snacks for tonight," Becky announced, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We have so much more to talk about!" She glanced over at Maya, who was browsing through a selection of colorful food items, seemingly lost in thought.

"Hey, Maya!" Becky called out, bounding over to her with an enthusiastic grin. "What do you think we should get? We need the perfect snacks for our top-secret girl talk later!"

Maya looked up, surprised by Becky's sudden approach, but her expression softened into a small smile. "Oh, I'm not sure... maybe some mochi? And those chocolate-covered biscuits?" she suggested, holding up a couple of packages.

Anya chuckled softly, watching Becky's enthusiasm as she continued to pile snacks into their basket, her energy contagious. But her gaze drifted back to Maya, who seemed quieter than usual, her movements slower as she scanned the shelves, her cheeks dusted a shade of pink.

Something about Maya was bothering her.