CHAPTER 3
Agent Nova's (Lara) Point of View
Where am I…?
The first thing I felt was the weight.
Heavy.
Like my body didn't belong to me.
My head throbbed, dull but constant, and when I tried to move, a sharp pain shot through my ankle.
I let out a small gasp.
Right… the café.
Onyx.
The fall.
Everything came back in fragments.
I forced my eyes open.
White ceiling.
Dim lights.
A faint antiseptic smell.
Hospital.
I tried to sit up, but the moment I did, my body betrayed me. My knees gave out, and I fell back onto the bed with a soft thud.
"Hey—don't move!"
A nurse rushed in, eyes wide as she saw me awake. She quickly checked the monitor beside me before hurrying out again.
What's the rush…? I'm not dying.
A few seconds later, the door opened again.
This time, it wasn't just the nurse.
The doctor.
Raven.
The Boss.
And—
Him.
Agent Onyx.
For a moment, everything else blurred.
He was standing slightly behind the others, but his eyes were fixed on me.
Watching.
Carefully.
As if he had been doing that for a while.
The doctor stepped forward and began checking my vitals, asking a few basic questions. I answered automatically, my attention drifting.
Why is he still here…?
After a few minutes, the doctor straightened
"She's stable," he said. "But she needs rest. No unnecessary movement."
Rest.
Great. I hate that word.
The room slowly emptied.
And before I realized it…
I had fallen asleep again.
When I woke up the next time, sunlight filled the room.
Morning.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
I turned my head slightly—
And froze.
He was there.
Standing near the door.
Holding a bouquet of roses.
As if he had been waiting.
For me.
My heart skipped.
"Is it okay if I come in?" he asked softly.
You're already inside…
But for some reason, I just nodded.
"Yes."
He walked closer, slower this time. Careful.
As if I might break.
The moment he reached the bed—
I sneezed.
Once.
Then again.
And again.
"Oh—wait," he said quickly. "Are you allergic?"
I nodded rapidly, barely able to speak.
Without wasting a second, he turned, walked to the window—
And threw the bouquet outside.
A loud thud echoed from below, followed by an angry shout.
We both froze.
Then looked at each other.
And burst out laughing.
The tension broke instantly.
For a moment…
It felt normal.
He stepped closer again.
This time, he didn't stop.
His hand gently wrapped around mine.
Warm.
Steady.
My breath caught.
His thumb moved slightly, brushing against my skin—almost unconsciously.
"I should have acted sooner," he said quietly. "You wouldn't have had to go through this… if I had."
I shook my head.
"No… it's my fault," I said softly. "I should've checked my ankle earlier."
A small silence followed.
Then I realized something.
"Wait… isn't it Tuesday?"
He blinked. "Yeah. Why?"
"If you're here…" I looked at him. "You didn't go to school."
A pause.
"I didn't."
"Why?"
He scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly… awkward.
"You're more important than a match."
Silence.
My brain stopped.
Did he just—
He realized it too.
Quickly.
"I mean—" he added, a little too fast, "How can I complete the mission without you?"
Smooth recovery.
But it didn't matter.
I heard it.
Every word.
And he knew that I did.
A few minutes later, he got up and walked toward the sofa.
From a bag, he pulled out a container and a bottle.
"Food," he said.
I narrowed my eyes. "What's in the bottle?"
"Broccoli juice."
"Absolutely not."
"You have to drink it."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"I will literally choose death over that," I said, dead serious.
He sighed, already pouring it into a cup.
"I said no excuses."
I crossed my arms. "Feed me the soup first."
"After the juice."
"Not happening."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"Open your mouth," he said.
"Make me."
Big mistake!
He gently held my chin, trying to tilt my face upward—
I panicked and pushed him.
The cup slipped.
Juice spilled everywhere.
And the next second—
He fell forward.
Right on top of me.
His hands landed on either side of me, stopping his weight.
Our faces—
Inches apart.
Too close.
My heart raced.
Why is he this close again…
His eyes dropped to my lips.
And for a second…
Neither of us moved.
The air felt heavier.
Thicker.
Like something was about to happen.
The door opened.
"Looks like we interrupted something."
Raven's voice.
We both froze.
He pulled away instantly, his expression changing in a second.
Cold.
Controlled.
Professional.
"She isn't drinking the broccoli juice," he said flatly, picking up his coat. "Please make sure she does. We need her fit for the mission."
And just like that—
He left.
The silence he left behind felt… louder than before.
Raven walked closer, trying not to smile.
"I'm sorry," she said. "Did I ruin your moment?"
"Sorry my—" I stopped myself. "Yes. You did."
She laughed softly.
Then her expression changed.
Serious.
"Don't forget the rule," she said quietly.
My heart dropped.
Right.
"No agent gets close to another."
Because closeness creates weakness.
And weakness…
Gets you killed.
***
The door creaked open again.
This time—
The air changed.
Completely.
Colder.
Heavier.
Like something dangerous had just entered the room.
A shadow stretched across the floor.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"Well…" a voice echoed. Smooth. Sharp. Unfamiliar.
"Looks like I arrived at the perfect time."
I froze.
Raven stiffened beside me
Even the Boss looked tense.
The figure stepped forward.
Each step calm.
Controlled.
Powerful.
My heartbeat quickened.
Who is this…?
The hood hid his face, but his presence alone was enough to make my chest tighten.
I swallowed.
"I don't know who you are," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "but you can't just walk in here."
A soft chuckle.
"Oh, I can."
He stepped closer.
"And I just did.
The Boss walked forward.
Shook his hand.
Raven high-fived him.
"Long time," she said.
"Too long," he replied.
Then—
He pulled back his hood.
And for a moment—I forgot how to breathe.
Blonde hair
Sharp features.
Eyes that didn't just look at you…
They read you.
Dangerous.
That was the only word that came to mind.
"This," the Boss said, "is Vesper."
The spy.
His gaze shifted to me
Slow.
Intentional.
A smirk formed on his lips
"My instincts were right," he said casually.
"She really is trouble."
My jaw clenched.
I already hate him.