The van starts moving again when it suddenly stops.
Outside, a girl is standing with her hands on her hips, clearly annoyed.
This is Noah.
She leans toward the driver.
"Uncle, seriously? I've been standing here since the Stone Age. Try coming on time for once?"
Elara immediately raises her hand like a guilty student.
"It's my fault. I got late."
Noah turns slowly, eyes wide.
"…You?"
She squints.
"Elara D'Aurelia… late?"
Lucien whispers dramatically,
"Write this date in history."
Victor nods.
"World record broken."
Noah climbs into the van, still staring at Elara.
"No. I refuse to believe this. What happened? Meteor strike? Time travel?"
Elara groans.
"You dragged me to a bar last night."
The entire van freezes.
Lucien suddenly starts coughing loudly.
"COUGH—BAR—COUGH—"
Victor joins in.
"COUGH—UNDERAGE—COUGH—"
Alice slowly looks up from his book, eyes unreadable… then smirks.
Noah waves her hands.
"Relax! We didn't even stay long."
Elara glares at her.
"You ordered drinks like it was a competition."
Noah grins.
"Hydration is important."
Lucien leans forward.
"So you're the reason she looks like she wants to murder someone this early?"
Elara snaps,
"Lucien, breathe quietly."
Noah finally notices the three boys properly.
She points one by one.
"Okay… new faces. Who are you guys? And why do you all look suspicious?"
Lucien places a hand on his chest.
"Lucien. Professionally charming."
Victor salutes.
"Victor. Emotionally exhausted."
Everyone looks at Alice.
Alice doesn't speak.
Victor elbow-jabs him.
"Say your name, bro. You're not a mystery novel."
Alice sighs.
"Alice."
Noah blinks.
"…That's it?"
Alice nods.
"That's all."
Lucien chuckles.
"Don't worry, he talks more in his head."
Alice shoots him a look.
"I talk enough."
Noah smirks.
"Ah. The silent type. Either dangerous or dramatic."
Victor points at Alice.
"Both."
Elara crosses her arms.
"Can we please survive one morning without judging each other?"
Lucien grins.
"No promises."
Noah leans closer to Elara and whispers loudly,
"So which one's the troublemaker?"
Elara replies instantly,
"All three."
Elara opens her book and immediately switches into serious mode.
Back straight. Glasses fixed. Absolute silence.
Noah stares at her for three seconds.
Then—
"Wow," Noah whispers loudly, "she's doing it again."
Elara doesn't look up.
"Noah. Please."
Noah leans closer.
"Tell me honestly—do books miss you when you don't read them?"
Elara flips a page aggressively.
"I am revising."
Noah gasps.
"In a moving van? Without snacks? You're terrifying."
Elara sighs.
"Go bother someone else."
Noah's eyes sparkle.
"Oh, gladly."
She turns toward the boys.
Meanwhile, Lucien and Victor are already targeting Alice.
Lucien waves a hand in front of Alice's face.
"Hello? Earth to Headphones Guy."
Victor taps Alice's book.
"Bro, you've been reading Whispers of Forever like it's your life story."
Alice doesn't look up.
"It's called concentration."
Lucien smirks.
"It's called ignoring people."
Victor nods.
"Very rude behavior."
Alice finally looks up.
"What do you want?"
Lucien and Victor exchange a grin.
Lucien: "Nothing."
Victor: "We just enjoy disturbing you."
Alice stares at them.
"…You both need hobbies."
Noah suddenly pops between the seats.
"Fun fact! Elara reads faster when she's annoyed."
Elara snaps,
"Noah!"
Alice looks at Elara, slightly amused.
"You still read like that, huh?"
Elara freezes.
Slowly, she turns toward him.
"…What do you mean still?"
Alice smirks.
"You wrinkle your nose when the chapter gets boring. You did that when you were eight."
Everyone goes quiet.
Noah's eyes widen.
"WAIT—YOU KNOW HER AS A KID?"
Lucien gasps dramatically.
"This just got interesting."
Elara narrows her eyes.
"Excuse me, Mr. Hair-Gel Problem, you were the one crying because your teddy bear lost a button."
The van EXPLODES.
Victor laughs.
"TEDDY BEAR?"
Lucien wipes imaginary tears.
"Alice. Iconic."
Alice sits up straight.
"It was NOT a teddy bear. It was a limited-edition stuffed wolf."
Elara smirks.
"Named Mr. Fluffy."
Alice points at her.
"YOU promised not to tell anyone!"
Noah is practically vibrating.
"PLEASE tell me more."
Elara crosses her arms.
"You used to sleep hugging it and refused to eat if it wasn't next to you."
Alice fires back.
"And YOU cried for three days because your favorite pencil broke."
Elara scoffs.
"It was a mechanical pencil. With a purple grip."
Alice grins.
"And you named it."
Elara's ears turn red.
"…So?"
Lucien claps slowly.
"This is better than Netflix."
Victor adds,
"So when's the wedding?"
Both Alice and Elara shout at the same time—
"SHUT UP."
There's a pause.
They look at each other.
Then both turn away, annoyed—but smiling just a little.
Noah whispers,
"Yeah… they definitely know each other too well."
The van keeps moving, filled with laughter, teasing, and childhood memories that refuse to stay buried.
Some friendships fade.
Some fights never end.
And some stories… start again when you least expect them.