MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 544: Veronica

Vega’s feet touched the earth beneath her as she arrived at the floating island reserved specifically for Corporal ranked soldiers. The air was crisp, and the atmosphere here was far quieter, almost solemn, compared to the rest of the island.

She walked with calm, composed strides, her face expressionless. Her long, flowing purple hair swayed gently behind her, as though dancing to the subtle tune of the wind and the rhythm of the world itself.

As she walked through the main path, necks turned almost instantly. Soldiers, both male and female, paused in their steps, their eyes drawn to her like magnets. They stared at her as if she were an exotic animal in a zoo, something too rare and mesmerizing to look away from.

But Vega didn’t react, not even in the slightest. She was already used to this. Necks had always turned whenever she stepped into any room or space. This wasn’t new, and it certainly didn’t faze her.

Arriving at her designated room, she instantly collapsed onto her bed, her body relaxing as her thoughts churned restlessly in her mind. One thought rose to the surface more than any other, the constant image of Anthony. It lingered like a shadow she couldn’t shake.

Vega had first noticed him just a few days ago, during a routine lunch. She had turned instinctively to see who was staring at her.

Normally, people stared all the time, and she never gave them the courtesy of acknowledgment. But this time, the gaze had felt different. Stronger. Sincere.

When she had told Anthony that she was surprised he could match her in charms, she hadn’t been joking or trying to flatter him. She meant every word. Since the day she was born, only one man had ever matched her in terms of looks, her father.

People looked at her with lust, desire, and often with shameless impurity. They didn’t see her for who she was; they saw a pretty face, a figure of fantasies.

But Vega wasn’t blind to their thoughts, she could sense emotions as clearly as reading words on a page. Their sexual urges, hidden intentions, and impure thoughts screamed at her from behind fake smiles and courteous words.

But she didn’t care. They were entitled to their thoughts. However, what they lacked was the power to turn any of it into reality.

Now lying in her room, she hugged her pillow tightly, a faint smile creeping onto her lips. She rolled gently on the bed, burying her face slightly into the fabric. ’He is handsome. I wonder what else we have in common,’ she thought with a quiet smile.

She hadn’t just approached Anthony for the sake of curiosity or amusement. No, he was the first man who hadn’t looked at her with impurity in his gaze. For once, she felt like someone truly saw her. And that was why she had walked up to his table in the first place.

’Why hasn’t he texted yet about the date?’ Vega thought suddenly, forgetting that it hadn’t even been an hour since the two of them had separated. Her thoughts were clearly ahead of reality.

Suddenly, a knock came from the door.

Before Vega could even respond, the door opened and a figure stepped inside with calm, confident steps.

She had pure white hair that flowed down her back like a silk curtain, and her eyes were a piercing white as well. She wore the Corporal military uniform, its tight fit perfectly accentuating her figure as she moved with graceful ease.

”Why bother knocking if you’re just going to barge in before I can answer, Veronica?” Vega asked as she turned her gaze toward the door, her expression unamused.

”Why should I bother waiting for an answer when I already know you’re not doing anything important or hiding something?” Veronica replied with a playful smirk as she walked over and lay down beside Vega.

Their purple and white hair spread across the bed’s surface, contrasting beautifully against the pristine white bedsheets like a piece of living art.

”Sigh... Why aren’t you with your so called boyfriend? Did you suddenly remember me out of the goodwill of your heart?” Vega asked sarcastically, not even trying to hide her amusement.

Veronica was her best friend, had been for several years now. They were both nineteen, both had only one parent, fathers.

Unlike many others, Vega didn’t attend the prestigious Omni Peak Academy. Her father had dismissed it as a school for weaklings, and so she trained exclusively under his guidance, rarely leaving her home or engaging with others outside of combat or training.

Of course, many had tried to become ’friends’ with her over the years. But Vega could read emotions like an open book, she saw through every facade, every attempt at manipulation.

Only Veronica had been different, genuine.

Ironically, it was Vega who had approached Veronica first. They had been best friends since they were fourteen. Naturally, Veronica benefited from this friendship, enjoying resources from Vega’s generous pocket that she couldn’t afford herself. But Vega didn’t mind. If her friend could enjoy the luxury, why not?

”So, what’s putting you in such a sweet mood today? Tell me, have you finally found a man like I told you to?” Veronica teased as her eyes shifted from the ceiling to Vega’s face.

Vega didn’t reply immediately. Instead, she simply smirked.

Veronica had always teased her about being too perfect, too beautiful, too powerful, to ever find love. But now, she had. She’d found him.

”Wait. Are you being serious?” Veronica gasped as she shot up from the bed, abandoning her relaxed position and sitting upright with wide eyes as she recognized the smirk.

”Why should I tell you anything? You’ve mocked me countless times for being single. Honestly, this friendship is starting to feel toxic. Hmph.”

Vega responded, turning her back to her friend and sinking deeper into the bed.

”Oh, come on, Vega! What are besties for? Just spill the tea already. Tell me who finally managed to steal the eyes and heart of our untouchable goddess,” Veronica pleaded, grabbing Vega by the shoulder and gently shaking her.

Vega couldn’t hold back her smile anymore. She began recounting her encounter with Anthony from the very beginning. With each word, Veronica’s eyes widened further in disbelief.

’Can such a man even exist?’ Veronica wondered silently.

”Are you sure you’re not exaggerating? Maybe it’s because it’s your first love,” Veronica said aloud, her tone laced with doubt.

”Make a video call. I want to see him with my own eyes,” she added, half-joking, half-serious.

”We haven’t gotten that far yet. After all, we’ve only met once,” Vega replied softly.

”Well then, since you’re about to start dating, why don’t we go on a double date? I could even show you some of my... bed moves.”

Veronica added with a cheeky grin.

”What do you mean by bed moves? I won’t be learning any of that nonsense!” Vega snapped.

”As for the double date... we might do that after the first official one,” she said with a small, embarrassed smile.

”But I think you’re forgetting something important, Vega,” Veronica said suddenly, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

”What’s that?” Vega asked curiously.

”If your father hears you’re dating, he might just break your boyfriend’s legs for ’deceiving his precious princess.’” Veronica smirked.