Starting With SSS-rank: I Get A New Skill Every Livestream

Chapter 263: Jealous

After they finished a light meal and their long conversation about his plan to become a rogue once again, Veronica was driving with Kyle seated beside her.

"You really didn’t have to drop me off," Kyle said, unable to hide his concern. She had only been discharged from the hospital, yet she was already moving around as if nothing had happened.

"It’s okay. I actually recovered enough to walk around without much trouble yesterday. They were the ones who insisted on keeping me there. Stubborn idiots."

Kyle let out a sheepish smile. "Calling doctors idiots is like biting the hands that fed you. Don’t be so harsh, Veronica."

The sharpness in her eyes melted away. Like a little kitten being gently petted by its owner, the fierceness from her eyes vanished as she quietly nodded, accepting his words without protest.

After a brief silence, Kyle spoke again.

"Veronica... I don’t want to pressure you, but would it be alright if I went out scouting tonight? Around midnight?"

Veronica let out a quiet sigh.

"So eager..." A faint smile touched her lips. "Well, I understand."

As the traffic light turned red, she brought the car to a smooth stop before looking at him.

"I’ll head back home and get in touch with the surveillance department."

"Wouldn’t that put you under suspicion?" Kyle asked, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.

"Nah. I ask for access all the time, so it won’t seem unusual," Veronica replied.

Even so, she quickly looked away the moment the words left her mouth.

Kyle noticed the subtle reaction but chose not to question it.

"I’ll do my best to stay under the radar."

As the line of cars ahead finally started moving, Veronica returned her attention to the road.

"Have you bought everything you’ll need for the academy? You’re leaving the day after tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah. I got everything on the list, but I’ll check it all again today."

It still felt strange buying school uniforms at his age, but there was no point dwelling on it. This was his new reality, and he had no choice but to accept it.

"Hmm. I hope you have a good time at the academy." A gentle smile appeared on Veronica’s face. "I asked Instructor Russel to keep an eye on you."

Kyle let out a thoughtful hum.

"And he agreed?"

From the little he had seen, Russel wasn’t the type to show favoritism.

Veronica smiled faintly.

"Well... he made me promise him something in return, but it’s nothing to worry about."

Kyle’s brows instinctively furrowed.

"What did he ask you to do?"

Veronica blinked in surprise at his question before glancing at him.

"It’s nothing. Just a small favor..."

"You two seemed pretty close back then," Kyle remarked, catching her completely off guard.

"Were we?" she asked, though her thoughts were already in disarray.

There was something about his expression that made her heart race. It carried an unfamiliar edge, one that should have made her nervous, yet instead left her strangely excited.

Was he... actually jealous because she was close to Russel?

The thought alone made her pulse quicken.

The truth was, Russel had always treated her like a younger sister. There had never been anything beyond that.

Yet seeing Kyle react so strongly to the idea of them being close made it almost impossible for her to hold back the smile threatening to spread across her face.

"Kyle..." she said softly, stealing quick glances between the road and him. "You don’t like me getting close to him?"

Kyle avoided her eyes.

Instead, he turned toward the window, staring outside before quietly admitting,

"No... I don’t."

A smile finally bloomed across Veronica’s face.

She couldn’t help it.

He was simply too adorable when he got jealous.

Who would have thought that a little friendliness with her former instructor would draw such an earnest reaction from Kyle?

It was the first time Kyle had shown any sign that he might see her as more than just a friend.

After all, what kind of friend became jealous simply because the other person was getting close to someone else?

The thought filled her heart with warmth.

Unable to stop smiling, she replied, "Okay then. I won’t meet him."

Kyle didn’t respond.

He simply kept his gaze fixed outside the window.

The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence. Neither of them spoke, yet neither felt the need to.

Veronica had to fight the urge to hum with delight as they arrived at his apartment building.

She slowly pulled the car over beside the pedestrian walkway before bringing it to a stop.

"Well... we’re here."

Kyle let out a quiet sigh before finally turning to face her.

There was guilt in his eyes.

Veronica instinctively assumed he was about to apologize for the way he had acted.

The thought almost made her laugh.

If only he knew.

She hadn’t minded it in the slightest.

If anything, she was so happy that her cheeks were beginning to ache from smiling.

But when Kyle finally spoke, his words were nothing like what she had expected.

"I know it’s unfair for me to say this... but I don’t like you getting along with him."

Veronica nodded without hesitation.

"I hear you. I’ll keep my distance."

Even with the guilt weighing on him, Kyle couldn’t bring himself to change how he felt.

After a brief pause, the two stepped out of the car.

Just then, a loud voice rang out.

"Motherfu..."

They both turned to find a young man standing a few steps away, his mouth hanging open in utter disbelief.

"Adam?" Kyle called. "When did you get here?"

Adam ignored the question completely.

"You!" he shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Kyle. "You’re cheating on your girlfriend with this hot babe!"

He stormed over, grabbed Kyle by the collar, and shook him.

"You bastard! How can you be such a shameless cheater? Don’t you have any sympathy for this heartbroken me?"

Kyle merely let out a tired sigh before glancing at Veronica.

"He’s fine, Veronica. I’ll see you around."

Veronica frowned at Adam’s outrageous behavior, but judging by Kyle’s calm reaction, it was obvious the two knew each other well.

Choosing not to interfere, she simply nodded.

"I’ll call you later."

"I’ll call you later? So it’s true!" Adam gasped dramatically before tightening his grip on Kyle’s collar.

Completely unfazed, Kyle waved goodbye as Veronica got back into her car.

Moments later, the vehicle pulled away.

Looking down at his drunken cousin, Kyle wondered how he was supposed to deal with this mess.

"Kyle?"

A familiar feminine voice called from behind.

Both of them turned.

Amanda was standing there.

Kyle was about to wave at her when Adam suddenly cried out,

"He cheated on you, Aman..."

Dhak.

A fist slammed into his stomach.

The words died in his throat as he doubled over, clutching his gut.

Kyle calmly grabbed the back of Adam’s neck before looking at Amanda with a smile.

"Guess what?"

"What?" she asked.

"I’m officially part of the academy now."

Amanda smiled, looking far less surprised than excited.

"Well, they had to accept you." She stepped closer before wrapping her arms around him. "My boyfriend is just that good."

Kyle smiled and returned the hug, completely ignoring the drunken fool beside them, who had already started weeping at the heartbreaking sight.