The sudden intimacy made Henry’s heart skip a beat.
Hadn't Vanessa always been in love with Ian? She had always maintained a polite, friendly distance from him. This was the first time she had ever initiated such close contact.
Henry swallowed hard. Now that the opportunity he had dreamed of was here, he felt a surge of panic.
"Vanessa, let me hold your hand," he said, gently disengaging his arm and taking her hand instead.
Vanessa looked around and saw that the entire back row was empty. "Let's sit back there," she suggested.
Henry agreed, and he led her to the middle of the row. After they sat down, Vanessa smoothed her hair. In the flickering light from the screen, Henry looked down at her. Sensing his gaze, she turned to face him, their eyes meeting in the darkness.
She blinked slowly. With her perfect makeup and alluring charm, she was everything he had ever wanted. This should have been a dream come true, but instead, Henry felt a knot of anxiety in his stomach.
In his mind, Vanessa belonged to Ian. All her beauty, all her tenderness—it was all meant for Ian. He shouldn't be indulging in it, let alone accepting it.
The thought made him quickly look away, his heart beating erratically. It wasn't just her proximity; it was the panicked feeling of betraying his friend.
"What's wrong? Scared to look at me?" Vanessa leaned in, a playful smile in her voice.
Henry's throat felt dry. "No, it's just… this movie looks really interesting."
"Are you okay?" he asked, patting her arm. "It's just a movie."
Vanessa slowly lifted her head. Looking at his clueless expression, she couldn't help but smile. "Don't you know girls get scared easily?"
Henry managed a weak smile and said nothing.
He couldn't focus on the movie at all. For years, he had wished for Vanessa to get over Ian and turn to him, to let him make her happy.
But now, all he wanted was to wish her well and maintain a safe, friendly distance. It was as if his six-year obsession had suddenly begun to crack.

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