Dave couldn’t help but sigh in frustration, his audible sigh carrying a note of defeat and sadness. Hera, having agreed to Zhane’s n for tomorrow, a Saturday when she would have a break from school and more time to rx, noticed Dave’s reaction. As she turned around, her eyes fell upon Dave’s downcast expression.


    His sadness was palpable, and it tugged at her heart, making her reconsider the dynamics of the situation. She felt a pang of empathy, realizing that while she was excited about spending time with Zhane and exploring new experiences, she didn’t want to leave Dave feeling neglected and unappreciated.


    She also recognized that while Dave was almost always present wherever she went, their interactionscked the intimacy and depth she had with the other male leads. In fact, Dave was the one she should focus on more, not only because he would be the first to fall under the female lead’s charm ording to the novel but also because she had be ustomed to his constant presence yet hadn’t cultivated a closer rtionship with him. This realization made her see that she had taken Dave’s dedication for granted and needed to make a more genuine effort to connect with him.


    Perhaps it was because, unlike the other male leads who constantly sought one-on-one time with her, Dave was content to be around her in any capacity, even if it meant joining her and the others. He didn’t demand exclusive attention but was happy just to be near her, no matter thepany.


    Despite Dave’sid-back and easygoing demeanor, it was clear that he was acutely aware of his position at the bottom of Hera’s list of favorites. This awareness made him both bold and cautious: he wanted to capture Hera’s attention, but he also didn’t want toe off as too demanding by asking for more of her time when he was already crashing some of her time with his other friends.


    Dave’s childish behavior was a cover for his insecurities and worries, and this realization struck Hera deeply. It was clear that, unlike the other male leads who actively sought her out—such as Luke, who made time for breakfast with her, Rafael, who apanied her shopping and carried her bags, and Xavier, with whom she had spent a week on the Variety Show—she hadn’t dedicated as much time to Dave. Even though she had shared a few interactions with Zhane, he had received the same level of attention as the others did.


    Now that Hera realized her oversight, she understood she needed to make apromise. While she was confident that she had captured the male leads’ interest, she was acutely aware of the unpredictable nature of their rtionships. The storyline could potentially disrupt her progress, introducing elements that might dramatically alter her position in their lives or intensify their feelings, undermining all her hard work. Although she hoped not to face such worst-case scenarios, she knew they weren’t beyond the realm of possibility.


    While Hera focused on preventing Alice from seizing opportunities and achieving sess in the entertainment industry, she also needed to carefully manage her time with the male leads. Bncing her interactions with them was crucial to maintaining her influence and ensuring she didn’t lose her footing in their hearts. Reflecting on her situation now, Hera realized the challenge was even greater than she had anticipated. With six men to manage—one more than Alice had to contend with—she faced an intricate juggling act between her career and her rtionships. She couldn’t afford to let go of any of them, including Leo, which only added to theplexity of her situation.


    Now, Hera couldn’t help but admire Alice’s skill in bncing everything—she truly was a master of time management, as Athena had mentioned. Even Hera found it challenging to keep up with such demands, and she had nearly overlooked Dave in the process. Having always been a monogamous person, deeply inspired by her parents’ love story, adjusting to the reality of managing multiple rtionships was proving to be a difficult shift. Theplexity of her situation made her appreciate Alice’s capabilities even more, recognizing that mastering such a bncing act was no small feat.


    Hera nced at Dave and, with Zhane momentarily distracted by the others, leaned in to whisper, "How about we spend some time together on Sunday? Just pick me up from my ce." Her smile, both apologetic and warm, carried an unspoken promise of a shared secret between them. In that moment, Dave’s gloomy expression lifted as a surge of hope brightened his eyes, his spirits visibly lifted by her gesture.