chapter 19 - identity

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Amy lay in bed, her phone casting a faint glow in the otherwise dark room. It was 2 am but it was daily habit of Amy to use phone at night she started scrolling through the college forum.

A new thread caught her eye: "Amy and Zahn: Strange Couple or Match Made in Heaven?"

Curiosity piqued, she clicked on the thread. A mix of comments flooded the screen:

User1: "I still don’t get it. Amy is so popular, and Zahn is just the quiet topper. How do they even work?"

User2: " There’s gotta be a reason! Lol she is probably using him, she is not innocent "

User3: "I think it’s sweet! Opposites attract, right?"

Anger bubbled up inside her as she read the comments questioning their relationship or accusing her of using him. Her grip tightened on her phone. How dare they question her love? She knew their dynamic was unconventional, but their bond was undeniable.

She felt a strong urge to use her other private account to lash out at the commenters, but realized it would be petty. Instead, she decided to shift her focus away from the negativity.

Switching apps, Amy navigated to her favorite animal video channel. Instantly, a video of a fluffy kitten playing with a toy mouse appeared on the screen. She spent the next 15-20 minutes watching adorable kitten videos, her lips curving into a soft smile with each playful pounce and tumble.

Zahn lay beside her, fast asleep. Suddenly, he stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He glanced at Amy, her face illuminated by the glow of her phone. Then he looked at the clock--it was 2 AM!

She’s on her phone this late? he thought.

"No wonder you find it difficult to wake up in the morning," he muttered, half-asleep but clearly concerned.

Amy’s eyes darted to him, a hint of surprise on her face. "Oh, hey, you woke up? Go back to sleep,"

Zahn sighed, rubbing his eyes. " Put down the phone first, and go to sleep as well. Who uses their phone this late?"

Amy laughed, unconcerned. " You’re just realizing this now but I’ve been doing this for three years. Well, you’re welcome to join me," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye.

“...”

Knowing Amy wouldn’t listen, Zahn decided to take matters into his own hands. He swiftly snatched the phone from her hand and placed it on the drawer by his bedside. Before Amy could protest, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

"Oh wow," she mumbled, caught off guard but unable to hide her smile.

"Just sleep now," he whispered, his voice soft and soothing.

Amy laughed slightly, charmed as always by his protective nature. She nestled into his embrace, feeling the warmth and comfort of his presence. As she closed her eyes, the stress of the night melted away. Though the acting offer still lingered on her mind, she pushed it to the back of her thoughts. Slowly, she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

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The next morning, Amy woke up and stretched her arms, the aroma of food wafting in from the kitchen. She got up, curiosity piqued, and peeked her head inside the kitchen.

Zahn seemed engrossed in cooking, wearing a yellow apron. Amy tiptoed over and suddenly embraced him from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Amy..?" he called out, completely stunned by her actions, his ears turning a bit red.

A satisfied smile played on her lips. "Such a husband material you are."

His cheeks grew warm. "Don’t bother me now. How come you’re even up early today?"

She laughed softly. "Just felt like it. How about I help you?"

"Will you seriously?" He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

"Uhm, haha, yeah. Maybe cut some vegetables?"

"Fine. You can try. Be careful with the knife though."

Amy took the knife in her hand, contemplating how to cut the onion. The truth was, she’d never done any work, let alone cut vegetables, as she grew up spoiled. As she tried to slice the onion, a small gasp escaped her lips as she nicked her finger. A tiny drop of blood appeared, and she winced slightly.

His eyes widened in shock. "Oh god, Amy! I should have expected you couldn’t do that- ,never mind, are you okay?" He gently took her hand, examining the injury with the utmost care.

"Hold still," he said softly, leading her to the sink. He washed the cut carefully, then grabbed a bandage from the drawer. His touch was gentle and attentive as he applied the bandage. "I really shouldn't let you do anything, to be honest," he muttered.

Amy was left stunned. She couldn’t help but smile, feeling warmth spread through her. "Zahn, it’s just a minor cut."

"Still smiling, huh? Now get away from the kitchen, you’re not allowed here," his sternness evident.

Amy left the kitchen, but she was contented. He cares so much for me, doesn’t he? she thought, her heart swelling with affection.

Amy and Zahn were in different majors, but they shared a literature elective class held twice a week. This was the only opportunity for Amy to be with Zahn during college time.

Before, when she kept their relationship hidden, it was hard to converse with him, but now there were no restrictions. She walked to his desk, the last one in the classroom. Amy slid into the seat next to Zahn. "Yo."

The mischievous look in her eyes made him doubtful of her intentions.

As the lecture began, Amy had no intention of focusing on her studies, as always. There was no difference in her from the school days. Zahn's attention kept drifting to Amy as she played with her bag straps.

Same as always, he thought.

Suddenly, she let her hand drift under the desk, lightly brushing against Zahn’s. His eyes widened slightly, and she could see the hint of a blush creeping up his neck.

"We are in class, don't do anything" he whispered, trying to focus on the lecture.

"What did I do?" she asked with a playful smile, her fingers intertwining with his under the desk.

Zahn’s heart raced, and he glanced around nervously, hoping no one noticed. Amy then started writing with her fingers on his hand, spelling out "I love you, Zahn." His heart skipped a beat as he felt the warmth and affection behind her words.

He tried to focus, but the lecture seemed to fade into the background, her touch teasing him in the most innocent yet distracting way.

Amy’s light laughter bubbled up softly, and she squeezed his hand gently. "Pay attention, Zahn," she whispered, enjoying his flustered reaction.

Zahn shook his head, a mix of exasperation and affection. I don't think I can focus ever again..

Later at home, Amy decided to put her clothes in Zahn's closet since she had started sleeping in his room. She noticed the ample space in his closet--there were hardly any clothes, just a few simple shirts, t-shirts, and pants.

Why doesn't he keep more clothes? I need to shop for him, she thought.

She started putting her clothes one by one, finally being done with them. Then her eyes fell down, on the corner there were some files, and there seemed to be photograph tucked between. Curiosity piqued, she took it out and was taken back. The photo showed a young Zahn, around ten years old, looking adorably cute. He was standing between two people who seemed to be his parents.

The man had a commanding presence, an air of authority. The woman, elegant and stylish, exuded grace and beauty. Amy’s heart raced as she realized the significance of the photo.

But something made Amy frown. This man… have I seen him somewhere? In the newspaper? Wait...

Amy quickly browsed the internet for the RMC company. Her heart raced as she found what she was looking for. This person was the head of RMC, a prominent company abroad!

Amy gasped, This means… oh my god, Zahn is a rich man's son!

Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at the photograph again. The person she had been mingling with for years wasn't just any guy--he was from an incredibly wealthy family. Realization ,hit her hard. He definitely didn't need her to shop for clothes, he was far beyond that level of wealth.

Amy plopped down on the bed, shock still coursing through her. She decided to search more, finding some childhood pictures of Zahn with his parents. The photos looked formal, taken for business purposes. There was no sense of warmth in their faces, and a sort of loneliness was visible in young Zahn's expression but there were no recent pictures of Zahn or any other relevant information.

Amy shook her head, somewhat angry, and rushed straight to Zahn who was sitting at the couch and reading his book. "Zahn! Why did you never tell me about this?"

" What happened?" He raised his eyes from the book, confusion evident.

"This!" She showed him the photo.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Ah, where did you find this?" He took the photo from her.

"In your closet, but explain this to me. Your father is... the head of RMC company?"

He nodded, seeming calm. "Yes, he is Damien Harlow, the CEO of RMC"

"Why did you never tell me?" Amy asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Uh, you never asked? And it's not really important" he replied.

Amy was already feeling dizzy, somewhat wanting to grab Zahn's collar. "Oh Gosh, what will I do?! Now your rich family will make my life hell... try to kick me out of your life cause I don't meet your status. God, my life is going to be hell tolerating the torture of the rich--"

Zahn almost laughed. "Stop watching overdramatic dramas, Amy. That's not going to happen."

She raised an eyebrow. "How are you so sure, huh?"

"Fine, let me explain. I don't have grandparents, my mother and father are divorced and have no contact with each other. My parents don't even live here. I haven't seen my father in over ten years, and I hardly ever see my mother. They don't have any presence in my life."

Amy suddenly calmed down. "Huh..? Well, I did wonder sometimes why you never contacted them, but that's surprising. You aren't close with your mother?"

His eyes turned cold thinking about her. "She at least sends money to my bank account, but she's just a selfish woman. I never saw her as my mother."

This made Amy eager to know more. She leaned closer. "What exactly happened? Will you share with me?"

Zahn nodded, finally ready to reveal everything. "Until I was ten, I lived in another country with my parents, in a big, lonely house. My parents hardly ever talked to me, busy in their own lives. They never talked to each other either. When I was nearly eleven, my mother suddenly took me to an unknown country, saying she had decided to separate from my father."

Amy listened patiently, getting more stunned as he continued.

"She then dumped me in this apartment, running away from her responsibilities, leaving me with a nanny who also left after a few years. I've been alone since then. That woman showed her face once a year or two, or dropped a message out of pity, asking if I was doing well in my studies or needed something."

Her eyes widened. "How could your parents do that to you? How could your mother leave you like that alone?"

"Indeed. I don't care, though. I never held any expectations."

Amy hugged Zahn's neck. her embrace tender and full of unspoken comfort. "That's... really bad. I feel angry at your parents!"

A smile formed on his lips. But there was a hint of sadness in his eyes "It's fine, Amy. As I said, I don't care. They aren't important. I'm just glad you're by my side."

Amy tightened her embrace, feeling the steady beat of his heart against hers. "I'll always be here for you, Zahn. I will never leave you alone."

His smile widened, his heart swelling with affection and gratitude. "Thank you.. Amy."

It didn’t matter who was by his side or not, as long as Amy was willing to be there, no one else could occupy his thoughts or heart. Her presence was all he needed, a comforting anchor in the tumultuous sea of his past.

The world outside their little bubble seemed insignificant compared to the warmth and solace he found in her. With her he felt whole, and felt the true happiness.