chapter 23 - doubts

"Here you go," Zahn said, handing the juice can over to Amy as he sat down next to her on the bench.

"Thanks," she replied, opening the can and taking a refreshing sip. The sun cast a warm glow over them as they sat in the campus garden, the tree above providing a gentle shade from the sun's rays.

Zahn's eyes darted to Amy. "You're so quiet. It's not like you. What's on your mind?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

She smiled slightly, but there was a hint of something deeper in her eyes. "Nothing much. I'm just thinking... we are so different, aren't we?"

"Huh?" Zahn looked puzzled.

Amy bit her lip, her eyes downcast. "You scored excellently, while I did horribly and got held back. You like studying, but I don't. I like parties, you don't. You're from a wealthy family, while I'm not."

Zahn felt slightly confused, his brow furrowing. "It doesn't matter, Amy."

Amy sighed, her eyes looking distant as she stared at the ground. "Mom found out about... your family. She seemed a little concerned. It's valid. We come from different backgrounds."

Zahn reached out, firmly lifting her chin to meet his gaze. "Amy, as I said, nothing matters," he stated with a commanding tone, his eyes unwavering with determination

Amy didn't say anything, but a soft smile spread across her face as she heard his words.

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Amy's strange behavior recently was confusing, and Zahn couldn't help but ponder over it. Amy had never cared about all these issues, so why now?

Did anything even matter when he already loved her?

What's really going on in her mind?

Zahn's fingers fidgeted with the pen he held, his attention no longer on the words in his notebook.

"Hey topper, can you help me with this equation?" Jack called out, breaking Zahn's puddle of thoughts.

"Do it yourself," he spoke sternly, as always.

"Please? Oh God. I can help you out, you know. You seem engrossed in something... is it a love issue?"

Zahn shot him a look. "How do you know?"

"I'm just guessing. You're hardly ever distracted, and if you are, it must be something serious."

Zahn rarely talked to anyone about his feelings, but the words ended up leaving his mouth. "It's not an issue, perhaps. I mean, it seems Amy is being strange, not like her usual self. It's like she isn't telling me something."

This piqued Jack's interest. It was the first time Zahn, who usually distained talking to anyone, had shared anything with him.

"She's being strange? How so?"

"Uhm..She's worrying about things that never mattered, like the differences between us. I've known Amy for years, she's always been carefree, a beam of joy, but now she seems somewhat quiet. It's not sitting right with me, but I don't know if I'm overthinking."

Jack thought it over, giving the impression of someone experienced with such issues. He held his chin thoughtfully. "Oh, that's the reason. You might not be overthinking. It's actually quite simple as it is"

"What do you mean?" Zahn raised an eyebrow.

"Amy probably feels the weight of the differences between you two now. She might be thinking of breaking up with you but doesn't know how to do it!" Jack declared proudly, as if his assumption could never be wrong.

Zahn looked at him with disbelief, and ridicule was written all over his face.

He then diverted his eyes back to his notebook. "I was wrong to even tell you," his tone harsh.

Jack huffed, I tried to help, and he's still being mean.

After the final class ended, Zahn intended to go find Amy but was stopped midway.

"Zahn, help me out with my assignment?" It was Ella who had appeared in front of him.

Zahn sighed. Why does everyone ask me for help?

"You can ask the professor."

Ella pressed on, "I could have done it, but I want you to have a look before I submit. You know, it won't take long." Her smile unwavering.

"Fine," he relented, sitting down again and taking her assignment in hand. Ella took her seat beside him. Everyone had left, and the classroom was silent, Ella feeling the peace and serenity in the atmosphere.

Her gaze stayed on him, once again admiring his sharp features as he checked her assignment. Ella had met Zahn a year ago, and they had worked on group projects a couple of times. Zahn had always been first in class, while Ella was second.

Ella never minded being second, in fact, she felt intrigued by him. It wasn't like Zahn ever talked to her kindly- his tone was always cold and devoid of emotions. But she couldn't help but feel they were similar, their goals matched, and Zahn's cold nature and his dedication appeared charismatic to her.

Then, suddenly, one day she heard from everyone that Amy and Zahn were dating. She didn't believe it at all until the day she saw them kissing on the stairs. Her heart shattered that day. She really wanted to be with Zahn. Why did Amy chime in? Amy was popular, rebellious, beautiful, and guys were crazy for her, but she was truly insincere and selfish.

Ella didn't understand why a dedicated career-oriented guy like Zahn would date someone like Amy. She didn't know what games Amy was playing with Zahn, but she felt she must do something to break them up.

After a few minutes, Zahn started feeling uncomfortable under Ella's intense gaze. He turned to her, "What is it?"

She shook her head, "Nothing... well, I want to say something."

"What?"

"Why are you dating Amy? I mean, don't get me wrong. She... doesn't seem good enough for you."

He raised an eyebrow, "How is it your concern? Here, take your assignment. I corrected some minor mistakes," he said, getting up from his seat.

Ella protested, suddenly reaching out to touch his arm. "I'm just helping you out. Amy is not really a good person. She's always fooling around, wasting time. She might be using you. I'm just telling you so you don't get hurt and stay away from her bad influence on your studies and goals. You deserve someone who matches you-"

Zahn frowned, pulling his arm away from her grasp. His voice was cold and unwavering. "Don't touch me. And who are you to judge whether she's a good person or not? Do you know her better than I do? Don't interfere where you don't belong. We are good together," he declared, turning on his heel and leaving the class without a backward glance.

Ella stood there stunned. Zahn had just dismissed her without listening to her. The way he defended their relationship was similar to how Amy had done last time. But she didn't like how Zahn was ignoring her goodness and sincere suggestion.

Ella bit her lips, her brows frowned as she saw him leave.

Uh... why doesn't he understand me? I'm much better suited for him than Amy is.

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Zahn contemplated how to make things right and bring a smile to Amy's face. Then he remembered that Amy had wanted to go to the arcade with him last time. This would be a perfect opportunity, he thought.

He found her and suggested, "Amy, let's go to the arcade," he suggested with a smile.

"Arcade? Really? You want to go?" she asked, appearing surprised.

He persisted, "Mhm, let's go. Don't you like it?"

She nodded, seeming excited, "why not"

Her mood eventually improved as they arrived at the arcade. "You've never been to these places, have you?" she asked.

"Of course, I haven't."

"Then, let's try VR first."

He raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What's it like?"

"You'll see."

They decided to try the VR ghost game first. As they put on the VR headsets, Zahn was immediately amazed by how realistic everything looked. The eerie atmosphere and lifelike ghosts made his heart race.

"Woah, Amy, this looks so real," he exclaimed, reaching out and grasping her hand, feeling a thrill of excitement.

"Mhm! It's like they're attacking us for real, haha!" she responded, her laughter filling the air.

Finally, after days of tension, Zahn was able to hear Amy's laughter humming in his ears, putting him at ease and comforting him. The ghosts in front of his eyes didn't seem to matter anymore.

After the excitement of the VR game, Zahn and Amy wandered through the bustling arcade, the neon lights and sounds of games creating an electrifying atmosphere. They spotted the High Striker, a classic strength tester game.

"This looks interesting," Zahn said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Amy giggled, "It's not as easy as it looks."

Zahn rolled up his sleeves, a determined smile on his face. "I can give it a try." He picked up the heavy mallet, feeling its weight in his hands. With a focused expression, he swung it down with all his might, hitting the lever dead center.

The indicator shot up the scale, ringing the bell at the top with a loud clang. Zahn's eyes widened in surprise and delight, he turned to look at her immediately.

"Wow, you did it!" Amy cheered, clapping her hands. Her admiration was evident.

Encouraged by his success, they moved on to the claw machine. Zahn eyed the cat stuffed toy, determined to win it for Amy.

"It's always hard," he muttered, maneuvering the claw carefully.

"I know, right?" Amy crossed her arms, watching him with amused patience. Zahn tried again and again, each attempt failing, but his determination kept him going.

On the tenth attempt, the claw slipped once more. "I can't-" he began, frustration creeping into his voice.

Amy laughed softly, "Let's not waste time. Let's play other games."

He nodded, i will try next time

Next, they tried computer racing games, and combat games. Despite his best efforts, Zahn kept losing to Amy.

"How did you do that?" he asked, genuinely impressed.

Amy said proudly, "Sure, sure, let me teach you... see, that's how you do that." She demonstrated, her confidence shining through.

Zahn's lips curved into a smile, seeing Amy so lively and boastful again.

They continued playing, their next game being bowling. "Let's see who can make more strikes," Amy challenged playfully.

" Fine"

With each turn, their laughter and playful banter filled the air. Zahn eventually scored the first strike, earning a high-five from Amy. The friendly competition and shared joy strengthened their bond, making the day unforgettable.

After their fun-filled day at the arcade, it was time to head back home. Amy's mind lingered on the excitement. "Uh, it was so much fun," she said, her voice filled with delight.

"I have to agree, it indeed was," Zahn replied, a genuine smile on his face.

"Why don't we come every month?" Amy suggested, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

He chuckled softly, "sure"

Amy grinned, feeling satisfied. She suddenly had an idea. "Have you ever taken a bus?" she asked curiously.

"Not really," Zahn admitted, a bit puzzled.

"Seriously? Then let's take a bus then!" she insisted.

" Oh?" Zahn agreed, still unfamiliar with bus rides but willing to try something new.

As they boarded, they found no seats available. Amy and zahn stood at the back, their shoulders barely touching.

"Oh, bad luck no seats today" she said, holding on the handrail.

He smiled, "that's okay too"

At the next stop, a surge of people crowded the bus. As the crowd grew, they barely had any space, surrounded by people all around. Why did I even recommend the bus?  Amy wondered, now feeling a bit guilty.

Suddenly, she felt someone squeezing too close to her from behind, an uncomfortable feeling surfacing inside her. She shifted slightly, trying to move away, but there was no room.

Zahn's eyes darted towards Amy, his protective instincts kicking in as he noticed an old man edging too close behind her, his intentions clearly inappropriate. Zahn shot a fierce glare at the man, whose expression shifted from sly to startled.

Zahn then gently grasped Amy's arm and maneuvered her to stand in front of him, shielding her against the window. Their faces were now quite close...

The bus jolted, causing the crowd to push them even closer. Amy's heart raced, her face turning slight red. Zahn placed his hand against the window, creating a protective barrier around her. She felt the warmth of his breath and the solidness of his body against hers. Her thoughts were a flood of nervous excitement, aware of every tiny movement he made.

The bus ride felt like an eternity, the air thick with the electric charge of their closeness. Amy's mind raced, wondering if he could hear her heart pounding. She tried to steady her breathing, but the proximity made it nearly impossible. Every jolt of the bus seemed to press them closer together, heightening the intensity of the moment.

When the crowd finally thinned out, Zahn stepped back slightly, giving Amy some space.

They exited the bus at their stop, walking in silence. Amy, trailing behind Zahn, searched for the right words to break the awkward quiet.

"It was really crowded, wasn't it?" she ventured with an awkward smile, slightly embarrassed.

"Mhm," Zahn answered, glancing back at her with a similarly awkward smile. There was a brief flash of emotion in his eyes, hinting at the same closeness they had shared on the bus.

As they walked towards the bridge near their home, the evening sun cast a warm, golden glow over their faces. The sky was painted with shades of orange and yellow, the dusky light reflecting off the calm surface of the water.

They stopped near the edge of the water, Amy leaned against the railing of the bridge, her face illuminated by the soft light. Zahn stood beside her, the serene atmosphere wrapping them in a tranquil embrace.

Amidst the quietness, Zahn's voice whispered in her ears, a soft and calming presence. "Now... will you care to explain to me why you've been so quiet these days?" Zahn questioned, his tone gentle but firm. "I almost thought... you were tired of our relationship."

Amy glanced at him, somewhat taken aback. "That can't be possible ever, haha... but," she hesitated, knowing she couldn't avoid it any longer. "Fine, I'll let you know. I've been feeling insecure about our relationship."

"Insecure? Why?" Zahn asked, his brows furrowing.

"Uhm, just because... I thought we aren't suitable for each other, or that I'm a hindrance in your life. Sigh. I mean, I know you skipped your event."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Who told you?"

Amy looked down, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. "Ella told me that you ditched the important event for me."

He frowned, the mention of Ella's name igniting his annoyance. "Ella?"

Amy hid her face, her voice barely above a whisper. "Being honest, I was jealous too. Ella seems to like you, and your goals match... Mom's words also made me think you would leave me if I couldn't do anything in life."

Zahn listened, taken aback by her admission. "What..? Why were you keeping all this from me?" He gently took her hands away from her face, looking deep into her eyes.

"It's because I started to believe others' words, our status, the differences, me being a burden-" Amy's voice trembled.

He pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her with a firm touch. "As I've told you before, Amy, you don't need to worry about such things. You know I love you," he asserted, his voice leaving no room for doubt.

She focused her eyes on him, a light spark in them, and her lips curving into a smile. "It just... it surprises me how open you are with your feelings now."

Zahn gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing softly against her cheek. His eyes were sharp and determined. "I love you, Amy. I always have and always will. So forget what others say, okay?"

Amy's heart swelled with affection as she gazed into his eyes, all her worries melting away in the face of his devotion and the comforting touch of his hand.

Without another word, Zahn leaned in, closing the distance between them. Their lips met in a tender kiss, a soft and lingering touch filled with unspoken promises and the deep affection they held. The warmth of his lips against hers sent a comforting pulse through her, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

As they pulled away, Amy's eyes sparkled with joy. "I love you too, Zahn. Thank you for reassuring me today," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

They stood there, bathed in the evening glow, holding each other close, savoring the sweetness of their kiss and the tranquility of the evening.

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Question: Do you feel that Amy has grown out of her bratty nature and shown  growth? 🤧