Chapter 16 Zachary Was Swept Away by Aether
Aether culled up in Zachary’s arms, burying her face in his neck, quietly sobbing, “I was so scared. So, so scared…
Heating the fear in her voice twisted something in Zachary’s chest. “Don’t be. Let’s go home.” lie ignored the strange looks that followed them all the way and canted Aether straight back in the donn.
“Isn’t that Zachary and Aether? Are they… a thing, now? *
“No wonder none of Zachary’s flings ever lasted. It tums out he doesn’t even like women!”
“Did he seriously get swept off his feet by Aether?
“Maybe all those relationships were just to cover up the fact that he’s gay!”
The manors picked up speed, and it didn’t take long for the other three members of the Fabled Four to hear them too.
After arriving at the dom, Zachary laid Aether down on his bed and retrieved the first aid kit to treat her wounds. Aether reached for a cotton swab, but Zachary stopped her. “Stay still.” She obeyed and let him dab the disinfectant on her face.
His movements were careful, his voice soft. “It hurts, tell me. I’ll be gentler.”
Aether lowered her head and stayed slept. The sting was manageable. There was no need to worry him further.
“You’re my roommate,” Zachary sald while wiping the grime from her face with a wet wipe. “They wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you if they knew that you had me backing you. Didn’t you tell them that you were under my wing?”
Aether shook her head. “You’ve already helped me a lot. I didn’t want to drag you into more trouble, especially without your permission.”
“Those guys were from Class F. What could they possibly do to me?”
“But I didn’t know how you’d feel about me name–dropping you like that… I mean, it didn’t seem right to use your name without aslong for your permission,” the
answered cautiously.
“I hadn’t gotten there when I did, you’d be dead! Why were you worrying about what I’d think? Are you stupid?”
Aether fell silent. She couldn’t exactly tell him that she had a save–point–like reset system and that death wouldn’t be the end for her. If things ever got that bad, she’d just kill herself and start over.
Zachary watched her closely, noting how she forced a smile to mascher shaken state. That quiet strength, her refusal to be a burden, struck him harder than the expected.
Zachary Conner’s favorability–L. Current favorability; -72.|
Η
“If only he weren’t a pay.” Zachary thought. He thought that he wouldn’t treat Aether like just another fling if she were a girl. Maybe he’d actually treat her right.
Aether stood up to return to her bed, but Zachary stopped her “Is it just your face that’s injured?”
It’s nothing serious. I’ll be fine.
Zachary pulled Aether back down, and she landed on his lap. The close contact made her breath hitch and her heart race.
Arther had grown up sheltered and was always at home. Most of what she knew came from stories, so she hadn’t really interacted with many men. Because of that, she felt awkward and out of place in this world.
She tried to get up but Zachary wouldn’t let go of her. Aether panicked and grabbed his hands to stop him. “Z–Zachary, I can do it myself.”
“I get if you want to treat the trout yourself, but what about your back?” he asked, “You can’t exactly reach it ”
“I’ll be the judge of t
Zadary tried to litt Arther’s shirt to inspect her back, but she tightened her grip on his hands and even interlocked their fingers. “Zachary, please don’t. 1–Em mumbarrassed”
Zachary felt his clieels heat up, feeling Arther’s fingers interlared with his. For a man who had been with countless women, this was the first time he had ever teh this way. The thought to himself that it was probably because Aether was a man. Holding hands with another man was something he bad never done before, whichi was why it felt awkward.
Zachary yanked his hands back. “What’s there to be shy about? We’re both dudes. What’s the big deal? You’re so weind. Aren’t you going to put some medieme–ou your back! Even if you go to the hospital, it’ll probably be a male doctor attending to you. Would you be less shy it were a temale doctor?
“DCcourse,” Actlet insponded. “I’in gay, immember? days made me nervous. Girls, not so mesh They’re just like brust me, I don’t like them that way, after all.”
“Es that how it works?” Zachary wonderd.
Just then, his phone rang. the pulled it out and see Gloria’s name on the screen. That was when he remembered that he still had a date with Gloria
He immediately answered, “I’ll be their in about ¿5minutes, Gloria. Guder whatever you want. I’m already on anyway” Gloria hung up right after
Aether, who had overbe and the comensation, became nervous. “Aur you going to The Ivy?
Zacharyarded his brow. “How’d you know?”
Alarm bells went off in Arther’s head. In the seagul timeline, Velan spotted Zachary at The Ivy and decided to have the walter slip something into his drink but Zachary didn’t drink it, Gloria did
The drug was strong, and with Zachary being seduced by the woman he liked most, he lost control. The next day, when Gloria came to her senses, she threatened to
Lake her own life. Aether still remembered how heartbroken she’d looked, how hollow and lifeless she’d become after losing her virginity
Thus, ether refused to let it happen. She’d cried for days when she read that scene in the story. Now that she was in it, she wasn’t going to let the same tragedy repeat itselt she had to stop it to protect era, and to make sure that Vivian would never get the chance to min someone else’s life..
Zachary didn’t press Aether for an answer. He was in a hurry to see Glodia, she headed out the door. Before he left, he reminded Aether, “Stay here and don’t go to class tonight. When I get back, I’ll use the loudspeaker to warn them not to bully you ever again.“With that, he was gone.
Aether didn’t care that she’d just survived a bratal assault. She mished out after him. Zachary drove, while she took a cab to the same destination.
By the time she arrived, Gloria was about to take a sip other drink Aether can forward and snatched it from her hand.
Zachary’s and Gloria’s gazes landed on Aether.
Zachary was dumbfounded. “Seriously? He’s cockblocking me again? Does he really like me that much?“h
” he wondered, feeling helpless.
Gloriasmiled warmly. “What a coincidence, Atty! What are you doing here?
“1–was host passing by.”
“as that so? But..” Gloria rose from her seat and inched closer to Acther’s face. Then, she noticed her injuries, “What happened? Who hurt you?”
“It’s nothing.” Aether hurriedly said. “Zach saved me just in time.”
Aether glanced toward Zachary, “Yeah. Zachary saved me and said that he’ll always have my back from now on
Gloria was gemirely touched. “Thank you, Zachary.”
“Don’t mention it.” Zachary smiled warmly. “Since he’s your friend, he’s my friend too. Of course I’d help him.”
Gloria smiled and poured herself another glass. “Well, I’ll toast to that. On Atty’s behalf, thankyou.”
Gloria was about to down its content when Arther snatched it from her again,
Gloria and Zachary were stupefied. They both looked at Aether, She had no idea how to explain herself, so she threw it back and downed the drink herself. “T drink in. Thank you!”
As he watched her drink, Zachary feared that Aether might turn into a drunk mess again. He couldn’t help but feel exasperated. “What’s going on? Why are you even butting in? Do you think you can handle your liquor well?”
“Oh no,” Aether deliberately said, to main their date. “This drink is spiked need to go to the hospital. Take a cab home, Zachary. Please take me to the hospital
Glona.”
Zachary rose from his seat and pulled Aether out of Gloria’s as “Go ahead and talu a cab backtoschool, Gloria. F’ll take him to the hospital”
“Maybe I should-
“You’re a woman,” Zachary cut her off. “You should be more mindful in his coommate, so it makes more sense for me to take him.”
“Fair enough” Gloria gave in.“I be going then. Keep me posted, okay?!
“Olay,”
Gloria and Zachary were in perfect sync, while Aether was left with no choice but to walk right into the trap. Terrified, she tried to call out to cloria, “No. Don’t go I want to go with you, Glorial”
However, Gloria had already gotten into her car and washed in a flash.
Aether was on the verge of tears. She warned zachary, “I do anything weird later, it’s not on parkose, aluy? Please forgive me. Also, you have to control yourself!”
“You’re already drunk and rambling again.”
“I’m not drunk 1–The heat was rising through her body, her head spinning. Aether could barely keep her eyes open.
“phino, I’m done for.”
Zachary ignored Aether as he helped her into the car and told the driver to take them to the hospital. Meanwhile, Aether started to lose control. She climbed onto Zachary’s lap, wrapped her ants around his neck, and with alipsy sanile, said, “You’re so platty. I want to eat you.”
Before he could respond, she kissed him on the lips, almost as if she was trying to devour him, Zachary was dumbstruck
