Chapter 18 You Can Only Be Kind to Mel
Arther shot to her tert nervously, “LInred to use the restroom.”
She bolted toward the restroom like she was escaping for her life, only to stumble halfway.
Zachary strode forward to help her up, concem flickering armes his face, but her cheek flashed ord when she met his gaze.
Staring at Zachary’s devilishly handsome face, Arther yanked her hand free, stumbling backward as the habibled, “1.. Fm fine, I’m fine
She practically dived into the restroom.
Zachary couldn’t hide his amusement. “Look how flustered you are. Are all of you pay pays this innocent!”
Zachary Conn’s Favorability +1, Comment Tavorability: -72)
Atmom! Ching
Zachary pulled out his phone back in his seat and started researching the term “Gay guys.” He dove into toples like dominant versus submissive roles and exactly how things worked between two men
Meanwhile, Arther finally composed herself and walked past
A past his seat ember way back. She hadn’t planned to stop until herepes landed on his phone screen.
I was a video of two men kissing. They weren’t just kissing. Things were getting intense.
Kether’s fare tumed crimson, so red it was almost glowing
was Zachary Inio guys? Was that why he changed girlfriends all the time? post to cover it up?
was that why he was all over her earlier? He even wiped her mouth and flicked her nose.
Aether’s mind spiraled, but she forced herself to act normal and returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.
After noticing her miepearance, Zachary swiftly put his phone away, suddenly feeling a little guilty.
The two finished their meal in silence and headed back to school afterward.
Aetherwent to self–study while Zachary made his way to the broadcast room.
There, he grabbed a gun and fired a shot straight into the cling
The gunshot exploded through the school’s broadcast system, sending the entire campus into chaos. Students whipped their heads toward the speakers, some even racing toward the broadcast room, cominced that a criminal had infiltrated the school.
Upon watching their reactions through the surveillance feed, Zachary finally spoke. “This is Zachary I have an announcement to make
“Aether from Class is my roommate. If anyone daces to mess with him, you’ll end up just like what you heard a moment app
Zachary then turned off the broadcast, ending his announcement on the spot.
Now, the gossip was spreading like wildfire
“Zachary Intally likes Aether, right? There’s no way that this is just about roommates. They’re basically lovers at this point”
“Does anyone seember those guys from Class I who dragged Aether into the restroom before? They’re all dead. Every single one of them was brutally murdered.
“And guess who did it? Zachary,”
“What’s Arther’s deal? First, the cozies up to Gloria, and now he’s tangled up with the Fabled Four?
“is trying to work his way through Gloria to get all of the Fabled Four under his thumb? Ugh, these scheming paypays are truly disgusting”
“Wait, wait, Is he actually going to turn all of the Fabled Four pay?
The whispers gorwmeer outrageous, but just as Zachary stepped out of the broadcast room, he ran straight into Wesley and Russell.
“So it really was you.” Wesley stared at him in shock. “Are you out of your damn mind? Did you just be a gun for Aether?
“You‘ actually protecting him? Don’t tell me that he’s hund you gay! Or were you always”
Zachary shot back, “Do you even have friends, or is your empty head just filled with romance? Are you seriously that much of a hopeless romantic?”
“Totenda?” Wesley’s disbelief deepened. “You, calling story from Class Pa friend? Shouldn’t you be worried that he’s dragging down your standards?
Then, Wesley scoffed as if something chicland in les brain. “And don’t even get me stated on Nell. That gay actually said that Aether was special.
“Seriously. What the hell is wrong with you two? Did he brainwash you or something? What’s so damn great about a piece of Class F trash?
“He’s just a scheming little snake. If Gloria hadn’t been shielding himnonstop, and if I didn’t care about sparing her pain or giving you a shot at rising higher, I’d have ended him long ago.”
“Wait a second.“A realization dawned on Wesley. “You and Neil both paying that Aether is special. You’re trying to befriend Aether just to suck up lo Gloria, aren’t you?–
Zachary was dumbfounded
He offered, “If that’s what you really think why don’t you try being friends with Aether to get close to Gloria?”
“ch, hell no “Wesley recoiled immediately. “I’m straight as steel, man. I wouldn’t touch that aty little diva with a ten–foot pole.
“He’s all delicate and whiny and has zero masculinity whatsoever. Who the hell would want to be friends with him?”
Zachary didn’t bother responding and simply walked away
Wesley tried to stop him “Hey! Are you drinking tonight?”
Wesley scoffed. He muttered under his breath, “He doesn’t have time for drinks but plenty of time to protect that guy?
“I just don’t get what’s so great about Aether. He’s always whining and scared of everything, just looking at him pisses me off
Russell didn’t comment. He simply burned and left.
Meanwhile, Aether had just finished her self–study and was planning to find Vivian to warber never to pull a stunt like that again.
But before she could go looking for her, she found in already walling outside the classroom, judging by her expression, she had been standing there for awhile.
Aether stepped forward. “I need to talk to you.”
“Good. I have something to say, too.”
They waited until the remaining students had left. Vivian spoke first.
“I thought lost to Gloria, that NPC woman from Class, but it turns out that I lost to you
“A gay guy from Class F. That’s my competition?
“Tell me, were you laughing at me when you handed me that tissue back then?
“Did you pityme, thinking I was pathetic for loving him this much? Did it feel good to look down at me like a f
“actually thought you liked me, and I was even willing to work with you.
“But no. It turns out that you and Zachary were the perfect match. Was it to, toying with me?
“You’ve got it all wrong.” Aether explained, “Zachary and I aren’t what you think we’re just friends.”
“Friends?”
“I don’t know where you’re getting these wild rumors from,” Aether said, her expression serious. “Yes, I’m into gips. Hut I have no interest in Zachary
“The only person he cares about Is Gloria You’re no different from the rest; His flings never last more than a month, so you shouldn’t give your heart to him.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?!
“I know what you did at The Ivy,” Aether said bluntly. “You drugged Zachary’s drink..
“Don’t ever do something like that again, or I’ll send the security footage of you spiling his drink straight to Zachary
– Are you threatening me?“Vivian’s voice embled with disbelief. “A Class nobody threatening me, a Class A student? Do you have a death wish, Aether?”
“And you dragging someone trams–class, is that not a death wish?
Vivian fell silent. She couldn’t be bothered arguing with Aether anymore and tumed to leave, but just as she reached the staircase, she saw Zachary standing there
with a group of men behind him..
Aether followed her gaze and walked over.
Zachary wasted no time and delivered a sharp command. “Take her to Lunar Lounge. Those wealthy old degenerates will have a field day.”
His men stepped forward immediately, reaching out to seize Vivian.
She froze in disbelier. “Zachary! What land of grudge do you have against me to do something this cruel?”
Zachary sneered. “Oh, Vivian, don’t play dumb. Do you really think I don’t know about your pathetic little schemes under my nose?
“How many lives do you think you have to spare? Do you think you can manipulate me and climb your way up using your mother’s status?
“you do realize that can make sure you and your mother die together, don’t you?
“You think I’m easy to mess with, Vivian?
His words snapped Vivian back to her senses
To her, Zachary had always been patient, doting on her even when she acted out. She had thought that, na matter what, he’d simply laugh it off and forgive her.
But now, she cralized that she had never truly known him at all.
This side of him, the one who could so effortlessly order something so brutal, was terrifying. It was unecognizable
Vivian’s eyes turned red, and she clenched her fists. “Zachary, we were together once..
(went against my entire family just to be with you. I starved myself. I cut myself, i ruined my health just to force them to accept you.
And in the end? You’re telling me that I have an expirationdate?
“After you broke up with me, Tried every single day. I drank myself sicki y stomach bled
11 stood outside your house in the pouring rain, waiting for you just to say something, until collapsed and had to be hospitalized.
“The doctors paid I nearly burned my beain out from the fever. My temperature was over 104′′r.
“And now, Jost because I wanted to have your child, you’re sending me to Lunar Lounge to be used by other men?”
Zachary let out a soft laugh. “You’re a mere Class A student thinking that she can climb her way into Class S. Let’s not pretend that it’s anything more than that.
11 You Can Chily Beki
“You wanted to use my body as a stepping stone, but you tried to emotionally manipulate me instead, what do you think I’m some hopeless romantic and that I’d actually fallforit
“Zachary “Archer couldn’t help but step forward, speaking up
for Vivian. “She wasn’t lying to you.”
She low because she had crad the extra chapter detailing Vivian’s side of the story
Vivian had loved Zachary for years. Aether had read every linle detall recorded in her secret joumal, page after page of quiet devation
And she cried after reading them
Zachary’s exprste instantly darkened. “Aether, not everyone deserves that big heart of yours.
“Acting so pure for every single person you meet. Do you even malize how cheap that makes your kindness look?
“It’s disgusting.
“She and are enemies, and you’re speaking up for her? What are you on her side now? Do her tricks and lies mean nothing to you?
“You’re just going to stand there and let her play me like a fool?”
[Zachary Conner’s favorability–10. Cument Laverability; -83]
Ch 11 Zachary Softeled Heart
