chapter 17 - stage play

Zahn fluttered his eyes open and blinked a few times, adjusting to the morning light. He turned his head and was surprised to see Amy completely wrapped around him, her face peaceful in slumber. Even in her sleep, she looked endearing, with the rims of her eyes still red from yesterday’s crying

She must have been really upset. I can’t believe she stood out in the rain just to talk to me...

But he was glad. Amy hadn't given up on their relationship, and he could see the depth of her feelings for him.

He raised his hand and softly caressed her face, feeling an undying love for her. He decided he would cook her favorite meals and make her happy.

Gently, he put away her arms that were wrapped around him and got up from the bed, careful not to wake her. As he moved to the kitchen, he thought about how to make things right between them.

He had ignored her earlier and been harsh with her, not because he didn't love her, but because things had felt impossible between them. Even though he had felt like he should just go and talk to her, forget about the breakup, he had stopped himself. there were so many doubts and confusion in his mind. He was afraid of being hurt again and afraid that things would fail again.

But now, those fears were gone.

Her true feelings had revealed a softer side of him, and he no longer wanted to push her or his own feelings away. He was determined to make their relationship work.

As Amy woke up, she remained seated in the bed, feeling a mix of emotions swirling in her mind.

I cried so much in front of him yesterday...

There was a blend of embarrassment but also relief that things were better now.

However, the emotion surfacing most prominently was shyness. Zahn had kissed her multiple times yesterday to soothe her, and they had even slept in the same bed for the first time and cuddled. Just thinking about his warmth made her cheeks heat up.

At that moment, the door opened, and Zahn came in. "Woke up, Amy?" he asked, his voice carrying a smile.

"Yeah..." she replied, a little flushed.

"Go wash up. Breakfast is ready."

"Okay."

As Amy came out of the room, she was surprised to see dishes on the table. "Woah..." her eyes lit up. "This looks great!"

He chuckled. "Come have a seat. I cooked all your favorites."

Amy nodded and sat down on the chair, trying the dishes one by one. "Mhm, it's really good! Thank you, Zahn!"

As they enjoyed their breakfast, Zahn took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. It was time to address the lingering tension between them.

"I'm glad to hear that...uhm, I want to apologize again," Zahn began, his voice soft and sincere. "I didn't mean to make you sad. I thought you never cared for our relationship, and I doubted you. I was torn between emotions. I've been harsh with you about your studies and habits, scolded you so many times...even ruined your birthday. Yet, you still tried to fix things between us. I'm really grateful," he said, placing his hand gently on hers, feeling the warmth of her touch.

"Zahn..." Amy felt her heart warm as Zahn revealed his feelings. "I'm equally sorry. I hurt your feelings so many times, even if it was unintentional. I'm sorry I didn't think about how my actions were affecting you."

"It's okay, Amy. Let's move past this. Now it's all okay, right?" He smiled.

She nodded and then remembered something. "Wait, you still scolded me too much though. You were so strict with me."

He laughed. "I'm sorry, okay? But you're still going to get scolded if you don't eat well or get bad scores in the next semester"

Their laughter faded into a comfortable silence, the weight of past misunderstandings lifting. Zahn suddenly remembered the gift he had prepared for her birthday. "Wait.."

"What's up?"

Zahn suddenly got up from his chair and went inside the room while Amy looked at him confused.

Zahn came back with a gift box, and Amy's eyes lit up upon seeing it.

"Amy, it's your birthday present. I know it's late, but..."

"Wow, what is it??" Her excitement was visible.

He smiled. "See for yourself."

Amy’s fingers trembled slightly as she carefully unwrapped the present, her excitement palpable. When she finally revealed the contents, she gasped. "Woah...this necklace is so pretty!" She held it up, the delicate design catching the light and sparkling beautifully. "Thank you so much, Zahn!"

He really put a lot of thought into this... she thought.

She immediately embraced him, her enthusiasm visible. "Did you like it, Amy?" he asked.

"Of course, it's amazing... You know, Zahn..."

"Mhm?"

"I'm glad we're together now. Each day was difficult without you. You've become an important part of my life."

He nodded, feeling the same. "What did you do during the days without me?"

Amy laughed slightly, recalling her condition during those days. "I was so annoyed... I went to so many parties with Ruby and drank like crazy haha."

"It was indeed difficult, wasn't it? And here I couldn't focus on my studies."

Zahn suddenly intertwined their hands together, the determination in his eyes shining. "I failed to see the depth of your feelings earlier, but now I will never let you go."

Amy felt her heartbeat race as she heard his endearing words.

With the reassurance of Zahn's words still echoing in her mind, Amy turned her attention to another concern: her stage play.

With the performance day approaching, Amy and Elliot had been working hard on their roles, determined to perform their best. They had just finished a practice session in the drama club with the others and were now taking a break.

"Good work, Amy. You've really nailed that scene," Elliot said, wiping sweat from his brow. "How are things recently...well, uhm, with your boyfriend?"

She chuckled. "Thankfully, it's fine. We made up now."

"Thankfully...I thought I ruined it all for you."

"Haha, it's okay. Things are better now."

As Amy talked to Elliot, another voice called out to her. She was a little surprised when she heard the voice.

"Amy..."

"Mia...?"

"Can we talk?" Mia pleaded, her eyes filled with guilt and a slight hope.

Amy nodded.

They decided to take a walk on the campus. Before Mia could say anything, Amy spoke first. "Mia, I'm sorry!"

Mia looked at Amy confusely, "why are you apologising?"

" Uhm..for not realising that i was making you uncomfortable and whatever that happened with your crush"

Mia shook her head, "No...It's my fault. I blamed you for no reason, and you must be really angry at me. It took me time to realize... but you're really my best friend. I don't want to lose our friendship," Mia said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Amy's eyes softened. "I understand why you felt like that. I wanted to make things better, but due to my own problems, I also ended up lashing out at you and ignoring you. But hey, we're still friends, okay?" Amy nudged her slightly, a gentle smile on her face.

Mia chuckled, her eyes brimming with happiness. "Amy... thank you."

Amy laughed softly. "Yes, yes, enough with the sorries and thank-yous. Anyway, come to see my stage performance, okay?"

"Of course! I will always support you!"

The stage drama was important for Amy. It allowed her to express her love for acting, feel joy, and experience a sense of pride when others looked at her with contentment. But that wasn't the only thing. Amy had an announcement to make, one that would help her break away from her fear and stop hiding. And she needed Zahn to be there.

Later, Amy talked to Zahn. "Will you come to see my performance?"

He glanced up from his book, a smile on his face. "Of course, Amy. I will come."

"Oh yeah, not gonna stick to your books anymore?" she teased.

He chuckled softly, his laughter barely a whisper. "How could I forget? I always watched your stage plays. You even played the role of the prince in school, that was quite something. I almost couldn't recognize you."

"Haha, I remember. To be honest, you should have taken the role of Cinderella."

He raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. "I can be your Cinderella."

Amy burst into laughter. "Seriously? How come you’re so talkative and... cute recently?"

"And what about other times?"

She giggled. "Also cute other times."

"Can you spoil me then?"

Her eyes lit up, enjoying the moment and his rare flirty nature. She leaned in to kiss him on the lips. As their lips met, a spark ignited between them. Zahn's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, their breaths mingling as they lost themselves in the moment. Amy's fingers gently traced the back of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. He responded by holding her even tighter, their hearts beating in sync. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth and passion they shared. When they finally pulled away, their foreheads rested against each other, both breathless and smiling.

The moment was peaceful and heartfelt, the past no longer mattered. All they knew was that they truly liked each other now.

And then, the day for the performance came...

The spotlight illuminated the stage, casting a warm glow over the intricate backdrop. The atmosphere in the college auditorium was electric, with lights and decorations set up perfectly. The audience, composed of students from different courses, sat in their seats with anticipation, all looking forward to seeing the performance.

Zahn arrived and took his seat in the middle row, eagerly awaiting Amy's presence.

There were some introductory announcements by the drama club leader, welcoming everyone and providing a brief overview of the play. After the applause, the lights dimmed, and finally, it began, Amy stepped forward with Elliot and the others. They were performing a historical drama. Amy wore a beautiful long deep blue dress, adorned with jewelry. She looked absolutely gorgeous, her long orange hair flowing down.

She took a deep breath and began her opening monologue, her voice clear and confident.

Wow... Zahn's breath caught in his throat as he looked at Amy. She was captivating, the way her hair moved, her dress swayed, her enchanting expression. His eyes lit up when he realized she was wearing the same necklace he had gifted her.

Everyone delivered their lines with a flourish, captivating the audience. The auditorium was filled with cheers when Elliot and Amy danced together.

As the final act came to a close, the auditorium erupted in applause. The group spoke their final lines, and then Amy stepped forward, taking a deep breath, her heart pounding with anticipation. The spotlight illuminated her face as she addressed the audience.

"Thank you all for your incredible support. Before I step off this stage, there's something important I want to share with all of you."

The audience fell silent, curious and intrigued. Amy took a deep breath and glanced towards Zahn, who looked perplexed but attentive.  I need to do this. I need to be honest with everyone, especially with Zahn.

She felt a surge of courage as she prepared to speak.

"There’s someone very special to me here today. Perhaps I wasn't sure how I would share it one day, but I don't want to hide it anymore. I realize now that being honest is more important... actually, Zahn and I have been together for a few years."

The audience was in shock, filled with murmurs and looks of surprise. Amy's friends were shocked as well. What's up with her?

Ruby wondered, rolling her eyes.

Everyone's eyes focused on Zahn, who was equally taken aback, his eyes a mix of surprise and appreciation.

Amy continued, her voice steady and full of emotion. "I want everyone to know that I love you, Zahn. And I’m proud to share this moment with you in front of everyone."

Zahn felt a rush of warmth in his chest, completely taken by surprise. He hadn’t expected Amy to make such a bold declaration. Relief washed over him as he realized she had finally stopped hiding their relationship. A genuine smile spread across his lips, his eyes glistening with happiness. It was a moment he had never expected in life.

After the play concluded, Zahn approached Amy. Still seeming surprised, he said, "I hadn't expected you would reveal that... in front of everyone."

A fond smile played on her face. "Earlier, I realized I was being really unfair to our relationship, being worried about others knowing."

"Did you... do that just to make me happy? Did you really want that?"

She held his hands in a reassuring gesture. "It is partly for you, but it's not just that, okay? It's because I really like you. I genuinely wanted others to know."

"Amy..." His eyes glittered with emotion.

"Well well, how did i performed? " she asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

A smile formed on his lips, "You did amazing, Amy, in your stage role. It was really great."

Her smile widened. "And how did I look? Too beautiful?" A teasing voice.

"You did. You enchanted my heart, but you always do. You are too beautiful," he teased back, his gaze locked into hers.

Amy laughed, a slight blush on her cheeks. "Cheezy"

Amy looked at him with a soft gaze, feeling a warmth in her heart that she had yearned for.

Everything worked out, She had made up with Zahn, then with Mia, performed well in her stage drama, and revealed her relationship with Zahn. Things seemed to be going pretty smoothly.