chapter 31 - Dinner

"How could this happen… Amy?" Zahn muttered, eyes fixed on the screen, disbelief clouding his face.

A heavy silence stretched between them.

Amy sat frozen on the couch, unable to tear her eyes away from the bold, unforgiving word flashing on the screen FAIL.

Her mind went blank. The word echoed in her head, louder with each passing second. She didn’t dare glance at Zahn; she could already picture the look on his face, shocked, confused, maybe even disappointed.

Embarrassment burned through her. This wasn’t her first time failing, but this time… she had tried. She had actually put in the effort, mostly for Zahn’s sake. Yet here she was, sitting next to the guy who had scored the highest, while she couldn’t even scrape by.

How much more humiliating could this get?

Amy wanted to disappear. Dig a hole, crawl inside, never come out. She shot up from the couch, desperate to escape and whine about this somewhere else, but before she could take a step, a firm grip caught her wrist.

"Amy, wait!" Zahn’s sharp voice made her halt. His brows were furrowed as he pointed at the screen. "This… this isn’t even your name. It’s someone else’s!"

Amy blinked, her breath hitching. She snatched the laptop, pulling it closer and squinting at the name. "Huh...? Who’s Mike?" A second passed before she waved it off. "Well, sucks for him."

Letting out a deep breath, she clutched her chest. Relief washed over her like a wave.

Zahn sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Seriously, Amy… You typed the wrong roll number?"

"I...don’t even know how that happened," she mumbled, feeling even more embarrassed now.

Shaking off her nerves, she carefully re-entered her correct roll number, her fingers trembling slightly. Even if that wasn’t her result, it didn’t mean she was safe yet. What if she still failed?

The screen refreshed. Seconds dragged.

Then—

PASS. 7.5 CGPA

Amy gasped. Her heart leaped. "PHEW!" Without thinking, she launched herself at Zahn, wrapping her arms around him tight. "I passed! Zahn, I passed!"

Zahn let out a small chuckle but flicked her forehead. "You scared me for nothing. I should’ve known, you actually studied this time."

Amy pulled back with a triumphant grin. "Well, well… This calls for a celebration, doesn’t it?"

_______________

Amy’s mother, Alma, was overjoyed to hear that her daughter had passed. To celebrate, she arranged a dinner at a nice restaurant and invited Zahn to join them.

The restaurant had a warm, calm ambiance. Soft lighting bathed the room, and the ceiling was elegantly decorated. Amy held the menu, her eyes gleaming as she debated what to order, tempted by all the delicious options.

"Congratulations, Zahn," Alma said with a bright smile. "You’re truly brilliant. Such excellent marks, you have a bright future ahead of you."

"Thank you, ma’am," Zahn replied politely, returning the smile. His gaze then shifted to Amy’s father, Victor, who, to his relief, didn’t seem too strict this time.

Victor studied him for a moment before remarking, "It seems you’ve had a good influence on our Amy too."

Alma chuckled. "I know, right? Our lazy Amy finally studied and passed. Honestly, she never would’ve gotten this score unless she cheated."

"Excuse me, Mom?" Amy raised an eyebrow.

"What? I’m just teasing you," Alma patted Amy’s head vigorously, messing up her hair. "Don’t start frowning like an old lady. I’m happy, okay? Now, lots of gifts for you."

Amy grinned. "Now that’s more like it."

Zahn watched the lively exchange with a soft smile. The atmosphere felt warm, familiar until his phone buzzed with a notification.

A quick glance at the screen made his smile fade.

His mother, Rowena, had sent him a message.

Your results are out. How did you do?

Zahn frowned, locking his phone and slipping it back into his pocket. Now she wants to act like a mother? He had no interest in entertaining the thought.

Meanwhile, the food was ordered and arrived shortly after, its rich aroma filling the air. The table fell into a comfortable rhythm as everyone dug in, enjoying the meal.

After a while, Victor glanced at Zahn and asked, "So, what are your plans for the future?"

Zahn straightened slightly, a hint of nervousness in his posture. "I’ll be starting an internship soon. After that, I plan to build my own startup...hopefully, something that grows into a big business chain someday."

Victor gave an approving nod. Zahn seemed hardworking and ambitious, a man who could earn well in the future. Good enough for his daughter.

Alma smiled. "That’s great." Then, her gaze shifted to Amy, who was more focused on her food than the conversation. "And you, you lazy brat? What’s your plan?"

Amy paused mid-bite, the spoon hovering near her mouth. "Me? There’s still plenty of time to decide, isn’t there?"

Alma’s smile faded. She let out a heavy sigh. "How can you think like that?" Her tone grew firm. "You need to do something, Amy. You’re not a kid anymore, so stop acting like one. You should opt for higher studies. your father will decide on that."

Amy’s mood dampened. She rolled her eyes and focused back on her food, pretending not to hear. But she could feel Zahn’s gaze on her.

It made her uneasy.

A small, creeping embarrassment settled in her chest.

And maybe… just a little bit of insecurity.

Despite everything, the dinner was going well. The conversation had shifted to lighter topics, and the atmosphere remained pleasant.

But then… the last thing anyone expected happened.

A figure stepped toward their table—a woman in her late thirties, dressed in an elegant outfit. Her deep black hair was styled neatly, and a pair of oversized sunglasses obscured her eyes.

Amy noticed her first. Her breath hitched, and she quickly nudged Zahn. He turned, only to freeze at the sight of the woman standing before them.

His mother.

Rowena.

His brows immediately knit together. What is she doing here?

Amy’s parents, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a stranger, exchanged confused glances.

"Amy, who is this?" Victor asked.

Amy hesitated for a second before answering. "Mom, Dad… this is Zahn’s mother."

Alma blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected Zahn’s mother to look so... youthful. The woman standing before them was stunning, slim, well-dressed, elegant. Alma instinctively touched her own face, feeling the wrinkles near her eyes. She quickly shook off the thought.

"Oh! Why didn’t you tell us earlier?" Alma’s voice turned warm as she gestured toward the table. "Come, have a seat with us!"

"Yes, please join us. We were just celebrating the kids' results," Victor added. "I was wondering about Zahn’s parents, and now here you are."

Rowena hesitated.

She had been in the restaurant for a business meeting, not expecting to run into her son. But when she spotted him sitting with Amy and an unfamiliar couple while blatantly ignoring her message- curiosity led her closer. She hadn’t planned to approach them, yet here she was.

She glanced at Zahn. His expression was unreadable, but his cold eyes made it clear he wasn’t thrilled by her presence.

"Please, have dinner with us," Alma urged again.

After a beat, Rowena finally sat down. "Thank you... I was actually just finishing up a meeting here."

Alma’s eyes sparkled with recognition. "Oh, I’ve heard about you from Amy! I could tell at a glance you work in fashion. I think I’ve even seen you on TV a few times."

"It’s nothing special," Rowena replied dismissively. Her gaze flickered toward Zahn, whose expression hadn't changed.

Amy, in an attempt to lighten the mood, chimed in. "Ma’am, did you hear? Zahn got a 9.7 CGPA! Isn’t that amazing?"

Rowena barely reacted. "Is that so?" She hummed, tilting her head slightly. "Then I suppose I should get you a gift… how about a car?"

Zahn resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "No need."

The dinner carried on, though the tension lingered between Zahn and Rowena. Eventually, the meal came to an end, and Amy’s parents stood to leave.

"It was lovely meeting you, Rowena," Alma said, offering a polite smile. "Take care."

Rowena nodded. "Likewise."

Amy walked her parents to the door, exchanging a few words before they left. Meanwhile, Zahn stood near the restaurant’s entrance, ready to leave—until Rowena took a step closer.

"I'm surprised you passed despite fooling around with that girl," she murmured, her tone laced with condescension.

Zahn’s jaw tightened. "I don’t think that’s any of your concern."

Rowena’s lips curved into a small smirk. "Still, a 9.7… impressive. I’ll make sure you get your gift."

"Do whatever you want," he said flatly. "Just don’t think this means you get to meddle in my life."

"Your life?" Rowena scoffed. "I’m not interested in playing house, don’t worry. I won’t be coming over."

Zahn cast her a final, indifferent glance. "Good."

With that, he turned and walked toward Amy.

Rowena watched him go, exhaling a quiet sigh.

Her son had always been cold to her. But now, she wondered if he'd become too distant to ever reach again.

As Amy and Zahn walked home, she glanced at him curiously. Might as well ask.

"If your mother ends up sending you a car, will you accept it?"

Zahn barely reacted. "Maybe. Could be useful."

Amy hummed, nodding. "Makes sense."

She could still feel the lingering tension from earlier. Zahn and his mother… their relationship wasn’t something she could interfere with. Rowena was a mother in name, fulfilling financial duties but keeping her distance. Zahn, in turn, treated her like a stranger. Honestly It didn’t seem like that would ever change.

But Amy had her own problems to think about. Her mother’s remark at dinner left her unsettled. What am I going to do with my life? She had no interest in higher studies, no plan for the future. The uncertainty gnawed at her.

And that feeling only grew stronger in the weeks that followed.

_________________

The soft glow of morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a warm haze over the room. Amy stirred at the faint sounds of movement, the rustle of fabric, the steady footsteps. Blinking groggily, she turned toward the source.

Zahn stood in front of the mirror, fixing his tie.

Amy sat up slowly, her drowsiness fading as she took him in. Whoa.

Dressed in a crisp white shirt, a fitted vest, and neatly pressed trousers, Zahn looked… different. His usual casual look was gone, replaced by a composed, polished air. His hair was styled neatly, his expression calm and focused.

Amy stared.

He caught her gaze through the mirror and smiled. "You're awake." His voice was gentle. "Breakfast is ready on the table."

Still staring, she swung her legs off the bed and walked up to him. "Where are you going… all dressed up like this?"

Zahn chuckled. "Forgot already? My internship starts today."

"Oh." It clicked. "Right."

As she got closer, she noticed him fumbling with his tie. With a smirk, she reached, taking over. "For someone so smart, you really suck at this."

"I haven’t done it in years,"  he admitted, watching her.

"Well… you look really hot," she muttered absently, eyes still fixed on the tie.

Zahn smirked. His hands found her waist, pulling her in with easy confidence. "Don’t I always?"

"You do." She smirked back, running her fingers down the fabric of his vest before meeting his gaze. "Good luck on your first day, Zahn."

His grip on her waist tightened slightly, pulling her closer. "You’re sending me off like a wife already?"

She grinned. "Maybe."

Before she could say anything else, he tilted her chin up, his thumb grazing her jaw. His lips met hers. slow, deep, savoring. The warmth of him, the way he kissed her, left her breath hitching.

Amy clutched his vest, tilting into him, her fingers curling against the crisp fabric. For a moment, she forgot everything else—the morning, his first day, the undone tie—there was only him.

Zahn pulled back just enough to let her breathe, his forehead resting against hers. "Now that’s a proper send-off," he murmured.

Amy, still dazed, exhaled a soft laugh. "And yet… your tie is still a mess."

He chuckled, glancing down. "…Okay, I think we both forgot how to do this properly."

Amy giggled. "It’s been years since school, after all."

Zahn shook his head fondly and patted her head. "Make sure you eat, okay? I’ll be back by evening." He pressed another lingering kiss to her forehead before stepping back to grab his things.

Amy followed him to the door, watching as he put on his shoes and slung his bag over his shoulder.

She stood there for a moment, watching as he left. She lifted her hand in a small wave, but as the door shut, her smile faded just a little.

A strange feeling settled in her chest—something soft, something unfamiliar.

Things were changing.

And she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.