Chapter 25

The moment the sun rose, and the birds started to chirp outside, Zachary had already sensed presence outside. Kathryn was still fast asleep beside him, seemingly tired from their activity last night. It made Zachary's heart swell, his hand hovering over Kathryn's forehead affectionately, brushing a few strands away that had fallen close to Kathryn’s eyes.

He was too awake by now, his fever gone, and he could already hear the shouts from outside he had assumed were the voices of their friends, especially David's. Not leaving Kathryn though, Zachary stayed on his spot, just watching how the woman beside him slept. It made Zachary smile softly, heart falling over and over again to this precious creature before him. How the heavens created such perfection in a small body like this, Zachary would never know.

He had wished to stay like this for a bit longer then, knowing the moment they got back to Do Island, things might not be that easy again. It would be too confusing and Kathryn…Kathryn might disappear again.

But Zachary knew he also needed to find the fucker who tried to harm Kathryn. When everyone discovered where they were, Zachary had no choice but to go back to reality. Well, he might as well give the bitch a piece of his mind…and fist.

"Vivian Heather was the one who did it," David explained when they returned to their hotel room. Anger was still evident in his voice too, not surprising Zachary. "That bitch planned everything!!"

Zachary, not even knowing who the hell Vivian Heather was, decided to face her once and for all. "Where is she?"

In the middle of trying to calm his own boiling blood, David told Zachary where Vivian Heather was currently staying then trailed off as he stared at Zachary, "You're not going to kill her…Are you?"

Zachary, looking as if he was still under control, didn't answer.

"Hey! Zachary, I'm also beyond mad. But you can't kill her! You'll end up in jail!" Knowing Zachary, David knew the man was capable of doing just that. Zachary had been in jail before, if that wasn't scary enough to remember.

Zachary didn't answer, feet moving as he started walking out of the room.

"Get back here, Zachary!!" David shouted but Zachary was too unbothered, his legs too fast for anyone to catch up.

Chad was passing by when he saw David helplessly half-running half-walking like an idiot. "What game are you playing now?"

David gasped for air as he panted, hands on his knees. "Zachary…Zachary is going to…kill that…Vivian!!"

Chad paused, made a loud "tsk" then started walking in the opposite direction.

"Hey! Where are you going?! This is where he went!" David pointed in another direction. Puffing and messing his hair in frustration, he ran again, following after Zachary. "Why does everybody like stressing me out?! Zachary, wait!!"

Vivian remained in her room the entire night. Even as the sun had risen up, she didn't leave her room. She had personally asked everyone to leave her alone after having a serious talk with her mentor and the headmaster.

She knew she had done something she will forever regret in her life. That was horrible. It was inhumane to even think of such a plan. But she was only doing what she thought was right. Everyone's eyes when they'd learned about her side told her otherwise though.

She couldn't sleep the entire night, only looking wary of her surroundings, as if someone would pop out and accuse her of a list of the crimes she committed.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door that made her eyes widen in fright.

"Vivian, it's me."

That voice.

Vivian Heather knew that voice. Scrambling out of her bed, she half-ran to the door and opened it. Her eyes widened even more at what she saw.

"I'm here now. I'm safe and sound. Nothing happened to me…" Kathryn said, voice and face neutral. "Just wanted to say this in case you're worried."

"I'm sorry!" Vivian Heather's voice cracked. Tears suddenly fell down her cheeks, her face full of guilt and remorse. "I'm sorry, Kathryn… I didn’t mean for the rain…the storm. I'm sorry…I'm sorry!"

Kathryn, having to see this side of the girl who she thought hated her the most to the point of leaving her alone in a strange island, couldn't help but feel something deep inside her broke as well. Looking at the face of this girl who didn't even sleep for a second the entire night, possibly out of guilt and worry for Kathryn, Kathryn's heart immediately softened for her.

Moving closer, Kathryn reached out to the girl who had crouched down the floor and started hugging herself in comfort. Kathryn wrapped her arms around Vivian, rubbing her back, "It's okay. I forgive you, Vivian."

Vivian trembled in between Kathryn's arms, not even bothered to let her see her breakdown like this. Even in her ugly mess, Kathryn could see Vivian’s face starting to glow. It was as if she had been waiting for Kathryn to come and tell her she was alive, she was fine and now that Kathryn did it, she was too relieved she couldn't hold her tears back anymore.

"I don't know why you did that," Kathryn began to say as they both sat on Vivian's bed after calming Vivian down. "You had your reasons. But Vivian, hate is not something you should feed. It's toxic and one day it will be too much for you to handle and it’ll begin to poison you. Don't do this, Vivian. Hating something or someone would only lead to hurting yourself in the end."

Vivian sniffed back another threatening tear to fall, her face pained and still full of remorse as she nodded in agreement to Kathryn. 

Kathryn smiled, her hand gently patting Vivian's head. Somehow, it felt like she was a long-lost little sister Kathryn had never had. Soon, Kathryn found herself talking to Vivian like they were some old friends. It didn't last long though as someone suddenly barged in in a blaring harsh movement.

Zachary was out of control. His eyes were murderous, screaming the intent to kill but was immediately snapped out the moment he saw the familiar pair of deer-like eyes before him.

"Zachary? What are you doing here?" Kathryn asked in surprise and confusion.

Zachary looked back and forth between Kathryn and possibly the Vivian Heather everyone was talking about. He moved closer to Vivian, hands about to touch the girl who looked terrified before the tall man.

"This is the bitch, isn't it?" Zachary's eyes flashed a dangerous glint.

Kathryn frowned, then eyes widened as she realized what was happening. "No, it's fine now, Zachary."

"What do you mean 'fine'? This bitch put you in danger, Kath!"

Just as they started to argue, David came in, panting like he did some five km run marathon.

"She didn’t know about the storm, Zack, and I told you, it's fine already!" Kathryn exclaimed. Why was Zachary making a big deal out of this?

"How could it be fine?! I'm going to kill that scumbag of a woman!" Zachary, still seething, started moving towards Vivian again. "Stop protecting her, dammit!"

"Guys…" David tried to tell something but was pushed away by Zachary.

Kathryn stood before Zachary, body covering Vivian behind her as she looked at Zachary straight in the face. "Snap out of it, Zachary! Are you seriously going to hit a woman before my eyes?"

Zachary seemed to have stopped at that then, cursing under his breath as he glared at Vivian Heather, murdering her with his gaze alone. He felt betrayed with Kathryn's actions, felt Kathryn had likened another human being more than him once again, but his negative thoughts instantly flew out when he felt Kathryn's hand on his.

"I'm fine. You found me after all," Kathryn said in a soft voice, slowly melting Zachary's hardening heart.

Zachary's face softened as he looked away, a tint of blush on his cheeks. "Are you sure?"

Kathryn smiled as she caressed Zachary's hand, seemingly forgetting the other two people in the room too. "Yes. You saved me, Zack. Let me treat you later as a thank you, okay?"

Zachary stared at Kathryn, feeling the warmth radiating from her hand. He then breathed out, eyes finally softening, clearing the murderous intent from them as he nodded cooperatively, "Okay."

Wow, so whipped. David and Vivian Heather thought to themselves as they silently witnessed the interaction between the two.

They may look opposite, too opposite everyone would wonder how they even got together. But don't they say opposites attract?

Though in the special case of Kathryn Taylor and Zachary Robertson, it might just have come out a little bit stronger and continued to become more as days pass by.

That, for sure, everyone knew of.