Chapter 28

Kathryn was smiling when she watched her caring friend David who was asked to go to the stage. Loud music boomed and everyone started to dance as David began singing a lively song. Chuckling at the sight, Kathryn screamed "Go, David!" amazed how her friend was being shy just a moment ago about singing but was now owning the stage like some rock star.

"Um, Kathryn…"

Kathryn turned to look at the sudden voice and found Vivian Heather biting her lips as she shyly looked at Kathryn.

"Vivian," Kathryn called the girl who used to hate her to the core.

"Can I dance with you?" Vivian, blushing hard now, asked.

Kathryn was taken aback, though incredibly felt something warm in her chest. She smiled at the blushing girl, "Sure."

Soon, everyone was dancing at the center, thinking of nothing, just feeling the music blaring through their bodies. They were all living at the moment.

Vivian was laughing at Kathryn's jokes and Kathryn was glad to hear her laugh. This, however, was seen by someone who instantly had his eyebrows furrow at the sight.

Drastically, the music suddenly changed and when Kathryn and Vivian pulled away, Kathryn felt herself jumping as she turned around and found Zachary inches away, looking at her as if she was some deer caught in headlights.

Before she could speak any word, Zachary had already pulled her to the center and positioned them for a slow dance. The action made Kathryn blush. Her heart wouldn't stop beating wildly.

The music erupted throughout the entire hotel as people, students, and teachers, let themselves be swayed with the lovely song.

"I can't believe you, dancing with that girl of all people," Zachary's voice was mixed with disbelief and annoyance. Even after having Kathryn explain what she and Vivian had talked about, Zachary was still annoyed at the fact Kathryn forgave her easily when she could've learned her lesson in a harder way.

Both Zachary's arms were wrapped around Kathryn's smaller figure and Kathryn was trying hard to comprehend what Zachary was saying while her heart disturbingly made deafening beats against her ribcage. She was too absorbed by the way the salty wind touched her skin, too consumed by how Zachary's warm body covered her against it she knew she would forever need that she forgot how words work.

Realizing the other wouldn't answer any time soon, Zachary sighed and glanced down at the person who could make his thoughts halt as he began to wonder of smaller yet more important things. The way Kathryn's small, slender fingers hang around his neck sent shivers down Zachary's spine, butterflies in his stomach, and warmth in his soul. Kathryn had her head leaning against Zachary's upper chest and Zachary wondered if Kathryn could hear his ringing heartbeat. It was amazing how an action as simple as a dance could make Zachary feel different emotions, but knowing it was Kathryn made it on a different level. It was something no one could ever make him feel but Kathryn. With Kathryn, Zachary felt safe. He felt accepted. He felt loved. He felt home.

The song continued and no one bothered to disturb the two after David intentionally announced on the stage it was a "thanking dance" for everybody, and they all seemed to think the two were dancing as a thank you for Zachary saving Kathryn. They were too consumed by each other though, embracing on the dance floor like some old couple. Or maybe they were. Zachary had never believed in reincarnation and such delusional beliefs, but when Kathryn came to his life, he started to believe Kathryn was someone he used to love in his past life and that now was just a destined repetition, if not a continuation, of their love story.

How one person could make him believe in such foolish things, Zachary wasn't sure and was always left in wonder. He never had feelings this strong towards anyone. Kathryn was his first love, and he knew he would do anything to keep the love Kathryn had for him. It was amazing how for Kathryn, Zachary was ready to surrender his everything.

The song ended as another slow music came out. Some left the dance floor, some continued as their movements became softer and slower along with the music's rhythm. Few of them were Zachary and Kathryn. Some students who had gone to their seats started to murmur.

"Didn't Zachary and Kathryn break up a month ago?"

"Why are they dancing together?"

"They said it's a thank you dance or something. They look too intimate for that though…"

A few heads turned to look in Chad's direction, finding the tall man silent in his seat—not the kind of reaction they had expected from him. He seemed to be too cool and calm for the boyfriend of a person dancing with another man.

"That, or Kathryn's just a slut," someone commented.

Another nodded. "Maybe she is. Look at that. How dare she—"

The two girls who were gossiping about Kathryn stopped as they sensed a dark presence around them. Glaring down at them was Vivian Heather, eyes shooting daggers directly to theirs.

"Why don't you just mind your own business?" Vivian Heather said, glaring harder at the two girls who obviously had too much time in their hands to gossip behind people’s backs.