Zachary's P.O.V.
Knock Knock
I heard a knock on the door while I was washing the last of the dishes in the kitchen. I quickly wiped my hands using the kitchen towel and headed towards the front door.
I opened the door and saw a handsome man standing in front of me.
It was Leo.
"Glad to see you."
I greeted him with a warm smile.
He stepped across the threshold and immediately pulled me into his arms, embracing me tightly. I buried my face against his chest, letting out a quiet breath as the lingering tension from the day completely melted away under his familiar, calming scent.
Leo chuckled, the vibration rumbling deeply against my cheek as he tightened his arms around my waist.
"Missed me that much, huh? I was only gone for a few hours, Zach."
My cheeks heated up slightly, and I nudged him with my shoulder as I pulled back.
"Shut up and just get inside."
Pollen had finally finished packing her things too, her luggage neatly zipped up and resting upstairs. She was standing at the end of the hallway, silently watching us with an amused, knowing glint in her eyes. She greeted Leo with a gentle smile and told us to come inside before the cool afternoon air rushed into the living room.
"Don't let me stop you two," Pollen teased lightly, walking past us into the kitchen.
"But the neighbors might start talking if you keep blocking the doorway."
"Let them talk," Leo joked back easily, kicking his shoes off by the mat and following her inside.
"So, did Zach actually help you pack, or did he just boss you around the whole morning?"
"Hey! I worked hard," I protested, walking right behind him.
"He actually did great," Pollen defended me with a laugh.
"The entire house is spotless."
Once we walked into the kitchen, Pollen went straight over to the refrigerator. She pulled out the glass food container I had carefully set aside for Leo earlier, carrying it over to the counter. She popped the lid open and put it inside the microwave to reheat the food, her movements quiet and thoughtful.
While the machine hummed to life, Leo approached the dining chair, gently pulling it out and guiding me to sit down.
'This guy. He's such a sweet gentleman, how could I not fall in love with him day by day?'
I thought to myself as I sat down. He smiled softly and took the seat right beside me.
He leaned in close to me, lowering his voice so it wouldn't carry across the small kitchen, and started speaking.
"How is she?"
I took a glance at Pollen, then my gaze returned to my man.
"She's completely fine," I said quietly, leaning in and quickly catching him off guard by kissing him on the lips.
It was just a swift smack, but his eyes flinched in surprise at my sudden boldness in the living room.
"You are being naughty," Leo whispered back, immediately avoiding my gaze as a subtle flush crept up his neck.
He leaned back in his chair, clearing his throat and trying to regain his composure.
"What a sight. Don't go into lovey-dovey mode in my house, Zachy," Pollen said, a slightly gloomy look clouding her face as she brought down the heated container from the microwave.
Her teasing tone from earlier had flattened into something weary.
She sat down in the chair directly in front of Leo, setting the warm food on the table between them.
I leaned over to Leo one last time, my breath brushing against his hair.
"Talk to her for a bit. I'm gonna finish the last laundry," I whispered into his ear.
He gave me a subtle nod of understanding, and I walked away from them, leaving the kitchen behind. The last laundry left to do was her heavy blanket, and I wanted to make sure it was completely clean and fresh before she left for the island.
Pollen's P.O.V.
I sat across from Leo, totally sneaking glances at his thought bubble while he ate the food Zachy had saved for him and talked to me at the same time. Thankfully, it wasn't an awkward atmosphere for us at all. We knew each other too well for that.
'Damn, Zachary, kissing me suddenly like that...' Leo's thought bubble popped up in a hazy, flustered gray.
He reached for his water glass, swallowing a quick sip to mask his mounting distress.
"How are you feeling?" he asked aloud. His voice sounded perfectly calm, but inside his mind, he was practically cursing Zachy to death. He was just feeling incredibly embarrassed, I guessed, which made me hold back a small smirk.
"I'm nervous, but I am excited too," I answered, offering him a small smile.
It wasn't entirely genuine because I wasn't really happy. Getting excited about a new place was different from being truly happy, and my mind was still weighing heavy from the constant static of everyone's thoughts.
I tried my best to look away, actively avoiding his thought bubble now. Zachary was the only thing occupying his head anyway, and I didn't need to pry into their private romance.
"Is it because it is your first time going there?" Leo asked, setting his glass back down on the table.
"Yes. It's a first for me," I murmured, leaning back slightly in my chair.
"You two know how much I love looking at the stars."
"Yeah, your phone wallpaper says it all," Leo chuckled easily.
It really was obvious. I reached for my phone resting on the table and tapped the screen to open it. The lock screen lit up, showing a breathtaking wallpaper full of distant, brilliant constellations.
"I just admire stars," I said softly, staring down at the glowing screen.
"Look at how they shine so bright, even if they are billions of light-years away from us. Looking at the stars is like looking into paradise."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," he agreed, standing up from his chair. He immediately began cleaning up the kitchen table, having completely finished eating his meal.
I looked around the house and saw Zachary out by the window, carefully hanging the heavy blanket to dry. He was officially finished with the laundry.
I looked down at my hands, a quiet wave of uncertainty washing over me. I couldn't help but wonder if there were going to be other people staying on Starry Nightsky Island.
Was it really okay for an ordinary coder like me to go to a private luxury resort? I doubted myself suddenly, a brief flutter of anxiety hitting my chest, and shook my head to clear the intrusive thoughts.
Still, despite the lingering fear, I genuinely wanted to go there.
Xyrus's P.O.V.
By the time evening arrived, the city lights below had begun to blink awake through the heavy dusk. Kyles was standing alone out on the wide terrace, leaning his forearms over the cold stone wall as he stared intently at the sky.
I moved my feet quietly across the polished concrete towards him, breaking the silence of the high balcony.
"Inviting me over just to glance at the sky?" I teased, leaning back against the structural pillar.
"Did you do what I told you to do?" he asked, his voice flat. He didn't even bother looking back over his shoulder at me.
"Man, you're so rude," I muttered, shaking my head with a dry laugh.
"Of course I did. I finished everything according to your plan."
I reached into my utility jacket pocket, pulling out a fresh pack of cigarettes. I tapped one out and offered it in his direction.
"Want some?"
"No," he answered coldly, his gaze never flinching from the horizon.
"Suit yourself."
I flipped my lighter open and lit the cigarette. I took a slow puff, exhaling the smoke into the cool night air before letting out a quiet sigh.
"You're always looking up at the sky, especially at night. I guess you must love it that much, which is probably why you went out of your way to build that island from scratch."
I glanced over in his direction, taking a moment to study his profile. Looking at him, it was completely obvious why girls would instantly fall for a guy like this. His side profile was absolutely stunning—sharp, flawless, and perfectly structured under the ambient terrace lighting.
He was just standing there completely still, but his natural aura was incredibly strong, commanding the entire space without saying a single word.
"I am looking at the lovely stars," Kyles murmured softly.
"Lovely stars?" I repeated, my brow furrowing in deep confusion as I looked up at the vast black canvas above us.
"What is so lovely about a bunch of burning stars?"
"You don't get it," Kyles replied, his expression turning intensely serious, making my brain feel like an absolute mess.
"Stars can talk."
"Stars talk? Jeez. Stop right there, Kyles, you're giving me actual goosebumps," I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck to shake off the weirdly eerie vibe.
"It's chilly outside," Kyles stated smoothly, finally turning his head just enough to dismiss me.
"Finish that cigarette of yours and go home."
"You're the one who invited me over, and now you're telling me to go home?" I complained, taking one last drag before dumping the crushed filter into the terrace trash can.
"I swear, I can never read what's going on inside your mind."
He simply gave a small, slow nod, his eyes already drifting back up to the night sky.
"I'm off," I said. I turned around on my heel and lazily waved my hand over my shoulder as a silent goodbye.
"Lovely stars, my ass," I muttered under my breath the moment I stepped into the private elevator bay.
I made my way down to the garage and climbed inside my car, gripping the cold leather steering wheel.
"I hate stars."
I started the engine, shifted into gear, and headed home into the dark city streets.