Is this destiny?

Zula and Ron walked out of the main villa and held hands. The two of them didn't speak until they reached the apartment.

Zula was looking at Ron's feet while they walked, and her heart ached. When he woke up, he was probably worried that she left him, and he ran without thinking of putting his shoes on.

"I'm sorry, Ron." Zula said as soon as they entered the apartment.

Ron pulled her into his embrace. "It's OK."

Zula hugged him back. "No, it's not. If I woke you up or waited for you to wake up, or if I left a note, we would avoid this unnecessary mess. I panicked and I was not thinking."

Ron exhaled. "Well… now you know how I felt yesterday. I panicked and shouted mean things, and now you panicked and ran away."

"I didn't run away. I just went to talk to Sarah." Zula objected.

Ron hummed. "You say 'po-tay-to' and I say 'po-tah-to'. It's the same thing."

Zula smiled and sank into Ron's chest. She loves it when he is goofy and makes jokes. "We were lucky. Let's not mess up next time."

Ron could not prevent his lips from stretching into a sly smirk. 'Next time', he likes it.

Zula looked at his feet and asked: "Are your feet aching? Let me check."

Ron rejected. "No need. I am fine." He refused to admit that his feet are stinging, which probably means that he has a cut or two.

"Do you want to shower first?"

Ron had a troubled expression. This is how the previous morning went and it didn't end well. There is no way he will repeat the same mistake of going to shower first. Not without Zula... "Did you shower?"

Zula shook her head in response.

"How about we shower together?" Ron suggested.

Zula lifted her head to see his expression and blinked. "Are you sure?"

"We already saw each other. After last night, the shower should not be a big deal."

Ron took Zula's hand in his and led the way to the bathroom.

They walked through the bedroom and Zula's sight fell on the bed. She saw that the bedsheets are crumpled and there are red stains on them. She was embarrassed.

Zula wiggled her hand out of Ron's hold and responded to his gaze full of questions: "I want to call Genie and tell her that we need a change of bedsheets."

"OK. I will start the shower."

When Zula entered the bathroom, she saw Ron leaning against the sink. His expression showed that he is nervous, but his eyes were determined.

Ron feels the most vulnerable when he is in the shower enclosure. But he will get through this. He has to.

Zula stood in front of him, got on her toes, and kissed him on the lips. "Let's do this. Together."

Ron smiled nervously. "Together."

Part of him feared that he will snap again. He took a deep breath and told himself to stay present. Zula is right in front of him, and she will help him cross this obstacle.

They removed each other's clothes and got under the shower.

Ron hissed when hot water touched his feet. Cold tiles of the bathroom were soothing, but this water is not so much.

"I will help you with medicine, after the shower." Zula told him in a voice that didn't allow objections.

Ron inhaled a shaky breath. "How do we do this?"

Zula reached for the shower gel. "How about you let me wash you? And you can wash me…"

…

Nicole (aka the maid) pushed the cart with a fresh set of bedlinens and knocked on the door of the apartment.

No one answered and she assumed that they are outside, exercising. She didn't see Ron and Zula, but with so many kids running and jumping, it's easy to miss them.

Nicole made her way into the apartment, filled her hands with bedsheets, and paused at the door of the bedroom.

The bathroom door is ajar, and she can clearly hear that the shower is on. Well, she is already here… and she has no intention of peeping, but she should announce her presence because she does not want Ron or Zula (or both) to come out naked.

Nicole took a deep breath and shouted: "Nicole is here to change the bedsheets! I will be done in a minute!"

…

Ron inhaled sharply when he heard Nicole's voice and he closed his eyes tightly while trying to suppress bad memories which started resurfacing.

Zula froze and looked at his expression which showed that he is in agony.

"Ron?" Zula called softly.

After a very long second, Ron extended his arms and pulled Zula into a hug. He held her firmly without a word.

Zula was not sure what to do. She slowly wrapped her arms around Ron and let him hold her. Well, at least he didn't snap. The hug is a bit tight, but she didn't complain.

At some point, Zula realized that Ron is shivering. It can't be cold, because the water is warm, and the bathroom is full of steam.

Her heart cracked. Who knows what is going on in his mind? He is terrified, but he is holding onto her and not saying anything.

Zula tightened her hold on Ron and started chanting: "It's OK. I am here… It's OK…"

Zula was happy that he is holding onto her and that he didn't snap like the previous day, but the fact that he didn't calm down no matter how much she spoke, was making her heart ache.

Ron is usually confident and ready to face whatever is coming his way, and this… this is not him. No one would believe that this is Ron, and even Zula has difficulty accepting it. How can a young man who is always smiling smugly be reduced to this?

Zula remembered Sarah's words. This is Ron, or at least one side of him. And if Zula wants to stay by his side and to say that she loves him, she needs to accept even the petrified Ron who is holding onto her for comfort in the hope to find a safe harbor. And she wants him to feel safe with her.

Zula reminded herself that Ron suffered years of abuse and it's not easy to get over it no matter how strong Ron's willpower is because the bad things are ingrained into him and it will take a lot of time and good memories to make the bad ones go away.

Zula was determined to help him create good memories. She loves him and she knows that he loves her as well, and if she does not help him, who will?

She will not abandon him, like everyone else when he needed support. Here, at the Cliffside Villa, he is safe from predators and he has friends, but Zula is his most important person, just how he is hers.

"I will not hurt you…" Zula continued chanting. "It's OK. I will not let anyone hurt you again… Hold onto me… It will all be OK…"

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