World After Worlds
Chapter 252 - 252: Side Story: Vladimir's Obsession (Should I publish this?) Unedited 3 Chapters Preview!

[Skip if not interested; this is not Yanarym's next world]

It was lunchtime, and most of the college students were outside the campus. The remaining that had no business outside or were just broke would stay put inside the university.

Katherine was one of them. She was a scholar of the Czar Akademia. An average student who was slightly smart but hard-working.

Sitting on a four-sitter table in the cafeteria, Katherine was eating with enthusiasm for her free and delicious lunch. She was with her friends since high school, they were eating heartily.

"I want to drop out." Rain said after munching. Katherine looked at her and drank her water.

"Where's the enthusiasm you had when we were applying?"

"I don't think college is for me, Kath."

"What do you mean? The right to study is for everyone."

"What I mean is… I don't feel like going to college."

"What about your scholarship?"

"That's the hard part. I can't drop out because the scholarship will be drained to waste. The 50,000 pesos allowance is so big I couldn't give it up."

"Why? What do you want to do? If you drop out?"

"I don't know… I'm not really sure."

"What about until you figure it out? Keep on studying?"

"You know… This is just…"

The conversation was cut off when the girls in the cafeteria suddenly shriek out of excitement. They went ballistic because of the five prominent students of C.A

"Why are they going crazy over boys?" Rain said in a bored tone now knowing her friend was fangirling on one of them too.

"It's been so long since I last saw them together," Katherine said as her eyes were following one of the five individuals.

Rain raised her eyebrows and grinned. "What? You were denying it before but you actually like Helios, don't you?"

Katherine blinked her eyes in panic and looked away. "W-what? No."

Rain laughed and drank her mango milkshake. "Alright. Let's believe that lie."

"It's not a lie…" Katherine said.

Rain just laughed and continued her meal. She kept on looking at the five stars and noticed that one of them could not take his eyes off Katherine. She turned to look at Katherine who resumed her meal as well.

"But you know, Vlad." Rain said that made Katherine pause. "I noticed that he's always staring at you. It's been two years since this happened so, I thought it is already over."

"What are you babbling?" Katherine, eyebrows crossed asked Rain. Rain shrugged her shoulder before pointing her lips in those boys' direction.

Katherine turned reflexively to look at where Rain was pointing and met Vladimir's eyes. It was not that far. The cafeteria was not small, but because of her thick glasses aiding her poor eyesight, she knew Vladimir was looking.

She casually looked away. "What are you saying?" She said to Rain. "I think he's looking at you."

"The hell are you saying, Kath." Rain cringe. "That's my cousin. Look at his lustful gaze. Are you saying we're incest?" Rain gagged as if she was about to puke.

Katherine blushed at Rain's unfiltered mouth.

"Lustful? Incest? What the hell Rain?"

"What? What?" Rain rolled her eyes. "Vlad likes you. So, he's lusting on you."

"Keep your mouth shut will you?" Katherine covered her face in shame.

"You're so cute, Kath. He's always been like that since high school. I just forgot about it because he graduated. Never thought that he will be like that after two years of separation."

"Rain, enough. Vlad and I are worlds apart."

"You are literally in the same space right now."

"You know that's not what I mean."

"Okay. Okay. Cinderella. Good luck in getting away with a Vasquez."

"Cut it out. He's not like that to me. Going back to the topic, you are a cousin of a Vasquez. You are even Alacabar's best friend. Why are you struggling in this scholarship program?"

"I don't want to owe them."

"Yeah," Katherine glared at her. "Then pay me. You owed me thirty-five!"

"You're so stingy! I'm your friend." Katherine rolled her eyes at her and they both laughed.

Katherine stole a glance in Vladimir's direction and he was not looking anymore. Her heart beating so loud had not subsided yet.

There were many famous and powerful figures in C. A. This was the school of the elite after all. But above all of them, there was someone who reigned them. Most students called them Supreme. Before college there were four of them, then another student came from states enrolled and joined the pack.

He was the youngest's supreme. A self-made king was what the girls who liked him called him. His name is Zian Greg Alacabar, and both of his parents were working under the Vasquez Corp. Then, the heir of Gregorio Vasquez's company, Rain Hermosa decided to migrate when her father married another woman. She even changed her surname to her mother's maiden name.

Zian who was the same age as Rain followed her abroad. They lived there for a decade and returned to the country. Zian became prominent and he became Helios's scion in the seat of the President of Student Supreme Government Officials.

There, the other supreme, Helios was always the leader of the school. He leads it to glory. He was diligent, wise, respectable, and a good person. He was the nicest of the five of them. That was why everyone was wondering how he ended up with the school villainess, Datura Louis Antionne. They were the epitome of opposite attracts…

Datura is Rain's step-sister. The villainess also has a biological older brother. The reason why no one could go against a girl like Datura was not only because, she was protected by her boyfriend, Helios. She was also the sister of Donavan Louis.

Donavan Louis was a siscon, he was crazy about his sister. Not about Datura but his step-sister, Dawn. He was the heir of a prominent corporation in the business industry. His family's net worth was around 200 billion dollars. No one wanted to mess up with that powerful family. Those who could go against him were the family who could level with his power.

One of them was Samiro Louis. He was Donavan's cousin. Donavan's father is a brother of Samiro's mother. Samiro's mother and Vladimir's mother were best friends since childhood so it was inevitable that Vladimir and Samiro would become the closest confidants as well.

When they said that birds with the same feather flocks together. Samiro's and Vladimir's families were both at the peak of society.

Being that said, another person who could go against Donavan was Vladimir. He was the next person who always had a smile on his face in the group. Besides Vlad had a very strong feature of masculinity on him. If he wasn't smiling he looked so distant.

If they were asked, among them, who wouldn't you mess up with? The answer was probably, Vlad. Because Vlad fights cunningly, and he had the most patience among them. In terms of family net worth, everyone might be on the same level. Vlad as an individual was eminent.

"That aside, Yanzi says that Vlad changed in the course of two years. Becoming an adult really changes people, don't they?" Rain said.

They finished their lunch and clean up their table. Katherine nodded, "You're still living with Zian?"

"Hmm? Yeah. The rent is cheaper if we divide the payment." Katherine smiled sheepishly but did not say a thing.

They were grown adults already. A woman can be friends with a guy without interest. But a man could not do that. Zian must be keeping Rain around.

"Our next class will be at 2 o'clock. We still have an hour vacant. Do you want to go to the mall?" Rain asked while she was looking at her wristwatch.

Katherine would like to do so. But she rather studies in the library or sleeps there for a minute or two. But before she could even decline Rain's invitation, Rain's phone rang.

Katherine automatically knew that the 'boy best friend was calling.

"Hello?" Rain answered with a bitchy tone. "No. I'm going to the mall with Kath. No. You can't join us. Aren't you busy?—"

"I'm not busy." Zian approached their table with no hesitation and picked up Rain's bag pack. "I'm coming too."

"Unfortunately, I can't join you two," Katherine said. "I have to go study in the library."

"What? No. You can't leave me with this monkey." Rain exclaimed but Katherine was already on her way to go away. "Katherine!"

Katherine ran as fast as she could.

She would like to say that she was an average student like anyone else. But looking at the situation, she might be on a special case.

She did not want to say she was a 'special' lady. And did not want to label herself as a Cinderella as Rain said to her. She certainly like the idea but that was not what she really want. Vladimir likes her…

(⁠＠⁠_⁠＠⁠;⁠)

Who would hate a Vladimir Vasquez? If that man likes her. Of course, it was like a dream come true… Three years ago it was like a dream if she was able to talk to that guy. But now, she did not even want to start that dream. She might wake up in a nightmare.

"Kath. Kath. Where are you going?" Stacey, one of Kath's classmates in her minor subject approached her. Stacey was with the other classmates Katherine knew. She smiled and greeted them all.

They returned the greeting amicably. The social status might be huge but Katherine was a chameleon. She could be anywhere and blend with anyone.

"Library, where are you guys heading?"

"Mall. Come with us."

"Yes, let's go."

"Your brain has to rest sometime." Katherine laughed and said that she would sleep there. They had to let her go and allowed her to rest. They said their farewell and went in different directions.

If that was her two years ago, she might be joining those groups. She did not like the thought of being left out. An outcast. However, she was always one.

Katherine never felt belonged to anyone. She has a best friend but Marie failed her entrance exam to this school. She was supposed to enroll in college but again, Marie failed her scholarship exam.

Marie was not dumb but she was a very lazy but weirdly passionate human being. Maybe that was the reason why Katherine liked Rain. They were so alike. However, Katherine was not sure when she started to get entangled with the rich and powerful students in this school.

"After two years. I saw him again." She said to herself. He looked so mature and mesmerizing as usual. She could not help but smile as she thought that that guy was staring at her. Instantly, that smile faded after recalling the news she heard a year ago.

Vladimir has engaged with someone already. The media had not revealed who'd be the future empress of the Vasquez corporation, but one thing is for sure. That woman was someone who Katherine could only dream of.

"Wish that day never happened." She mumbled in the air and sighed.

The day of her entanglement with Vladimir Vasquez was two and a half years ago. Katherine was always a people pleaser. She befriended everyone in her class and some amazing students in her batch and higher level to survive in this elite school. From 7th grade to 10th grade she had a smooth life.

However, she always wore a mask. It was tiring to be everyone's friend. It was not like everyone cared about her, but she have to care for everyone. She could not afford to offend anyone. One mistake and her peace would be over.

She had to always adjust who she was to blend. At some point, she figured out a way to rest and found her spot to hide from everyone. That day, she thought that it was like any other day she spent.

But then, a chameleon from the elites came to take over her spot. Vladimir Vasquez. The boy who wears a mask. Katherine knew him. Everyone could look at you but it was rare for someone to see you. She sees Vladimir.

But Katherine did not like Vladimir because of that. Not because Vladimir was loathsome but because he was so good at wearing his mask.

As a person who wears a mask, Katherine was frustrated with him. She knew how aggravating to seal who you are. Vladimir had everything why did he have to wear a mask… It was so frustrating to see. That even the most powerful person she knew had to wear that suffocating veil.

Katherine found Vladimir in the basement. That was where she could be herself without offending anyone. She did not know what more reason could be why a famous boy like Vladimir could be hiding in that dark cold dusty place.

Although there was someone with her in that space. She did not bother displaying herself as she was always behaving. Overly pleasing someone. But still, she was being cautious.

As she said. This man was a chameleon. You would know your own kind at one glance. She thought that she could not rest there for that day though. So, she let Vladimir invade her unofficial space for a day. She was not even sure if he cared if she was there. She tried to read him but she couldn't. He was too occupied with his own world. She tried to converse but she would just look at her and listen.

He did not come back for days. But he came back eventually. This time, they met each other's eyes. By reflex Katherine smiled to look nice, he did not smile in return. It was the first time Katherine saw up close Vladimir's austere expression. It was causing her heart to get chaotic. He was so beautiful that it was dangerous.

"You're still here," he said.

Vladimir outside was always nice to everyone. That's what she heard because she had no audacity to go to the senior building just to see him and fangirl. In fact, out of the four supreme. Katherine liked it the most was Helios.

Helios was straight-out nice. He was not a pretentious jerk like Vlad.

'You're still here? What do you mean?' Katherine thought without erasing her subtle smile.

"Give me your hand." Katherine obeyed with no hesitation. She was facing a Vasquez, it's not like she could do anything even if he figured they were the same.

He opened her palm and put a stuffed toy on top of it. Guess what it was? A freaking real-life-looking gorgeous chameleon. It was so mesmerizing and outstanding that it was hard to look away from it.

"This is a chameleon," Vladimir said.

Katherine lifted her eyes to look at his face. That she regretted right away because he was much more blinding as much as the chameleon in his hand.

"Take care of it." He added as if he was not seeing how flustered she was with his presence and appearance.

Katherine blinked after processing what he said. "What?" She looked at the chameleon and Vladimir's face back and forth three times before hearing him laugh.

Damn it was so handsome.

"What? Why?"

"Because I said so." He said grinning.

He was two years older than her. He was way wealthier than her. Despite being a scholar she knew that Vladimir was way smarter than her too. She thought of them as the same chameleon with different classes but clearly, they were too far-fetched. They belong to different kinds of the league. Having all that said, this was the part where she had to be more cautious behaving… But for some reason, her expression turned ugly as soon as she heard him commanding her.

"I don't want to." She said politely but her eyebrows were clashing.

His melodic chuckle stops and leans close to her face. "You said you like chameleons."

"Wha—when did I? So you were listening."

"In exchange, you have to let me stay here too."

"In exchange for taking care of your toy, you have to stay here—Kyahh!" The toy moved. It was not a freaking toy! Vladimir caught the little reptile before it flew away. "It's alive!"

"Of course." Vladimir said a little startled, "He's wearing leopard fur doesn't mean he's dead. Did you think I'll give you a dead pet?"

"A Pet?" Katherine looked at the chameleon in Vladimir's hand. It was wearing expensive fur and so it looked like a stuffed toy at one glance. She never have been to a zoo so all she knows is what animals looked like in pictures.

"A new pet."

Katherine did not know what to say to this guy.

He was making her take care of a chameleon. She just mentioned it to him a week ago and now she had to take care of this reptile. What was he thinking?

"No. That's not what I mean—I mean… Are you allowed to bring your pet to school?"

"It's yours," he said and handed her again the reptile. It was not that big, she assumed it was still a kid. She liked chameleons but she was a nerd about it.

"Mine? Are you giving me … A pet?"

"In exchange, you have to accommodate me whenever we're here."

"I'm not sure I am getting what you are saying, Vlad." His eyes narrowed on hers. She tried to regulate her breathing because the way he stared at her made her soul quiver.

"You uttered my name." He had a smile but it wasn't a nice smile. It was a dangerous one. "Say it again."

Katherine inhaled deeply. "No…" She looked away and stepped back. She wanted to run away.

When she said, she did not like Vladimir. This might be one of those reasons. She could see him… And he might be able to see her too.

The reason why chameleon blends are because they didn't want to be seen. Because that is the part where they become vulnerable. Some were strong enough to become vulnerable to anyone. Katherine wasn't.

"I…I have to go. You can have this place." She said ready to take off.

It was an eventful day for Katherine. Nonetheless despite rejecting Vladimir, he still sent the chameleon to her dormitory. He gave her an allowance for the reptile and a fully equipped aquarium for it. It may sound strange but it felt like they had a baby and she was taking care of it while he supports it financially.

It was five months before Vladimir's graduation. For the remaining five months, they would meet up secretly in the basement to talk about that chameleon.

Katherine would not lie. She developed feelings for that rich kid. An attraction she could not deny. Although she claims that she sees him, it was hard to read him at some point.

Did he like her or was he playing with her? She wasn't sure. They never talked about what they were. For Katherine, it meant that there was nothing to think about it. If he would not talk about it.

But whenever they were together, she could be who she wanted to be. Without changing or blending to what he liked. It was odd because she thought that if she liked someone in this school. She would be twice pretentious as she already was.

The Junior and Senior buildings were connected by a skywalk. It was not that far but crossing the skywalk was troublesome, because seniors and juniors have nothing really to do with each other. Those people who crosses it were teachers, officers, and those who had a relationship with someone. They did not know that the basements were connected as well.

Katherine knew and shared it with Vladimir. After that, for the rest of the academic year. They would meet regularly. Especially, during breaks and events.

The day Vladimir graduated, everyone was there. Of course, the four famous supreme was leaving high school. All juniors that were turning seniors came to see their idols graduate.

Katherine left, she was in the province. For the whole two months of vacation. 11th grade was nothing like the 10th grade. Katherine learned how to have fun, she was still blending, and she was still always present at her classmates' gatherings. She was still making more friends. But she learned to have more time with herself.

Vladimir never came to their spot again. But he would always send her allowance for Champ. They never talked online—perhaps because of the awkwardness of the idea. It did not take long before big news made hundreds of students in C.A. cry.

Vladimir Vasquez was engaged. The identity of his fiancee was unknown. Everyone just assumed she was from a prominent family like Datura Luios Antionne.

Certainly, Katherine was one of those who was devastated. She cried for a night. Because she fell for that guy after those months they spent together. But she did not cry a lot. Because she knew. She saw it coming.

Also, no one assumed that she was one of Vladimir's fans. No one saw her being sad with that news. She got even more active in extracurricular activities and mingled a lot.

Katherine applied to many universities. Most of them were state universities. She applied for scholarships as well. The Polytechnic University of the Philippines. The University of the Philippines.

She studied a lot.

She failed some, she passed some. What she was not expecting was getting a full scholarship in Czar Akademia. Without a doubt, her parents and she decided to enroll there for college.

She wanted to say that, after a year, Vladimir Vasquez—she forgot about the guy. But who was she trying to fool? There was not a day that she did not think of him. At some point, she tried to tell her parents that she could just try something new like the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Maybe running away from him would make her feel a little better. However, she just got hit by her mother.

Practically speaking, C.A. was the best option after graduation. She won't be needing to apply for jobs because she would be scouted by her classmates or someone she knew. It was an easy ride to a better life.

And frankly, she wanted to get away from Vladimir Vasquez but that guy must have forgotten about them. She and Champ. He never sent her any allowance after announcing his engagement with his fiancée… He made her cry for Champ. She felt abandoned, to be honest.

So, she gave up the thought of running away. She was not even running away from anyone but just her feelings.

Because she earned a full scholarship from the school. She was studying as twice as hard as she did when she was in high school. One to maintain her grades. Two to forget about that guy.

But after two years and months. She saw him again.

He grew. His hair was charcoal black but when they were in high school it was brown to make his feature a little softer. But now he was just fierce. She noticed that he was not smiling as much as before. His shoulder became broader, and his eyes were more intense than they were.

It looked like the chameleon she knew started to stop camouflaging. Which was so beautiful because originally, chameleons would originally have this grandiose blazing color. That was why they blend because they were too outstanding that it could kill them. Blending was their way to survive.

Because Rain was around earlier Katherine managed to hold herself. Hearing that Vladimir was keeping an eye on her made her heart jump out of her chest. But her upfront covered the excitement she felt. It was so natural for her to act carefree to others. But as soon as she settled in one of the cubicles in the library, minutes staring blankly at the book she borrowed last week.

She laughed ruefully. No tear left her eyes. She was not happy, she was not sad. She was not sure what to feel.

Maybe it was an arranged marriage. Maybe he was forced to the woman he was engaged. Maybe Vladimir liked her too. Although she was not that pretty or sexy. Maybe he 'sees' her. Those were her wishful thinking. Because no matter how much she diminished the thought of liking him. It won't go away just like that. She keep on clinging to those false hope that it was making her feel like a joke.

She was an average girl, she was like any other person in the world. But that boy invaded her space. Gave her a baby chameleon to raise. And now she was so hopeless for that guy.

"Damn jerk." She muttered trying to sleep. "I hope your wife will make you cry a lot."

Katherine thought she would not be able to fall asleep but she got startled when her alarm rang. It was 13: 55. Her next class would be Physical Education at the gym by 2 o'clock. She looked at her phone and received messages from Rain that she was already there.

Katherine manages to get in time.

"Why are you late?"

"I fell asleep."

"Yesh, you seemed tired. Are you alright?"

"Good. I'm fine. How about your date with Zian?"

"What are you talking about? We went with the others."

"Others?"

"Yeah, Vlad, Helios, Datura, Don and Dawn, and Samiro were there."

"Oh, like a quadra date?"

"Quadra—haha… No. No. Seriously. Vlad was not in the mood when I joked about you liking Helios. Oh, even Datura looks angry."

"What?"

"I messed up." Rain smiled so beautifully with a peace sign. Katherine was speechless.

What does she mean by messed up? Everyone knew what kind of psychopath Datura was!

"I want to strangle you right now, Rain."

"Don't worry I'll protect you, Kath. Also, Vlad won't let anyone hurt you."

"I don't care about Vlad! Why did you say in front of Datura I like her boyfriend? Are you crazy?" Katherine was screaming in her tone of whispering.

"Is everyone here?" The teacher of Physical Education appeared. Katherine widen her eyes, glaring while staring at Rain, and gestured that they should talk later.

Rain just kept her smile.

"Let's resume where we left the last meeting."

The two hours class discussion was done in an hour. The department of physical education was signing out early to have a farewell party for the head of the department and welcome the new one.

For the remaining hour, the teacher decided to divide the class into two and made the girls and boys play some sports on the field. The winner would be able to get home early while the losers would have to clean the balls and equipment they used.

Fortunately, for Rain. Katherine was one of the losing teams. Without any seconds waste Zian came go home with Rain together.

Katherine was not able to talk with her to clarify something. Which made her nervous wrecked because Datura's name was mentioned.

Katherine… She could not mess up with the villainess. She would not win. It was not even a fight. She would become a sandbag!

Because everyone was cooperative in cleaning, they finished early. Katherine was just assigned to study the rest of the storage which was why she was left last. She liked working alone too so it wasn't a problem. Since based on the schedule they were the last class in the gymnasium today, no one was else hovering around.

Katherine took her phone to pick a playlist on her Spotify. Rain recommended her an upbeat one and she played it.

She decided to clean the storage room because it was so unorganized. She knew the janitors would do this but just to take her mind off thinking she had to do something else. Either way, she would be just spending her day in the dormitory doing nothing or studying.

So, she decided to organize this area.

But before the playlist could finish one song, the door suddenly closed. The impact was quite forceful that it echoed in the empty building.

Katherine was surprised but wasn't able to shout that she started hiccupping.

Thankfully the lights were still on. She was about to go to the door thinking that the janitor mistakenly thought there was no one in there anymore. But then she saw a young man leaning on the only door in the storage room.

He was staring straight at her with a displeased expression. His arms were in his pocket.

Katherine parted her lips to say something but she couldn't find her voice for a second.

"I heard that you like Helios." He said. His voice was deeper than she remembered. And as if she had just woken up, his tone was raspier.

"What the hell, Vlad?" She uttered.

"Do you like him, Katherine?" He was angry.

If she answered him incorrectly, it seemed like he would do something scary.

Katherine felt like she snapped back to reality.

'He is mad at me?'

"What's wrong with that?" She said with her tone fiercer than she could ever do. "Can't I like a person now?"

He seemed to be confused about how the table turned. He took his hands off his pocket and walked towards her. Katherine did not move a muscle. She waited for how close he could get while she was glaring the hell out of him.

If looks could kill. He would be dying multiple times…

His angry expression gradually disappeared. He took a step back instead of forward.

"Why are you here?" She asked, "Why are you here, Vladimir?"

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