Melody of Bonds

Prologue

The school bell rang. Its sound echoed across the classroom. The teacher snapped her textbook shut and announced, "That concludes our lesson for today. Next week's quiz will focus on the Impact of Tiberium on Global Trade."

"Raise." The class representative called. Everyone stood in unison.

"Bow." The students bowed, marking the end of another monotonous school day.

When the teacher left, the classroom began clearing out. Lily hurriedly packed her tablet and belongings. As she swung her bag over her shoulder, a voice interrupted, "Do you have any plans today Lily?"

Turning, she was face-to-face with a girl with two red ribbons tied to her waist-length silky hair.

Lily knew the girl— Fujimoto—was inviting her to hang out for whatever reason. She wasn't familiar with Fujimoto or her friends circle to even consider accepting. So, Lily lied with a "Yes."

Fujimoto's smile faltered. "Ah, next time then." A touch of disappointment flickered in her eyes before she offered a cheerful, "See you next week!"

"No worries. See you next week." Fujimoto waved goodbye before walking out the classroom.

With a mumbled "sorry," Lily watched her exit the classroom.

Lily brushed off the interaction as she trailed the students of 'Go home' club. They were drawn to the school bus idling at the school gate.

Unlike most students who preferred detouring to cafes and hangout spots, Lily preferred the solitude of the bus. She claimed her usual seat by the window, the greenery blurring past as the vehicle rumbled to life.

It didn't take long before she arrived at a towering condominium. The driver AI bid her with a courteous, "Have a good evening," as she stepped of the bus. But she didn't look back.

As Lily walked towards the condominium, the sound of chirping birds prompted her to look at the sky. It was an expanse of blue canvas painted with clouds and tiny black dots. She remembered her brother's trivia; the black dots were GDI space freighters. They were ferrying supplies for Tiberium reclamation effort from a nearby spaceport.

Lost in thought, Lily bumped into someone, stumbling back before regaining her balance.

"S-sorry." Lily stammered. She bowed an apology.

"You are not hurt, right?" The blonde girl asked.

Lily nodded.

"Just be more careful next time when you are walking, okay?" the platinum blonde girl offered a gentle smile before gliding away.

The droopy violet eyes of the blonde-haired girl looked familiar but Lily couldn't place the name. Before she could dwell further, her phone chimed about an unexpected visitor to her residence. Considering she hadn't shared her address to anyone beyond her teachers, she presumed it was her guardian, Uncle Mastos.

Keeping her guardian waiting was rude so Lily hastened her steps into the condominium.

Inside, it wasn't Uncle Mastos she saw at the lobby. Rather, it was a familiar blonde man in sleek black suit leaning against the wall. Warm smile bloomed on his face upon seeing her.

"I'm home," he said, his voice filled with a warmth that sent a jolt through Lily.

Lily's heart pounded. A whirlwind of conflicting emotions surfaced – a mix of anger, gladness, and a tug between wanting to run away and longing for a warm hug. Mixed emotions were drowning her. She went for the simplest solution.

Clutching her bag strap tightly, she pushed past him. The man followed her into the elevator, positioning himself behind her. Lily clenched her fists. Nails dug into her palms. Pain that came and the elevator doors became her focus rather than his presence.

When the elevator reached their floor, Lily bolted into her room. She locked her bedroom door and tossed her bag on the study table before collapsing onto her bed.

Thoughts swirled becoming jumbling mess. Glaring sunlight pouring in through the windowpane didn't help.

Desperate for a distraction, she grasped her phone from her skirt pocket, its blue kitty-themed case. She tapped open her messaging app revealing empty inbox.

Bitterness filled her mouth. What had she really expected? She hadn't even saved her classmates numbers in the first place.

A series of gentle knocks echoed through the door. Then came his voice, "Lily, do you want to eat parfaits?" His words hung in the air, a delicate balance between concern and acceptance. "But if you are not up to it, that's totally fine..."

Lily's grip on the phone tightened. The subtle tremor in his voice squeezed her heart with an unexpected pang of guilt. She knew she was being selfish, shutting him out. But she didn't want to deal with the heartache again when he leaves.

Yet, the thought of missing moments with him nagged her. Moments that might be their last. Living with regret was the last thing she wanted.

Maybe she could include him in her plan? Perhaps attending live concerts with him instead of being alone could work. Watching her favorite bands' performance with him was one of the unfulfilled wishes she had.

Lily went to the wardrobe and changed into a simple white dress. She repaired her hair bang in the mirror then exited the room.

The blonde man sat on the couch, his reflection staring back from the dark TV screen. Gone was his black suit, replaced by a white t-shirt and blue jeans. His chin rested on his clasped hands, He looked like a sculpture frozen in contemplation, until his eyes met hers.

Lily stood there, hesitant, her voice barely a whisper when she finally spoke, "You mentioned parfaits,"

The man allowed a small wistful smile to form on his face