Golden Melody

Prologue

Zatariel Wov

His Pov

April 16, 2023
7:40 am

The alarm buzzed, shattering the dream of Miexha's dazzling smile.

"Cute," I sighed, a familiar ache settling in my chest

I grabbed my phone and plunged into the virtual world, seeking solace in the familiar pixelated landscapes of Ragna Mobile.

But even in the virtual realm, my thoughts drifted back to Miexha.

Her voice, a melody that haunted my dreams, her smile, a beacon in the encroaching darkness.

We met at the Academy, our paths intertwined amidst the symphony of instruments.
Her talent had blossomed on the stage, a delicate flower amidst the concrete jungle.

Now, she was ExyV, a global popstar, her name synonymous with music and beauty.
A star I could only admire from afar.

Lost in the digital world, I surfaced to check the time:

12:50 PM.

Oops.

I grabbed my acoustic guitar, the worn wood a familiar comfort.
As I strummed the strings, a bittersweet soundtrack to my daydreams.

I set down the guitar, startled by a pair of pink sandals at my feet.

A girl stood before me, her eyes wide with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"Uh, s-sorry? Hello?" she stammered, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

My heart raced.
Was I still dreaming?

"Hellooo??" she repeated, this time waving her hand right in front of my face.
Then, she tapped my arm.

Wait, that felt real.

Without thinking, I grabbed her small hand and gently squeezed it.
Then, I brought it closer and...

sniffed it.

"Whoa there, buddy!" she exclaimed, pulling her hand back as if I'd tried to steal her soul.
"What are you doing?"

"It smells... amazing," I mumbled, still sniffing the air around her hand.
"Like... a mix of sunshine and cotton candy."

She stared at me, her eyes wide. "Are you... okay?"

"Totally," I said, trying to play it cool.
"Just... appreciating the finer things in life."

"The finer things in life?" she echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You mean... my hand?"

"Well, yeah," I said, shrugging. "It's a good hand."

She rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed.
"Look, I need to talk to you.
This room is off-limits."

"Off-limits?" I asked, confused. "Why?"

"Because," she said, her voice turning serious,
"It's his room."

"Who's room?" I blinked, feeling like I'd stepped into a bizarre alternate reality.
"But... this.. our house."

"Oh, right," she said, her voice softening.
"I forgot.
You're the... caretaker, right?"

"Caretaker?" I echoed, my eyebrows shooting up.
"I'm the caretaker of my own house?"

"Well, you seem to be taking good care of my house," she said, looking around the room. "Though, I have to say, my poster.. is a bit... much."

"It's a gift from heaven," I said defensively.

She stared at me for a moment, her expression unreadable.

Then, in a flat, sarcastic tone, she said,
"You know, it's just so nice to have a fan like you who's this supportive."

"Well, I am... a fan?" I mumbled to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.

"You have a good singing voice," she said.

"R-really? Te-thanks!" I stammered, feeling like my heart was about to burst out of my chest.

Filled with excitement, I could barely contain my smile.

She extended her hand toward me for a handshake.

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a strange of nostalgia, a mix of longing and sadness.

Years ago, we'd spent our time in the academy together, the countless moments shared flashing through my mind.

If it hadn't been for Thyron kidnapping me, if it hadn't been for the time I lost sleeping in the hospital, she wouldn't have gone in a car crash and lost her memories of me, of us.

But eventually, I took her hand, the warmth of her touch sending a jolt through me.

"You look so familiar; I just can't place it.
Oh, I'm Miexha Verra, but you can call me Exy"
Her words hit me like a punch.

The girl I'd known so well, the one who had once been such a big part of my life, now had no memory of me.

"No," I said, trying to lighten the mood.
" I'll Just call you Mimi."

She blinked, clearly taken aback by my words.
Her brow furrowed, and a flicker of confusion crossed her eyes.

"I'm Zatariel Wov," I said, my voice calm but carrying the weight of the years between us.
"Nice to meet you again, Miss Miexha Verra."

Her eyes widened as recognition flickered behind them, but I didn't wait for her response.
I gave her a faint smile, a mixture of hope and despair, and quietly slipped into my room, closing the door behind me.

For a moment, I stood there, listening to the sound of her knocking on the other side.

My heart ached with memories of the past, of the times we'd spent together.

I waited, my hand resting on the doorknob, unsure of whether to open it again.
But as the minutes passed, the knocking stopped.

When I finally mustered the courage to unlock the door, she was gone.

I stood there, staring at the empty hallway, feeling the weight of what could've been and what might never be again.