Golden Melody (Editing)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Rival Hearts

Zatariel POV

Thyron Sebastian...

Since kindergarten, his presence had been like a bad-weather warning—always arriving right when I least wanted him to.

The moment he stepped in front of us, Mimi's grip on my arm loosened. Her face lit up as she smiled widely—just for him.

"Ron! You don't have to remind me!" she pouted, lightly smacking his shoulder.

He laughed that kind of charming laugh that drove girls crazy. Then he pinched her nose like they were some couple reunited after a commercial break.

"I missed you, baby girl."

Then they hugged. Way too close.

I wanted to tear them apart.

She shouldn't be hugging a rotten tomato.

Their banter was too easy. Too... intimate.

I hated it.

I hated that, and i don't even know why-- 

Scratch that. I knew.

I just couldn't accept that the girl I was interested in hugging my rival.

My body moved before I could think. I turned away, walking fast, not wanting them to see the heat crawling up my neck and not wanting them to see it.

"Hey! Waaaait! Staaaaapuuu!" Miexha's voice rang behind me—half-laugh, half-panic.

She crashed into my back a moment later, breathless.

I caught her instinctively before she could fall, holding her tight almost like hugging her. She looked up, flushed and smiling.

"I wanted to call you something cool too," she said, panting.

I blinked .three times, she was still in my arms, I hurriedly help her stand straight.

"Zatariel's too long. I'll call you... Riel," she beamed, still holding onto my arm.

A beat passed. i couldn't stop smiling, my heart pounding. 

"Riel, huh? Sounds dangerously cute." I really tried not to make shaky sound

Behind her, Thyron watched us. Silent. Jaw tight.

I raised my brow at him mocking.

"oh no, look at the time, it's almost 8:30" Miexha let go of my arm and walk towards the freshman building, she turn to us to waved goodbye.

"See you later, Riel! Ron! Good luck with classes!"

"You too, Mimi," I murmured.

"Don't forget to meet me at lunch" Thyron waved at her and she just nodded. tsk.

Then it was just him with me.

The guy who turn every moment into a contest.

"Good luck, Wov," he said.
"This year, I'm taking top 1."

I tilted my head. Calm. Unmoved. was that even a challenge? tsk.

"Good luck, Sebastian," I returned smoothly. "You'll need it more than me, boy Top 3."

His jaw twitched. A crack in his ego. satisfying.

He dropped the act.

"Miexha," he said in a low voice almost sound like a warning, "don't take advantage of her."

The way he said sounded... wrong. Too possessive. Almost territorial.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Excuse me?"